Danny Ainge: "Making the playoffs is not a goal" (12/13)

[BleedGreen1989]

Courtesy Gary Washburn

“I don’t really care about the record or what other teams are doing this time of year,” Ainge said Thursday. “It’s way too early to be worrying about where we stand and the day-to-day of the standings. I’m concerned about just getting better, developing our players and trying to get some chemistry.”

“Jordan has played well, as have all of our guys,” Ainge said. “Everybody based on their roles, I think Courtney [Lee] and Brandon and Jeff, Vitor [Faverani] and Sullinger, Avery, you go right down the list and everybody is showing improvement, and I’m excited about that.
We’re not the tallest team, so we have to work extra hard to rebound the ball. We have our weaknesses, but I think our team is improving and helping each other.”

“I envisioned competing for a championship [eventually] and I don’t think this team is quite there, but it doesn’t really matter,” Ainge said. “I’m looking at improvement and progress. That’s really what is important, and not what I envision. There’s never been a doubt to me that the players on our roster are good players and can play at some level in the NBA.”

I don’t know, because there’s too many variables, it’s just not that simple,” he said about the postseason. “Making the playoffs is not a goal. I need to explain that a little bit. If there’s a bunch of teams that are just injured and playing and you finish five, six, or seven games under .500 and you made the playoffs just because of that, that might not be such a great thing. I’m only concerned about how our players are playing, and if it so happens we make the playoffs and we earn our way and our guys are getting better, then I’m thrilled.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/12/12/danny-ainge-assessing-celtics-surprising-early-success/10XiKT8vg7o7s7HuvP1lJO/story.html

I think this kind of rules out the Omer Asik type trades or Danny going in for a playoff run. Doesn't sound like a man who wants to make the playoffs nor is excited about that.

[nickagneta]

Yeah, if the guys earn their way into the playoffs he is going to be happy for them but if they back their way in or make it because some other team is purposely tanking, he won't be happy about it.

Either way, trades to improve short term will not happen. Trades that improve the long term, whether to help financially or talent wise, would be happening.

I love the fact though that he thinks if these guys develop and play great and earn their way that he will be happy for them, even if maybe, it might not be what he really wants. Then again, if they make the playoffs, I am sure ownership isn't going to lament the extra $5-10 million that could be earned from playing in the playoffs.

[playdream]

Danny isn't stupid, he knows making the playoff this year means
nothing but hurting our chance from getting a franchise player

[slamtheking]

I think this kind of rules out the Omer Asik type trades or Danny going in for a playoff run. Doesn't sound like a man who wants to make the playoffs nor is excited about that.

nor should he be.  he built a team that's basically trade pieces-->expiring deals for teams looking to cut payroll and decent role players that contenders may want.  the trade market he anticipated doesn't exist right now because there are too many teams initially thought to be contenders that are significantly underperforming.

[GreenWarrior]

this team's going to be a lot better when rondo gets back. if he comes back a couple weeks before the trade deadline - don't be surprised if he gets traded.

I was getting the sense that rondo was going no where but after that interview....

[Chris]

That interview was Ainge stating the obvious.  I wouldn't take it to mean much more than exactly what he said, that their goal this year is to develop players and get better, and that they don't see backing into the playoffs as necessarily a positive.

[GreenWarrior]

That interview was Ainge stating the obvious.  I wouldn't take it to mean much more than exactly what he said, that their goal this year is to develop players and get better, and that they don't see backing into the playoffs as necessarily a positive.

I got the sense of the interview but it sounds like DA is forgetting that rondo is supposed to be coming back.

I don't think(when Rondo) does come back that he's going to be eased back in, he's going to be full on rondo when he gets back. and imo that makes us a lot better & with our record & the state of the eastern conf. that means a playoff spot.

[Chris]

That interview was Ainge stating the obvious.  I wouldn't take it to mean much more than exactly what he said, that their goal this year is to develop players and get better, and that they don't see backing into the playoffs as necessarily a positive.

I got the sense of the interview but it sounds like DA is forgetting that rondo is supposed to be coming back.

I don't think(when Rondo) does come back that he's going to be eased back in, he's going to be full on rondo when he gets back. and imo that makes us a lot better & with our record & the state of the eastern conf. that means a playoff spot.

Danny isn't forgetting anything.  He knows Rondo is coming back.  But he also knows that the East is likely to not remain as bad as they have been. 

