[aktripleParticipant]

So after seeing the forum post about redrafting the ’12 draft class everyday it gave me the idea to go through every individual teams offseason moves each day and to open the discussion for people to give their thoughts and views.

The way the scoring system is going to work is to give a grade in each of the following categories:

 

Contendership Status: B-

Future Upside: B+

Signings/Trades: B+

Draft: C+

Overall Score: B

The socres given here are my opinions just as an example to show what to answer after all 30 teams are done then i will place the leaderboard of offseason moves based on the average overall score given by you guys.

(I’ll be going through this in order of divisions so sorry if your favourite team is gonna be a bit later)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PHXSUNDREAMPICK13Participant]

 Like the idea but dont follow boston much.  Know they built a big draft warchest.  Contender maybe C.  Future upside agreed B+  Signings and trades C+ because they loaded up on backcourt w/ less frontcourt.  Draft for Celtics i didnt follow.  Give us one liners for commentary

 

[PHXSUNDREAMPICK13Participant]

 Like the idea but dont follow boston much.  Know they built a big draft warchest.  Contender maybe C.  Future upside agreed B+  Signings and trades C+ because they loaded up on backcourt w/ less frontcourt.  Draft for Celtics i didnt follow.  Give us one liners for commentary

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 Celtics

Contender Status: C+
Future Upside: B+
Signings and Trades: B
Draft: C

Score: B-

 

 

 

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 Celtics

Contender Status: C+
Future Upside: B+
Signings and Trades: B
Draft: C

Score: B-

 

 

 

[Rip255]

I can’t help but give the Celtics an F.

Did that team stink it up to aquire all those assets just to be a low-seed again?

Cos with that roster…thats exactly what they look like to me.

Who’s wife do you have to nail to get a star player in Bean-town these days?

 

 

 

[Rip255]

I can’t help but give the Celtics an F.

Did that team stink it up to aquire all those assets just to be a low-seed again?

Cos with that roster…thats exactly what they look like to me.

Who’s wife do you have to nail to get a star player in Bean-town these days?

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 "contender status" shouldn’t be part of your grading system for a team’s offseason.

Obviously, teams that were already contenders before the offseason started have a huge advantage, and that "contender status" category is just going to give teams that were already good a better offseason grade than teams that were starting out lower.

Take away that bogus category and your grade for the Celtics would already be higher.

Then you give them a C+ for their draft, ignoring that they had, and used, three picks in the top 33, more than most every other team.

The Celtics improved in the draft this year almost as much as any other team in the league, getting 3 experienced, rotation-ready players who played great in the Summer League and who have serious upside despite being ready to step into a rotation day one.

Rozier is the best defensive point guard in the draft

Hunter is one of the best shooters in the draft, and showed great passing vision in summer league that many didn’t know he had.

Mickey was one of the best players in summer league and looks like a shot blocking machine in the NBA, while also showcasing a good jump shot and advanced and effective post moves.

None of these guys were freshman one-and-dones who may or may not pan out. Every pick was a solid single or double. Getting Hunter at 28, and Mickey at 33 were both considered great value picks at those spots, and they both played great in summer league.

And Rozier, for all the ignorance about how good a prospect he is, showed the NBA world why he was chosen 16th in the NBA draft.

I guarantee Utah is asking themselves if they should have taken him instead of Trey Lyles.

So that draft grade should be a "B" at worst, which changes your overall grade substantially.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 "contender status" shouldn’t be part of your grading system for a team’s offseason.

Obviously, teams that were already contenders before the offseason started have a huge advantage, and that "contender status" category is just going to give teams that were already good a better offseason grade than teams that were starting out lower.

Take away that bogus category and your grade for the Celtics would already be higher.

Then you give them a C+ for their draft, ignoring that they had, and used, three picks in the top 33, more than most every other team.

The Celtics improved in the draft this year almost as much as any other team in the league, getting 3 experienced, rotation-ready players who played great in the Summer League and who have serious upside despite being ready to step into a rotation day one.

Rozier is the best defensive point guard in the draft

Hunter is one of the best shooters in the draft, and showed great passing vision in summer league that many didn’t know he had.

Mickey was one of the best players in summer league and looks like a shot blocking machine in the NBA, while also showcasing a good jump shot and advanced and effective post moves.

None of these guys were freshman one-and-dones who may or may not pan out. Every pick was a solid single or double. Getting Hunter at 28, and Mickey at 33 were both considered great value picks at those spots, and they both played great in summer league.

And Rozier, for all the ignorance about how good a prospect he is, showed the NBA world why he was chosen 16th in the NBA draft.

I guarantee Utah is asking themselves if they should have taken him instead of Trey Lyles.

So that draft grade should be a "B" at worst, which changes your overall grade substantially.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Fans and sportswriters only notice the big splash moves, and everything else is dismissed as unimportant.

But that’s exactly why nobody saw the Celtics playoff run coming.

Tyler Zeller, Evan Turner, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder, Jonas Jerebko, Isaiah Thomas, none of those acquisitions were earth shattering in themselves, but together they made a HUGE impact on winning games. They went from winning roughly 33% of their games to roughly 66% of their games.

That’s an enormous improvement, and splashy by any espn talking head’s shallow logic.

Now you add 3 rotation level rookies, David Lee, Amir Johnson, and another year of growth for the youngest team in the league, and what you get is one of the top teams in the east, with just about the best head coach in the east, with just about the best team chemistry in the east.

And nobody sees it coming.

That’s the best part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 The Celtics aren’t the youngest team in the League, just off the top of my head, the Sixers and the Jazz are both younger than them. Look it up if you don’t believe me.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 The Celtics aren’t the youngest team in the League, just off the top of my head, the Sixers and the Jazz are both younger than them. Look it up if you don’t believe me.

