8 games left. I think we finish 5th worst with 29.2% chance of a top 3 pick.

[nickagneta]

No worries Nick, tp.

I really can't wait till the draft lottery. I want to be able to look at the future whatever it is instead of having to think about ping pong balls.

You and me both, bro....TP

[chambers]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

Are you just going to laugh if the C's don't win one the top 3 picks? That's the most likely scenario after all no matter where we land.

Someone is obviously missing the extreme irony in wanting to be awful to maximize your chances only to have the 3 teams directly behind the Celtics end up with the top three picks.

Do I really have to explain further why this would be so hysterical to someone who abhors purposeful tanking?

And the rest of us who were hoping for a top 3 pick will be dismayed yet still happy that we had the best mathematical chance that we could get while we could. That's all you can do. Young guys are developing, draft position odds are getting better- the future of the organization is being given the best percentage chance of gaining a cornerstone piece.

I wonder what Red Auerbach would do in the last stretch of a season like this...

[nickagneta]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

Are you just going to laugh if the C's don't win one the top 3 picks? That's the most likely scenario after all no matter where we land.

Someone is obviously missing the extreme irony in wanting to be awful to maximize your chances only to have the 3 teams directly behind the Celtics end up with the top three picks.

Do I really have to explain further why this would be so hysterical to someone who abhors purposeful tanking?

And the rest of us who were hoping for a top 3 pick will be dismayed yet still happy that we had the best mathematical chance that we could get while we could. That's all you can do. Young guys are developing, draft position odds are getting better- the future of the organization is being given the best percentage chance of gaining a cornerstone piece.

I wonder what Red Auerbach would do in the last stretch of a season like this...

I was around here in 2007, chambers. If you think the general consensus will be that the pro tank crowd will be happy they had the best mathematical chance that they could get when the C's are selecting 6th while Utah, Orlando and the Lakers are selecting 1, 2, 3, you are seriously deluding yourself. The anger and outrage will be large, loud and ongoing through a good portion of a couple months.

Heck, I'll be miffed about it. I'll think its hysterical, but I will definitely be angry about it.

[moiso]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

So you are hoping the Celtics get the worst possible draft selection in order to get a good laugh?  Sounds like what a Laker fan would say.

[chambers]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

Are you just going to laugh if the C's don't win one the top 3 picks? That's the most likely scenario after all no matter where we land.

Someone is obviously missing the extreme irony in wanting to be awful to maximize your chances only to have the 3 teams directly behind the Celtics end up with the top three picks.

Do I really have to explain further why this would be so hysterical to someone who abhors purposeful tanking?

And the rest of us who were hoping for a top 3 pick will be dismayed yet still happy that we had the best mathematical chance that we could get while we could. That's all you can do. Young guys are developing, draft position odds are getting better- the future of the organization is being given the best percentage chance of gaining a cornerstone piece.

I wonder what Red Auerbach would do in the last stretch of a season like this...

I was around here in 2007, chambers. If you think the general consensus will be that the pro tank crowd will be happy they had the best mathematical chance that they could get when the C's are selecting 6th while Utah, Orlando and the Lakers are selecting 1, 2, 3, you are seriously deluding yourself. The anger and outrage will be large, loud and ongoing through a good portion of a couple months.

Heck, I'll be miffed about it. I'll think its hysterical, but I will definitely be angry about it.

You're right that people will be angry, I interpreted your words as if you were saying 'I don't care if we don't get a top 3 pick but I'll be laughing if we don't', which was my mistake.

 I'm glad you'd be upset by it because I would be too. At the end of the day it's a lottery and we're going to need serious luck to pull off a top 3 binky- I'm just one of those people that accepts the math involved and lets it happen. I wont be as angry as others because I guess I beleive there's a good chance Ainge will find a use for that pick before draft night anyway if we don't get a top 3 pick.

[footey]

Magic up 9 in first quarter.  Just sayin'.

[nickagneta]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

So you are hoping the Celtics get the worst possible draft selection in order to get a good laugh?  Sounds like what a Laker fan would say.

You must have missed the back and forth follow up between Faf and I after this post you are quoting. Really don't appreciate the Laker fan comment.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

Are you just going to laugh if the C's don't win one the top 3 picks? That's the most likely scenario after all no matter where we land.

Someone is obviously missing the extreme irony in wanting to be awful to maximize your chances only to have the 3 teams directly behind the Celtics end up with the top three picks.

Do I really have to explain further why this would be so hysterical to someone who abhors purposeful tanking?

And the rest of us who were hoping for a top 3 pick will be dismayed yet still happy that we had the best mathematical chance that we could get while we could. That's all you can do. Young guys are developing, draft position odds are getting better- the future of the organization is being given the best percentage chance of gaining a cornerstone piece.

I wonder what Red Auerbach would do in the last stretch of a season like this...

bingo. all we were hoping for was increased odds of more ping pong balls. we realize we could still have bad luck. However, when some things are out of your hands you control what you can. We see that slipping away now.

[sadleprechaun]

bingo. all we were hoping for was increased odds of more ping pong balls. we realize we could still have bad luck. However, when some things are out of your hands you control what you can. We see that slipping away now.