More than anything though, Danny knows that Rajon Rondo is by far their best asset (well, maybe their lottery pick in 2014...but right now that could be in jeopardy), and he is not giving up his best asset just to tank. 

[bdm860]

“I envisioned competing for a championship [eventually] and I don’t think this team is quite there,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dalrphHivOs

[BleedGreen1989]

That interview was Ainge stating the obvious.  I wouldn't take it to mean much more than exactly what he said, that their goal this year is to develop players and get better, and that they don't see backing into the playoffs as necessarily a positive.

I got the sense of the interview but it sounds like DA is forgetting that rondo is supposed to be coming back.

I don't think(when Rondo) does come back that he's going to be eased back in, he's going to be full on rondo when he gets back. and imo that makes us a lot better & with our record & the state of the eastern conf. that means a playoff spot.

Danny isn't forgetting anything.  He knows Rondo is coming back.  But he also knows that the East is likely to not remain as bad as they have been. 

More than anything though, Danny knows that Rajon Rondo is by far their best asset (well, maybe their lottery pick in 2014...but right now that could be in jeopardy), and he is not giving up his best asset just to tank.

Yeah, I don't think this is any groundbreaking stuff but his word choice seemed to dictate where he's thinking.

He could of easily said "Well, if the East is struggling we are going to take advantage of it. We have Rajon coming back which will make us much stronger. This team will be a very competitive bunch come playoff time".

Instead he kind of stated the opposite. Again, nothing crazy and I agree with his direction, but I think he made it pretty clear he's not trading for any "win now" pieces.

[kozlodoev]

I think this kind of rules out the Omer Asik type trades or Danny going in for a playoff run. Doesn't sound like a man who wants to make the playoffs nor is excited about that.

On the other hand, getting Asik is getting better.

[Kane3387]

He wants a shot at Jabari, randke, wiggins etc and why not? Adding one of those top 6-7 guys in the draft to this team with a healthy Rondo would be phenomenal.

[TwinTower14]

He wants a shot at Jabari, randke, wiggins etc and why not? Adding one of those top 6-7 guys in the draft to this team with a healthy Rondo would be phenomenal.

I agree with this but I am worried that Stevens has them playing too well.  I think they need to move Bass, Lee or Wallace.....

[Chris]

That interview was Ainge stating the obvious.  I wouldn't take it to mean much more than exactly what he said, that their goal this year is to develop players and get better, and that they don't see backing into the playoffs as necessarily a positive.

I got the sense of the interview but it sounds like DA is forgetting that rondo is supposed to be coming back.

I don't think(when Rondo) does come back that he's going to be eased back in, he's going to be full on rondo when he gets back. and imo that makes us a lot better & with our record & the state of the eastern conf. that means a playoff spot.

Danny isn't forgetting anything.  He knows Rondo is coming back.  But he also knows that the East is likely to not remain as bad as they have been. 

More than anything though, Danny knows that Rajon Rondo is by far their best asset (well, maybe their lottery pick in 2014...but right now that could be in jeopardy), and he is not giving up his best asset just to tank.

Yeah, I don't think this is any groundbreaking stuff but his word choice seemed to dictate where he's thinking.

He could of easily said "Well, if the East is struggling we are going to take advantage of it. We have Rajon coming back which will make us much stronger. This team will be a very competitive bunch come playoff time".

Instead he kind of stated the opposite. Again, nothing crazy and I agree with his direction, but I think he made it pretty clear he's not trading for any "win now" pieces.

Well yeah, he said basically what we all know is the truth.  This team isn't a contender right now, so their goal is not to make the playoffs. 

Although I also wouldn't say his words ruled out trading for any win-now pieces.  Just not any short-sighted ones.

If he sees deals that would really help the team, then I think he would absolutely make them.  But he wouldn't be doing it to slide into the playoffs and then get killed by one of the contenders.  He would be doing it to make the team better going forward.

To me, the biggest takeaway from that interview wasn't the thing about the playoffs, it was him basically saying that the playoffs don't matter to him this year.  This year is all about setting the team up for the future.  Maybe that means tanking, but it also could still mean they make moves for better players, and end up in the playoffs.  If it makes the team better.

[clover]

He wants a shot at Jabari, randke, wiggins etc and why not? Adding one of those top 6-7 guys in the draft to this team with a healthy Rondo would be phenomenal.

I agree with this but I am worried that Stevens has them playing too well.  I think they need to move Bass, Lee or Wallace.....

Moving Wallace could help their play at this rate.