[T Rex]

 Fans and sportswriters only notice the big splash moves, and everything else is dismissed as unimportant.

But that’s exactly why nobody saw the Celtics playoff run coming.

Tyler Zeller, Evan Turner, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder, Jonas Jerebko, Isaiah Thomas, none of those acquisitions were earth shattering in themselves, but together they made a HUGE impact on winning games. They went from winning roughly 33% of their games to roughly 66% of their games.

That’s an enormous improvement, and splashy by any espn talking head’s shallow logic.

Now you add 3 rotation level rookies, David Lee, Amir Johnson, and another year of growth for the youngest team in the league, and what you get is one of the top teams in the east, with just about the best head coach in the east, with just about the best team chemistry in the east.

And nobody sees it coming.

That’s the best part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

most celtics fans wanted them add a top 5 draft pick than making the playoffs and getting swept…..but you have to admire ainge & stevens for wanting to make the playoffs and build a winning culture…

they didnt sign anyone this summer they can build around..but they did acquire some pieces to add with their young players and draft picks to use in a trade….i love that they got david lee..he’s a fan favorite,great rebounder,team guy and a high percentage scorer….

overall. b-

draft b

contendership status d

future upside c+

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

most celtics fans wanted them add a top 5 draft pick than making the playoffs and getting swept…..but you have to admire ainge & stevens for wanting to make the playoffs and build a winning culture…

they didnt sign anyone this summer they can build around..but they did acquire some pieces to add with their young players and draft picks to use in a trade….i love that they got david lee..he’s a fan favorite,great rebounder,team guy and a high percentage scorer….

overall. b-

draft b

contendership status d

future upside c+

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 They still don’t have one player that can be the third best player on a championship team.  They have a bunch of spare parts and a great coach who makes the sum look better.  Fortunately they are in an absolutely terrible Eastern conference.  Cavs, Raptors, Hawks, Wizards, Bulls and Bucks will all be better than  them.  Celtics fans will enjoy mediocrity for awhile.  

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 They still don’t have one player that can be the third best player on a championship team.  They have a bunch of spare parts and a great coach who makes the sum look better.  Fortunately they are in an absolutely terrible Eastern conference.  Cavs, Raptors, Hawks, Wizards, Bulls and Bucks will all be better than  them.  Celtics fans will enjoy mediocrity for awhile.  

[T Rex]

 Still grieving that the short buss family and bball genius Byran Scott blew the number 2 pick on Kendall Marshall, I see.

I wish I could say that your Lakers will be mediocre, but I’m just hoping Kobe doesn’t destroy them all with verbal abuse.

Wait until Russell can’t defend starting NBA guards, but Kobe will be certain that it can be solved with more verbal abuse.

At least Hibbert is tough enough to handle it. Oh wait

 

[T Rex]

 Still grieving that the short buss family and bball genius Byran Scott blew the number 2 pick on Kendall Marshall, I see.

I wish I could say that your Lakers will be mediocre, but I’m just hoping Kobe doesn’t destroy them all with verbal abuse.

Wait until Russell can’t defend starting NBA guards, but Kobe will be certain that it can be solved with more verbal abuse.

At least Hibbert is tough enough to handle it. Oh wait

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 But I agree w/ a lot of what you write & I enjoy reading it…. As far as the Celtics bringing in Isaih Thomas & Jae Crowder to team up w/ Even Turner to earn a playoff spot was a Huge mistake… It nuetered Marcus Smart & was a 4 game sweep at the hands of Cleveland worth falling out of the Lottery… We all know that the NBA is a Completely different animal that can not be compared to other sports leagues… The absolute Worst position to be in is that murky mediocre space wherre teams just linger for Years – no chance to improve b/c the ONLY place to get the future Hall of Famer that EVERY Champion features is at the Top of the NBA Draft… I think Boston’s situation can best be summed up by their documented & reported upon trade offer to the Philadelphia Sixers… The Celtics offered 6 first round picks 2 in 2015 & 4 in 2016 PLUS 4 players including James Young & Marcus Smart to the Sixers for Nerlens Noel & the # 3 pick (this was even Before the Lakers inexplicably chose Media creation D’Angelo Russell w/ the # 2 pick)… Phila would have had an Insane EIGHT 1st round picks in 2016 had the trade gone through… But Phila – despite what you hear on espn – understands that you can hold EVERY pick in the first round from 11 thru 30 & it means nothing, so they thanked Aigne for the call & declined… Had the Sixers made the trade it would have been the heist of this young century… B.c despite what you hear in the Media Noel looks like a flat out Stud – if you look up his Rookie stats his #’s are just about Identical to the Rookie year of Anthony Uni-brow Davis… & Okafor is already the Strongest low post presence in the League… His balance, low center of gravity & tree trunk build will make him almost unstoppable in the Low Post…. Boston should’ve acquired more picks for Rondo & Green and allow Smart to start & develop & Tank, like every other team does in that spot… Had Boston done this, they would have Even more draft assets & they would have been in position to pick Hezonja, Winslow, Cauley-Stein, Mudiay, Myles Turner & how much better would that team look w/ say Myles Turner & Marcus Smart starting at PG & PF w/ 4 picks in 2016 (theirs would be a high Lottery pick) & more picks in 2017 & 2018 w/ again their own being a Lottery pick… W/ that team, they could even finish in the Bottom 5 & have a Legit shot at Ben Simmons or one of the other top prospect & how good would that nucleus look heading into 2017??? Simmons, Turner & Smart – all Big & long for their position, w/ great athleticism & a HUGE upside… Now you’re cooking w/ chicken grease! But Aigne lost his patience or was under direction of ownership to get those extra playoff dates to make more $$$… It’s foolish but that’s how Most teams are run… Of the teams on the come up w/ a REAL chance to do something in the future (2019 & beyond) I’d say Utah has nice pieces w/ Hayward & Favors, Orlando has a nice collection of talent w/ Vucevic at Center, their backcourt solidifed, Hezonja at the 3, Minnesota has Wiggins & Towns who can be Stars along w/ a handful of excellent # 3 options & Philadelphia may have a Monster on their hands… I’m beginning to think Embiid will play this fall, Noel is a star (not a Super Star but a Great piece) & I am Still shocked they got Okafor who is a Bull, he’s got Shaq’s ability to force opposing Centers off the block on defense & cave them in at the Offensive end (can you imagine the practices everyday w/ those Three 7 footers ) & what if Embiid does sit out another year & they end up w/ Simmons – OMG! These teams not only have Lots of Blue Chip talent but they are set up to acquire More! As I mentioned Phila has Four 1st round picks in 2016, 2 of of themwill Def be Lottery picks since they own the Lakers pick & the right to swap w/ Sacramento… Can you imagine of Sacramento blows up & it might, & the Kings WIN the Lottery (Ben Simmons sweepstakes) & have to turn that pick over to the Sixers…. Crazy… I know I’m rambling & I apologize… A last point, you are 100% on target w/ Russell – he wasn’t even rated in the Top 60 for the 2015 Draft this time Last year, I don;t see how he can even stay on the floor this season – opposing guards are going to SHRED him… What in the World was L.A.’s management thinking!?!?!?

