We deserve a top 5 pick this yr. not these other teams

[GreenWarrior]

I believe tanking should come from the front office not on the court.

all these other lottery teams seem to be going through the motions, playing out the season. not trying to improve at all.

Milwaukee - the other night just gave up.
lakers - we saw them sleeping on the bench a couple weeks ago. 
philly - they've given up

my point is if tanking does exist. it shouldn't come from the product on the court.

the C's have played hard in at least 90% of the games played this season. I really don't think these other lottery teams can say that.

[Fafnir]

Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.

[GreenWarrior]

Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.

true. but the nba should consider it. plus the fact that we've been screwed in every lottery we've been involved in.

not that i'm suggesting the lottery is fixed or anything....

[JJ2525]

Yeah, screw the lottery principles of luck and chance.  We deserve it, so..yeah.

[gpap]

And this is why I am against tanking altogether.

Just when you think you're bad enough to the point that you're getting a top 5 pick, there come along others teams that are even worse than you.

AND teams that won't really go out of their way to hide their tanking, unlike the Celts.

[Nerf DPOY]

I don't grasp how players not playing hard is more sinister than the wholesome and decent approach of the front office assembling a crappy team from the start.

The Knicks and Cavs have quit on themselves for stretches this year, and they were both put together to win now. The Knicks in fact have every incentive to win. I'd argue there's more integrity to their suckitude.

That said, I couldn't care less about integrity and which team deserves what, and am confident we'll end up with one of the worst five records by season's end. 

[guava_wrench]

The level of subjectivity in the OP's premise is absurdly high.

[GreenWarrior]

And this is why I am against tanking altogether.

Just when you think you're bad enough to the point that you're getting a top 5 pick, there come along others teams that are even worse than you.

AND teams that won't really go out of their way to hide their tanking, unlike the Celts.

yup, that's why the lottery is a joke. it was supposed to deter teams from openly tanking. but it's ok for them to tank with out them actually say their tanking.

 

[henr1k]

Deserve? There is no such thing unless you believe in karma. Celtics missed Duncan, Oden/Durant, maybe 3rd time is the charm

This season is weird in a lot of ways. There were good drafts before, but we never had so many teams trying to lose games, and doing it since December.

That's why I think NBA will make a change in draft lottery sooner than later and it NEEDS to happen.

Even in 2007, when Oden and Durant were the grand prizes (better in theory than any prospect coming out this year) teams were playing to win at least until trade deadline. Check out number of wins.

Memphis Grizzlies    22–60    
Boston Celtics            24–58    
Milwaukee Bucks    28–54    
Atlanta Hawks       30–52    
Seattle SuperSonics    31–51    
Minnesota Timberwolves    32–50    
Portland Trail Blazers    32–50    
Charlotte Bobcats    33–49    
New York Knicks    33–49    
Sacramento Kings    33–49

Only 3 teams under 30 wins in 2007. (all 3 of those teams dropped 3 spots in lottery - karma? )

This year there will be 5 or 6 teams under 30 wins, and 35-36 wins might get you a playoff spot in the East. Unreal.

[Snakehead]

Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.

TP!

[Boris Badenov]

Deserve? There is no such thing unless you believe in karma. Celtics missed Duncan, Oden/Durant, maybe 3rd time is the charm

This season is weird in a lot of ways. There were good drafts before, but we never had so many teams trying to lose games, and doing it since December.

That's why I think NBA will make a change in draft lottery sooner than later and it NEEDS to happen.

Even in 2007, when Oden and Durant were the grand prizes (better in theory than any prospect coming out this year) teams were playing to win at least until trade deadline. Check out number of wins.

Memphis Grizzlies    22–60    
Boston Celtics            24–58    
Milwaukee Bucks    28–54    
Atlanta Hawks       30–52    
Seattle SuperSonics    31–51    
Minnesota Timberwolves    32–50    
Portland Trail Blazers    32–50    
Charlotte Bobcats    33–49    
New York Knicks    33–49    
Sacramento Kings    33–49

Only 3 teams under 30 wins in 2007. (all 3 of those teams dropped 3 spots in lottery - karma? )

This year there will be 5 or 6 teams under 30 wins, and 35-36 wins might get you a playoff spot in the East. Unreal.

Yup, and last year, leading up to what might be the worst draft of the last 30 years, there were 8 teams under 30 wins - more than what you project this year.

You are making bunnies out of passing clouds.

[CelticG1]

Yeah this is why many avree that the nba lottery system us hugely flawed

[Roy H.]

In terms of "deserving"...  We just traded away two future Hall of Famers, both of whom were loyal to the franchise.  One of those superstars had played his entire career in green.

So, when you're factoring karma into the equation, I'm not sure that Boston ranks that high.

[sofutomygaha]

Forget the teams, I deserve it. Me.

[biggs]

I'd like to defend the OP..

Let's start this off by talking about "Basketball Gods, NBA Karma, and the former tyranny of Stern"

BBall gods supposedely frown upon tanking, wether it's the players or front office.

Karma- there is definitely a difference between our strategy and say The Lakers.  We actually try to win sometimes and can put more than 4 players on the court.

Stern- weighted balls and conspiracies aside, there has been a trend of teams with the most balls not winning. I'm sure the math guys will say "anomaly".

Having said all that, I agree that the C ' s deserve a higher draft pick than obvious tankers and hopefully the mythological and spiritual side of us outweighs the tyranny of stern.

This is supposed to be a bit comedic/sarcastic, but there's no denying the Celts have a strategy that the obvious tankers don't have and it's called trying to win. Hopefully we have some good luck on draft day for that. (karma)