Boston legitimately 4th seed

[LarBrd33]

As of right now, Boston's 12-14 record legitimately is the 4th best record in the Eastern Conference.  It's not just some flukey Atlantic Division nonsense.   2 games under .500 is legitimate 4th seed worthy right now.  For some reason that makes me feel better.   I hated the idea of us accidentally making the playoffs (getting stuck with the 15th pick) with a record worthy of a top 8 pick. 

Btw, we're currently projected to get the #19 and #20 picks.

Granted, there are still 3 Western Conference lotto teams (Warriors, Pelicans, Wolves) who have better records than us... but it doesn't make me feel as queasy.  If we can get this team to .500, I'm fully on board with winning.

[PhoSita]

The Eastern Conference legitimately bad.

The Celtics are still playing at a 37 win pace.  In a normal season that would put them in the 8-10 range.

[LarBrd33]

Our picks are currently projected #19 and #20.  The value of our picks has greatly diminished.  At this point, it's starting to make a lot more sense to just package picks now for a mild upgrade like Asik.

You can make them lottery protected or something.  There's no way you're packaging a couple late 1st rounders and trading up for a future superstar.

[LarBrd33]

The Eastern Conference legitimately bad.

The Celtics are still playing at a 37 win pace.  In a normal season that would put them in the 8-10 range.

Which is why at this point they might as well just dump the picks now for instant upgrades.  Try to be competitive now.  The long game isn't going to work out.

Brooklyn is finally coming together, as well.  As expected, all it took was the return of Deron Williams.

[esel1000]

Our picks are currently projected #19 and #20.  The value of our picks has greatly diminished.  At this point, it's starting to make a lot more sense to just package picks now for a mild upgrade like Asik.

You can make them lottery protected or something.

That's the direction I'm leaning in now... lets face it this team is too good to tank. Maybe not on paper, but Stevens has been impressive with this roster... and we don't even have Rondo yet!

Part of it is the emergence of Sully, Bradley, and Crawford. Part of it is the coaching, and part of it is how bad our conference and division are. But I'm begining to believe that we're a good center away from at least being a legit playoff team... let's get Asik and move Sully back to pf, get Rondo back and roll.

Let's not forget we still have a ton of first round picks in coming years, some expiring contracts, and a trade exemption. We really fleeced Brooklyn and getting a first round pick for Doc is looking like a steal with Stevens here. A top pick isn't a necessity for us (esp considering the fact that we may have some series lotto picks in Brooklyn coming) that we can use for top talent, either draft or trade. Rebuild like the Rockets, never had a top pick.

Ainge has done an extraordinary job with this team

[nickagneta]

Boy the Celtics success must be legitimately killing you guys.

Sullinger was a #21 pick and is turning into a stud.

Rondo was a #21 pick and is a 4 time All Star, multiple time All-Defense and multiple time assists per game leading player.

Bradley was a #19 pick and has already been an All Defense team member and is becoming one heck of a shooter.

Yet you're lamenting these same players doing well so that the C's can get a top pick yet can't see the forest through the trees and see that you can get difference making All Star type players in the draft exactly where the C's are projected to be drafting.

[Clench123]

Let's just forget about tanking and getting lucky with draft and go for the gold by making some killer moves

[LarBrd33]

Boy the Celtics success must be legitimately killing you guys.

Sullinger was a #21 pick and is turning into a stud.

Rondo was a #21 pick and is a 4 time All Star, multiple time All-Defense and multiple time assists per game leading player.

Bradley was a #19 pick and has already been an All Defense team member and is becoming one heck of a shooter.

Yet you're lamenting these same players doing well so that the C's can get a top pick yet can't see the forest through the trees and see that you can get difference making All Star type players in the draft exactly where the C's are projected to be drafting.

This just illustrates what a master GM Danny Ainge is.  I'm not all that concerned.  I think we can cash in some assets now and become a solid middling playoff team for the foreseeable future.  One of those also-ran teams that nobody cares about.  Nuggets East.

Good news is we have a lot of assets heading forward in the event a franchise player hits the trading block.  Kevin Love, for instance.

[nickagneta]

Boy the Celtics success must be legitimately killing you guys.

Sullinger was a #21 pick and is turning into a stud.

Rondo was a #21 pick and is a 4 time All Star, multiple time All-Defense and multiple time assists per game leading player.

Bradley was a #19 pick and has already been an All Defense team member and is becoming one heck of a shooter.

Yet you're lamenting these same players doing well so that the C's can get a top pick yet can't see the forest through the trees and see that you can get difference making All Star type players in the draft exactly where the C's are projected to be drafting.

This just illustrates what a master GM Danny Ainge is.  I'm not all that concerned.  I think we can cash in some assets now and become a solid middling playoff team for the foreseeable future.  One of those also-ran teams that nobody cares about.  Nuggets East.

Glad your outlook has become so rosy. Me, I see greatness for this team due to the players they have now, players that will be added in future drafts and their ability to develop those players into stars.

I also see Brooklyn absolutely sucking in a few years and the C's cashing in on a lottery superstar then that they will add to a playoff team with a young core of stars.

[ManUp]

I think it's a mix of Brad Stevens having us over-achieve and other teams under-achieving or tanking. teams like Detroit, Brooklyn, and Washington should be better based on the level of talent they have.

[beklog]

I think it's a mix of Brad Stevens having us over-achieve and other teams under-achieving or tanking. teams like Detroit, Brooklyn, and Washington should be better based on the level of talent they have.

Stevens and Hornacek are doing great as a rookie coach this season, getting familiarize with coaching, earning your guys support and bringing the best out of them...

[pokeKingCurtis]

Ho. Ly. ****.

This thread.

[LarBrd33]

Boy the Celtics success must be legitimately killing you guys.

Sullinger was a #21 pick and is turning into a stud.

Rondo was a #21 pick and is a 4 time All Star, multiple time All-Defense and multiple time assists per game leading player.

Bradley was a #19 pick and has already been an All Defense team member and is becoming one heck of a shooter.

Yet you're lamenting these same players doing well so that the C's can get a top pick yet can't see the forest through the trees and see that you can get difference making All Star type players in the draft exactly where the C's are projected to be drafting.

This just illustrates what a master GM Danny Ainge is.  I'm not all that concerned.  I think we can cash in some assets now and become a solid middling playoff team for the foreseeable future.  One of those also-ran teams that nobody cares about.  Nuggets East.

Glad your outlook has become so rosy. Me, I see greatness for this team due to the players they have now, players that will be added in future drafts and their ability to develop those players into stars.

I also see Brooklyn absolutely sucking in a few years and the C's cashing in on a lottery superstar then that they will add to a playoff team with a young core of stars.

You see greatness... Do you see anyone on this team capable of being the #1 player on a champion?  Who do you envision as being our franchise player?  Sully?

[pokeKingCurtis]

Would have liked to see Pierce and KG here. Or Brad Stevens here a few years back.

The Spurs arguably don't have a #1 player but are doing so great because of great coaching.

Duncan was a transcendent player. Right now he's a very, very, very, very good player showing flashes of greatness.

This team might have been very analogous to the Spurs with Pierce, KG, Rondo and BS.

Sully in all likelihood won't sniff Duncan. But prime Sully vs. 36, 37 year old Duncan? Maybe if we make up the difference in other positions.

[LooseCannon]

I think it's a mix of Brad Stevens having us over-achieve and other teams under-achieving or tanking. teams like Detroit, Brooklyn, and Washington should be better based on the level of talent they have.

Brooklyn and Chicago are the only teams with a worse record that I thought would be better than Boston.  Detroit and Washington are doing about as well as I thought they would, given their rosters.