I've been a loyal supporter of Ainge, and I still have tons of faith in him, but I'm really disappointed that he's allowing the team to finish the year with these counterproductive wins.  It's his job to consider the long-term best interests of this team, and these recent wins are actively destructive to those interests.  Reducing our odds of a top-3 pick is absolutely a bad thing--there's just no way around it.  Ainge could have talked to Brad and made it clear that it was important to lose the last four games of the season.  He could've told Brad to rest players like Sully and Bradley.  The fact that Ainge (apparently) didn't is equivalent to him telling the league to just give some of our ping pong balls to other teams.

If Ainge actually gave away our ping pong balls, wouldn't this place go insane?  How is his (seemingly) complacent acceptance of destructive wins any different?

Again, in the grand scheme of things, I'm a big fan of Ainge, but I think he really blew it on this one.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

bingo. all we were hoping for was increased odds of more ping pong balls. we realize we could still have bad luck. However, when some things are out of your hands you control what you can. We see that slipping away now.

I've been a loyal supporter of Ainge, and I still have tons of faith in him, but I'm really disappointed that he's allowing the team to finish the year with these counterproductive wins.  It's his job to consider the long-term best interests of this team, and these recent wins are actively destructive to those interests.  Reducing our odds of a top-3 pick is absolutely a bad thing--there's just no way around it.  Ainge could have talked to Brad and made it clear that it was important to lose the last four games of the season.  He could've told Brad to rest players like Sully and Bradley.  The fact that Ainge (apparently) didn't is equivalent to him telling the league to just give some of our ping pong balls to other teams.

If Ainge actually gave away our ping pong balls, wouldn't this place go insane?  How is his (seemingly) complacent acceptance of destructive wins any different?

Again, in the grand scheme of things, I'm a big fan of Ainge, but I think he really blew it on this one.

This whole place will explode if DA p---ed away our season these last few games after basically torturing us all season with the silver lining of a top 3 pick. Like I said if we are pulling this at the end we should have went a different route before the trade deadline. No man's land, decided NOT to win now but yet then decided the heck with getting the best possible chances at a top 3 pick. mind boggling.

[D.o.s.]

You know what though? Last night's win was awesome. I'm intellectually on board with tanking, but watching the Celtics blow out a team, instead of the converse, was great.

I was hanging out drinking some beers with some friends of mine for the game, and we were all stoked on the team's play, even though we know that 'it'd be better' if we lost. I would've had a bad night if we lost yesterday, instead the Celtics directly contributed to a good evening. That's more important, in the grand scheme of things, than finishing with 25 wins instead of 26.

[PhoSita]

You know what though? Last night's win was awesome. I'm intellectually on board with tanking, but watching the Celtics blow out a team, instead of the converse, was great.

Yeah, I can't get too worked up about seeing Kelly Olynyk going all Dirk on a team, even a totally apathetic team.

When I saw Kelly hit that one-foot-wrong-foot-fade, that made the game for me.

[sadleprechaun]

You know what though? Last night's win was awesome. I'm intellectually on board with tanking, but watching the Celtics blow out a team, instead of the converse, was great.

I was hanging out drinking some beers with some friends of mine for the game, and we were all stoked on the team's play, even though we know that 'it'd be better' if we lost. I would've had a bad night if we lost yesterday, instead the Celtics directly contributed to a good evening. That's more important, in the grand scheme of things, than finishing with 25 wins instead of 26.

You've got to be kidding.  You think that one good night with some bros and beers is more important than our chances at a top draft pick? 

I guess I give you credit for publicly admitting how shortsighted you are, but I couldn't disagree with you more.

[Rondo9]

You know what though? Last night's win was awesome. I'm intellectually on board with tanking, but watching the Celtics blow out a team, instead of the converse, was great.

I was hanging out drinking some beers with some friends of mine for the game, and we were all stoked on the team's play, even though we know that 'it'd be better' if we lost. I would've had a bad night if we lost yesterday, instead the Celtics directly contributed to a good evening. That's more important, in the grand scheme of things, than finishing with 25 wins instead of 26.

You've got to be kidding.  You think that one good night with some bros and beers is more important than our chances at a top draft pick? 

I guess I give you credit for publicly admitting how shortsighted you are, but I couldn't disagree with you more.

I think so, seeing the Celtics having fun on the court is very satisfying. To me, it was the most enjoyable game in a looong time.

[BballTim]

I am going to freaking laugh my ass off if the Celtics tank so well that they end up with the 3rd lottery slot and everyone around here is celebrating and then the 4th, 5th, and 6th slotted teams end up with the top three picks. I am just going to laugh and laugh at all you guys until next season.

God that would be hilarious!!

Are you just going to laugh if the C's don't win one the top 3 picks? That's the most likely scenario after all no matter where we land.

Someone is obviously missing the extreme irony in wanting to be awful to maximize your chances only to have the 3 teams directly behind the Celtics end up with the top three picks.

Do I really have to explain further why this would be so hysterical to someone who abhors purposeful tanking?

And the rest of us who were hoping for a top 3 pick will be dismayed yet still happy that we had the best mathematical chance that we could get while we could. That's all you can do. Young guys are developing, draft position odds are getting better- the future of the organization is being given the best percentage chance of gaining a cornerstone piece.

I wonder what Red Auerbach would do in the last stretch of a season like this...

   Just like in 2007, when all of the knowing smiles about how great our draft position was turned into a seething torrent of "Fire Danny" posts because he was too incompetent to come up with a better plan to turn things around than sucking for a year and hoping to be bailed out by the lottery.