Do you expect the Celts to make the playoffs next season?

[NYDan]

If we do, it's because the East is pitiful or we made big moves for All-NBA talent. Don't think the current squad + rookies, even talented rookies, are enough.

[cb8883]

I expected them to make it this year.  I'll go with yes again.

So another 27 win season, huh?

Hah.  I think we'll probably be a playoff team next year unless we go all-in on building around youth.  Can't really afford not to be a playoff team if we plan on keeping Rondo.

I agree 100% Kevin Love and Melo are not the answer. Build a great young team and go from there.

[GreenWarrior]

it's such a bad time to be in the east.

why did we have to be bad now? why are the same crappy teams so **** crappy every yr?

there is a good chance we make the playoffs next yr. but I doubt it will be because we deserve it.

I blame the knicks for everything.

[Roy H.]

No. I think this is a multiple-year rebuild.

[SHAQATTACK]

it's such a bad time to be in the east.

why did we have to be bad now? why are the same crappy teams so **** crappy every yr?

there is a good chance we make the playoffs next yr. but I doubt it will be because we deserve it.

I blame the knicks for everything.

To me ....it's the same old issue , since Shaq .....all the elite players bolt the lottery teams to join the same five or six teams .......which mostly are in the West leaving the East  with unequal talent .

NY and NJ are so poorly run , owned and managed and coached ......

Also......a lot of teams in the East have taken WAY. To long to,rebuild ...... Cleveland and Charlotte just stuck in Lottery land forever .   .....the owners seem to refuse to spend the money on Elite players  to go with lottery picks .

Bucks and 76 ers rebuild and fire coaches coaches so often ....how in the heck do you build up a team .....so irrational with their rebuilding plans  and firings .

Same with Pistons ....all these teams are poorly run and have no elite talent ......or can seem to build on their lottery picks before they bolt for LA

[BleedGreen1989]

I think it hinges on Rondo.

If Ainge finds a deal he likes for Rondo this summer, then get ready for a couple seasons in the lottery.

If Ainge keeps Rondo, I tend to think he'll make other moves to get this team into the playoffs.

[hpantazo]

It's the east, if they want to make the playoffs they will. If Ainge wanted to, they could have made the playoffs this season.

[JBcat]

We have no idea what moves Ainge is going to make in the offseason, and no idea with whoever they draft if they can make an immediate impact.

However if I were to put them in a category it would be this.

100 percent yes
Miami think their big 3 will all be back.  Might see more of a dropoff with Wade, but Lebron Bosh will still be at the top of thei game.
Indiana - not going anywhere

Most likely
Chicago- will make it this year already without Rose.
Washington- like their young backcourt. Must re-sign Gortat though.

On the ledge
Toronto- not sure if current success has staying power.
Brooklyn- getting Lopez back but what will he look like.  More decline of their older players?
Atlanta- getting Hortford back , and the best of the BKN ATL pick.  Could be better, but not a guarantee.
Charlotte-not sure if they can get better than they are now.
Detroit- roster construction a mess, but talented group.
Cleveland- terrible management but has a decent young core
NY- not many assets to improve but still has Anthony.
Boston- so many question marks, and how much will young players improve
Orlando-will one more talented young piece push them closer to playoffs.
Philly- tons of cap space, and 2 more high draft picks with Noel coming back.  Maybe a quick turnaround.

Long shot
Bucks-even if they strike gold in the draft I don't see them improving that much for a playoff run.

So in IMO lots of teams in ine category that could go either way.  Tough to say right now.

[Vox_Populi]

I think it hinges on Rondo.

If Ainge finds a deal he likes for Rondo this summer, then get ready for a couple seasons in the lottery.

If Ainge keeps Rondo, I tend to think he'll make other moves to get this team into the playoffs.

I would agree with this.

[GreenWarrior]

it's such a bad time to be in the east.

why did we have to be bad now? why are the same crappy teams so **** crappy every yr?

there is a good chance we make the playoffs next yr. but I doubt it will be because we deserve it.

I blame the knicks for everything.

To me ....it's the same old issue , since Shaq .....all the elite players bolt the lottery teams to join the same five or six teams .......which mostly are in the West leaving the East  with unequal talent .

NY and NJ are so poorly run , owned and managed and coached ......

Also......a lot of teams in the East have taken WAY. To long to,rebuild ...... Cleveland and Charlotte just stuck in Lottery land forever .   .....the owners seem to refuse to spend the money on Elite players  to go with lottery picks .

Bucks and 76 ers rebuild and fire coaches coaches so often ....how in the heck do you build up a team .....so irrational with their rebuilding plans  and firings .

