The Celtics could end up with three picks in the lottery

[BigAlTheFuture]

Lol this is ridiculous. Can't believe people want US to tank when we already have a top 3/4 pick in the bag WHILE making the playoffs. It doesn't get any better than that

[jbpats]

Do people realize the draft this year is horrid?
I'm a fan of the team, lets try and make a statement in the playoffs this year.. let's try and attract quality free agents.. let's not hope we get yet another lottery pick.

These guys need playoff experience, not tanking experience.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

I Trust Danny to either draft value of trade the picks for someone who fills a need.

[PhoSita]

With virtually guaranteed top-5 lottery position and another pick that could fall in the late lottery, why on earth would anybody be rooting for us to miss the playoffs? 

It's one of the unwritten rules of Celticsblog ... no matter what happens, there's gotta be at least one person who believes the C's can win a championship this year, and one person who would prefer for the team to tank. 

Isn't it comforting to know that things are in balance?

[Donoghus]

Only in fantasy land.  Celtics aren't missing the playoffs.   It would take an epic collapse at this point and there is absolutely no way an epic collapse to fall into the lottery would be better for this team than another playoff run.

[mef730]

Smart gets no respect from the refs...rediculous

I love Smart and am glad we drafted him, but he deserves what he gets. He's a flopper and doesn't have the cred necessary to be able to stare down the refs like he does.

There will be no tank. We won't need it: If it were a normal year, the third-worst team would actually have a 30% chance of the #5 or #6 pick (26.5%, 4%). The only choice we will have to make is Simmons or Ingram at #1. Because this year, everything's coming up Milhouse.

Mike

[arctic 3.0]

At the risk of bumping this thread I reply only to ask that it be locked.

[slamtheking]

With virtually guaranteed top-5 lottery position and another pick that could fall in the late lottery, why on earth would anybody be rooting for us to miss the playoffs? 

It's one of the unwritten rules of Celticsblog ... no matter what happens, there's gotta be at least one person who believes the C's can win a championship this year, and one person who would prefer for the team to tank. 

Isn't it comforting to know that things are in balance?

Let's not forget the one still complaining about how we did last season and that the team's finish prevented us from selecting Player X.

Every stool needs at least 3 legs to stand on it's own and Celticsblog is a prime example of such a stool  (note, I said 'example', not 'sample')

[spikelovetheCelts]

The Brooklyn pick is already in the lottery.
Dallas and Boston could easily fall out of the playoffs with the injuries to Parsons and Crowder.
I kind of hope it happens.

Fantastic, we'll be able to draft three more Terry Roziers! Totally worth the playoff spot!

*Two Roziers...and one top three pick

Isiah and Crowder were late picks. There are gems to be found. Milsaps was the 47th pick. Parsons 38th DeAndre Jordon 35th pick. Picks are good. Hopefully we have some great scouts this year.

[Chris22]

The Brooklyn pick is already in the lottery.
Dallas and Boston could easily fall out of the playoffs with the injuries to Parsons and Crowder.
I kind of hope it happens.

Fantastic, we'll be able to draft three more Terry Roziers! Totally worth the playoff spot!

*Two Roziers...and one top three pick

Isiah and Crowder were late picks. There are gems to be found. Milsaps was the 47th pick. Parsons 38th DeAndre Jordon 35th pick. Picks are good. Hopefully we have some great scouts this year.

Great point.
TP

[mmmmm]

If Dallas does make it in top 7 and is protected I think that a good thing..Next year class should be better anyhow

FYI: The pick would still be top-7 protected if it didn't convey this year.  The protection remains until 2021.

From: http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Boston-Celtics/2/Rosters/Regular

2016 first round draft pick from Dallas
Dallas' 1st round pick to Boston protected for selections 1-7 in 2016, 1-7 in 2017, 1-7 in 2018, 1-7 in 2019 and 1-7 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021 [Boston-Dallas, 12/18/2014]

[Greyman]

Like many replies, in the context of the Celtics season and rebuild, I disagree with the OP.

 I did google Hannah Stocking who I hadn't heard of. Thank you.

[alldaboston]

Like many replies, in the context of the Celtics season and rebuild, I disagree with the OP.

 I did google Hannah Stocking who I hadn't heard of. Thank you.

I gotchu man. Don't worry about it lol

[guava_wrench]

The Brooklyn pick is already in the lottery.
Dallas and Boston could easily fall out of the playoffs with the injuries to Parsons and Crowder.
I kind of hope it happens.

We would have like the last pick in the lottery. Is that worth it?

[LooseCannon]

One of the huge pleasures this year has been having a competitive team to root for, while also rooting for lottery position from Brooklyn / Dallas.  It's like both sides of the playoffs vs. tanking debate can be happy.

Then this thread popped up.  With virtually guaranteed top-5 lottery position and another pick that could fall in the late lottery, why on earth would anybody be rooting for us to miss the playoffs?  Isn't being a flexible, competitive team our primary selling point to free agents?

Because some "fans" are only happy when the team is losing. It's the same actors every time around here. At least it's predictable.

I don't want to criticize other fans, but I don't understand the psychology of it. This is about as close to an ideal scenario as possible. I understand tanking: it gives hope when there otherwise is none. But this season? We're swimming in hope. Great coach, fun team, tons of cap space, free agents giving us dap, a top-5 pick and another good selection.

Who looks at that and says "the only thing that would make this season better is more losing?"  Is it caused by the Duncan / Oden drafts, where the franchise endorsed intentionally losing? Is it NBA2k, where you build dynasties through unrealistic draft picks? It seems joyless, but there's got to be some appeal there.

For some posters, the psychology is clearly a belief that the Celtics will never be chosen by a major free agent, so that trades and the draft are the only avenues for acquiring a superstar.  It's a combination of the belief that you need that franchise player and an unwarranted fear of the dreaded "treadmill of mediocrity", the worst meme to infect internet discourse about basketball.