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 But I agree w/ a lot of what you write & I enjoy reading it…. As far as the Celtics bringing in Isaih Thomas & Jae Crowder to team up w/ Even Turner to earn a playoff spot was a Huge mistake… It nuetered Marcus Smart & was a 4 game sweep at the hands of Cleveland worth falling out of the Lottery… We all know that the NBA is a Completely different animal that can not be compared to other sports leagues… The absolute Worst position to be in is that murky mediocre space wherre teams just linger for Years – no chance to improve b/c the ONLY place to get the future Hall of Famer that EVERY Champion features is at the Top of the NBA Draft… I think Boston’s situation can best be summed up by their documented & reported upon trade offer to the Philadelphia Sixers… The Celtics offered 6 first round picks 2 in 2015 & 4 in 2016 PLUS 4 players including James Young & Marcus Smart to the Sixers for Nerlens Noel & the # 3 pick (this was even Before the Lakers inexplicably chose Media creation D’Angelo Russell w/ the # 2 pick)… Phila would have had an Insane EIGHT 1st round picks in 2016 had the trade gone through… But Phila – despite what you hear on espn – understands that you can hold EVERY pick in the first round from 11 thru 30 & it means nothing, so they thanked Aigne for the call & declined… Had the Sixers made the trade it would have been the heist of this young century… B.c despite what you hear in the Media Noel looks like a flat out Stud – if you look up his Rookie stats his #’s are just about Identical to the Rookie year of Anthony Uni-brow Davis… & Okafor is already the Strongest low post presence in the League… His balance, low center of gravity & tree trunk build will make him almost unstoppable in the Low Post…. Boston should’ve acquired more picks for Rondo & Green and allow Smart to start & develop & Tank, like every other team does in that spot… Had Boston done this, they would have Even more draft assets & they would have been in position to pick Hezonja, Winslow, Cauley-Stein, Mudiay, Myles Turner & how much better would that team look w/ say Myles Turner & Marcus Smart starting at PG & PF w/ 4 picks in 2016 (theirs would be a high Lottery pick) & more picks in 2017 & 2018 w/ again their own being a Lottery pick… W/ that team, they could even finish in the Bottom 5 & have a Legit shot at Ben Simmons or one of the other top prospect & how good would that nucleus look heading into 2017??? Simmons, Turner & Smart – all Big & long for their position, w/ great athleticism & a HUGE upside… Now you’re cooking w/ chicken grease! But Aigne lost his patience or was under direction of ownership to get those extra playoff dates to make more $$$… It’s foolish but that’s how Most teams are run… Of the teams on the come up w/ a REAL chance to do something in the future (2019 & beyond) I’d say Utah has nice pieces w/ Hayward & Favors, Orlando has a nice collection of talent w/ Vucevic at Center, their backcourt solidifed, Hezonja at the 3, Minnesota has Wiggins & Towns who can be Stars along w/ a handful of excellent # 3 options & Philadelphia may have a Monster on their hands… I’m beginning to think Embiid will play this fall, Noel is a star (not a Super Star but a Great piece) & I am Still shocked they got Okafor who is a Bull, he’s got Shaq’s ability to force opposing Centers off the block on defense & cave them in at the Offensive end (can you imagine the practices everyday w/ those Three 7 footers ) & what if Embiid does sit out another year & they end up w/ Simmons – OMG! These teams not only have Lots of Blue Chip talent but they are set up to acquire More! As I mentioned Phila has Four 1st round picks in 2016, 2 of of themwill Def be Lottery picks since they own the Lakers pick & the right to swap w/ Sacramento… Can you imagine of Sacramento blows up & it might, & the Kings WIN the Lottery (Ben Simmons sweepstakes) & have to turn that pick over to the Sixers…. Crazy… I know I’m rambling & I apologize… A last point, you are 100% on target w/ Russell – he wasn’t even rated in the Top 60 for the 2015 Draft this time Last year, I don;t see how he can even stay on the floor this season – opposing guards are going to SHRED him… What in the World was L.A.’s management thinking!?!?!?

