Was this playoff appearance worth it?

[JHTruth]

I'm not sure we're all that "up and coming", yet. I see the Pelicans with AD beating the Warriors tonight and think THAT is up and coming

Indeed.

The Celts are a nice story, but there is no clear future here.

Going to take some luck for sure. We need a trade for a disgruntled star or hit a home run in FA. Not sure where we go from here..

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I'm not sure we're all that "up and coming", yet. I see the Pelicans with AD beating the Warriors tonight and think THAT is up and coming

Indeed.

The Celts are a nice story, but there is no clear future here.

You two are right, only one team can be up and coming at a time. There is only one way to be it too. Congrats. 

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

I'm not sure we're all that "up and coming", yet. I see the Pelicans with AD beating the Warriors tonight and think THAT is up and coming

Indeed.

The Celts are a nice story, but there is no clear future here.

Yeah, it isn't decided yet. But the difference in the probable 11th pick vs. 16th isn't that much. And, do you like IT on the team? Cause that is part of the playoff thing. So, you don't get IT without the playoffs. But just because there isn't a clear future at this very moment doesn't mean that the past has proven that a path to the future looks more positive with how this rebuild has gone so far. i.e. it has been going well and there is no reason to not take that as a positive sign for it continuing as such.

the lottery or bust movement doesn't seem to understand the shifting nature of a rebuild. For them it is picks picks picks, ping pong balls to the extreme. But these things shift and move and change with time and I think you'd find very few people around the NBA who don't think The Celtics aren't moving in the right direction with the opportunity to keep on doing so (they still have assets out the wahoo...)

(meanwhile it is a 2-point game for you envious of New Orleans. And, yeah, I'd give anything to have Anthony Davis. But outside of him I'd say almost everything abotu The Celtics is better as an organization. The Pelicans are  a mess outside of AD)

[tarheelsxxiii]

If we get swept, we get swept. The fact that they are playing so hard, to me, suggests that they honestly believe they can win games, or have the pride to fight till the end.. or some combination of the two. That we are playing so hard despite getting tossed around (at times) speaks volumes to what Stevens has done imo. Every one seems 100% bought in. That is what makes it so fun to watch... looks like a bright future. Truly hope Crowder and IT are a part of our future. And whether Turner, Zeller, even Bass stick around or not... I have enjoyed watching them and appreciate their contributions. We are playing against the best team in the East, and despite losing (as any other EC team would), we are fighting and playing competitively. Good enough for me. Excited to see what they'll bring every night - the better the attitude, the more promising the future..

[PhoSita]

For the umpteenth time, I'd like to point out that noting the uncertainty of the rebuild, and expressing the opinion that making the playoffs probably won't make a significant difference long term, is not equivalent to "lottery or bust, ping pong balls to the extreme."

[Kuberski33]

I'm not sure we're all that "up and coming", yet. I see the Pelicans with AD beating the Warriors tonight and think THAT is up and coming

Not so fast...lol

[Ilikesports17]

For the umpteenth time, I'd like to point out that noting the uncertainty of the rebuild, and expressing the opinion that making the playoffs probably won't make a significant difference long term, is not equivalent to "lottery or bust, ping pong balls to the extreme."

"making the playoffs wont make a significant difference long term"

No one seems to disagree with this. I think that most of C's blog agrees that there is some value in this playoff series (but that is fairly small) and by virtue of making the playoffs we have also proven that we are closer to being legitimate contender than if the same team had landed in picks 9-14. Also tanking would mean no IT4.

You could certainly argue that the draft pick is more valuable but the bottom line is that it isnt a huge difference.

[Waew]

no. we'll be in nba purgatory for a while, getting the 15th draft pick every year, while the sixers of the world keep stacking in their future all stars.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

For the umpteenth time, I'd like to point out that noting the uncertainty of the rebuild, and expressing the opinion that making the playoffs probably won't make a significant difference long term, is not equivalent to "lottery or bust, ping pong balls to the extreme."

Right, but you posit the opposite as a certainty. And it is just as uncertain. You seem ideologicaly attached to the lottery as an absolute value. I don't think anything is certain. What I am not doing is dismissing the advanced development of this team, against the perceived timeline, as being a neccesarily bad thing.

[Eric M VAN]

I'd like to see this same question asked again closer to draft night and after the playoff memories have dimmed a bit.

[konkmv]

Smart young will be better next year... the draft is not sure thing.. cohld draft a bust.. and i think danny will find a way to move up a few spaces

[tarheelsxxiii]

I'd like to see this same question asked again closer to draft night and after the playoff memories have dimmed a bit.

Why? We weren't drafting a stud at our position (or in attempts to move up) regardless of whether we made the playoffs or not.

How could playoff experience not help young, upcoming players? You're introducing them to the big stage. They experience, learn, and get hungry for more. We are also getting a chance to see how each player does - many inexperienced - when the stakes rise and the going gets tough. Can't see how this experience is even in question.

[PhoSita]

For the umpteenth time, I'd like to point out that noting the uncertainty of the rebuild, and expressing the opinion that making the playoffs probably won't make a significant difference long term, is not equivalent to "lottery or bust, ping pong balls to the extreme."

Right, but you posit the opposite as a certainty. And it is just as uncertain. You seem ideologicaly attached to the lottery as an absolute value. I don't think anything is certain. What I am not doing is dismissing the advanced development of this team, against the perceived timeline, as being a neccesarily bad thing.

The Pelicans are certain to be a relevant team, with a shot at 50 wins, so long as Davis stays healthy.

So it's not a certainty, but they have a clear focus for their team.  If they have success, it will be with Davis leading the way, and they've got him for at least another 5 or 6 years.

[Forza Juventus]

For the umpteenth time, I'd like to point out that noting the uncertainty of the rebuild, and expressing the opinion that making the playoffs probably won't make a significant difference long term, is not equivalent to "lottery or bust, ping pong balls to the extreme."

Right, but you posit the opposite as a certainty. And it is just as uncertain. You seem ideologicaly attached to the lottery as an absolute value. I don't think anything is certain. What I am not doing is dismissing the advanced development of this team, against the perceived timeline, as being a neccesarily bad thing.

The Pelicans are certain to be a relevant team, with a shot at 50 wins, so long as Davis stays healthy.

So it's not a certainty, but they have a clear focus for their team.  If they have success, it will be with Davis leading the way, and they've got him for at least another 5 or 6 years.

Davis is amazing and he will only get better but I do disagree with them trading two lottery picks for Holiday, mainly because one of them was Noel who I am a huge fan of. Also I would probably not have traded a first round pick for Asik but that is less of a big deal. I think a center that stretches the floor would have been a better fit on this team. I don't think they are really a smartly run team, I think they just got lucky by getting the first pick and took Davis who everyone knew was going to be amazing.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Remember when Pels winning game 3 over GSW meant they were more up and coming...


Funny thing, I wanted them to win. I want to see more fight in the first round, some underdog needs to win a few.