Be Honest: Celtics make the playoffs - Good or Bad Thing?

[Drucci]

A great thing. Not only because making the playoffs in itself would be an achievement for this group (which has taught them how to play hard every single game to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, to stay accountable, etc.) but because it's in the playoffs that players reveal their true self (see Mo Williams : great for the Cavs during the season, absolute choker in the playoffs).

Obviously we will probably get bounced out in the first round if we do make the playoffs (although I think Atlanta would be a great matchup for this team) but the experience it will give Smart, IT, Olynyk, etc, would be very valuable.

Seeing this team compete in the playoffs would not only make it grow even quicker than it has this entire season, but allow us to see which players are reliable on the big stage and which aren't, so it would help us tremendously in the decision-making for the future.

I also believe that a decent playoff run will only serve as an appeal to free-agents this summer who feel that they could help the group to grow up.

[Celtics4ever]

I can think of many teams that make the playoffs year after year and rarely grow as a team.   Look at the Hawks, it took them years of making the playoffs and just this year they took a huge leap forward.  Pacers have been in the playoffs lately and they are all over the place as a team.   I think this is myth folks.   I am not advocating tanking but I think the playoffs builds a team is not even close to being remotely true, especially for our team.   This is really true of our team.  All that alleged character building and only a few of them will be back next year.

It is a great cliche.   I don't think it will hurt us but I do not think it will help as much as some present either.  Teams make the playoffs all the time and they do not advance nor really that much every year.

I have read that we get a better draft pick if we make the playoffs, I think it is one of Roy's posts. 

[tyrone biggums]

It depends. For free agency and attracting talent in general it would be a great thing. As for getting young cost controlled superstar talent it obviously hurts. With Jefferson being out I think the Celtics will get the 8th seed. With an outside chance of .500. If this run convinces a star in free agency to take the Celtics seriously then I'm sure it will work out. However, outside of a title this year you'll get the tank crowd screaming for Danny or CBS to hit the road because Russell or Okafor went to the Lakers instead of the Celtics.

[TheTruthFot18]

I would rather have WCS next year but the top players are already out of our reach at the 12th pick. Someone would have to slip pretty far at that spot. So at this point we might as well go for the playoffs.

My thoughts as well. A month or so ago we were still in the running for a top pick (4-6) but our recent streak along with WCS rising in the mock drafts has me hoping for the playoffs. If we're going to miss out on Johnson, WCS, Turner, Winslow, etc. we might as well go all in on the playoffs and if need be combine our high teens pick with the Clips pick (20-25) for a higher pick.

[Cman]

A good thing.
Cs give up an incredibly small chance of getting a top 3 pick (they actually have a higher chance of moving down in the draft than up). But they get to pick in basically the same area (mid-teens). We get to watch the Cs play in the playoffs, perhaps making things interesting for whoever they face in the first round. Our players get playoff experience, and, perhaps most importantly, our players get exposure. This will raise their value and make trades easier for Ainge.

[Cman]

I can think of many teams that make the playoffs year after year and rarely grow as a team.   

...

It is a great cliche.   I don't think it will hurt us but I do not think it will help as much as some present either.  Teams make the playoffs all the time and they do not advance nor really that much every year.

I can also think of perennial losing teams, who never get any better via the draft:
Minnesota, Sacramento, Philadelphia...

[JHTruth]

I can think of many teams that make the playoffs year after year and rarely grow as a team.   Look at the Hawks, it took them years of making the playoffs and just this year they took a huge leap forward.  Pacers have been in the playoffs lately and they are all over the place as a team.   I think this is myth folks.   I am not advocating tanking but I think the playoffs builds a team is not even close to being remotely true, especially for our team.   This is really true of our team.  All that alleged character building and only a few of them will be back next year.

It is a great cliche.   I don't think it will hurt us but I do not think it will help as much as some present either.  Teams make the playoffs all the time and they do not advance nor really that much every year.

I have read that we get a better draft pick if we make the playoffs, I think it is one of Roy's posts.

Teams get better through adding talent, not by getting killed in the first round. Looking at our roster, we don't have a single guy who will make an all-star game in my estimation.

I am going to bookmark this thread in case the offseason is over and we strike out again in FA and everyone is whining and gnashing their teeth because we will stink again while all these stud draft picks are headed to other teams.

[Rosco917]

At the seasons open, I knew this season would be an up and down ride. I never liked Rondo or Green, and I was looking forward to their exit. When they did leave, along with certain veterans, I settled into what everyone called the "tank" hoping for a high draft position.