[T Rex]

 You forget that the Celtics have the Nets’ first round pick each of the next three years. And the Nets lost Deron Williams and Mason Plumlee. Their ability to play like a top 25 team depends entirely on Brook Lopez’ ability to stay healthy.

The argument that the Celtics are "stuck in mediocrity" is false.

The Celtics aren’t "stuck" at all. They outplayed every team in the East other than Cleveland after the All Star break, and they played the Cavs as tight as the Hawks did in the playoffs.

And the Celtics got significantly better this summer. Just like they got significantly better by trading Rondo and Green, and acquiring Isaiah Thomas for a future late first rounder.

There’s only one team in the East that is clearly better than the Celtics, and that’s the Cavs. Who the Celtics played competitively in every game of that playoff series, when they still have Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

For some reason, everybody thinks the Jazz and Bucks are these great up and coming franchises, but the Celtics are somehow "stuck" in mediocrity. Even though the Celtics have way more picks/assets than either team. Zach Lowe is probably partly to blame.

Whatever, it’s just lazy, rigid thinking. And it ignores that these Celtics were 24-12 since this team has been together.

24-12 is the opposite of mediocre, but go ahead and count the games with Rondo and Green stinking it up.

And go ahead and sleep on the fastest rising team in the East.

Thanks for the reply though, I know you meant well.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 You forget that the Celtics have the Nets’ first round pick each of the next three years. And the Nets lost Deron Williams and Mason Plumlee. Their ability to play like a top 25 team depends entirely on Brook Lopez’ ability to stay healthy.

The argument that the Celtics are "stuck in mediocrity" is false.

The Celtics aren’t "stuck" at all. They outplayed every team in the East other than Cleveland after the All Star break, and they played the Cavs as tight as the Hawks did in the playoffs.

And the Celtics got significantly better this summer. Just like they got significantly better by trading Rondo and Green, and acquiring Isaiah Thomas for a future late first rounder.

There’s only one team in the East that is clearly better than the Celtics, and that’s the Cavs. Who the Celtics played competitively in every game of that playoff series, when they still have Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

For some reason, everybody thinks the Jazz and Bucks are these great up and coming franchises, but the Celtics are somehow "stuck" in mediocrity. Even though the Celtics have way more picks/assets than either team. Zach Lowe is probably partly to blame.

Whatever, it’s just lazy, rigid thinking. And it ignores that these Celtics were 24-12 since this team has been together.

24-12 is the opposite of mediocre, but go ahead and count the games with Rondo and Green stinking it up.

And go ahead and sleep on the fastest rising team in the East.

Thanks for the reply though, I know you meant well.

 

 

 

[SnowtaParticipant]

 Does anyone on the Celtics have the potential of Jabari, Giannis, Hayward, or Favors? In my opinion they don’t have anyone close to that level of potential and that is why the Celtics get ripped. Putting together a solid half of a season in a crappy conference is nice but doesn’t change a teams future potential (unless it moves you out of the lotto…). The biggest differentiator between the Celtics and the other young, up and coming teams is that the other teams have players people expect to become star players. The Celtics currently don’t have any and no matter what anyone says you need stars in the NBA. 

[T Rex]

"Putting together a solid half of a season in a crappy conference is nice but doesn’t change a teams future potential (unless it moves you out of the lotto…)"

Are you under the impression that the Celtics didn’t make the playoffs last year?

The reason most people are so dense and simple-minded, and believe that potential stars = winning, is because they forget that basketball is a team game.

Therefore, people like you just assume that MCW + Middleton + Giannis + Jabari + Henson = success.

People like you, which is most people, don’t even consider how that group, which looks good on paper, will actually perform together.

Even the most shallow analysis would suggest that that team is extremely unbalanced and has terrible floor spacing, with only one quality 3 point shooter.

I saw the same crap last year with the Pistons. Everybody was saying there’s no way the Celtics could make the playoffs because the Pistons and other teams are clearly better.

Because they looked good on paper. Nobody stopped to think that they had zero floor spacing, poor chemistry, and poor effort. Nope, all that mattered was they had Monroe, Drummond, and Josh Smith, along with Jennings.

It doesn’t matter how many potential stars you have if they don’t function well together as a unit.

Or if they don’t actually develop into stars. 

Nobody stops to think that the Bucks were flailing as soon as Brandon Knight was traded for MCW.

At the same time, the new Celtics were going 24-12.

But all anybody remembers is the first half of the season. That’s why everybody thinks the Hawks, Raptors, Bucks, Bulls, and Wizards are better than they actually are going into this next season.

The bias of first impressions is also what made D’Angelo Russell a top pick. He started off the season with a bang, against crappy teams with no talent.

By the time conference play started, everybody already moved Russell into their top 3 or top 5 picks, and it didn’t even matter that he struggled against quality competition the rest of the season.

Bunch of morons, honestly…

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

"Putting together a solid half of a season in a crappy conference is nice but doesn’t change a teams future potential (unless it moves you out of the lotto…)"

Are you under the impression that the Celtics didn’t make the playoffs last year?

The reason most people are so dense and simple-minded, and believe that potential stars = winning, is because they forget that basketball is a team game.

Therefore, people like you just assume that MCW + Middleton + Giannis + Jabari + Henson = success.

People like you, which is most people, don’t even consider how that group, which looks good on paper, will actually perform together.

Even the most shallow analysis would suggest that that team is extremely unbalanced and has terrible floor spacing, with only one quality 3 point shooter.

I saw the same crap last year with the Pistons. Everybody was saying there’s no way the Celtics could make the playoffs because the Pistons and other teams are clearly better.

Because they looked good on paper. Nobody stopped to think that they had zero floor spacing, poor chemistry, and poor effort. Nope, all that mattered was they had Monroe, Drummond, and Josh Smith, along with Jennings.

