MacMullan: Love-to-Celtics far from slam dunk

[BleedGreen1989]

I think this is kind of obvious.

After Love took a suspicious trip to Boston people thought we were guaranteed to get him and then the conversation moved on to how we could get Melo too and Omer Asik was "all but a given".

People need to slow their role a bit and not be surprised when Boston is picking for itself at #6. I know we're all punch-drunk from an awful season but let's not begin to act like some entitled Laker fans.

People need to slow their role? The fans are the ones that put the money in the team's pocket, thus the fans have every right to expect nothing but the best team possible.

Sure, we all want the best team and our team to make the best moves.

But it takes two to tango and you can't expect other teams to make a move because it benefits us.

[Clench123]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

bc i don't want to get love i don't want to win?  What's next bc i don't want to give max to Melo i don't want to win??

I don't like Love and Melo. I don't like the way they play.

If LMA was pulling what Love was pulling now, i would be all in ,  in trading the 6th etc to grab him. Anthony Davis the same.

You may not like the way they play but numbers don't lie and that is all that matters, not whether you like the way they play.  I don't like the way Lebron plays but there's no doubt he's the best player in the world because he put up numbers.

it's not just the numbers. Lebron does alot of things that doesn't show up on the stat sheets also.

Love and Melo have the numbers on paper but don't do enough behind the scene to help their team win.

#1 example, Love gives up on a defensive play and instead rushes to the basket to potentially grab the rebound.   

#2 example, Melo has a chance to provide weakside help and take the charge but of course doesn't

Then a lot of superstars wouldn't be superstars then if that's the criteria that knocks them down few notches.  From Durant, to Pierce, to Ray Allen, to Kobe, to Iverson, and so on.

And have you ever thought that just maybe it's because of the situation they're in or the environment, or the coaching?  Because we've seen stars who change teams and their game got better because they just happened to find the system that suit their game.

Point is, a star doesn't have to be perfect or be great at EVERYTHING (only once-in-a-lifetime players like Lebron does).  What makes them a star is that whatever they're great at, they do really really well, and that is the case of Melo and Love and a lot of superstars in the NBA
 

[Tr1boy]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

bc i don't want to get love i don't want to win?  What's next bc i don't want to give max to Melo i don't want to win??

I don't like Love and Melo. I don't like the way they play.

If LMA was pulling what Love was pulling now, i would be all in ,  in trading the 6th etc to grab him. Anthony Davis the same.

You may not like the way they play but numbers don't lie and that is all that matters, not whether you like the way they play.  I don't like the way Lebron plays but there's no doubt he's the best player in the world because he put up numbers.

it's not just the numbers. Lebron does alot of things that doesn't show up on the stat sheets also.

Love and Melo have the numbers on paper but don't do enough behind the scene to help their team win.

#1 example, Love gives up on a defensive play and instead rushes to the basket to potentially grab the rebound.   

#2 example, Melo has a chance to provide weakside help and take the charge but of course doesn't

Then a lot of superstars wouldn't be superstars then if that's the criteria that knocks them down few notches.  From Durant, to Pierce, to Ray Allen, to Kobe, to Iverson, and so on.

Pierce took charges. Lots of charges. Dove for balls , falling over players to get a timeout call etc.

Iverson ? you serious? The guy was a human ping pong machine sacrificing his body to make plays, bouncing off guys 3 times bigger than him to get that layup. At times he overdid it and was selfish but he definitely sacrificed his body

Kobe Bryant is not only a skilled scorer. The guy plays hard and plays very strong defense to win.

Allen not as much and yeah durant doesn't also. If Durant was a little more scrappier he might of won a ring already.

You have to play desperate to win in this league.  Those who have the skills and also are willing to pay the price are usually the champions.  Look at Bird. He was so talented, yet so scrappy and thats why he was a champion and considered a great player. Dennis Rodman obviously lacked elite skills but he was willing to kill himself at times it looked like to win.  I really admire and respect players these kind of players and they usually get rewarded

[Clench123]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

bc i don't want to get love i don't want to win?  What's next bc i don't want to give max to Melo i don't want to win??

I don't like Love and Melo. I don't like the way they play.

If LMA was pulling what Love was pulling now, i would be all in ,  in trading the 6th etc to grab him. Anthony Davis the same.

You may not like the way they play but numbers don't lie and that is all that matters, not whether you like the way they play.  I don't like the way Lebron plays but there's no doubt he's the best player in the world because he put up numbers.

it's not just the numbers. Lebron does alot of things that doesn't show up on the stat sheets also.

Love and Melo have the numbers on paper but don't do enough behind the scene to help their team win.

#1 example, Love gives up on a defensive play and instead rushes to the basket to potentially grab the rebound.   

#2 example, Melo has a chance to provide weakside help and take the charge but of course doesn't

Then a lot of superstars wouldn't be superstars then if that's the criteria that knocks them down few notches.  From Durant, to Pierce, to Ray Allen, to Kobe, to Iverson, and so on.

Pierce took charges. Lots of charges. Dove for balls , falling over players etc.

