Is Stevens going to start the rookies in April?

[Smokeeye123]

With April being a cakewalk even for a team as bad as the C's will Stevens start Pressy/Sullinger/Olynyk? Possibly even Babb/Johnson? The schedule is as follows...

@Wizards
76ers
@Pistons
@Hawks
Bobcats
@Cavaliers
@76ers
Wizards

Only the Wizards and Cats games are games we should really expect to lose imo. The other 5 games are easily winnable and could turn our 4-5 seed to a 7-8 seed. So what does Steven's do? Play rookies more? Hopefully Ainge gives him the *wink wink nudge nudge* once April starts.

[Gari]

Shameless to say, I really want the celtics to lose every single game for the remaining schedule, I don't care if it's a 12 game losing streak or what.

The records of lottery teams are so close that a win over the CHeat pushed us from the 4th spot down to the 6th spot, which has heavily damaged our odds of getting a top three pick by a loss of around ten percent.

I understand that lottery is 'lottery', where the team's position doesn't always turn out to be what people expect it to be, but it's still important to try our best to improve our chances of getting a top three pick, or else it'll be hard to swallow as we fans has been watching uninspiring basketball throughout the year.

Getting Wiggins/Parker/Embiid can do nothing but BOOST our rebuilding plans, let it be developing them into a future star or trade the pick for an underachieving all-star (yeah im talking about Kevin Love). I really wish the celtics can pick a stud from the draft and start winning next year!

[nickagneta]

I just don't see the Celtics taking such an overt tanking position after swearing all year they had no interest in tanking. I think you could see a some subtle upticks in minutes for some players that wouldn't necessarily see upticks in their minutes. I think you could see more things like what we saw with Humphries sitting that fourth quarter a while back. But I just do not see this organization going completely open with a tanking player rotation to start and end games in April.

And at this point, does it matter? Though the chances of landing a top 3 pick are slightly better at 4-5 than 7-8 I don't find that its all that significant. Also it should be mentioned the fact that after the top 3, 4 through 10 in this draft is fairly even in regards to the talent that can be found in that area of the draft.

No, I think the Celtics continue to play the players they are playing now and starting now. Possibly overall minutes change some but nothing major, IMHO.

[Smokeeye123]

I just don't see the Celtics taking such an overt tanking position after swearing all year they had no interest in tanking. I think you could see a some subtle upticks in minutes for some players that wouldn't necessarily see upticks in their minutes. I think you could see more things like what we saw with Humphries sitting that fourth quarter a while back. But I just do not see this organization going completely open with a tanking player rotation to start and end games in April.

And at this point, does it matter? Though the chances of landing a top 3 pick are slightly better at 4-5 than 7-8 I don't find that its all that significant. Also it should be mentioned the fact that after the top 3, 4 through 10 in this draft is fairly even in regards to the talent that can be found in that area of the draft.

No, I think the Celtics continue to play the players they are playing now and starting now. Possibly overall minutes change some but nothing major, IMHO.

At the 4th seed, the Celtics have a 12% of the top pick in the draft,  and a 48% of a top 3 pick.

At the 8th seed the celtics have a 3% of the top pick in the draft, a 10% at a top 3 pick.

The chances of a top 3 pick are literally 4x as likely if the Celtics are the 4 seed rather than the 8 seed. And by just losing a couple more meaningless games it's easily achievable to drastically increase your odds. I definitely don't consider this slightly better odds.

I also disagree, i think there is a huge dropoff from Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum to the rest of the back. So it's key to get top 4.

[nickagneta]

I just don't see the Celtics taking such an overt tanking position after swearing all year they had no interest in tanking. I think you could see a some subtle upticks in minutes for some players that wouldn't necessarily see upticks in their minutes. I think you could see more things like what we saw with Humphries sitting that fourth quarter a while back. But I just do not see this organization going completely open with a tanking player rotation to start and end games in April.

And at this point, does it matter? Though the chances of landing a top 3 pick are slightly better at 4-5 than 7-8 I don't find that its all that significant. Also it should be mentioned the fact that after the top 3, 4 through 10 in this draft is fairly even in regards to the talent that can be found in that area of the draft.