It doesn’t matter how many potential stars you have if they don’t function well together as a unit.

Or if they don’t actually develop into stars. 

Nobody stops to think that the Bucks were flailing as soon as Brandon Knight was traded for MCW.

At the same time, the new Celtics were going 24-12.

But all anybody remembers is the first half of the season. That’s why everybody thinks the Hawks, Raptors, Bucks, Bulls, and Wizards are better than they actually are going into this next season.

The bias of first impressions is also what made D’Angelo Russell a top pick. He started off the season with a bang, against crappy teams with no talent.

By the time conference play started, everybody already moved Russell into their top 3 or top 5 picks, and it didn’t even matter that he struggled against quality competition the rest of the season.

Bunch of morons, honestly…

 

 

 

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

I’m a huge Celtics fan but I don’t see the Celtics being a better team this year then they were last, I think they will be a little worse this season.This team has no potential superstar players, all the players on this team are role players. Stevens did a very good job of getting the most out of his guys last year, it will be hard to duplicate the success they had.

 I see the Celtics fighting for the 7th or 8th seed but falling just short, the worst spot to be in the NBA. I would have rather missed the playoffs and picked in the 11th spot where the Pacers picked, Celtics could have had their choice of Turner or Winslow and put their focus on developing their young core last season and this season. Last season Young didn’t see much time at all and we still don’t even know if Smart can run an NBA offense. 

TRex stop being such a Celtics homer your making Boston fans look bad!

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I predicted the Celtics would make the playoffs in early December last year.

Sorry for making tankers like you look bad, lol.

You simply don’t appreciate how much Rondo was dragging the team down last year.

And you pretend the Celtics didn’t improve like crazy when they traded Rondo.

Being a Rondo homer, and a tanker after Rondo was traded, you refuse to give your supposed favorite team credit for being way, way better than you ever thought they would be without Rondo.

So you dump on them, short-change them, blame them for Rondo’s appauling play, and then to top it off you accuse me of making Celtics fans look bad.

I swear, 90% of the posters here forget that basketball is a team game, and that great teams don’t need to have a superstar on them.

That’s why they/you thought Rondo was our best player, by far, and a STAR!!!.

That’s why you never saw the 24-12 finish last year, and why you still have no freaking clue how it happened. Because they didn’t have somebody who was an ESPN certified STAR!!!.

It’s a team game, dummies, and that’s why the Celtics are going to crush it this season.

Even if they don’t win the championship.

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I predicted the Celtics would make the playoffs in early December last year.

Sorry for making tankers like you look bad, lol.

You simply don’t appreciate how much Rondo was dragging the team down last year.

And you pretend the Celtics didn’t improve like crazy when they traded Rondo.

Being a Rondo homer, and a tanker after Rondo was traded, you refuse to give your supposed favorite team credit for being way, way better than you ever thought they would be without Rondo.

So you dump on them, short-change them, blame them for Rondo’s appauling play, and then to top it off you accuse me of making Celtics fans look bad.

I swear, 90% of the posters here forget that basketball is a team game, and that great teams don’t need to have a superstar on them.

That’s why they/you thought Rondo was our best player, by far, and a STAR!!!.

That’s why you never saw the 24-12 finish last year, and why you still have no freaking clue how it happened. Because they didn’t have somebody who was an ESPN certified STAR!!!.

It’s a team game, dummies, and that’s why the Celtics are going to crush it this season.

Even if they don’t win the championship.

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 One completely unappreciated aspect of not tanking last year is how the Celtics learned to win close games.

For 2-4 years straight, the Celtics struggled mightlily to close out close games.

Even with Pierce, everybody knew he was going to take the last shot, and he wasn’t nearly as clutch as he had been in earlier years, and every close game ended with a low percentage Pierce fadeaway jumper or turnover.

Last season started out very similarly, with Rondo botching last possession after last possession, and close game after close game.

This young Celtics team proved to be extremely clutch in the 4th quarter, and in the last possessions of the games.

I don’t know exactly what their record was in close games (5 pts or less), but it was sky high after Rondo and Green were traded.

That knack for winning close games has been completely underappreciated by Celtics tank fans, and by nba fans in general. And that knack is a big part of why the Celtics will continue to out-perform all these clueless predictions for next season.

Smart is clutch, IT4 is clutch and like the 3rd leading 4th quarter scorer in the NBA, Evan Turner is clutch, Crowder is clutch, and even KO shoots lights out in the 4th quarter.

Celtics consistently close out close games, and having the best tactical coach in the NBA doesn’t hurt.

There’s a reason those Butler teams were so clutch, year after year.

And superstars had nothing to do with it.

Just like these Celtics.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 One completely unappreciated aspect of not tanking last year is how the Celtics learned to win close games.

For 2-4 years straight, the Celtics struggled mightlily to close out close games.

Even with Pierce, everybody knew he was going to take the last shot, and he wasn’t nearly as clutch as he had been in earlier years, and every close game ended with a low percentage Pierce fadeaway jumper or turnover.

Last season started out very similarly, with Rondo botching last possession after last possession, and close game after close game.

This young Celtics team proved to be extremely clutch in the 4th quarter, and in the last possessions of the games.

I don’t know exactly what their record was in close games (5 pts or less), but it was sky high after Rondo and Green were traded.

That knack for winning close games has been completely underappreciated by Celtics tank fans, and by nba fans in general. And that knack is a big part of why the Celtics will continue to out-perform all these clueless predictions for next season.

Smart is clutch, IT4 is clutch and like the 3rd leading 4th quarter scorer in the NBA, Evan Turner is clutch, Crowder is clutch, and even KO shoots lights out in the 4th quarter.

