Do you think being a Celtic still holds weight?

[walker834]

I think it does.  Being a Celtic is different.  It's not about the stats or the money these guys are making.   It's about winning basketball and sacrifice for the team.  This is why I don't mind if a guy doesn't  put up huge numbers as long as the Celtics are winning.  I consider that guy a superstar.

It's going to take time for some of these guys but patience is a virtue too. I hope Ainge doesn't feel forced to make moves with this team. Adding talent is good.  Talent is good in general  but it's also the type of talent.   I see it differently in ways I guess.

Numbers are part of it for sure. I'd be kidding myself if I didn't think Larry Bird didn't put up huge numbers but that stuff comes within the team concept and allowing other players to do that as well.   I see Smart putting up huge numbers.  I think he is going to be a catalyst.  I more think the numbers will come.

People will come. It's like that field of dreams if DA plays his cards right.

[walker834]

Other teams are different you have players trying to maximize their potential from an individual standpoint at the sacrifice of the team sometimes.  The Celtics still want guys who are going to maximize their individual potential while being better than that?

My question is we want to add talent but at what cost.

[Hemingway]

If I wasn't from here or this wasn't my team, I doubt being a Celtic would mean anymore that being a 76er or a Sun. We try to get guys that are "celtic players", guys that hustle and are team first. But don't other teams do the same and just call them "lakers players" or "Spurs players"?

It's not all moot. It must mean more to be a celtic than a Hornet. Lots of teams have retired players with the team, but we have a lot and 2 of the best in Danny and Tommy. To a certain personality type this means something, to others playing for the Celtics vs playing for the Jazz means about as much as the difference in working at McDonalds or Burger King.

[zubi.anaba]

I think it does.  Being a Celtic is different.  It's not about the stats or the money these guys are making.   It's about winning basketball and sacrifice for the team.  This is why I don't mind if a guy doesn't  put up huge numbers as long as the Celtics are winning.  I consider that guy a superstar.

It's going to take time for some of these guys but patience is a virtue too. I hope Ainge doesn't feel forced to make moves with this team. Adding talent is good.  Talent is good in general  but it's also the type of talent.   I see it differently in ways I guess.

Numbers are part of it for sure. I'd be kidding myself if I didn't think Larry Bird didn't put up huge numbers but that stuff comes within the team concept and allowing other players to do that as well.   I see Smart putting up huge numbers.  I think he is going to be a catalyst.  I more think the numbers will come.

People will come. It's like that field of dreams if DA plays his cards right.

Dude do not mean to call you out but dont you think you are being hypocritical by posting this? Your talking about sacrificing numbers for the sake of winning. Thats is all well and good except that just under 2 weeks ago you wrote this

It would be nice but I'm starting to sour on Kevin Love a bit. If he is a guy who is going to be in lebrons pocket to win a championship he isnt a player i want here.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=79207.msg1913247#msg1913247

If you really like players sacrificing numbers and money for the sake of winning then why were you souring on Klove for apparently doing just that? Cant have both ways dude.

[LilRip]

i don't think it does. I think the Celtics provide certain things that other teams can't, but other teams provide things the Celtics can't. And for all this "unselfish basketball" talk, we don't really have a monopoly on it. Many teams talk that game too. Most recently, ATL and SAS have been shining examples of it.

[knuckleballer]

I think we fans care about this sort of thing far far more than any player.

[CelticsJG]

I think we fans care about this sort of thing far far more than any player.

Agree. Fans put more weight into being "Celtics" than actual players do.

I personally see "being a Celtic" as fluff.

[sawick48]

it means nothing except to the people that are under long term contracts. that's it.


means tons to us fans though, obviously.  but to players? zilch

[D.o.s.]

I think we fans care about this sort of thing far far more than any player.

Agree. Fans put more weight into being "Celtics" than actual players do.

I personally see "being a Celtic" as fluff.

That's because it is, to some degree. If it wasn't there's no way that ownership would've signed off on trading Pierce.

On the other hand, it's pretty clear that  Wyc and company feel more strongly about the team's branding than many of the NBA's other franchises do.

[Hemingway]

To add a point, I think what it means to be a Celtic (or Laker or 76er) has lost value over time. 2 reasons: players get traded all the time no. Even if you are not traded in a season you might think you will be. The other reason i the game has gotten a lot less physical. Guys hang out a lot more with guys from opposing teams now I think. Everyone gets along now, Shaq and Kobe might be to thank, they turned "feud" into a cartoonish word. 

[kheldar52077]

No. Not anymore nor being a laker or any team its all about what the player want like winning(Aldridge), Money(Melo), or having a slumber party(dj) 

[RadjaSmokeBreak]

This past off season is quite convincing that it does not matter to current NBA players. 

We can't change the tax disadvantage (compared to Texas, Florida, etc.), the weather, that most of the city/fans are white (if an African American star is what we're trying to win over), or that making it big in the city of Boston is provincial compared to making it big NY, LA, Miami, etc.  What we can change is the stability of ownership, quality of coach, and quality of players that we draft.  What saddened me the most this past offseason isn't that we didn't land a star player, it's that none of them even gave us the time of day despite having great ownership, management, and coaching.  To me this is one of the key reasons that we (unfortunately) need to rely on the Draft to get a superb player.  Maybe then we can finally at least get an interview with a star player in the future.

With regards to the Lakers, I still think they are a destination b/c it's in LA.  Owning LA is a number of players' dreams, and despite poor ownership I think most players would still pick the Lakers over the Clippers.

[clover]

To add a point, I think what it means to be a Celtic (or Laker or 76er) has lost value over time. 2 reasons: players get traded all the time no. Even if you are not traded in a season you might think you will be. The other reason i the game has gotten a lot less physical. Guys hang out a lot more with guys from opposing teams now I think. Everyone gets along now, Shaq and Kobe might be to thank, they turned "feud" into a cartoonish word.

I think the development of all the youth basketball circuits, making these guys good friends even before college, has done a lot to blur the team lines of friendship too.

[Celtics4ever]

I do not think guys realize it until they become a Celtic.  IT said in the summer league game that he felt it when he put on that Jersey and ran out in the TD Garden.   But I do not think a lot of guys know basketball history anymore.

[tankcity!]

No, it doesn't. If it did, free agents would actually sign here. I think playing for the Lakers holds weight, but that is truly the only team in the NBA I feel that way for. If the Celts were still as dominant as they were in the earlier decades, then I would agree, but they haven't been great since the 90s.