No, I think the Celtics continue to play the players they are playing now and starting now. Possibly overall minutes change some but nothing major, IMHO.

At the 4th seed, the Celtics have a 12% of the top pick in the draft,  and a 48% of a top 3 pick.

At the 8th seed the celtics have a 3% of the top pick in the draft, a 10% at a top 3 pick.

The chances of a top 3 pick are literally 4x as likely if the Celtics are the 4 seed rather than the 8 seed. And by just losing a couple more meaningless games it's easily achievable to drastically increase your odds. I definitely don't consider this slightly better odds.

I also disagree, i think there is a huge dropoff from Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum to the rest of the back. So it's key to get top 4.

You fudged your numbers.

First of, given the schedule, a 4th worst record slot is fairly unlikely given Utah's and the Lakers' schedules compared to that of the Celtics. Once it looked like the Jazz and Lakers were the biggest contenders for the 4th slot, it should have been pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that the Celtics were probably going to finish behind them at 6th or 7th.

Also, given Detroit's schedule and the fact they are 3 games ahead of the Celtics with 12 to play, that the Celtics aren't dropping to the 8th spot. So it's really a difference between the 5th and 7th spots and in those areas(5th spot 8.8% 1st pick, 29.2% top 3.....7th spot 4.3% 1st pick, 15% top 3) I just don't see a huge difference in the chances of winning a lottery. If I buy 20 Powerball tickets as compared to 1 ticket I have 20 times the chance to win but the odds are still remote. So whether an 8% chance or a 4% chance the difference in the overall chance to win is negligible.

[Clench123]

It's Danny's fault if we end up not getting the top five

[LarBrd33]

I just don't see the Celtics taking such an overt tanking position after swearing all year they had no interest in tanking. I think you could see a some subtle upticks in minutes for some players that wouldn't necessarily see upticks in their minutes. I think you could see more things like what we saw with Humphries sitting that fourth quarter a while back. But I just do not see this organization going completely open with a tanking player rotation to start and end games in April.

And at this point, does it matter? Though the chances of landing a top 3 pick are slightly better at 4-5 than 7-8 I don't find that its all that significant. Also it should be mentioned the fact that after the top 3, 4 through 10 in this draft is fairly even in regards to the talent that can be found in that area of the draft.

No, I think the Celtics continue to play the players they are playing now and starting now. Possibly overall minutes change some but nothing major, IMHO.

At the 4th seed, the Celtics have a 12% of the top pick in the draft,  and a 48% of a top 3 pick.

At the 8th seed the celtics have a 3% of the top pick in the draft, a 10% at a top 3 pick.

The chances of a top 3 pick are literally 4x as likely if the Celtics are the 4 seed rather than the 8 seed. And by just losing a couple more meaningless games it's easily achievable to drastically increase your odds. I definitely don't consider this slightly better odds.

I also disagree, i think there is a huge dropoff from Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum to the rest of the back. So it's key to get top 4.

It's unfortunate, but unless we are shutting down Rondo... best to stop dreaming about 4 elite prospects.  I think he damage is already done... we'll end up with someone like Aaron Gordon.

But we'll have lots of pieces... so perhaps we end up trading the #8 pick, our #20 pick... some future picks, Sully, Oly and cap filler for an all-star to put next to Rondo.

[LarBrd33]

It's Danny's fault if we end up not getting the top five

I thought he took a gamble by hanging onto Rondo.  Had we traded him at the deadline for prospects and picks, I figured we'd lock up a top pick.

Really, though... Rondo hasn't moved the needle much.  We've won 6 of his 23 games.  Granted, a strong April against weak teams will probably destroy any hope we have of getting an "elite" prospect.  But maybe we'll get lucky on the trade market.

[Donoghus]

It's Danny's fault if we end up not getting the top five

I thought he took a gamble by hanging onto Rondo.  Had we traded him at the deadline for prospects and picks, I figured we'd lock up a top pick.

