Was this playoff appearance worth it?

[ctrey]

I am curious as to the thoughts of people here on Celticsblog. I oscillate quite a bit on the topic. On one hand playing this time of year has to help, on the other, it is clear we need more talent and getting a better pick would have helped us. I do not see anyone helping us at the 16th pick. I am honestly torn. We have played great basketball against a team with superior and more experienced talent. Has that helped us? Thoughts?
 

[Forza Juventus]

I am curious as to the thoughts of people here on Celticsblog. I oscillate quite a bit on the topic. On one hand playing this time of year has to help, on the other, it is clear we need more talent and getting a better pick would have helped us. I do not see anyone helping us at the 16th pick. I am honestly torn. We have played great basketball against a team with superior and more experienced talent. Has that helped us? Thoughts?

I think its fun so I would say yeah.

[CelticSooner]

Yes. The C's we're never going to get a top 5 pick unless Ainge traded half the team away. CBS is too good a coach.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Yes, I've loved watching these games.

[rondohondo]

I think Smart and Crowder has proven he can be part of the future .

We have also seen that we need a huge upgrade at both big men positions , and need a PG with size who can handle and shoot(Dragic would be nice)

Let Bass and Datome walk , unless they come back real cheap, same with Jerebko

pg: Need upgrade            / Thomas
SG: Smart                      / Bradley
SF: Crowder(for now)     / Turner
PF: Need upgrade            / KO or Sully
 C: Need upgrade            / Zeller

[Casperian]

You gotta ask Brad Stevens.

[Lucky17]

I think it has. The series has been one long infomercial for a Celtics franchise that is "up and coming." This has been the litany chanted by national broadcasters since the opening tip of Game One.

Lots of buzz about the team. Trade values are on the rise. Player agents and GMs are watching.

I didn't expect winning the series, but I did expect to win one game. Hoping I am proved right on Sunday.

[Who]

Nope. I'd much rather have the lottery pick.

[PhoSita]

I don't think the appearance will make a difference, but picking a few spots higher wouldn't have made a difference, either.

Really the question is whether Ainge should have waived Bass and Prince and dumped Thornton for a minor pick at the deadline instead of trading for Jerebko, Datome, and IT.  The team probably would have missed the playoffs by a significant margin without Bass, Jerebko, or IT.

I think the answer is probably no, because IT is a solid asset.  It'll depend on what value he ends up bringing over the next year or two.

[SHAQATTACK]

Heck yeah .....

I'm not watching a bunch of tankers

Not that Danny will promote tanking agenda anyways ......unless half the team is hurt or something really goes sour .

One season of tanking ....rebuilding ...dumping the stars was enough.

Looking forward to a better year next year.......more wins and another playoff

[cb8883]

Set us back a few years. Absolutely not. These games haven't even been close when LeBron has actually been trying.

[SHAQATTACK]

These were good hard fought games ...for such a young team and rebuilding program

Pretty amazing how well they have done .

[Forza Juventus]

Set us back a few years. Absolutely not. These games haven't even been close when LeBron has actually been trying.

I think that is a stretch.

[NYDan]

This team has been playing meaningful games for the past month. Coming together and beating out 4 other teams in a tight playoff race can only be seen as progress, which is what Stevens has been preaching since day 1. It's also given the C's exposure to the league as a team on the rise, can't hurt the value of our players as well.

No point hoping for ping pong balls in the range we were going to pick in, this post trade deadline lineup turned out to be too decent for top 10 talent. All the moves that went down were in the interest of collecting assets, and who can say what Ainge can pull off. May get that lottery pick yet.

[Al91]

Yes, this playoff experience for Marcus Smart alone is worth ten times the eleven to thirteenth pick in the draft in my opinion.