Iverson ? you serious? The guy would be a human ping pong machine sacrificing his body to make plays. At times he overdid it and was selfish but he definitely sacrificed his body alot of times.

Kobe Bryant is not only a skilled scorer. The guy plays hard , dives for balls, plays very strong defense to win.

Allen not as much and yeah durant doesn't also. If Durant was a little more scrappier he might of won a ring already.

You have to play desperate to win in this league.  Those who have the skills and also are willing to pay the price are usually the champions.  Look at Bird. He was so talented, yet so scrappy and thats why he was a champion and as great as player he was. Dennis Rodman obviously lacked elite skills but he was willing to kill himself at times it looked like to win.  I really admire and respect players like this and they get rewarded

But Pierce isn't a great defender and was even awful before Doc came to town.  Same with Iverson.  And no, Kobe doesn't sacrifice his body even though he's a decent defender. 

Majority of the stars in the NBA don't take charges.  That's just fact.  It doesn't make them any less of a star.

Duncan doesn't fit your bill either but he's one of the best ever

[LarBrd33]

I think this is kind of obvious.

After Love took a suspicious trip to Boston people thought we were guaranteed to get him and then the conversation moved on to how we could get Melo too and Omer Asik was "all but a given".

People need to slow their role a bit and not be surprised when Boston is picking for itself at #6. I know we're all punch-drunk from an awful season but let's not begin to act like some entitled Laker fans.

Not only that, but I still contend that it's more likely we trade Rondo than trade for Kevin Love.  I wouldn't bet on either happening at this point, but at least in the case of Rondo, Ainge will be receiving offers and it's merely a matter of whether or not he decides to pull the trigger.

A lot of excitement and speculation, but trading for a superstar is pretty difficult and the WOlves will have plenty of options.  They could just try their chances at hanging onto him too.

[Clench123]

Trading for KG was highly unlikely as well (definitely moreso than trading for Love and Melo) but it happened.  People shouldn't be so pessimistic.  Anything can happen.

[Casperian]

Already made this comment on the front page:

Of course it's not a done deal

That would be tampering, no? Here's my guess...

1) Danny, Love and his agent already agreed to a deal. Love wants to come to the Celtics.

2) The Celtics don't want to overpay, and the Timberwolves feel low-balled. They'd prefer an open bidding war between several teams.

3) Love is having none of it. He doesn't just want to get traded, he wants to get traded to the team of his choice.

That would explain Love's public visit, Flip Saunders' comments, and all these defensive articles by writers close to the Celtics who want to remind us it's not a done deal, yet.

This has nothing to do with managing expectations, it's sabre-rattling between negotiating parties.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I don't know why some people (thesame two or three people) are craving for Sullinger and Olynyk when there is an obvious opportunity here to go for two of the very best players in the league.  That logic is gross and is beyond me.  This is the Celtics.  It's either championship or bust.  No in-betweens.

Opportunity would slap some people on the face, stomp on them, even hold them up at gunpoint screaming "I am opportunity!  Take me!," and they still won't see it.

My wanting to keep KO and Sully doesn't mean I wouldn't trade either, it just means I don't want to give one of them, expirings, and many picks to get Love. I want to keep them and use other assets to get other players. Really, if it was Green going out I would have a different opinion but I still don't want to send out too many picks with him.  I'm not saying Love isn't the best player of our "most likely to obtain", I'm just saying I would try other things before banking on him and Melo, who people think is a given after Love. I would rather break the bank for Melo than I do for Love, but I wish we didn't have to for either. I get that we may have to for one/both but doesn't mean I gotta like it just because the majority says I should.

[blink]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

If Triboy was the celtics GM, we would be in a never-ending state of rebuilding with rotating classes of mediocre young players.
[/quote]

+1

[Casperian]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

If Triboy was the celtics GM, we would be in a never-ending state of rebuilding with rotating classes of mediocre young players.

+1

...and if you guys were the Celtics GM we'd be the Knicks.

[BleedGreen1989]

I think this is kind of obvious.

After Love took a suspicious trip to Boston people thought we were guaranteed to get him and then the conversation moved on to how we could get Melo too and Omer Asik was "all but a given".

People need to slow their role a bit and not be surprised when Boston is picking for itself at #6. I know we're all punch-drunk from an awful season but let's not begin to act like some entitled Laker fans.

Not only that, but I still contend that it's more likely we trade Rondo than trade for Kevin Love.  I wouldn't bet on either happening at this point, but at least in the case of Rondo, Ainge will be receiving offers and it's merely a matter of whether or not he decides to pull the trigger.

A lot of excitement and speculation, but trading for a superstar is pretty difficult and the WOlves will have plenty of options.  They could just try their chances at hanging onto him too.

I love Rondo and have always felt trading him is Ainge's last resort. Hard to tell of that or Live is more likely.

Minnesota will have options like you said and trading for an elite talet is never a "done deal". I just think people are setting themselves up for extreme disappointment expecting Love and I don't want to have to talk people off the cliff when opening night he's not wearing a Celtics jersey.

