Enjoy the quick fix. Danny set this franchise back.

[PhoSita]

 I think if the question is, would you rather make the playoffs and get the 15th or 16th pick or miss and the get the 1st pick, I'd agree with you that calculated losing (tanking) is the way to go.

This is an example of a trend around here that really bothers me.  I'm not singling you out.  Generally I really like your posts.

I never said a thing about preferring tanking.  I simply pointed out the problem with  using the Patriots (or the Spurs) as an example of how coaching and organizational professionalism are the path to success.

We've gotten way too accustomed around here to framing every single thing we talk about as tanking vs non-tanking.  Every discussion does not require establishing which side everyone is on.

[Celtics4ever]

We are in the playoffs can we get behind the team.

Tanking is not a given, I think the playoff experience will largely walk in a year or two, but tanking is hardly reliable either.

The deal with draft is that we have been spoiled by Red, he used to get value in the draft every year, and  a lot of these picks were not number ones.   Havlicek was a seven for instance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Celtics_draft_history

I think Ainge has a harder go in the free agency world.  He has done great.   For the OP, I would wager Ainge has done better at his profession than you have at yours.   He won us a title as a GM, which unless you have a similar award, maybe you should stick to your dayjob.

[Celtics17]

I have to agree to an extent that being in the lottery may be the best chance to win big sooner then later. It's always a risk since you dont know if you can draft  star or not but one thing is for certain, the higher your draft pick the higher your chances are.

Sure, we lost out on Tim Duncan but we also had the best chance of getting him too. If we had, I wonder what people here would think about losing now to get into the lottery? One thing I know for sure though, I will enjoy watching Celtics playoff ball this spring, even if it's for only 6 games.

[Rondo2287]

how many times do we have to get burned in the lottery before fans say its not the only way to go?

we had one of the worst records in the league in the Duncan draft and missed out on the Ping-Pong balls.

we had one of the worst records in the Durant draft...and missed out on the ping pong balls.

we had one of the worst records in the wiggins draft...and missed out on the ping pong balls.

so, how many times do we want to purposely suck and hope the balls go our way, and hope its a good draft? I think ainge has seen what "tanking" gets you most of the time...burned unless you are the cavs and somehow win 3 #1 picks in 4 years because the NBA feels bad for you.

http://bit.ly/1yqAoRr

This kind of post wouldn't have been allowed back in the days when I was an everyday poster.  It's a shame it is now. 

[LarBrd33]

I mean... Would we have been better off long term with a top 5 pick?  Yes.  Would we be in a far better position to trade for an all-star if our pick wasn't 16th?  Of course.  Are we at risk of entering perpetual mediocrity?  Definitely.   But am I excited about making the playoffs?... You bet your butt I am.    This is going to be awesome.  If we miraculously lose one of the 4 games by less than 10 points, it'll all have been worth it.  Free agents will be lining up to join forces with the team that almost didn't get blown out in 4 straight games by Lord James.   Get pumped!

[celticsclay]

how many times do we have to get burned in the lottery before fans say its not the only way to go?

we had one of the worst records in the league in the Duncan draft and missed out on the Ping-Pong balls.

we had one of the worst records in the Durant draft...and missed out on the ping pong balls.

we had one of the worst records in the wiggins draft...and missed out on the ping pong balls.

so, how many times do we want to purposely suck and hope the balls go our way, and hope its a good draft? I think ainge has seen what "tanking" gets you most of the time...burned unless you are the cavs and somehow win 3 #1 picks in 4 years because the NBA feels bad for you.

http://bit.ly/1yqAoRr

This kind of post wouldn't have been allowed back in the days when I was an everyday poster.  It's a shame it is now.

This kind of post isn't really allowed now either. It is clearly disrespecting another poster's by  insulting them (and their intelligence) which is against the rules of the forum. Unfortunately the moderators of this forum are very busy people and can't keep up with every single thread. Hopefully they see it (and this isn't isolated behavior)

[D.o.s.]

Luckily the smarm squad is on the case.

[Rondo2287]

I mean... Would we have been better off long term with a top 5 pick?  Yes.  Would we be in a far better position to trade for an all-star if our pick wasn't 16th?  Of course.  Are we at risk of entering perpetual mediocrity?  Definitely.   But am I excited about making the playoffs?... You bet your butt I am.    This is going to be awesome.  If we miraculously lose one of the 4 games by less than 10 points, it'll all have been worth it.  Free agents will be lining up to join forces with the team that almost didn't get blown out in 4 straight games by Lord James.   Get pumped!

Personally I think we will only be in perpetual mediocrity if Danny Goes out on a Piston's esque spending spree and signs mediocre players to longterm deals.  I think if he either signs top level free agents or signs mediocre guys to one year deals and gives us perpetual cap flexibility we will eventually be able to cash in and will escape mediocrity. 

[D.o.s.]

...we just signed a mediocre point guard to a long term deal.
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/isaiah-thomas/

Granted, he's no Charlie Vilanueva.

[celticsclay]

Luckily the smarm squad is on the case.

At the end of the day you are just insulting people that are fans of the same team as you. Why do you keep doing this?  Do you talk and interact with people like this in real life? It shouldn't be up to the moderators to tell you that you shouldn't insult other people's intelligence, make jokes about domestic abuse etc. You should not want to do that kind of stuff just cause it is crappy and makes a sports board filled with fans an unfriendly and uncomfortable place with no upside.

