Big Game tomorrow / Bill Simmons' Tweets

[ssspence]

Can't decide what I think about Kevin Love. Would he dramatically improve the Celts above the incremental improvements they likely make next season anyways? Or is his cost not worth it?

His stats would improve. His play and passion? Meh. Maybe? I'd take the flier.

I'd so much rather figure out an outstanding pitch to get Leonard. Maybe Pop / Duncan / Manu / Parker being near retirement might tempt him to leave SAS?

[FatKidsDad]

I still hate the idea of making the playoffs with a below .500 record.  I don't think that serves much of a point.

Playoff basketball is a different animal. Even if it comes with an early first round exit, the experience for our young team going into the future will be invaluable.  That's the point.

[pearljammer10]

I feel like the guy who said a restaurant is going to suck, and even though I'm enjoying my food I couldn't admit I was wrong and keep talking about how the beer selection is "just okay".

Basically I'm starting to realize I need to pull the stick out of my butt and start embracing this. I was already on board with IT and a lot of the new guys, but the concept of winning...

I guess I just wish there were more IPAs.

What do you mean you aren't serving any specials tonight?! I will never order the special but gosh darnit I want to hear the specials!

[mctyson]

Good to see some people admitting that wanting the team to lose is probably the wrong idea.

There is no reason not to want this team in the playoffs, because being there means they are a better team than at least half of the Eastern Conference, which is progress, which is exactly what we want.

[Redz]

I enjoy winning as much as anyone. And obviously winning a title is the ultimate goal, but ultimately what makes sports enjoyable at any level is the competition.  It is a rare treat to have a professional team that is willing to put forth a competitive effort on a daily basis.  If the team is willing to put firth that commitment, they deserve to be supported; win or lose.

[Rickretro]

I enjoy winning as much as anyone. And obviously winning a title is the ultimate goal, but ultimately what makes sports enjoyable at any level is the competition.  It is a rare treat to have a professional team that is willing to put forth a competitive effort on a daily basis.  If the team is willing to put firth that commitment, they deserve to be supported; win or lose.

  Bravo Sir!  Bravo!

[iadera]

Tanking should be punished somehow. Wining is all about basketball or any other sports. Tanking means waiting. When you play you win or lose, but you certainly don't wait. You wait only at time-out or when you're injured.

[rondohondo]

It makes no sense to want the c's to miss the playoffs at this point. The #14 pick in the lottery(teams that just miss the playoffs) has something like a .5% of winning the lotto and moving into a top 3 pick.

At best we could suck the rest of the year and maybe reach #10 pick and a 3% chance to move up in the lotto(estimating).

If we make the playoff we are 17th pick I believe. The talent between pick 10 and 17 is pretty similar, plus we have the ammo to trade up if Danny sees a player he wants around pick 10.

It is much more important at this point to get the young guys playoff experience and create a winning culture under Stevens.

[Nerf DPOY]

It makes no sense to want the c's to miss the playoffs at this point. The #14 pick in the lottery(teams that just miss the playoffs) has something like a .5% of winning the lotto and moving into a top 3 pick.

At best we could suck the rest of the year and maybe reach #10 pick and a 3% chance to move up in the lotto(estimating).

If we make the playoff we are 17th pick I believe. The talent between pick 10 and 17 is pretty similar, plus we have the ammo to trade up if Danny sees a player he wants around pick 10.

It is much more important at this point to get the young guys playoff experience and create a winning culture under Stevens.

As it stands right now we are at pick #11 and actually tied record wise for #10. If we were to make the playoffs we'd most assuredly be at pick #15 or #16.

http://www.tankathon.com/

[incoherent]

I hope all our players start doing bad and our coach makes bad choices and we miss the playoffs so that we can get the 10th pick instead of the 17h pick to add to our 20 picks over the next 3 years.

some people actually feel this way

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

Can't decide what I think about Kevin Love. Would he dramatically improve the Celts above the incremental improvements they likely make next season anyways? Or is his cost not worth it?