Now...this team has a budding reputation building. Young hungry kids that defend, and hustle, and have upsides. We will have some bumps along the way, we will have some bad games, because of our obvious deficiencies. (tonight with the 76's is trap game)

But, there is a possibility that we may get a look from one of the younger talented free agents that enjoy our style of play. Plus, we have a pile of picks to possibly move up in the draft.


And...I'm having fun. 

[Moranis]

I can think of many teams that make the playoffs year after year and rarely grow as a team.   

...

It is a great cliche.   I don't think it will hurt us but I do not think it will help as much as some present either.  Teams make the playoffs all the time and they do not advance nor really that much every year.

I can also think of perennial losing teams, who never get any better via the draft:
Minnesota, Sacramento, Philadelphia...

Philadelphia is a perennial losing team?

[Celtics4ever]

I can also think of perennial losing teams, who never get any better via the draft:
Minnesota, Sacramento, Philadelphia...

Agree, so both are over rated is my view. 

I was not advocating tanking.   I think having the personnel helps more than either.    That does not mean draft or free agency but landing a star by either means and letting them take you where they will.

Philadelphia is a perennial losing team?

  Draft improvement is cliche as well.

Both is over rated a team has to make the right moves.

Look at the 08 team.   PP had some Playoff XP but to be honest that was a fluky albeit fun year, KG had some but never made it far,  RA Allen was not exactly a playoff monster, James Posey was the best playoff experience guy on that team.   He helped some but at the end of the day it was our talent, hunger and chemistry that won the day.

Winning basketball games is pretty simple, you score more than the other team, try to hold them to scoring less and control your mistakes or turnovers.   The good teams do a few of these well, the bests teams do them all.  Talent and experience helps in this regard but we have all seen less talented teams lose and experienced teams get flogged.  So I think both things are over rated.

I am rooting for the playoffs.  I do not think it will help much in free agency because it is Boston.   The winter this year and all the coverage it got will negate any up and coming team  I want to play with those guys.   I still think we will need a guy who wants to be the man in free agency and we should market it like it will be his team. 

[D.o.s.]

Had a bit of a post here, but Celtics4ever summed up my feelings pretty well with that last one ^

[Moranis]

I've said for awhile I just didn't want Boston back dooring into the playoffs because the East is so bad, but Boston is actually playing pretty well so while they may still be well under .500 and make the playoffs, it won't feel quite like back dooring, so I'd probably be ok with it.  I'd love to face the Hawks as well because I think with the new found defensive intensity they might actually have a shot of at a minimum not being blitzed (I think the Cavs blitz Boston) and thus making the playoffs more enjoyable.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Or think about the Nuggets post Carmelo.  Feel good story, great coach, won a lot of games, but they never made it out of the first round and now they're the most hopeless team in the league.   You need a star

[Drucci]

I can think of many teams that make the playoffs year after year and rarely grow as a team.   Look at the Hawks, it took them years of making the playoffs and just this year they took a huge leap forward.  Pacers have been in the playoffs lately and they are all over the place as a team.   I think this is myth folks.   I am not advocating tanking but I think the playoffs builds a team is not even close to being remotely true, especially for our team.   This is really true of our team.  All that alleged character building and only a few of them will be back next year.

The Hawks were not quite in the same situation since their biggest star was Joe Johnson. Yes, they expected (and got) improvement from their young players at the time, Horford, Smith, due to their series against Boston in '08 but their ceiling was always limited due to the age of their biggest star.

I'm not advocating sneaking into the playoffs every year to get some experience each time while getting beat easily. But I really think that, this year, it's best to make the playoffs for guys like Smart, Olynyk and IT, to know what we have in them (and thus to decide if they are indeed a "lock" for the future or not). They could really make a big jump next season thanks to this experience. We've seen with almost all players who played with Team USA (Durant, Paul George, Irving...) and dramatically improved the next season. Sure, the playoffs are not the FIBA games but it's still another level.

[tstorey_97]

Good for fans and I am a fan.

Terrible for the team, terrible. 6th pick or 14th pick which is better? Are you kidding me?

"Great for the young players..." I agree, of course that is good. But, sorry to be a kill joy, but, is ONE of our "young players" from today's roster going to be in Green when Danny pulls the trigger to make the trades to get a title team? One? You are dead sure Smart will be here? Want to bet $200? No you don't.

So the "teams needs a playoff run for development of young players" doesn't ring with "trader Danny" at the switch.

Not good for the team. Fantastic for me watching my team win for the first time in years.

What's better for the team? The 6th pick of the 14th pick? You need a calculator to figure this one out?