Some thoughts at the end of a long, tough season.

[PhoSita]

1. We are all true Celtics fans, irrespective of how we choose to define or manifest our fandom.

2. Enduring a season full of losses sucks for everybody.  The players, the coaches, the management, and the fans.  Yes, all kinds of fans -- those that believe in losing now for the sake of the future, and those who believe in trying to win as many games as possible every season.

3. I can't wait until a few weeks from now, when the lottery order is determined.  I'm looking forward to having discussions based on a concrete draft position, and what the team ought to do with the picks, rather than endless arguments about what the team should be doing to try to win / lose games down the stretch.

4. Whether the Celtics get the #1 overall pick, or suffer a terrible stroke of bad luck and end up with the #8 or #9 pick (which still isn't so bad, really), it will not be the result of what any particular block of the fanbase has been hoping for all season.  Nobody can "will" the Celtics to a high pick through consistency of argument or belief through the season.  Nobody can cause the Celtics to fall a few spots in the lottery due to "bad fan karma."

5. Next season may very well be another difficult one.  Rebuilding takes time.  It's more likely than not that the player the Celtics get at the top of the draft this season -- or the player they trade the pick for, as the case may be -- will not be THE answer.  How about we agree to be nicer to each other next year? 

6. In all likelihood, there's no Kevin Garnett trade out the horizon.  At least not for this summer.  Chances are, we're all going to have to learn to practice some patience and "trust in the process," as Brad Stevens would say.

7.  I had a dream last night that Danny Ainge resigned, unexpectedly, after the season.  Let's hope that doesn't happen.  With Ainge and Stevens on board, the team is in good hands right now.

8. Wish Jeff Green and Brandon Bass all the best, but I'm hoping they're wearing different jerseys 7 months from now.

9. There's a good chance we have to endure a Melo-esque circus with Rondo on the verge of UFA for the first time.  Get ready for that.  It's probably not going to be fun.

10. Whatever happens this summer, I hope next year's Celtics team is at least fun to use in NBA 2K.  Been a long time since that was the case.

[D.o.s.]

My own thoughts at this moment in Celtics History:

-My coffee is empty.

-I should make some more coffee

-Can the playoffs just start, please?

[PhoSita]

My own thoughts at this moment in Celtics History:

-My coffee is empty.

-I should make some more coffee

-Can the playoffs just start, please?

- I freakin' love coffee.

- I really hope Adam Silver considers the "NBA Sweet 16" idea, along with the end of season tournament for non-seeded teams.  It's a shame that a team like Phoenix or Dallas or Memphis will miss out on the playoffs while Atlanta / New York get in.

[LilRip]

Pho, regarding point #2:

Agreed that losing generally sucks, but the way this team is constructed is what makes the current losing even more frustrating for me. This team (as presently constructed) holds no bright future and has practically already "peaked", for the most part. That's why I'm eagerly awaiting this offseason because I know either:
1) fresh and promising talent will come in, and/or
2) the current team will be reconstructed.

One or two of those things happening will give me renewed hope, and the losses would hurt less. For example, if we're able to land Wiggins and he sets the league on fire and wins ROY, a 50-loss season won't feel so unbearable.

What will make next season suck though is if:
1) our pick (or whoever we trade our pick for) turns out to be a complete bust, and
2) if the roster largely remains intact.

#1 happening might be more bearable because sometimes, it's the luck of the draw (or rather, the bad luck of the draw). But #2 would be unacceptable and would make for another completely forgettable season, not to mention Rondo likely walking once his contract runs out.

[D.o.s.]

My own thoughts at this moment in Celtics History:

-My coffee is empty.

-I should make some more coffee

-Can the playoffs just start, please?

- I freakin' love coffee.

- I really hope Adam Silver considers the "NBA Sweet 16" idea, along with the end of season tournament for non-seeded teams.  It's a shame that a team like Phoenix or Dallas or Memphis will miss out on the playoffs while Atlanta / New York get in.