Celtics consistently close out close games, and having the best tactical coach in the NBA doesn’t hurt.

There’s a reason those Butler teams were so clutch, year after year.

And superstars had nothing to do with it.

Just like these Celtics.

 

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

I’m a huge Celtics fan but I don’t see the Celtics being a better team this year then they were last, I think they will be a little worse this season.This team has no potential superstar players, all the players on this team are role players. Stevens did a very good job of getting the most out of his guys last year, it will be hard to duplicate the success they had.

 I see the Celtics fighting for the 7th or 8th seed but falling just short, the worst spot to be in the NBA. I would have rather missed the playoffs and picked in the 11th spot where the Pacers picked, Celtics could have had their choice of Turner or Winslow and put their focus on developing their young core last season and this season. Last season Young didn’t see much time at all and we still don’t even know if Smart can run an NBA offense. 

TRex stop being such a Celtics homer your making Boston fans look bad!

 

 

 

 

[SnowtaParticipant]

 Does anyone on the Celtics have the potential of Jabari, Giannis, Hayward, or Favors? In my opinion they don’t have anyone close to that level of potential and that is why the Celtics get ripped. Putting together a solid half of a season in a crappy conference is nice but doesn’t change a teams future potential (unless it moves you out of the lotto…). The biggest differentiator between the Celtics and the other young, up and coming teams is that the other teams have players people expect to become star players. The Celtics currently don’t have any and no matter what anyone says you need stars in the NBA. 

[T Rex]

 

You never noticed it, but the Celtics were the best 4th quarter team in the NBA after the All Star break.

These young guys already know how to squeeze out close games, and how to put teams away with a killer instinct.

And they’re only going to build on that going forward.

You might as well notice now buddy:

stats.nba.com/league/team/#!/

Celtics were + 2.3 points in the fourth quarter after the All Star break. The only team that comes close is the Hawks. +2.3 is a drastic difference from the Celtics pre-All Star break 4th quater play, +.2

And that pre-all star break 4th quarter performance average was only in the positive (just barely) because of the non-Rondo play just before the All Star Break.

There’s simply no comparison between the Celtics team with Rondo and Green, and the Celtics team that finished the year.

Taking the average of those two drastically different teams, and declaring that the Celtics are unlikely to be better than that average, is just d_mb.

The Celtics were 20-31 before the All Star break, and 20-11 after the all star break. 

They won exactly as many games out of 31 as they did out of 51 games before the break.

 Wake up and smell the clutch.

 

[T Rex]

 

You never noticed it, but the Celtics were the best 4th quarter team in the NBA after the All Star break.

These young guys already know how to squeeze out close games, and how to put teams away with a killer instinct.

And they’re only going to build on that going forward.

You might as well notice now buddy:

stats.nba.com/league/team/#!/

Celtics were + 2.3 points in the fourth quarter after the All Star break. The only team that comes close is the Hawks. +2.3 is a drastic difference from the Celtics pre-All Star break 4th quater play, +.2

And that pre-all star break 4th quarter performance average was only in the positive (just barely) because of the non-Rondo play just before the All Star Break.

There’s simply no comparison between the Celtics team with Rondo and Green, and the Celtics team that finished the year.

Taking the average of those two drastically different teams, and declaring that the Celtics are unlikely to be better than that average, is just d_mb.

The Celtics were 20-31 before the All Star break, and 20-11 after the all star break. 

They won exactly as many games out of 31 as they did out of 51 games before the break.

 Wake up and smell the clutch.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I maybe a minority but I think Boston did great in the draft. They drafted three players that look like they will have NBA careers. No home run pick but they did everything they could to move up.a B seems right for them in that category.

Rozier looks like he has starting PG potential and reminds me of a more athletic Deron Collison.

RJ Hunter can really shoot well. His athletic ability is not terrible and shooters are in a premium nowadays.

Mickey maybe the biggest steal in the draft. Against Summer League competition he looked like Serge Ibaka. It should be interesting to see how it translates to the NBA but most likely he will start in the D-League.

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I maybe a minority but I think Boston did great in the draft. They drafted three players that look like they will have NBA careers. No home run pick but they did everything they could to move up.a B seems right for them in that category.

Rozier looks like he has starting PG potential and reminds me of a more athletic Deron Collison.

RJ Hunter can really shoot well. His athletic ability is not terrible and shooters are in a premium nowadays.

Mickey maybe the biggest steal in the draft. Against Summer League competition he looked like Serge Ibaka. It should be interesting to see how it translates to the NBA but most likely he will start in the D-League.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I take back my wise az comment about small progress, that I left you in the other thread.

 

 

[T Rex]

 I take back my wise az comment about small progress, that I left you in the other thread.

 

 

[T Rex]

 People act like having 2-4 first rounders are useless unless one of them is in the top 10.

And hitting three doubles in a draft just doesn’t excite like an Anthony Bennet or a Dion Waiters, or a Thomas Robinson, or a Cody Zeller, or an Otto Porter.

You know, HOMERUNS

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 People act like having 2-4 first rounders are useless unless one of them is in the top 10.

And hitting three doubles in a draft just doesn’t excite like an Anthony Bennet or a Dion Waiters, or a Thomas Robinson, or a Cody Zeller, or an Otto Porter.

You know, HOMERUNS

 

 

 

 

[trelos6Participant]

 The only let down for me was the inability to sign Jonathan Holmes. He was a stud in Summer League, and if C’s could’ve signed him and assigned him to the Red Claws that would’ve been great. 

Lakers have got themselves an intruiging prospect and hopefully they can remain healthy with J.Randle. But if not, Holmes will be waiting in the wings to have a solid impact as a rookie. 