Same with Pistons ....all these teams are poorly run and have no elite talent ......or can seem to build on their lottery picks before they bolt for LA

oh that's exactly the problem. that's why the best thing about the NBA is also the worst thing about the NBA - the players....next to their refs, which i'm surprised they haven't gotten a sneaker deal yet.

but they simply cater to the players way too much. and I can't stand the argument that they should be catered to because without them the league would fail.

yes, it's true it would. but there is no way in hell these guys are going to play anywhere other than the NBA if they don't get there way.

it's just a horrible league. it really is.     

[Tr1boy]

Imo who cares if the east sucks. Better chance to get into the playoffs and give next seasons team a chance to taste the playoff experience. You have to move fwd somehow and cant be banking on drafting the next lebron or making a trade for a top player

[hpantazo]

Imo who cares if the east sucks. Better chance to get into the playoffs and give next seasons team a chance to taste the playoff experience. You have to move fwd somehow and cant be banking on drafting the next lebron or making a trade for a top player

While I agree that we should move ahead at some point, and we should aim for the playoffs if not next year then soon, your statement that you can't bank on drafting a superstar OR trading for one doesn't make sense. You can't honestly expect this team as is to contend just by gaining experience. Sure, we shouldn't bank on drafting the next Lebron, but we have to trade and/or sign a couple of top players soon if we hope to contend. That's what that war chest of 1st round picks Ainge has put together is for.

[LarBrd33]

No. I think this is a multiple-year rebuild.

Do you think Rondo is sticking around if we miss the playoffs in his contract year?... he'll be 29 when he hits free agency.

[Tr1boy]

Imo who cares if the east sucks. Better chance to get into the playoffs and give next seasons team a chance to taste the playoff experience. You have to move fwd somehow and cant be banking on drafting the next lebron or making a trade for a top player

While I agree that we should move ahead at some point, and we should aim for the playoffs if not next year then soon, your statement that you can't bank on drafting a superstar OR trading for one doesn't make sense. You can't honestly expect this team as is to contend just by gaining experience. Sure, we shouldn't bank on drafting the next Lebron, but we have to trade and/or sign a couple of top players soon if we hope to contend. That's what that war chest of 1st round picks Ainge has put together is for.

It's not mandatory you need to give up multiple picks say for a Kevin Love. Imo actually that would be a mistake, he is a good player, but is overpaid and a defensive liability.

You will have a very good chance to draft 2 or 3 good players from 2014 to 2015 draft.  You can accelerate their development by having them go through a playoff series

I'm happy to attempt to take the pacers route and build a team through the draft, making trades signing FA that make sense , get into the playoffs and become where they are today, a top championship level team. IF another KG/PP/Allen trade opportunity comes, then sure explore it. But as of right now or in the near future that is not looking like the case. Guys like Love and Melo are not in the same league as those guys imo.

I want to make the playoffs next year and start building a winning culture and let the rest take care of itself

[hpantazo]

Imo who cares if the east sucks. Better chance to get into the playoffs and give next seasons team a chance to taste the playoff experience. You have to move fwd somehow and cant be banking on drafting the next lebron or making a trade for a top player

While I agree that we should move ahead at some point, and we should aim for the playoffs if not next year then soon, your statement that you can't bank on drafting a superstar OR trading for one doesn't make sense. You can't honestly expect this team as is to contend just by gaining experience. Sure, we shouldn't bank on drafting the next Lebron, but we have to trade and/or sign a couple of top players soon if we hope to contend. That's what that war chest of 1st round picks Ainge has put together is for.

It's not mandatory you need to give up multiple picks say for a Kevin Love. Imo actually that would be a mistake, he is a good player, but is overpaid and a defensive liability.

You will have a very good chance to draft 2 or 3 good players from 2014 to 2015 draft.  You can accelerate their development by having them go through a playoff series

I'm happy to attempt to take the pacers route and build a team through the draft, making trades signing FA that make sense , get into the playoffs and become where they are today, a top championship level team. IF another KG/PP/Allen trade opportunity comes, then sure explore it. But as of right now or in the near future that is not looking like the case. Guys like Love and Melo are not in the same league as those guys imo.

I want to make the playoffs next year and start building a winning culture and let the rest take care of itself

That plan you describe leaves way too much to chance. You have to land two top players one way or another if you want to contend, and hoping you get lucky and they come through mid round picks in the next few years isn't going to work out. You get stuck as a a perennial 1st round exit. What is the chance that we get a Hibbert and Paul George in the next 3 years through the draft if we make the playoffs? Not very good.

We have to land a star with our lottery pick this summer, and either trade Rondo or move our collection of 1st rounders and young players like Bradley and Olynyk for top level players to put around Rondo.

I think a lot is riding on where our 1st ends up in this lottery.