Do we really need a star player?

[greg683x]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

[walker834]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

We are the Boston Celtics though haha.  It's the mystique. The Leprechaun wouldn't let that happen.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

They were also battling injuries, which affected what made them effective in the first place.

The margin for error without a star is much slimmer, and injuries/arrests like the ones Hawks endured were quite damaging. It's nice to have LeBron on a team to overcome all injuries though.

[A Future of Stevens]

The short answer is yes we need a star. If we would like to compete long term in the playoffs, then a star is fine. However, some would argue that the ultimate goal of this rebuild is to contend for a title. Unfortunately, stars don't win finals. Superstars win finals (when surrounded by a high level of talent.)

Kevin Love, and Cousins also would not fit into the historical mold of what a superstar is. A superstar is an MVP caliber talent. (This is what erks me when people refer to melo as a superstar.) This doesn't mean they are MVPs at the time, but the talent to win MVP doesn't simply leave. They are still at that level of talent, even if their stats decline, and they sacrifice more for the team. Most of you will probably chastise me for this stance, but let me give a little historical background.

2015- GS won with Curry (current MVP) and a wonderful supporting cast.
2014- SA won, and while they do exemplify a beautiful team concept, they also have Duncan, a 2x MVP winner (who also plays better than any 38 year old I can remember)
2013, 2012 - Heat won, and Lebron needs no introduction
2011 - Dallas- Another great example of team effort. However, from a talent standpoint, they had Dirk (07 MVP) and Kidd
2010 and 2009 - Kobe (08 MVP) and a huge amount of talent around him
2008 - Our good old days - Celtics won- Garnett (04 MVP), Allen and Pierce (about as good as you can get w/o MVP nod) and a great supporting cast
2007- Spurs - Little Timmy even closer to his prime
2006 - Heat win- Wade (one of the few not on this list with an MVP, but still top 3 player that year), and they had a past his prime Shaq (MVP 2000, still averaged 20 and 9 that season)
2005- Spurs - welcome back guys, wont be the last time they are on the list
2004- Pistons - as many have pointed out, this team was without an MVP type player. This should really drive home how rare it is to win without that level of talent
2003- Spurs - oh god we have to stop meeting like this
2002, 2001, 2000 - Lakers - MVP Shaq, and young athletic Kobe (future MVP)
1999- Spurs - Man did I mention Duncan and the organization is good or what?
1998, 1997, 1996- Bulls - Greatest player of all time and great supporting cast (if you can even call Pippen and Rodman just supporting cast)
1995, 1994 - Rockets- Hakeem (94 MVP, would be more if Jordan didn't exist)
1993, 92, 91 - Bulls- Jordan
1990, 89 - Pistons - great tough nosed all around team, no MVPs (Isaih was better than anyone we have any chance at getting, but we will count this team)

I stopped the list here, but as we head further back into the 80s the Lakers and Celtics really hurt the "no MVP level superstar talent" even more.

Final tally- between 2015-1989 (27 championships) 23/27 times the winner was a team with MVP level of talent on the roster. Not just stars.

This is a very sobering thought when we think about our chances of winning the ship any time soon, because out of the group of Smart, Love, Monroe, Cousins, Harris, none are even close to the level of talent needed to win a ship.

Anyway, lets go Cs.

Another good one is top ten picks needed to win a title.

I think we want that one guy. I'm not sure high picks has everything to do with it.   Having KEvin Love and a wonderful supporting cast could get it done imo...   Kobe, Dwade, pierce, Steph were not top of the top in drafts.  Marcus was picked 6th so we do have one guy.

If a guy can play he can play I guess is what I'm saying. Saying he has to be drafted somewhere is kind of weird logic and kind of limiting.

Yea I agree. My post was more about the talent level than some arbitrary top 10 pick. Getting a top 10 is nice, but the 8th pick is no more of a lock to become a superstar than the 13th is in the draft. Talent matters more than some arbitrary draft ranking system. Usually these dominant players are found further up in the draft (because dominant people were usually dominant before the nba), but Rozier COULD turn into the best PG in the league. Will it happen? 99.99% chance in my mind it doesn't but just because he went 16th doesn't mean the kid cant ball.

