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

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I have no problems with what Ainge said and realize us making the playoffs is probably more of a reality because of the state of the Eastern Conference rather than what we're doing or how good or bad we actually are.

But if "making the playoffs is not a goal" then he is either underestimating how good rondo is(which I don't think he would), or doesn't want to see rondo coming back till very late or at all this season, or like I said earlier if he comes back a couple weeks before the trade deadline then I'd expect to see him moved. it would seem too convenient imo.

Also if rondo does come back for a good duration of the remainder of the season he doesn't make us a borderline 8th seed, I could easily see us being a 5th or 6th seed in the East.

  Making the playoffs isn't a goal doesn't mean missing the playoffs is a goal. Rondo would probably say leading the league in assists isn't a goal of his, but that doesn't mean that he's going to stop passing the ball if he's leading the league in order to avoid it.

FINALLY! Of all the comments you seem to be saying what I took from his comments. Just b/c it isn't a goal doesn't mean he doesn't want us to make it, he is saying he wants it to be EARNED, not b/c every team is sucking! He wants the guys and CBS to keep improving so that eventually we can form a championship calibre team. Sure, as a delusional fan I think we can win the chip with RR back healthy, but if I was the GM I'd look at our situation more realistically and realize we aren't close. I want us to be Cinderella while Danny sees us as babies that he is trying to raise into adults. If Danny thought as a fan does then I'm sure he wouldn't have a job, he is a fan but it comes secondary to his job/duties as a GM! If anyone thinks that if we become a good team and make the playoffs w/o just getting in b/c of being bad but not bad enough Danny won't be happy, you are fooling yourself, sure a lottery pick is good but he also loves the Celtics and he wants us to be good! If we get in as a 4th with a solid record, you better believe Danny will be excited because that means his players are panning out and that he chose right when hiring CBS, it just makes it easier to add pieces to get us a chip if we aren't good enough.

[PhoSita]

I think it's funny that the reaction to this by some is that Danny Ainge is somehow being brazen or bold by making this statement.  Isn't he sugarcoating it a little, the way he couched the statement?

I think if Ainge were being truly candid he'd say look, we don't view this as a playoff caliber team.  This team is not ready to be competitive yet.  We're not interested in making the playoffs this year, and it would probably actually be counterproductive.  We're always looking to make moves to improve the long term prospects of the team, and that's going to be the focus between now and the deadline, and then in the off-season.

[SHAQATTACK]

Tanking for Parker should be 

[PhoSita]

Tanking for Parker should be 

I disagree that outright tanking for a specific player should be a "goal" per se.

Rather, I think setting the team up for the future should be the primary goal.  That means selling off already established players on multi-year middle-class contracts for picks and / or younger players with upside, and it means experimenting with lineups and strategies -- like what the team is doing playing Sullinger at center and having him trying to become a credible threat from three.

That focus on the future at the expense of the present will most likely result in a high pick, though how good that pick is will depend somewhat on luck and somewhat on the talent level of the younger guys already on the team.  That's fine, though, because it means that if we don't get Parker / Randle / Wiggins etc, it means we already have some good young players.

[chambers]

I've said this all along and to read this is vindication for me. Gives me re -assurance in the notion that Ainge is a championship or bust k8nda guy. He looks at the numbers with EVERYTHING he does. All the best GM'S in the NBA like OKC, Houston, Phoenix, Uriji in Toronto have talked about their admiration for Ainge's methods and mentorship.
He's the kind of GM that will keep as many options available that potentially create a championship team.
Ainge is 100% right- there is zero point in making the first round of the playoffs for the sake of it. It doesn't speak to anything when the East is so terrible. Potentially losing a shot at a franchise level player because we wanted to lose get spanked 4 -0 by Indiana on national TV doesn't put any better players next to Rondo-it just hurts our chances of trading for a star because we lose the lottery pick asset.
 

[mgent]

No different than if Ainge had said at the beginning of last year: "Making Sullinger and Bradley better players is not a goal."  Obviously that was a goal but officially the only goal was to win a championship.