His stats would improve. His play and passion? Meh. Maybe? I'd take the flier.

I'd so much rather figure out an outstanding pitch to get Leonard. Maybe Pop / Duncan / Manu / Parker being near retirement might tempt him to leave SAS?

SA would match though. He's only a RFA.

[j804]

^
How's their cap situation could they afford to give him a max deal?

[GetLucky]

^
How's their cap situation could they afford to give him a max deal?

Yes. Because they have his Bird Rights they can go over the soft cap to sign him.

[clover]

I feel like the guy who said a restaurant is going to suck, and even though I'm enjoying my food I couldn't admit I was wrong and keep talking about how the beer selection is "just okay".

Basically I'm starting to realize I need to pull the stick out of my butt and start embracing this. I was already on board with IT and a lot of the new guys, but the concept of winning...

I guess I just wish there were more IPAs.

I'm with you.  Amazing how much better the team played once it dumped Rondo/Green and started defining roles.  I hated the team at the start of the season because we had two 6 foot guards , 3 mediocre power forwards and an obscenely overrated SF.   

The back court of Smart + Bradley makes sense, because their size offsets each other (Bradley is PG sized and Smart is SG sized).   Turner always made the most sense at SF.  Then you have Bass at PF and Zeller who is clearly a center.  The bench is improved.   It's still not a great team, but it's at least a lineup that makes basketball sense and there's no human road blocks preventing Stevens from implementing his system.

I still hate the idea of making the playoffs with a below .500 record.  I don't think that serves much of a point.  But if we continue building on this momentum and have a couple more big wins... I'm fully on board.  I mean, if we somehow finish the season .500 (we'd have to go 13-5), that'll be pretty incredible.  There'd be tangible benefits from that.   Our assets increase in value, our system/coach gets recognition.

You don't see the benefit to Stevens and his young players getting playoffs experience?

[LarBrd33]

I feel like the guy who said a restaurant is going to suck, and even though I'm enjoying my food I couldn't admit I was wrong and keep talking about how the beer selection is "just okay".

Basically I'm starting to realize I need to pull the stick out of my butt and start embracing this. I was already on board with IT and a lot of the new guys, but the concept of winning...

I guess I just wish there were more IPAs.

I'm with you.  Amazing how much better the team played once it dumped Rondo/Green and started defining roles.  I hated the team at the start of the season because we had two 6 foot guards , 3 mediocre power forwards and an obscenely overrated SF.   

The back court of Smart + Bradley makes sense, because their size offsets each other (Bradley is PG sized and Smart is SG sized).   Turner always made the most sense at SF.  Then you have Bass at PF and Zeller who is clearly a center.  The bench is improved.   It's still not a great team, but it's at least a lineup that makes basketball sense and there's no human road blocks preventing Stevens from implementing his system.

I still hate the idea of making the playoffs with a below .500 record.  I don't think that serves much of a point.  But if we continue building on this momentum and have a couple more big wins... I'm fully on board.  I mean, if we somehow finish the season .500 (we'd have to go 13-5), that'll be pretty incredible.  There'd be tangible benefits from that.   Our assets increase in value, our system/coach gets recognition.

You don't see the benefit to Stevens and his young players getting playoffs experience?

If they make the playoffs with a below .500 record and get thrashed?  Not really.  Eastern COnference is garbage.  Some teams have to make the playoffs by default, but it's not like that experience turns them into a dramatically better team the next year or makes them a major free agent destination.  You'd just be the 18th best team in the league with a playoff beating on their resume. First round playoff experience is overrated.  Rarely does a mediocre team builld on that experience and become a contender.  Far more likely for a bottomfeeder team to add a superstar and make the leap (KG on Boston, LeBron on the Cavs right now). 

Still, if we show enough momentum here that we actually look like a legitimate playoff team (and not just a default entrant who falls backwards into it), I'd be ok with it.