If you want to tank this season, shouldn't you want to tank next season, too?

[Celtics17]

It's kind of funny how so many people want to condemn those who feel that tanking is a better and quicker way to see a competitive Celtics' team sooner. Does it really matter if you are pro or con on tanking since everyone really is just wanting to see competitive basketball again?

[Fafnir]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

  Cleveland doubled their win total. I think the main reason those rooks don't win right away is the team they go to has no talent around them. Say the Celts drafted a wing player who was very good, bring in a decent center and still have Rondo/Sully/AB/Green. It wouldn't win a title but they'd be solid in a hurry if the rookie was as good as advertised.

Cleveland doubled their win total because Carlos Boozer came into his own in his second year, Big Z had a better year, and overall they did a better job assembling some role players to do ball handling and the like.

LeBron scoring like Antoine Walker and playing rookie NBA defense didn't improve them much at all. (again other than making sure Ricky didn't play starter minutes)

[LilRip]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

  Cleveland doubled their win total. I think the main reason those rooks don't win right away is the team they go to has no talent around them. Say the Celts drafted a wing player who was very good, bring in a decent center and still have Rondo/Sully/AB/Green. It wouldn't win a title but they'd be solid in a hurry if the rookie was as good as advertised.

Cleveland doubled their win total because Carlos Boozer came into his own in his second year, Big Z had a better year, and overall they did a better job assembling some role players to do ball handling and the like.

LeBron scoring like Antoine Walker and playing rookie NBA defense didn't improve them much at all. (again other than making sure Ricky didn't play starter minutes)

i actually thought Melo outplayed Lebron in their rookie year, but maybe that's just me.

anyway, i agree that it would be highly unfair to expect a rookie to come in and play like an all-star and make this team a contender. i hope, for their sanity's sake, no one is expecting that either, even if we do land Wiggins or Parker.

i also hope that people don't lose sight of the likely fact that the rebuild won't end with getting one of the top picks. However, getting one of the top picks would help tremendously.

[beantownboy171]

What made this season so ideal for tanking was the timing of it.


  The end of an era (kg, pp, doc)
+ No Rajon for the first half of the season
+ A first year head coach
+ The deepest draft in a decade
___________________________________

= A season meant for tanking



Next year is Rondo's contract year. That's enough of a reason to want to make the playoffs.

[BballTim]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

  Cleveland doubled their win total. I think the main reason those rooks don't win right away is the team they go to has no talent around them. Say the Celts drafted a wing player who was very good, bring in a decent center and still have Rondo/Sully/AB/Green. It wouldn't win a title but they'd be solid in a hurry if the rookie was as good as advertised.

Cleveland doubled their win total because Carlos Boozer came into his own in his second year, Big Z had a better year, and overall they did a better job assembling some role players to do ball handling and the like.

LeBron scoring like Antoine Walker and playing rookie NBA defense didn't improve them much at all. (again other than making sure Ricky didn't play starter minutes)

  I would disagree with that assessment. LeBron wasn't all world at the time but they'd have been hard pressed to win without his 21/6/6.

[ManUp]

What made this season so ideal for tanking was the timing of it.


  The end of an era (kg, pp, doc)
+ No Rajon for the first half of the season
+ A first year head coach
+ The deepest draft in a decade
___________________________________

= A season meant for tanking



Next year is Rondo's contract year. That's enough of a reason to want to make the playoffs.

This

As was said earlier it was the perfect tanking storm and I think Danny felt the same. The only thing that caught everyone off guard was how terrible the east would be this year. I think it really caught Ainge off guard when the Knicks and Nets ended up being so terrible and Stevens started winning with so little so soon. Which I think is the real reason for the Lee and Crawford trades, IMO, there was no real incentive to move either player other than to make the team worse.

[Donoghus]

It's not necessary to tank next season, especially if you're getting a top 3 pick in this upcoming draft.  Heck, even a top 6 pick added to Rondo & Sully is making progress.