I think the Sweet 16 would be awesome, especially if you moved it to the end of April and spaced the regular season out a bit more. That way you'd be decently removed from March Madness, teams would still have a week of rest, and there'd be absolutely nothing to fight for viewership for.

Plus, they could have 'Make the Playoffs' jerseys with Kia logos or whatever, and you could keep it interconference, so that the travel wouldn't be a factor.

[PhoSita]

My own thoughts at this moment in Celtics History:

-My coffee is empty.

-I should make some more coffee

-Can the playoffs just start, please?

- I freakin' love coffee.

- I really hope Adam Silver considers the "NBA Sweet 16" idea, along with the end of season tournament for non-seeded teams.  It's a shame that a team like Phoenix or Dallas or Memphis will miss out on the playoffs while Atlanta / New York get in.

I think the Sweet 16 would be awesome, especially if you moved it to the end of April and spaced the regular season out a bit more. That way you'd be decently removed from March Madness, teams would still have a week of rest, and there'd be absolutely nothing to fight for viewership for.

Plus, they could have 'Make the Playoffs' jerseys with Kia logos or whatever, and you could keep it interconference, so that the travel wouldn't be a factor.

The Sweet 16 thing, by the way, is simply the notion that conferences should be abolished for the purposes of playoff seeding and just have the 16 best teams in it, with the bracket determined by record alone (so #1 vs #16 and so on).

The "Exciting As Hell Tournament" is the whole "bad teams fighting for the last spot in the playoffs" thing.

[PhoSita]

What will make next season suck though is if:
1) our pick (or whoever we trade our pick for) turns out to be a complete bust, and
2) if the roster largely remains intact.

I'd be really surprised if #2 happens.

I don't think we'll know about #1 before the end of next season, unless we pick a guy who is an Anthony Bennett level bust.


I expect Bass to get dumped to literally any team willing to take him.  No return necessary.  Humphries and Bayless are probably gone, though I could see either or both re-signing here for reasonable deals.  It will probably depend on who we get in the draft.

I think Ainge will dangle Green in trades this summer, and I think there may be one or two teams who might bite.

I'd be pretty surprised if Ainge doesn't address the center position in a really significant way this summer, either via the draft, trade, or free agency.

[LarBrd33]

As long as our pick is in the top 8, I'd say this season was a wild success.

Ainge set this team up to tank and they did just that.  We racked up the losses in style.  When things got a little sketchy, he dumped Lee and Crawford to maximize the tank.   Instead of asking Rondo to adapt and fit in, we've given him free reign to inflate his stats and maximize our tankability.  We've used the excuse of his injury to create an arbitrary "no back-to-backs" rule which has allowed us to avoid having any kind of rhythm or flow from game to game... maximizing our tankability.  It's been a masterful display of tanking.

Sully is a nice piece.  Rondo is a nice piece.  We've been showcasing Green and Bass all season... both have their stats close to their career best which will help for future trade potential.  We've asked Bradley to tone down his defense in order to showcase his offensive power.  He's averaging 14.5 points on a healthy 44%/39%/80% shooting.  It will be interesting to see if we keep him or utilize him in some manner.   We've held back Oly on the bench... last two months he's shot lights out.  Last month 10 points on a ridiculous 52%/46%/83%.  This month, 11 points on a ridiculous 57%/46%/75% ... both with only 20 minutes per game.   He's looking like a really nice piece as well.

Then of course we'll have our major talent addition through the tanked pick + another 2014 pick + plenty of other future picks + a trade exception, etc...

Ainge will have endless options this summer.  This season wasn't "long/tough"... it was a masterful display of strategic positioning by a master GM.   It's something absolutely worth celebrating. 

[MBunge]

What will make next season suck though is if:
1) our pick (or whoever we trade our pick for) turns out to be a complete bust, and
2) if the roster largely remains intact.

I'd be really surprised if #2 happens.

I don't think we'll know about #1 before the end of next season, unless we pick a guy who is an Anthony Bennett level bust.