[trelos6Participant]

 The only let down for me was the inability to sign Jonathan Holmes. He was a stud in Summer League, and if C’s could’ve signed him and assigned him to the Red Claws that would’ve been great. 

Lakers have got themselves an intruiging prospect and hopefully they can remain healthy with J.Randle. But if not, Holmes will be waiting in the wings to have a solid impact as a rookie. 

[T Rex]

 Agreed. He could be better than Bass AND Randle as a rookie.

I’m just saying, don’t be shocked if it happens.

 

 

[T Rex]

 Agreed. He could be better than Bass AND Randle as a rookie.

I’m just saying, don’t be shocked if it happens.

 

 

[oc1234Participant]

Just to let you guys know this is coming from a Celtic fan.

 

Draft: D

Free Agency: C-

Trades: C+

 

 

 Draft:

The word to best describe the Celtics’ offseason will also describe what the Celtics have become, mediocre. Danny Ainge once again proved to me why he shouldn’t be making the selection come draft day. After having an extremely talented player in Sam Dekker fall to him at 16, he stumbled. He stumbled because he didn’t actually think he was going to draft with the 16th overall pick. So once again he drafted a defensive minded PG that was raw on the offensive side of the ball. What’s even worse and is a thing people don’t realize is that Rozier is 22, or in other words the same age as Marcus Smart, but just as raw and without one year of NBA experience. Ainge literally had no idea what to do so he just spit Rozier out of his ass when there where clearly more talented player in Sam Dekker and Bobby Portis. I love the RJ Hunter pick, but it reassures me that Ainge has no ability as a talent evalutor and that he just can make the most obvious choices. We had gaping holes at the SF and C yet we didn’t take one with any of our 4 draft picks. So now we have cluttered ourselves at each position with no foreseeable trade in the works to clear it up. We won’t be able to get these guys minutes to develop them because we have too much clutter and we are too good to just hand out playing time to rookies. So right there we have completely devauled the first round picks that we believed hold so much value. Now lets move on to Free Agency!

Free Agency:

Didn’t really expect much because Boston has never been a huge FA destination. Think Ainge added some solid trade fodder in Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko, but in reality what team would trade for these players straight up or even with middling first or second round picks for a star or even young/unproven players. It’s sidestepping for me. We get just a little bit better with the addition of Johnson. We won’t be bad enough that we can even get the chance to land a game changer in the late lottery or develop or young talent and we aren’t good enough to justify not being in the lottery because we aren’t contenders. I also have no faith in Ainge’s ability to draft in the 15-20 range and actually draft star/starter qualities players. Like the Crowder signing, but where does he put us? Will he even start over Evan Turner? All in all extremely mediocre. 

 

Trades:

Weren’t too bad. Lee trade clears up cap space in 2016, but if we have shown that we can’t land stars in this last FA, which is much deeper than next year’s, why clear up cap? It makes us better for no reason while also taking minutes away from Sullinger to finally breakout, hopefully. Love the Jones trade because we get a very young/talented athlete that can play SF for us and we land a second round pick in the process for essentially. Of course that will be nullified if Ainge waives him for nothing. 

 

Overview:

We get better yet we aren’t even close enough to contend. At the moment there are no foreseeable stars that are just going to fall into the trade market, and I doubt we even have enough pieces to truly land a real game changer if they did. As far as draft goes Ainge continues to bumble and fumble over who to pick because he is clearly terrible at talent evalution so don’t expect any superstars to be walking through the door in the draft. To me this ends up with us being mediocre for the very foreseeable future without some very lucky fortune. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oc1234Participant]

Just to let you guys know this is coming from a Celtic fan.

 

Draft: D

Free Agency: C-

Trades: C+

 

 

 Draft:

The word to best describe the Celtics’ offseason will also describe what the Celtics have become, mediocre. Danny Ainge once again proved to me why he shouldn’t be making the selection come draft day. After having an extremely talented player in Sam Dekker fall to him at 16, he stumbled. He stumbled because he didn’t actually think he was going to draft with the 16th overall pick. So once again he drafted a defensive minded PG that was raw on the offensive side of the ball. What’s even worse and is a thing people don’t realize is that Rozier is 22, or in other words the same age as Marcus Smart, but just as raw and without one year of NBA experience. Ainge literally had no idea what to do so he just spit Rozier out of his ass when there where clearly more talented player in Sam Dekker and Bobby Portis. I love the RJ Hunter pick, but it reassures me that Ainge has no ability as a talent evalutor and that he just can make the most obvious choices. We had gaping holes at the SF and C yet we didn’t take one with any of our 4 draft picks. So now we have cluttered ourselves at each position with no foreseeable trade in the works to clear it up. We won’t be able to get these guys minutes to develop them because we have too much clutter and we are too good to just hand out playing time to rookies. So right there we have completely devauled the first round picks that we believed hold so much value. Now lets move on to Free Agency!

Free Agency:

Didn’t really expect much because Boston has never been a huge FA destination. Think Ainge added some solid trade fodder in Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko, but in reality what team would trade for these players straight up or even with middling first or second round picks for a star or even young/unproven players. It’s sidestepping for me. We get just a little bit better with the addition of Johnson. We won’t be bad enough that we can even get the chance to land a game changer in the late lottery or develop or young talent and we aren’t good enough to justify not being in the lottery because we aren’t contenders. I also have no faith in Ainge’s ability to draft in the 15-20 range and actually draft star/starter qualities players. Like the Crowder signing, but where does he put us? Will he even start over Evan Turner? All in all extremely mediocre. 