See how '14-15 plays out and then cash in some of your assets come summer 2015.

[Spicoli]

I don't have any interest in tanking next year. I only wanted to tank this year for the shot at landing Wiggins who i feel as though will be a real game changer in the NBA. I don't think the college game really showcases his abilities.

[droopdog7]

I'm one and done on the tank train.  After this year, we can root for the clips and nets to tank while rooting for the Celts to win.

[Moranis]

I think people's expectations are a bit out of whack even if we "win" the draft lottery and move up to a top 3 pick. Rookies rarely help your team win, even LeBron his rookie year was pretty bad offensively and didn't help his team win a ton. (well he did by not having Ricky Davis play so many minutes but that's just because Ricky was really really bad)

  Cleveland doubled their win total. I think the main reason those rooks don't win right away is the team they go to has no talent around them. Say the Celts drafted a wing player who was very good, bring in a decent center and still have Rondo/Sully/AB/Green. It wouldn't win a title but they'd be solid in a hurry if the rookie was as good as advertised.

Cleveland doubled their win total because Carlos Boozer came into his own in his second year, Big Z had a better year, and overall they did a better job assembling some role players to do ball handling and the like.

LeBron scoring like Antoine Walker and playing rookie NBA defense didn't improve them much at all. (again other than making sure Ricky didn't play starter minutes)

and yet they improved another 7 games the following year when they replaced Boozer with Drew Gooden.  I think you are greatly underselling the impact of Lebron James.  Now sure he wasn't solely responsible for the 18 game improvement, but he was by far the largest reason for it.

The Bulls improved 11 games with Jordan. 

The Magic improved 20 games with Shaq and 15 games with Howard.

Denver went from 17 wins to 43 wins with Anthony. 

Now sure a lot of players are not ready to contribute wins right away, even some of the all time great college players, but that isn't always the case.  Some guys are just so good so early that their impact is tremendous even in that first year.

[LarBrd33]

I've been a big pro-tanker. 

I don't want to tank next season.   I think it's a one-time thing.  This is a top-heavy draft with a handful of guys who can be very special.  It was a great year to bottom out.  Taking advantage of Rondo's injury and a well-timed bailout by Brooklyn.  This year it makes sense.  I wouldn't have been in favor of tanking last season when the draft was supposed to be weak.

Best-case scenario you nab a franchise player you can build around.  Worst-case scenario you get a pick 7-15 and use it as a trade asset.

Either way, I expect us to be significantly improved next year.

This is pretty much where I stand. I think a historically good draft and Rondo being injured created a perfect tank storm. Next year I expect this team to be in the playoffs.

I'll just add... there are trades that Boston would make this year if they were trying to win.  As much as some posters here like to deny that Boston is positioning themselves for a Top 5 pick, it seems blatantly obvious to me.   They traded KG and Pierce for future assets.  They traded a quality player like Courtney Lee for "flexibility".  That's a team that is punting on the season and hoping for the best return possible through the draft.

I think in any other year if someone like Asik is offered up for Bass and a late 1st, you probably don't choke on the pick.  But the fact is, we're better off losing this year than winning... so why bring in a player who should dramatically improve our defense.  In 2013-14, it makes no sense.  In 2014-15, we flip that switch in the other direction.

There's all sorts of mild upgrades we COULD have made this year... but there was no point to making them.  Next year once we've given a good-faith effort into tanking, I think Boston gets back to trying to win.   

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING RAJON RONDO IS A SITTING DUCK

You aren't going to trot out another "no-win situation" 50+ loss team during Rondo's contract year.  NOT HAPPENING.  Boston NEEDS to make moves towards winning or Rondo is heading for greener pastures.  That means, trading assets for players like Asik and Afflalo... bring on vets who can contribute to victories, etc.   

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm tanking at least three more seasons

It's easier to lose games ........and the winner gets a prize ......the best player every year

I like games where losing rewards you with the best prize.....

Tank on.