celtics used to stand for loyalty and pride

[Rosco917]

While it is a worthy idea, that mindset doesn't work in today's NBA under current collective bargaining agreements and young players looking to secure their next big contract and get marketing opportunities above all else.

Most of the decisions that get made these days are based on economics.  It is what it is.  Put Red's Celtic teams into today's game and anyone who was underpaid would be plucked off by other teams throwing big contracts at them so there's no way they'd be as dominant. 

The statements above are very accurate and telling.

I have a friend he's a big fan of Red, he's always comparing todays Celtics with Reds 50-60's era Celtics. I can hear him now, "Red would have not let that happen", or "Red wouldn't have done this", or "Red would have done that"

It's a different world, it's a complete new set of rules. Players then had no rights or alternatives. Todays franchises are almost partnered with the players union. Rebuilding is not an enviable position to be in, you have to be cognizant of the limitations of league rules, and players union rules. You have to be smart and lucky!

No NBA team can stand for "loyalty and pride" anymore, its mostly all about endorsements and contracts.   
 

[Diggles]

These kids need some stability and something to hold onto with Pierce/Rondo gone or after you spend all  time and effort when the time comes , they will opt out.I hope lebron fails miserably,i hope LA sticks by Kobe somehow and rebuilds.Time seems important now because sully and ko are witnessing a breakdown of celtic culture and loyalty.STEVENS must be supported throughout this as he is also a young winner.All this jumping around has spread to the basketball programs in England,as a small volunteer program with boys and girls teams that has produced multiple england players and a girl that went pro in america.We for a decade were beating the big cities and the last couple years we would develop kids and watch them go off to real madrid ,usa or academies.I watched a  final four finalist team that had been together since 13 be savaged by the time they were 18.The final year they went from undefeated to multiple coach changes and kids quitting with what was left limping into quarterfinal of nationals.Last year this program further disintergrated and the 18 and unders didn't win a game.

Loyalty is to the Franchise.  Not the name on the back, but on the front.    I'm pulling for them to make it happen. 

[Kuberski33]

Loyalty is to the Franchise.  Not the name on the back, but on the front.    I'm pulling for them to make it happen.

I agree with you.  But if you want to look at it from a purely marketing standpoint, the NBA really took off in the late 80's and 90's when it focused on personalities vs teams.  You had 'Michael' and 'Sir Charles', 'The Mailman' etc.  Given the economics of today's game, we have to focus on Team because most of the current Celtics roster may not be around for the long haul.  And we probably don't want them to be (though I'm liking Smart and Young).

[Celtics4ever]

Celtics Pride is rare indeed these days.   I think Marcus Smart on the present team shows the most Celtic Pride.   Sullinger to me is the opposite, his loyalty is too himself and he likes to cast blame about and does not try on D.  To me, he has the wrong kind of pride, Hubris, and he comes into camp out of shape and speaks like he is all world.

Guys like Green and Bradley, I almost have to question if they have any pride because their effort level is uneven every night.   KO and Zeller are wimps and lack confidence the moment they miss a shot and are very slump prone. 

Pride is about being proud who you are in sports and not letting the other team embarass you or your team.   It is about representing, for your team mates and your city in a positve manner and with great effort.  In war, you fight for the guys besides you and so you can go home to your loved ones.   It used to be like that on a team, your played with your team mates but free agency has changed it so your playing more for money.

As for the loyalty, I think the whole " this is a business" culture in free agency has really put in a dent in the whole loyalty thing.   A GM has different loyalty nowadays than the team.  His job is to make the team better and sometimes that entails making it worse for the lotto or letting a valued team mate walk when they are wanting paid beyond their production.

[rollie mass]

i have been watching turner and he did well in first quarter of hornets game produced some gimmes for sullinger and zeller and was hustling on d but bradley killed everything -i use turner as example of brads coaching skill even green HAD bought in but he fell apart after rondo and new he was a gonner-he plays like he is devastated and betrayed.KO's shot has taken a vacation this circus is enough to rattle any second year player-even the coach is slumping-young comes out and hit 3 straight thank the basketball god he did but  now the comparisons to ray allen--hope he hits the next three or we will start hearing - a bust, too young ,should have left him in maine-sports writers analysts,fans,and even us armchair players and coaches-should stay positive ,support ainge and players during this rebuild-young,smart,sullinger ko,turner  and evans-and all those picks and trade options.-didn't happen without gut wrenching decisions by ainge he is one courageous GM

[Jonny CC]

The Celtics stand for Championships....and if trades are needed to reach that goal, then so be it. 