Instead of 'win or bust' our team is 'improve or bust' right now.  This thread is a tad bit ridiculous in its attempt to mislead people.

[chambers]

Tanking for Parker should be 

I disagree that outright tanking for a specific player should be a "goal" per se.

Rather, I think setting the team up for the future should be the primary goal.  That means selling off already established players on multi-year middle-class contracts for picks and / or younger players with upside, and it means experimenting with lineups and strategies -- like what the team is doing playing Sullinger at center and having him trying to become a credible threat from three.

That focus on the future at the expense of the present will most likely result in a high pick, though how good that pick is will depend somewhat on luck and somewhat on the talent level of the younger guys already on the team.  That's fine, though, because it means that if we don't get Parker / Randle / Wiggins etc, it means we already have some good young players.

Phosita and D.o.s, two names I can rely on for logical, calm and long term interpretations of anything Celtics.

I agree with this, but I'd also add that moving certain players like Bass, Lee and Humphries in order to develop our future pieces faster should be considered.  Especially when the loss of those veteran trade assets gives us the double whammy of both;
1)developing our younger guys
2)resulting in a better drafting position-particularly in a draft like this upcoming year.

Side note..did anyone see Sullinger's dad on TV a few weeks ago when he said something aling the lines of 'they're playing him at the center now, but once he gets in shape and moves back to the power forward spot as his position of strength he'll be even better.

Obviously we are going to seek a legit NBA big man to put next to him
 Question is, who? And when?

[SHAQATTACK]

Tanking for Embiid should be second priority   

Tank goodness DA sees the ligh.

[celtic -_- pride]

i fully expect a deadline move now by ainge. i don't see bass or lee staying on this team after the all star break. it really makes no sense to have them other than to keep us afloat. i wouldn't even mind selling low on them just so this team can pick a direction

[BballTim]

I've said this all along and to read this is vindication for me. Gives me re -assurance in the notion that Ainge is a championship or bust k8nda guy. He looks at the numbers with EVERYTHING he does. All the best GM'S in the NBA like OKC, Houston, Phoenix, Uriji in Toronto have talked about their admiration for Ainge's methods and mentorship.
He's the kind of GM that will keep as many options available that potentially create a championship team.
Ainge is 100% right- there is zero point in making the first round of the playoffs for the sake of it. It doesn't speak to anything when the East is so terrible. Potentially losing a shot at a franchise level player because we wanted to lose get spanked 4 -0 by Indiana on national TV doesn't put any better players next to Rondo-it just hurts our chances of trading for a star because we lose the lottery pick asset.

  Danny didn't say he wanted to miss the playoffs this year.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Mastering the art of putting words in someone's mouth.

[BballTim]

I think it's funny that the reaction to this by some is that Danny Ainge is somehow being brazen or bold by making this statement.  Isn't he sugarcoating it a little, the way he couched the statement?

I think if Ainge were being truly candid he'd say look, we don't view this as a playoff caliber team.  This team is not ready to be competitive yet.  We're not interested in making the playoffs this year, and it would probably actually be counterproductive.  We're always looking to make moves to improve the long term prospects of the team, and that's going to be the focus between now and the deadline, and then in the off-season.

  Danny's looking for moves to improve our long-term prospects. That doesn't mean he wants to miss the playoffs or he views making the playoffs counterproductive.

[lightspeed5]

this team would crash and burn hard in the playoffs.

[Kuberski33]

My translation of what Danny said: They need to figure out what style they want to play going forward and who on the current roster best fits with the long term vision.  At the same time they want to raise the value of all their players.....i.e raise their trade value.  Its going to be very, very interesting to see what Danny does as we approach the trade deadline.  There are a lot of players on this roster who could shore up an area of weakness for a contender.

[Kuberski33]

this team would crash and burn hard in the playoffs.

I agree with this.  Balanced teams without a superstar scorer can do well in the regular season, but never seem to go far in the playoffs.