Thinking aloud about Boston's offseason

[hpantazo]

Shouldn't this thread title be 'Thinking aloud about Boston's postseason'? Can there be a time where people in this blog enjoy going to the playoffs? Or do the new Celtics fans just not enjoy anything ever? There will be 6 months to discuss the offseason.

How much is there to say about an impending sweep?  It's a nice story, but there's not a ton to say about it.  The Celtics are gonna go the way of the 2013 Bucks.

If we play Atlanta it will not be a sweep. We matchup well, play them tough, and have a legitimate chance at taking that series. If /when we run into Cleveland or Chicago though, yea, we will get swept.

[Tr1boy]

Shouldn't this thread title be 'Thinking aloud about Boston's postseason'? Can there be a time where people in this blog enjoy going to the playoffs? Or do the new Celtics fans just not enjoy anything ever? There will be 6 months to discuss the offseason.

How much is there to say about an impending sweep?  It's a nice story, but there's not a ton to say about it.  The Celtics are gonna go the way of the 2013 Bucks.

If we play Atlanta it will not be a sweep. We matchup well, play them tough, and have a legitimate chance at taking that series. If /when we run into Cleveland or Chicago though, yea, we will get swept.

Even against the Cavs i bet we will win one at home.

Take your chances, double Lebron and let the others beat you

[D.o.s.]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

[hpantazo]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

If Atlanta actually makes some noise in the playoffs against teams like Cleveland and Chicago then they will get credit. Cruising to a top seed in a conference where all the top teams battled with injuries and transitions doesn't impress most people. Paul George , Bosh, Wade, Rose, all out , Lebron learning to play with an all new roster , etc, let's see what Atlanta can do now that Rose is back and Lebron has settled in

[xPOORx]

I'd prefer we try to get past the Cavs over the Hawks.  I feel that the Hawks are more of a threat over all, not just 2 1\2 star players like Cleveland.  Lebron feels obligated to win it, the Hawks want to show the world that they are legit.

[D.o.s.]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

If Atlanta actually makes some noise in the playoffs against teams like Cleveland and Chicago then they will get credit. Cruising to a top seed in a conference where all the top teams battled with injuries and transitions doesn't impress most people. Paul George , Bosh, Wade, Rose, all out , Lebron learning to play with an all new roster , etc, let's see what Atlanta can do now that Rose is back and Lebron has settled in

You are aware that you're suggesting that a team struggling to crack 40 wins matches up well against one of the two teams that was able to crack 60 wins in the entire NBA, right?

I'm all for supporting the home team but the idea that the Celtics are actually on the same page as the Hawks is just too out there for me.

[PhoSita]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

This.

Either the Cavs or the Hawks would easily spread out the Celtics and turn the paint into a layup line.

Anyway, I hope they manage to win a game.  That would be fun.  But whether it's 4 games or 5 games, it's still a sweep.  Lopsided series.

Chances are the average point differential will be between 8 and 15.

[fairweatherfan]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

This.

Either the Cavs or the Hawks would easily spread out the Celtics and turn the paint into a layup line.

Anyway, I hope they manage to win a game.  That would be fun.  But whether it's 4 games or 5 games, it's still a sweep.  Lopsided series.

Chances are the average point differential will be between 8 and 15.

Either team would very likely clobber us.  But Cleveland has more starpower (for whatever it's worth, but it's fair to say teams with Cleveland's makeup have done a lot better in the playoffs than teams with Atlanta's), and peaked late in the season after struggling early.

Whereas Atlanta seems like they peaked in January - they actually have a worse record than us since February 1st, which is not an insubstantial chunk of the season.  Millsap's health is also questionable, and they lost Sefolosha for the season.  It's wishful thinking to expect to beat either squad but I think it's very reasonable to believe Atlanta is a more desirable opponent.

[D.o.s.]

I'm definitely looking forward to Evan Turner complaining about Kyle Korver's defense again.

[TheFlex]

Re: IT plus Cousins, the answer is you do everything in your power to add the superstar this team desperately lacks and figure that out later.  If it means trading IT, fine.  He's not nearly as good as Cousins.


Flex, this is a fun stroll through a fantasy off-season.  But I emphasize fantasy.  I really don't believe Butler or Cousins are changing teams this summer, unless somebody offers a top 3 pick.  Full stop.

I believe we need to set our sights on players that other teams don't necessarily covet.  Buy-low options.  Less talked about trade targets.  I think the Celtics are still a few shuffles away from the opportunity they need to add a couple core pieces.

 So ask, instead, how will Danny Ainge look to further convert picks and young role players  into tangible assets this summer?