[cb8883]

You need multiple stars in this league. Not just one. That's why tanking is the best option. If you can tank for 3 years and get a star then get one via trade you are in good shape. Boston can only get a star on those two avenues. Maybe they get lucky and Harris develops but I doubt it the dude is a scrub on a bad team.

[walker834]

I consider Smart, IT, Rozier, and Sully stars or potential stars. Superstars probably not.  The rest of our roster is full of just solid players potentially.Just solid players.  Above average.

Rozier? Come on. Noone has seen him play an Nba minute. I hope he becomes one but I will wait before labeling him.

I really like Rozier. Call me giddy. I don't care.  Marcus Smart too. I like our  entire team.  I don 't think it's my bias either.

I could be wrong.  But I love the pick.

[walker834]

Terry Rozier highlights.  Can't have enough of those.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0o7PNSliNY

[Future Celtics Owner]

Do we have any players that could be stars?

Yes. The guy that looks to be a more athletic Klay Thompson. And Hopefully one of our pg's.

[walker834]

Marcus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i14zxlMdrlA

Rj hunter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w8697jZPtI

Sullinger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyT3lnrM3QE

Isiaiah Thomas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBiuO1BlNrk

[tarheelsxxiii]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

They were also battling injuries, which affected what made them effective in the first place.

The margin for error without a star is much slimmer, and injuries/arrests like the ones Hawks endured were quite damaging. It's nice to have LeBron on a team to overcome all injuries though.

I live outside of ATL and never believed they had enough to get through the East. You saw their ceiling, not floor. A healthy Washington would've cut their run shorter. What's sad is that they are still way more talented than us - will give you that.

Re: the OP, you need more than one star (perennial all-star caliber). I'm not sure 2 alone get it done, if you look at the current landscape of the NBA. Kevin Love alone would not get it done for us - he'd need to be the #2/3. And unfortunately we aren't bringing in anything higher than a third tier FA - nothing to get excited about (in a positive way).

[walker834]

Can't forget Sully wasn't injured he would have been a top 5 pick.  Watch those highlights vs Golden State.  Sully should not be given up on easily.

[greg683x]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

They were also battling injuries, which affected what made them effective in the first place.

The margin for error without a star is much slimmer, and injuries/arrests like the ones Hawks endured were quite damaging. It's nice to have LeBron on a team to overcome all injuries though.

i dont disagree with you, but the fact that they couldnt muster up 1 win really made them look like frauds

[max215]

Can't forget Sully wasn't injured he would have been a top 5 pick.  Watch those highlights vs Golden State.  Sully should not be given up on easily.

No one argues Sully's talent. The problem is that he IS often injured and cannot stay in shape. He's shown no indication that he's going to fix this problem.

[walker834]

Can't forget Sully wasn't injured he would have been a top 5 pick.  Watch those highlights vs Golden State.  Sully should not be given up on easily.

No one argues Sully's talent. The problem is that he IS often injured and cannot stay in shape. He's shown no indication that he's going to fix this problem.

Yeah but Bradley had similar issues until this last year. It takes young players usually a few years before they get in NBA shape and can deal with the rigors of an nba season.  I'm not disagreeing with you either. Sully is injured again this year that's a problem.

[LGC88]

Ask the Atlanta Hawks if you need stars.

Theyre a perfect example of a team filled with good players and no one great.   They had great regular season success but it seems like in the playoffs when they'd need one guy to stand out among the rest, everyone was kind of left looking at each other.

TP, that's sum it up perfectly.
The ceiling of team play is the playoff, where defense and intensity are at their picks. Only few players are capable to play above that level to win games. Those players are called stars. We know 4 of them in Boston, PP, KG, Ray & Rondo. The other players we had since then were just starters, prospects, or bench players.
And by the way, I seriously think DA believe stud players have the better odds to become those "star players" judging his last 2 drafts. Let's see, I'm hopeful (as always).