Really, though... Rondo hasn't moved the needle much.  We've won 6 of his 23 games.  Granted, a strong April against weak teams will probably destroy any hope we have of getting an "elite" prospect.  But maybe we'll get lucky on the trade market.

I don't think he was gonna trade Rondo at the deadline for some of those quarter on the dollar deals that were floating along and, especially, since Rondo's trade value wasn't at an optimal level. 

[Sketch5]

It's Danny's fault if we end up not getting the top five

Yeah because he has complete control of how bad the other teams are. 

Yeah he could have gotten rid of players, but at what price? For Penny's on the dollar because other teams knew that the C's are in tank mode. Then what. We end up like the Sixers and Bucks? do you know how long it's going to take for them to get back into the play offs with striping their team?

the Wizard and Bobcats did the same thing and Just now the Cats are getting into the playoffs barely, and the Wirzards are still one or two years away from that.

DA knows that you don't win with player with 1 to 3 or 4 years of experience. you need older players. So unless your okay with being mediocre for the next 4 or 5 years fine. But if you want to start competing in the next couple, you can't throw out all of your assets for peanuts. And if you want to bring in a Love, or Melo, you're not going to with srub players on the team. KG didn't want to play with just PP, but bring Allen in, then things changed. You want to get rid of Rondo, yet players want to play with him. Green is a good guy to have on the team to help with D and scoring. Sully is becoming a force. You bring in a Love or Melo and this team can contend with a couple small moves. Get rid of everyone, who knows how long it will be, but it wont be in the next couple season. You see how much Parker buckled under the pressure yesturday. Whats going to happen in the BIG spotlight.

Plus no one wanted to move player at deadline. I said before that draft night would be easier to get good deals than half way threw the season. Teams will know were they are and what players they are in play for over the summer. So I wouldn't be surprised if some thing happened then.

Also  who would have thought LA,Detroit,Cleavland,NY,Brooklyn,SAC would have been that bad that we would have to worry about them.

[Celtics18]

We are almost guaranteed to be in the lottery at this point.  Congratulations, Tankers!!  Mission accomplished.

I think that shooting for a bottom three record is way too cynical, though.  It's not likely to happen.  Try to win games and make the most of one pick in the top ten and another in the top twenty of a very deep draft. 

Maybe, we'll get really lucky in the lottery.  Wouldn't it be hysterical if we won the lottery from somewhere between the 8th to 12th best odds?  The rest of the league's fans would go into an absolute tizzy. 

 

[KGs Knee]

We are almost guaranteed to be in the lottery at this point.  Congratulations, Tankers!!  Mission accomplished.

I think that shooting for a bottom three record is way too cynical, though.  It's not likely to happen.  Try to win games and make the most of one pick in the top ten and another in the top twenty of a very deep draft. 

Maybe, we'll get really lucky in the lottery.  Wouldn't it be hysterical if we won the lottery from somewhere between the 8th to 12th best odds?  The rest of the league's fans would go into an absolute tizzy. 

 

Wouldn't it be even funnier if Embiid, Wiggins and Parker all decide to stay in school?

Hopefully if the C's win the lottery that doesn't happen. It sure would serve the Tankers right though.   Disrespecting the game should not be rewarded.

[Smokeeye123]

I just don't see the Celtics taking such an overt tanking position after swearing all year they had no interest in tanking. I think you could see a some subtle upticks in minutes for some players that wouldn't necessarily see upticks in their minutes. I think you could see more things like what we saw with Humphries sitting that fourth quarter a while back. But I just do not see this organization going completely open with a tanking player rotation to start and end games in April.

And at this point, does it matter? Though the chances of landing a top 3 pick are slightly better at 4-5 than 7-8 I don't find that its all that significant. Also it should be mentioned the fact that after the top 3, 4 through 10 in this draft is fairly even in regards to the talent that can be found in that area of the draft.

No, I think the Celtics continue to play the players they are playing now and starting now. Possibly overall minutes change some but nothing major, IMHO.