I'd agree this is an ideal, not a realistic course of events. Butler I think is the most unlikely. I still believe in the Kings' calamitous front office to trade Cousins this offseason and I don't see why we wouldn't be a) a desirable destination for Cousins and b) a desirable trade partner for Sacramento.

Also, if we do add Cousins, I think we suddenly become a legitimate player for a number of free agents. To me with Cousins aboard we'd be as attractive as LAL to Love if he were to leave Cleveland.

Further on Cousins and the implications of landing him: (speaking in general) I'm a bit concerned with the notion that the Celtics should pay Khris Middleton $15m annually without at least one star already in place. If we had Cousins, adding a guy like Middleton or Draymond Green for that type of dough makes complete sense. Could we send Sacramento:

Olynyk
James Young
Tyler Zeller
2015 BOS 1st
2016 BKN 1st
2017 better of BOS/BKN 1sts

for

Cousins

Sign Middleton to 4 years/$60m (Bucks won't match that, will they?). Sign Pero Antic to mid-level money.

Smart/IT/Pressey
Bradley/Evan Turner
Khris Middleton/Jae Crowder
Sullinger/Bass/McCullough/Jerebko
Cousins/Pero Antic

Me likey. But again, as you said, tons of ifs.

On buy-low targets: Are we talking about a guy like Middleton or a guy like Moe Harkless? I wouldn't mind adding a guy like Harkless for the right price but I remain unconvinced that we'll have to visit that last resort. The Celtics have an insane asset pool right now. I can see us whiffing on the top tier of available free agents/trade targets: Cousins, Aldridge, Gasol, Love, Kawhi, Butler, DeAndre Jordan, Millsap, Monroe, etc. I can't see us whiffing on the next few tiers: Middleton, Draymond Green, Tobias Harris, the Lopez twins, Asik, Danny Green, etc.

[Rosco917]

One thing for sure...we're gonna find out a lot about our team during the playoffs. The first round team, who ever we play, is going to give us a detailed map of many of our short comings. We will find out exactly where we need to improve next year.

[hwangjini_1]

To be short, I'm not liking any of these deals.

i am not sure if many posters here are enthralled with learning your likes and dislikes. however, a number of us would be happy to hear your thoughts and insights about trades, be they related to the specific ones in this thread or not.

you might also weigh in on the reasons, causes, and rationales as to why the suggested trades are less than stellar. and if so, what alternatives do you propose, and why?

those are the sorts of posts that usually add the most to conversations such as this.

[hwangjini_1]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

If Atlanta actually makes some noise in the playoffs against teams like Cleveland and Chicago then they will get credit. Cruising to a top seed in a conference where all the top teams battled with injuries and transitions doesn't impress most people. Paul George , Bosh, Wade, Rose, all out , Lebron learning to play with an all new roster , etc, let's see what Atlanta can do now that Rose is back and Lebron has settled in

You are aware that you're suggesting that a team struggling to crack 40 wins matches up well against one of the two teams that was able to crack 60 wins in the entire NBA, right?

I'm all for supporting the home team but the idea that the Celtics are actually on the same page as the Hawks is just too out there for me.

if the celtics are to have any chance whatsoever, it all hinges on CBS. but, as ardent a fanboy of CBS as i am, even i would be shocked to see him steer our intrepid band of misfit heroes to more than a single victory in the series.

winning the series? i just cant see it.

[jpotter33]

And underrating Atlanta continues.

This.

Either the Cavs or the Hawks would easily spread out the Celtics and turn the paint into a layup line.

Anyway, I hope they manage to win a game.  That would be fun.  But whether it's 4 games or 5 games, it's still a sweep.  Lopsided series.

Chances are the average point differential will be between 8 and 15.

Either team would very likely clobber us.  But Cleveland has more starpower (for whatever it's worth, but it's fair to say teams with Cleveland's makeup have done a lot better in the playoffs than teams with Atlanta's), and peaked late in the season after struggling early.

Whereas Atlanta seems like they peaked in January - they actually have a worse record than us since February 1st, which is not an insubstantial chunk of the season.  Millsap's health is also questionable, and they lost Sefolosha for the season.  It's wishful thinking to expect to beat either squad but I think it's very reasonable to believe Atlanta is a more desirable opponent.

TP. This is why I prefer Atlanta over Cleveland as well. Star power, Millsap's shoulder, Sefalosha, better roster matchups, and their early peak all suggest them as a better opponent for us than Cleveland.

And though I absolutely hate saying this, the Cavs also have the best player in the world with TONS of playoff experience, too. He could very well go all Game 6 2012 ECF on us all over again.

I guess the only argument that could be made for the Cavs being a better matchup for us than Atlanta would be the fact that Love and Irving have 0 playoff experience. Other than that, it's undeniable that the Cavs have been the much better team in 2015.