I expect Bass to get dumped to literally any team willing to take him.  No return necessary.  Humphries and Bayless are probably gone, though I could see either or both re-signing here for reasonable deals.  It will probably depend on who we get in the draft.

I think Ainge will dangle Green in trades this summer, and I think there may be one or two teams who might bite.

I'd be pretty surprised if Ainge doesn't address the center position in a really significant way this summer, either via the draft, trade, or free agency.

If Ainge was willing to just give away Bass, he would have done it this year.  And while Boston needs a center badly, I won't be surprised if Ainge doesn't get one this offseason.  After all, if we're going to be bad again next year, why bother trading away assets or spending cap space?

Mike

[esel1000]

As long as our pick is in the top 8, I'd say this season was a wild success.

Ainge set this team up to tank and they did just that.  We racked up the losses in style.  When things got a little sketchy, he dumped Lee and Crawford to maximize the tank.   Instead of asking Rondo to adapt and fit in, we've given him free reign to inflate his stats and maximize our tankability.  We've used the excuse of his injury to create an arbitrary "no back-to-backs" rule which has allowed us to avoid having any kind of rhythm or flow from game to game... maximizing our tankability.  It's been a masterful display of tanking.

Sully is a nice piece.  Rondo is a nice piece.  We've been showcasing Green and Bass all season... both have their stats close to their career best which will help for future trade potential.  We've asked Bradley to tone down his defense in order to showcase his offensive power.  He's averaging 14.5 points on a healthy 44%/39%/80% shooting.  It will be interesting to see if we keep him or utilize him in some manner.   We've held back Oly on the bench... last two months he's shot lights out.  Last month 10 points on a ridiculous 52%/46%/83%.  This month, 11 points on a ridiculous 57%/46%/75% ... both with only 20 minutes per game.   He's looking like a really nice piece as well.

Then of course we'll have our major talent addition through the tanked pick + another 2014 pick + plenty of other future picks + a trade exception, etc...

Ainge will have endless options this summer.  This season wasn't "long/tough"... it was a masterful display of strategic positioning by a master GM.   It's something absolutely worth celebrating.

Great post! I knew we were in good shape the minute DA fleeced the Nets. Truly happy to have him as our GM.

Still, a top 3 pick would make it all that much sweeter

[PhoSita]

If Ainge was willing to just give away Bass, he would have done it this year. 

Big difference: Bass is an expiring contract this year.

My guess is that trading Bass at the deadline this season would have meant giving up a pick.  Now that Bass will be on the final year of his deal, I think you'll see a team much more willing to take him on over the summer before the next season begins.

[Chief]

If Ainge was willing to just give away Bass, he would have done it this year. 

Big difference: Bass is an expiring contract this year.

My guess is that trading Bass at the deadline this season would have meant giving up a pick.  Now that Bass will be on the final year of his deal, I think you'll see a team much more willing to take him on over the summer before the next season begins.

TP

[PhoSita]

This season wasn't "long/tough"... it was a masterful display of strategic positioning by a master GM.   It's something absolutely worth celebrating.

This season was exactly what the franchise needed, but that doesn't mean it wasn't long and tough.

[BballTim]

Instead of asking Rondo to adapt and fit in, we've given him free reign to inflate his stats and maximize our tankability.

  I can't comment on how many games you see but Rondo's role in the offense isn't much different than it has been over the last 4-5 years. He's not controlling the ball more than usual, he's not shooting the ball more than usual and he doesn't have a higher than usual usage rate. He's fit into  the team fairly well, the only problem he's had has been related to health/fitness. I guess you could say that he's given free reign to inflate his stats the same way that every other star player in the league is.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

This season wasn't "long/tough"... it was a masterful display of strategic positioning by a master GM.   It's something absolutely worth celebrating.

This season was exactly what the franchise needed, but that doesn't mean it wasn't long and tough.

agreed. This was brutal. It was chinese water torture.  I'm willing to go through it again to develop a top 3 pick. If not a top 3 pick, DA needs to go another direction this offseason and next year.