At the 4th seed, the Celtics have a 12% of the top pick in the draft,  and a 48% of a top 3 pick.

At the 8th seed the celtics have a 3% of the top pick in the draft, a 10% at a top 3 pick.

The chances of a top 3 pick are literally 4x as likely if the Celtics are the 4 seed rather than the 8 seed. And by just losing a couple more meaningless games it's easily achievable to drastically increase your odds. I definitely don't consider this slightly better odds.

I also disagree, i think there is a huge dropoff from Parker/Wiggins/Embiid/Exum to the rest of the back. So it's key to get top 4.

You fudged your numbers.

First of, given the schedule, a 4th worst record slot is fairly unlikely given Utah's and the Lakers' schedules compared to that of the Celtics. Once it looked like the Jazz and Lakers were the biggest contenders for the 4th slot, it should have been pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that the Celtics were probably going to finish behind them at 6th or 7th.

Also, given Detroit's schedule and the fact they are 3 games ahead of the Celtics with 12 to play, that the Celtics aren't dropping to the 8th spot. So it's really a difference between the 5th and 7th spots and in those areas(5th spot 8.8% 1st pick, 29.2% top 3.....7th spot 4.3% 1st pick, 15% top 3) I just don't see a huge difference in the chances of winning a lottery. If I buy 20 Powerball tickets as compared to 1 ticket I have 20 times the chance to win but the odds are still remote. So whether an 8% chance or a 4% chance the difference in the overall chance to win is negligible.

It should be 38% not 48% as I added wrong but those are still much improved odds. And you're really comparing powerball where you have a better chance getting struck by lightning than winning? When it comes down to it we could literally be 1 or 2 games away from having the 4th seed or the 7th seed. From an organizational perspective it's completely ridiculous to not try and get the best pick possible at this point and sit players/start rookies. Beating the Heat twice should not happen with a team like the C's.

By this time next week the C's should be back at the 4th seed so they will be in control of their own fate again. (Lakers are versing the Magic, Knicks, Bucks the next three games, and the Jazz are versing the Magic, Pistons, Grizzlies the next three...All very winnable games for them.)

The differences in a couple spots in the draft is using it to trade for an allstar/draft a future allstar or becoming a treadmill team like the Hawks/Grizzlies and never competing for a championship. Sixers and Magic GM's have smartly realized this and traded useless pieces from their teams to fully bottom out. Apparently Ainge didn't want to do that...You can't build a mansion until you've laid the foundation. What is our foundation? Rondo? Sullinger? Is that a championship winning caliber foundation?

[Smokeeye123]

We are almost guaranteed to be in the lottery at this point.  Congratulations, Tankers!!  Mission accomplished.

I think that shooting for a bottom three record is way too cynical, though.  It's not likely to happen.  Try to win games and make the most of one pick in the top ten and another in the top twenty of a very deep draft. 

Maybe, we'll get really lucky in the lottery.  Wouldn't it be hysterical if we won the lottery from somewhere between the 8th to 12th best odds?  The rest of the league's fans would go into an absolute tizzy. 

 

Wouldn't it be even funnier if Embiid, Wiggins and Parker all decide to stay in school?

Hopefully if the C's win the lottery that doesn't happen. It sure would serve the Tankers right though.   Disrespecting the game should not be rewarded.

If that happens tanking will become twice as worse next season hahaha.

[Celtics18]

The differences in a couple spots in the draft is using it to trade for an allstar/draft a future allstar or becoming a treadmill team like the Hawks/Grizzlies and never competing for a championship. Sixers and Magic GM's have smartly realized this and traded useless pieces from their teams to fully bottom out. Apparently Ainge didn't want to do that...You can't build a mansion until you've laid the foundation. What is our foundation? Rondo? Sullinger? Is that a championship winning caliber foundation?

That's a cliche that I read a lot on this forum.   

Are you actually saying that if we don't get a top three pick this year, the team "will never compete for a championship"?  That's just a completely unfounded statement that is thrown out there way too often. 


I also am stunned that you use the Magic and Sixers as examples of franchises who we should aspire to be like.