Would you rather win the lottery or make the ECF?

[jpotter33]

There's no question.

Making the ECF is just a date with LeBron, which wasn't much fun last year and probably wouldn't be much fun this year, either.

Winning the lotto means getting a potential superstar locked up long term for cheap.  That could mean reaching the ECF and perhaps beyond for multiple seasons in the future.

My heart wants to disagree; my head agrees strongly.

Yeah, pretty much this. As much as the ECF would mean to our status, we'd have SOOOOOOO many more options with the #1 pick, or even the #2 pick, than with the #4 pick. You have to say lottery. But even getting into the top three and winning one playoff series is a major win for this season for me.

[max215]

Lottery, and it's not even close.

[Greyman]

Lottery.

To make the ECF and lose may help our ability to attract the FAs we want a tiny bit. I doubt it would be a game changer though, whereas the number one pick could/should have great significance. The value of the extra excitement for fans over a first round loss would normally be greater but many have at least one eye on the draft and free agency already. There are also many doubts (as expressed by DA) about the ability of this team to do well against other top teams.

Like many fans, I hope this team goes deep into the playoffs and gives everybody an ending to the season to remember.

[vjcsmoke]

If we lose the first round in 7 games and win the lotto.  Then the #1 pick is the best option. 

If you had said win the Championship or get the #1 pick, I'd say win the Championship. 

But just getting to the ECF is meh because that's not a banner.  So I'd take the #1 pick in that case.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Playoff basketball is more fun to watch than the lottery draw. Plus we can still do a lot with the No. 4 pick

[ederson]

without doubt the pick

[BornReady]

easy pick
i value the future of the franchise more than just 1 season

if it was like a championship or winning a lottery
thats a different story

but just to go to ECF and lose isnt really worth a #1 pick

[greece66]

lottery pls

contributes more to building a contender

[LilRip]

win the lotto, hands down! making the ECF (or even Finals) sounds an awful lot like the Hawks winning 60 games last year. It feels fluke-y and you don't really believe the team can do it again the following year.

[chambers]

What about the #2 pick and the ECF ? 

[PaulP34]

The Celtics are already a free agent magnet. Kevin Durrant already gave Boston airtime by talking up the organisation. The basketball world already knows Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the game. Winning out or losing in the East will not change that. With money and a high pick combined with respect across the board is enough fire power to be top dog in 2016-2017. I may represent a small group that can careless if we lose in the 1st round. I just know we are going all the way next year. We make the ECF ? Great but bring on the summer. I can't wait to see Danny Ainge in action come draft night n free agency...

[Big333223]

The Celtics are already a free agent magnet. Kevin Durrant already gave Boston airtime by talking up the organisation. The basketball world already knows Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the game. Winning out or losing in the East will not change that. With money and a high pick combined with respect across the board is enough fire power to be top dog in 2016-2017. I may represent a small group that can careless if we lose in the 1st round. I just know we are going all the way next year. We make the ECF ? Great but bring on the summer. I can't wait to see Danny Ainge in action come draft night n free agency...

Who is the best player to come to the Celtics via free agency ever?

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

We have rarely had caps space to begin chasing free agents, and in Danny's time, he would first re-sign all our own major free agents, in the early hours of free agency. In fact  we have pretty much always kept our high value free agents as far as I can recall. The two Allens aside who the biggest name to hit unrestricted free agency and walk away from the Celtics, ever?

[chambers]

The Celtics are already a free agent magnet. Kevin Durrant already gave Boston airtime by talking up the organisation. The basketball world already knows Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the game. Winning out or losing in the East will not change that. With money and a high pick combined with respect across the board is enough fire power to be top dog in 2016-2017. I may represent a small group that can careless if we lose in the 1st round. I just know we are going all the way next year. We make the ECF ? Great but bring on the summer. I can't wait to see Danny Ainge in action come draft night n free agency...

Who is the best player to come to the Celtics via free agency ever?

he means a market for free agents in this current NBA environment.
ie our cap situation, role players on cheap contracts, attractive coach and potential etc...

[crimson_stallion]

There's no question.

Making the ECF is just a date with LeBron, which wasn't much fun last year and probably wouldn't be much fun this year, either.

Winning the lotto means getting a potential superstar locked up long term for cheap.  That could mean reaching the ECF and perhaps beyond for multiple seasons in the future.

My heart wants to disagree; my head agrees strongly.

Perfectly sums up how i feel about it too!