 

Trades:

Weren’t too bad. Lee trade clears up cap space in 2016, but if we have shown that we can’t land stars in this last FA, which is much deeper than next year’s, why clear up cap? It makes us better for no reason while also taking minutes away from Sullinger to finally breakout, hopefully. Love the Jones trade because we get a very young/talented athlete that can play SF for us and we land a second round pick in the process for essentially. Of course that will be nullified if Ainge waives him for nothing. 

 

Overview:

We get better yet we aren’t even close enough to contend. At the moment there are no foreseeable stars that are just going to fall into the trade market, and I doubt we even have enough pieces to truly land a real game changer if they did. As far as draft goes Ainge continues to bumble and fumble over who to pick because he is clearly terrible at talent evalution so don’t expect any superstars to be walking through the door in the draft. To me this ends up with us being mediocre for the very foreseeable future without some very lucky fortune. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Your faith in Sam Dekker as a great player, like your faith in yourself as smarter than Danny, is misplaced.

Boo hoo, Danny didn’t draft exactly who you wanted to draft, and Rozier wasn’t on your shortlist because the mock drafts slept on him.

And being convinced of your own status as a draft guru, you just can’t stand it. So you bash Danny and the team you claim to love.

Classic bitterness of a fan who thought the Celtics were tanking after trading Rondo.

 

 

[oc1234Participant]

 In that entire paragraph where did I say Sam Dekker was going to be a great player? No where. I believe Dekker can be a very nice starter, not a superstar, but a very nice player. He fit a need and he has lottery level talent that would have been a value pick at 16. Rozier was on my short list at 28 and 33, but not for 16. Especially after drafting Smart at 6th overall last year who is essentially the same player.  I don’t believe I’m some draft guru, but you can just look at Danny Ainge’s draft track record and see he is not efficient at talent evalution. 

[T Rex]

 You wrote that Dekker is extremely talented and Danny blew the pick. Do you really think Dekker is that much better than Crowder or Turner? I don’t, and Danny didn’t either. After extensive scouting, interviewing, and working Dekker out.

And getting PJ3 for free isn’t something to whine about. If anything, he has more upside than Dekker, and you may have noticed the obvious knack Brad Stevens has for getting players to play at their best.

Stuck in mediocrity? Only if your head is stuck in the sand.

And check out a list of the top 15 point guards. About half of them are hyper-athletic combo guards who fell outside the lottery, just like Rozier. Rozier shoots high 70s from the ft line, and shot well from 3 two years ago.

You further whine that Rozier is just like Smart, but the two actually compliment each other very well. Avery Bradley can’t dribble, and Smart’s first step isn’t nearly as quick as Rozier’s. Rozier is also much better suited to defending the quickest point guards than Smart is.

Of course, if you valued defense, you wouldn’t be greiving Sam Dekker as The One That Got Away.

 

 

[T Rex]

 You wrote that Dekker is extremely talented and Danny blew the pick. Do you really think Dekker is that much better than Crowder or Turner? I don’t, and Danny didn’t either. After extensive scouting, interviewing, and working Dekker out.

And getting PJ3 for free isn’t something to whine about. If anything, he has more upside than Dekker, and you may have noticed the obvious knack Brad Stevens has for getting players to play at their best.

Stuck in mediocrity? Only if your head is stuck in the sand.

And check out a list of the top 15 point guards. About half of them are hyper-athletic combo guards who fell outside the lottery, just like Rozier. Rozier shoots high 70s from the ft line, and shot well from 3 two years ago.

You further whine that Rozier is just like Smart, but the two actually compliment each other very well. Avery Bradley can’t dribble, and Smart’s first step isn’t nearly as quick as Rozier’s. Rozier is also much better suited to defending the quickest point guards than Smart is.

Of course, if you valued defense, you wouldn’t be greiving Sam Dekker as The One That Got Away.

 

 

[oc1234Participant]

 In that entire paragraph where did I say Sam Dekker was going to be a great player? No where. I believe Dekker can be a very nice starter, not a superstar, but a very nice player. He fit a need and he has lottery level talent that would have been a value pick at 16. Rozier was on my short list at 28 and 33, but not for 16. Especially after drafting Smart at 6th overall last year who is essentially the same player.  I don’t believe I’m some draft guru, but you can just look at Danny Ainge’s draft track record and see he is not efficient at talent evalution. 

[T Rex]

 Your faith in Sam Dekker as a great player, like your faith in yourself as smarter than Danny, is misplaced.

Boo hoo, Danny didn’t draft exactly who you wanted to draft, and Rozier wasn’t on your shortlist because the mock drafts slept on him.

And being convinced of your own status as a draft guru, you just can’t stand it. So you bash Danny and the team you claim to love.

Classic bitterness of a fan who thought the Celtics were tanking after trading Rondo.

 

 

[The QParticipant]

 Rozier is an old sophomore, yes that matters. 

I see all these players are guys who will be bench players on good NBA teams. 

 

that’s not 3 doubles, that’s 3 infield singles. you’re on base but no one is scoring. 

 

that first pick just didn’t fall right for Danny, he offered a boatload for Winslow only to have charlotte make a bad life decision to pass. Then he was gonna take Oubre and WAS traded up over him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The QParticipant]

 Rozier is an old sophomore, yes that matters. 

I see all these players are guys who will be bench players on good NBA teams. 

 

that’s not 3 doubles, that’s 3 infield singles. you’re on base but no one is scoring. 

 

that first pick just didn’t fall right for Danny, he offered a boatload for Winslow only to have charlotte make a bad life decision to pass. Then he was gonna take Oubre and WAS traded up over him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 Seems like perry jones will be cut and not make the team, where do you think he will end up? Could he play a role consistently on a good team?

[kobyzParticipant]

 Seems like perry jones will be cut and not make the team, where do you think he will end up? Could he play a role consistently on a good team?

[Author]

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