[Rondo2287]

...we just signed a mediocre point guard to a long term deal.
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/isaiah-thomas/

Granted, he's no Charlie Vilanueva.

26 YO PG whose cap hit decreases each year as he approaches 30 while the cap is projected to increase significantly.  If he were being paid what Josh Smith got from the Pistons I would be concerned, at ~$6.5 not so much

[D.o.s.]

Luckily the smarm squad is on the case.

At the end of the day you are just insulting people that are fans of the same team as you. Why do you keep doing this?  Do you talk and interact with people like this in real life? It shouldn't be up to the moderators to tell you that you shouldn't insult other people's intelligence, make jokes about domestic abuse etc. You should not want to do that kind of stuff just cause it is crappy and makes a sports board filled with fans an unfriendly and uncomfortable place with no upside.

I don't go out of my way to insult anyone, save perhaps those who make a great show of conversationally moral outrage while gnashing their teeth in a particularly Ned Flandersian fashion.

...we just signed a mediocre point guard to a long term deal.
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/isaiah-thomas/

Granted, he's no Charlie Vilanueva.

26 YO PG whose cap hit decreases each year as he approaches 30 while the cap is projected to increase significantly.  If he were being paid what Josh Smith got from the Pistons I would be concerned, at ~$6.5 not so much

Agreed, and Thomas serves two purposes, in that he's the kind of player Ainge has always liked coming off the bench, as well as being an 'overpay' enough for another player to consider Boston a place that would sign him to a solid contract.

[celticsclay]

Luckily the smarm squad is on the case.

At the end of the day you are just insulting people that are fans of the same team as you. Why do you keep doing this?  Do you talk and interact with people like this in real life? It shouldn't be up to the moderators to tell you that you shouldn't insult other people's intelligence, make jokes about domestic abuse etc. You should not want to do that kind of stuff just cause it is crappy and makes a sports board filled with fans an unfriendly and uncomfortable place with no upside.

I don't go out of my way to insult anyone, save perhaps those who make a great show of conversationally moral outrage while gnashing their teeth in a particularly Ned Flandersian fashion.

...we just signed a mediocre point guard to a long term deal.
http://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/isaiah-thomas/

Granted, he's no Charlie Vilanueva.

26 YO PG whose cap hit decreases each year as he approaches 30 while the cap is projected to increase significantly.  If he were being paid what Josh Smith got from the Pistons I would be concerned, at ~$6.5 not so much

Agreed, and Thomas serves two purposes, in that he's the kind of player Ainge has always liked coming off the bench, as well as being an 'overpay' enough for another player to consider Boston a place that would sign him to a solid contract.

How is putting up a google image of someone writing help I don't understand probabilities not just condescending and insulting? Since you had to take at least a little time to put that graphic together, you obviously went at least a little out of your way to insult the guy. He also didn't post anything about moral outrage so this kind of contradicts what you just posted.

[Evantime34]

I mean... Would we have been better off long term with a top 5 pick?  Yes.  Would we be in a far better position to trade for an all-star if our pick wasn't 16th?  Of course.  Are we at risk of entering perpetual mediocrity?  Definitely.   But am I excited about making the playoffs?... You bet your butt I am.    This is going to be awesome.  If we miraculously lose one of the 4 games by less than 10 points, it'll all have been worth it.  Free agents will be lining up to join forces with the team that almost didn't get blown out in 4 straight games by Lord James.   Get pumped!

When I am away from the blog for a little while I always miss your sunny disposition.

Honestly though, that type of attitude is the most satisfying for a team to have. If you expect your team to fail miserably, anything better than that outcome is enjoyable to watch as a fan. I am expecting a sweep in the playoffs, so anything better than that is a success in my book.

I'm not sure what Ainge could have done though. He traded away everyone who won't be here long term for guys who are undervalued and draft picks. Sure they could have dealt anyone with a pulse for picks but then I would not have enjoyed watching any of the games this year. Since I watch the games for enjoyment I want no part of a move that saps the enjoyment out of the C's for several years at a time.

On a separate note, the mods shouldn't need to police people for insulting other posters. We are all adults here. If you can't refute a point without insulting someone else you simply aren't trying enough. That is not directed at anyone but more the general tone of this thread.

[D Dub]

I mean... Would we have been better off long term with a top 5 pick?  Yes.  Would we be in a far better position to trade for an all-star if our pick wasn't 16th?  Of course.  Are we at risk of entering perpetual mediocrity?  Definitely.   But am I excited about making the playoffs?... You bet your butt I am.    This is going to be awesome.  If we miraculously lose one of the 4 games by less than 10 points, it'll all have been worth it.  Free agents will be lining up to join forces with the team that almost didn't get blown out in 4 straight games by Lord James.   Get pumped!

Didn't you also predict us trading Rondo and finishing with < 25 wins?  One out of two, not bad.

That said, seems like you have consistently underestimated the Stevens factor.  And sure, it would be a small miracle to take out a LBJ team in the first round...  But a sweep?  C'mon now you are talking about a team with a player coach & no system.  I've gotta think that CBS will be able to make some nice adjustments along the way and keep this thing competitive.  Blatt, on the other hand still hasn't found a role for Kevin freakin Love yet.  Will they be able to handle the pressure of a potential "historic upset" if Boston grabs a quick 2-1 series lead? 

The Cavs are banking on showing up and flipping a switch, meanwhile the Celts have been playing for their lives for over a month now.  I wouldn't be so quick to count us out, again.