[BballTim]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

bc i don't want to get love i don't want to win?  What's next bc i don't want to give max to Melo i don't want to win??

I don't like Love and Melo. I don't like the way they play.

If LMA was pulling what Love was pulling now, i would be all in ,  in trading the 6th etc to grab him. Anthony Davis the same.

You may not like the way they play but numbers don't lie and that is all that matters, not whether you like the way they play.  I don't like the way Lebron plays but there's no doubt he's the best player in the world because he put up numbers.

it's not just the numbers. Lebron does alot of things that doesn't show up on the stat sheets also.

Love and Melo have the numbers on paper but don't do enough behind the scene to help their team win.

#1 example, Love gives up on a defensive play and instead rushes to the basket to potentially grab the rebound.   

#2 example, Melo has a chance to provide weakside help and take the charge but of course doesn't

Then a lot of superstars wouldn't be superstars then if that's the criteria that knocks them down few notches.  From Durant, to Pierce, to Ray Allen, to Kobe, to Iverson, and so on.

Pierce took charges. Lots of charges. Dove for balls , falling over players to get a timeout call etc.

Iverson ? you serious? The guy was a human ping pong machine sacrificing his body to make plays, bouncing off guys 3 times bigger than him to get that layup. At times he overdid it and was selfish but he definitely sacrificed his body

Kobe Bryant is not only a skilled scorer. The guy plays hard and plays very strong defense to win.

Allen not as much and yeah durant doesn't also. If Durant was a little more scrappier he might of won a ring already.

You have to play desperate to win in this league.  Those who have the skills and also are willing to pay the price are usually the champions.  Look at Bird. He was so talented, yet so scrappy and thats why he was a champion and considered a great player. Dennis Rodman obviously lacked elite skills but he was willing to kill himself at times it looked like to win.  I really admire and respect players these kind of players and they usually get rewarded

  Love's been top 3 in the league in rebounding 3 times, that doesn't happen to people that don't play hard and put in effort. I think I've seen more negative comments about Love from you in the last week than I've seen about him in his entire nba career. I don't understand the hate, and I'd honestly be surprised if you watched him play more than a few times a year.

[Tr1boy]

+1.

Well, some people actually want to see the Celtics be a good team. Apparently, you're not one of them.

bc i don't want to get love i don't want to win?  What's next bc i don't want to give max to Melo i don't want to win??

I don't like Love and Melo. I don't like the way they play.

If LMA was pulling what Love was pulling now, i would be all in ,  in trading the 6th etc to grab him. Anthony Davis the same.

You may not like the way they play but numbers don't lie and that is all that matters, not whether you like the way they play.  I don't like the way Lebron plays but there's no doubt he's the best player in the world because he put up numbers.

it's not just the numbers. Lebron does alot of things that doesn't show up on the stat sheets also.

Love and Melo have the numbers on paper but don't do enough behind the scene to help their team win.

#1 example, Love gives up on a defensive play and instead rushes to the basket to potentially grab the rebound.   

#2 example, Melo has a chance to provide weakside help and take the charge but of course doesn't

Then a lot of superstars wouldn't be superstars then if that's the criteria that knocks them down few notches.  From Durant, to Pierce, to Ray Allen, to Kobe, to Iverson, and so on.

Pierce took charges. Lots of charges. Dove for balls , falling over players to get a timeout call etc.

Iverson ? you serious? The guy was a human ping pong machine sacrificing his body to make plays, bouncing off guys 3 times bigger than him to get that layup. At times he overdid it and was selfish but he definitely sacrificed his body

Kobe Bryant is not only a skilled scorer. The guy plays hard and plays very strong defense to win.

Allen not as much and yeah durant doesn't also. If Durant was a little more scrappier he might of won a ring already.

You have to play desperate to win in this league.  Those who have the skills and also are willing to pay the price are usually the champions.  Look at Bird. He was so talented, yet so scrappy and thats why he was a champion and considered a great player. Dennis Rodman obviously lacked elite skills but he was willing to kill himself at times it looked like to win.  I really admire and respect players these kind of players and they usually get rewarded

  Love's been top 3 in the league in rebounding 3 times, that doesn't happen to people that don't play hard and put in effort. I think I've seen more negative comments about Love from you in the last week than I've seen about him in his entire nba career. I don't understand the hate, and I'd honestly be surprised if you watched him play more than a few times a year.

I don't think you have. When you bail out on your defensive assignment to rush to the basket anticipating rebounds you will get either scored on or grab the rebound.   I guess you don't mind this habit bc Rondo does the same crap.

you will be happy seeing both of these guys do this at the same time, fight for the defensive rebound and have it go out of bounds. 

[Tr1boy]

another thing you will love is, having these guys hog the ball, play pnr all day long, even if its not working , letting everyone else watch the game instead of playing.

The 2007 Celtics won it all bc the person with the best chance to score got the ball usually. On the defensive end, everyone was helping each other out (there was synergy).   The current spurs and heat team for the most part play the same way. That's why they are always in the finals

[MBunge]

I don't think you have.

How many Twolf games have you watched over the last five years?

Mike