[snowball]

Danny Ainge hasn't made a good move in over 7 years.

[SHAQATTACK]

Bringing of Nelson on the team...I don't care if he is worth a late second round pick is not worth it or if Danny intends not to keep him long.

Bringing Nelson on to the celtics is akin to inviting ebola patients on board a plane headed for your home.

It's a a lot of risk for minimal reward .
.
I would have  taken him....if I had too.....and then wave him good riddance .   Some guys like J Smoothe , are just a damper on team unity . 

Keeping known head cases off the team should be a primary concern

Sanders was another of those deals......everybody looks at length and jumping ability as everything .

Just poor choices  ...looking at just the glitter , and not appraising real substance

[Celtics4ever]

Danny Ainge hasn't made a good move in over 7 years.

Sorry, but until we see all those picks and whom they become the jury is still out.

[hpantazo]

While it is a worthy idea, that mindset doesn't work in today's NBA under current collective bargaining agreements and young players looking to secure their next big contract and get marketing opportunities above all else.

Hopefully they aren't so ignorant or greedy that they believe a lack of effort or interest in collective team effort will be propelling them toward that big money. I know some will cry 'bad situation' as an excuse, but all that does is cast the player in a weak role player light. It means they aren't capable or interested in 'stepping up' to the challenge.

The guys who get the bigger non superstar contracts are usually the ones who put the team first and come to play hard every night regardless of opponent or win/loss record. Talent without effort doesn't work for long in this league anymore ask Andrew Bynum.

Pierce had Red as a role model/mentor. I think he could assume that role here if Danny would resign him for a twilight tour as a player/coach. Then put him in the front office and/or on the bench alternately for a few years to see if it is a fit for the organization.

KG I would bring back as a straight up bench assistant coach if he would accept that role. These two would teach the guys how to do it right and the young guys would listen. All successful organizations have players or coaches in this type of role. Many are guys from that organization that made it great.

I don't think Red was really a mentor for PP.  For Pierce's first three years in the league Pitino was running the show, and Red wasn't really around much.  After that Red didn't spend nearly as much time in Boston as he used to.  I'd say the vets on those teams were much bigger role models to Pierce than Red ever was.

I do agree with bringing back PP in some capacity. 

I have read numerous articles about how much Paul Pierce valued his talks with Red, especially in his early years with the team. Maybe this was just nice guy stuff after Red passed, I don't think so. I also believe it may have been a case of quality instead of quantity.

Well, Andrew Bynum has already made more money than most young players will ever make , and he is out of the league only because he has he knees of a 90 year old, not because of effort. Jeff Green, who many are criticizing his effort, will likely opt out of 9 million plus for next year and land a larger long term contract.

[D.o.s.]

While it is a worthy idea, that mindset doesn't work in today's NBA under current collective bargaining agreements and young players looking to secure their next big contract and get marketing opportunities above all else.

Most of the decisions that get made these days are based on economics.  It is what it is.  Put Red's Celtic teams into today's game and anyone who was underpaid would be plucked off by other teams throwing big contracts at them so there's no way they'd be as dominant. 

The statements above are very accurate and telling.

I have a friend he's a big fan of Red, he's always comparing todays Celtics with Reds 50-60's era Celtics. I can hear him now, "Red would have not let that happen", or "Red wouldn't have done this", or "Red would have done that"

It's a different world, it's a complete new set of rules. Players then had no rights or alternatives. Todays franchises are almost partnered with the players union. Rebuilding is not an enviable position to be in, you have to be cognizant of the limitations of league rules, and players union rules. You have to be smart and lucky!

No NBA team can stand for "loyalty and pride" anymore, its mostly all about endorsements and contracts.

Considering the peanuts that the NBA paid players back then, loyalty and pride were more or less all they could offer.