Could anything good come out of a disaster season?

[trickybilly]

Curious to know if anyone can see any potential silver linings to a 7th seed 1st round exit or worse (given that would be the floor for most people's expectations).

[Donoghus]

No.  This team is trending upwards.  Something like a 7 seed & a first round exit would be a HUGE setback.

I also think 7 seed is way too low a floor for people's expectations.  This team should be a top 4 seed in the East if they stay healthy.

[slamtheking]

based on the moves this team has made as well as what the other teams in the conference did, I don't think I'd be off in suggesting the 'floor' expectations for the team this year is the 4th seed. 

Team is trending upwards and added Al Horford and the #3 pick in this year's draft.  We should be better.

I think anything less than the #3 seed and getting into the second round would be seen as a failure this year.  no silver lining to not achieving that much.

[Csfan1984]

Given the depth of the team can't see them falling past 5th seed unless they have a ton of injuries. Let's also not forget two years in a row the team has had injury woes in the playoffs. Those injuries help push their quick exit. If healthy they should be in the conference finals against the Cavs.

[dannyboy35]

I'm not as concerned with seeding as much as winning a round. It's a failure if they can't win a round again.

[jpotter33]

Yes, that's a major disappointment. I have high expectations for this team, so to me anything other than an ECF appearance and a top-2 or top-3 seed is pretty much a disappointment for me, unless there's something like injuries holding us back.

[LarBrd33]

We should win 55+ and threaten for the ECF.  But even if we miss the playoffs, as long as Brooklyn keeps stinking our future is bright.

[Donoghus]

We should win 55+ and threaten for the ECF.  But even if we miss the playoffs, as long as Brooklyn keeps stinking our future is bright.

If we miss the playoffs, theoretically, BKN has a better chance to improve due to the pick swap (getting their own lottery pick in return).  Then BKN '18 might not look as bright.

[PhoSita]

Well, the Nets picks are a silver lining not tied to our season outcome.  That's the whole point of those picks.

That said, if adding Horford and a top 3 pick still isn't enough to get this team past the 1st round, then it may be time to start questioning where we're headed here. 

The clock is ticking down to a decision time on Bradley and Isaiah, not to mention a decision as to how much money to spend to keep Olynyk.

[Celtics18]

Well, the Nets picks are a silver lining not tied to our season outcome.  That's the whole point of those picks.

That said, if adding Horford and a top 3 pick still isn't enough to get this team past the 1st round, then it may be time to start questioning where we're headed here. 

The clock is ticking down to a decision time on Bradley and Isaiah, not to mention a decision as to how much money to spend to keep Olynyk.

Blow it up!!

[PhoSita]

Well, the Nets picks are a silver lining not tied to our season outcome.  That's the whole point of those picks.

That said, if adding Horford and a top 3 pick still isn't enough to get this team past the 1st round, then it may be time to start questioning where we're headed here. 

The clock is ticking down to a decision time on Bradley and Isaiah, not to mention a decision as to how much money to spend to keep Olynyk.

Blow it up!!

Not so much blow it up as, okay, maybe we're not really just one piece away, maybe there's still some shuffling that needs to be done. 

Crowder and Horford, I think, are here to stay for a few years because it's hard to see a situation where it'd make sense to trade either of them. 

The rest of the roster could be fungible if it doesn't look like this group is going to break through.  And in a couple of years when the Nets picks have vested and Isaiah / Bradley are heading into free agency, it may make sense to reshift the "focus" of the roster toward the younger guys.

[chilidawg]

The misery that would ensue on this board would be unbearable.  Don't suggest such a thing.

[hpantazo]

Well, David Robinson's injury did give a good Spurs team Tim Duncan from a disasterous season...

[Celtics4ever]

Higher pick is the only one I can think of in all honesty and that would help us marginally.

[chambers]

Higher pick is the only one I can think of in all honesty and that would help us marginally.

You don't think a top 3 pick (especially the #1 pick) would help us land a star?
I think that's the beauty of this season. We're playing with house money.

eg: Bulls have a terrible season, Butler wants out. Cousins wants out. We have assets and that BRK pick. I