[TWILL123Participant]

As evidenced by the 0-6 playoff start in the Brad Stevens era, it is time to realize that not even the Celtics and the great Brad Stevens can win in the NBA without elite talent. They have lots of young pieces and tons of draft picks and they’ll need to start packaging some of these for a big time player if they ever want a chance of making a run in the playoffs. Lots of teams could be looking to move big pieces this offseason so it’ll be interesting to see what Danny Ainge decides to do.   

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 This team has overachieved the past two seasons between making the playoffs last year and winning 47 games this season.  But it’s clear this team needs another player or two that can score.  The shooting has been horrible and Atlanta is letting them take all the 3s they want to.  I knew Atlanta had the advantage in this series as they were won the season series 3-1 but this has been depressing.  

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 This team has overachieved the past two seasons between making the playoffs last year and winning 47 games this season.  But it’s clear this team needs another player or two that can score.  The shooting has been horrible and Atlanta is letting them take all the 3s they want to.  I knew Atlanta had the advantage in this series as they were won the season series 3-1 but this has been depressing.  

[sweaterflexParticipant]

I would bet Ainge takes aim at either Boogie or Jimmy Butler, though I don’t know if Boogie and Isaiah get along. If the Celts get a pick outside of the top 3 (Murray would also be a nice fit) they should think about trading the pick, as the 2017 draft class will be stronger and they will still have the Nets’ pick. 

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 Those are two players I have my eye on as well.  The concern I have is how much will it cost to obtain a Cousins or Butler.  Chicago was reportedly asking for the Brooklyn pick and Crowder at the deadline.  The Kings have been asking for a ton in any trade to obtain Cousins.  From what I’ve seen Cousins and IT got along well but I don’t know that for sure.  

[markfitz14Participant]

 

Possibile scenario to land Butler and Cous 

 Bulls- 2016 Nets Pick, Crowder

Kings- 2017 Nets pick and 2016 Celts and Dallas pick, Smart

Potential Lineup- It, Brad, Butler, Olyn, Cousins

 

 

[markfitz14Participant]

 

Possibile scenario to land Butler and Cous 

 Bulls- 2016 Nets Pick, Crowder

Kings- 2017 Nets pick and 2016 Celts and Dallas pick, Smart

Potential Lineup- It, Brad, Butler, Olyn, Cousins

 

 

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 Those are two players I have my eye on as well.  The concern I have is how much will it cost to obtain a Cousins or Butler.  Chicago was reportedly asking for the Brooklyn pick and Crowder at the deadline.  The Kings have been asking for a ton in any trade to obtain Cousins.  From what I’ve seen Cousins and IT got along well but I don’t know that for sure.  

[sweaterflexParticipant]

I would bet Ainge takes aim at either Boogie or Jimmy Butler, though I don’t know if Boogie and Isaiah get along. If the Celts get a pick outside of the top 3 (Murray would also be a nice fit) they should think about trading the pick, as the 2017 draft class will be stronger and they will still have the Nets’ pick. 

[natevalParticipant]

 Smart has been a disapointment, I would move the pick and Smart for Butler. I know Cousins is a great player but I don’t know if he’s a championship player. Best case with the pick is we get Ingram or Simmons, I’m not crazy about either of those guys. I’d take Butler he’s a proven all star player

[natevalParticipant]

 Smart has been a disapointment, I would move the pick and Smart for Butler. I know Cousins is a great player but I don’t know if he’s a championship player. Best case with the pick is we get Ingram or Simmons, I’m not crazy about either of those guys. I’d take Butler he’s a proven all star player

[BiggaveliiiParticipant]

 if Smart has been a disappointment what makes you think chicago would want him in return? They would need to give up the brooklyn pick and some fillers to land butler 

[BiggaveliiiParticipant]

 if Smart has been a disappointment what makes you think chicago would want him in return? They would need to give up the brooklyn pick and some fillers to land butler 

[natevalParticipant]

Smart and the pick. That’s a pretty good starting point. The pick could be one or two. Throw in some sort of Rozier/Hunter/Young maybe KO. I would think if the Bulls do decide to move Butler the Celtics would be an attractive trading partner

[natevalParticipant]

Smart and the pick. That’s a pretty good starting point. The pick could be one or two. Throw in some sort of Rozier/Hunter/Young maybe KO. I would think if the Bulls do decide to move Butler the Celtics would be an attractive trading partner

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Boston better hope it can get into the top-2 and get Ingram. That’d be a terrific fit for them. 

A perimeter grouping of Thomas-Crowder-Ingram plus Smart and Bradley allows a lot of flexibility. 

Don’t trade those Brooklyn picks. Don’t be that desperate. Those are incredible assets and it’ll get you 8 or 9 years of a franchise piller type player if you pick the right one.

They need a game-changer inside too. Sullinger/Olynyk are okay, nothing special though. Amir Johnson, again, fine rotation guy, not a big difference maker though. They are a little redundant with those guys. 

I wouldn’t want Cousins. Dude is a cancer. Don’t try to shortcut all these picks for a guy like Cousins. 

Eventually they’ll have to package some of those picks and leverage them into a main guy but I wouldn’t touch Cousins. 

 

 

 

[markfitz14Participant]

I would love to hold onto the picks as well. Those could be franchise guys that they could trade some of the other pieces to build around the top picks they are getting. The roster could be completely different in 2 years if they land a nice spot in the draft this year keep that guy. 

[markfitz14Participant]

I would love to hold onto the picks as well. Those could be franchise guys that they could trade some of the other pieces to build around the top picks they are getting. The roster could be completely different in 2 years if they land a nice spot in the draft this year keep that guy. 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Boston better hope it can get into the top-2 and get Ingram. That’d be a terrific fit for them. 

A perimeter grouping of Thomas-Crowder-Ingram plus Smart and Bradley allows a lot of flexibility. 

Don’t trade those Brooklyn picks. Don’t be that desperate. Those are incredible assets and it’ll get you 8 or 9 years of a franchise piller type player if you pick the right one.

They need a game-changer inside too. Sullinger/Olynyk are okay, nothing special though. Amir Johnson, again, fine rotation guy, not a big difference maker though. They are a little redundant with those guys. 

I wouldn’t want Cousins. Dude is a cancer. Don’t try to shortcut all these picks for a guy like Cousins. 

Eventually they’ll have to package some of those picks and leverage them into a main guy but I wouldn’t touch Cousins. 

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

The suggestions that the Kings are asking too much is nothing more than a rumor.

I’d be more inclined to believe that teams aren’t willing to gamble on Boogie by giving up equal value.

Danny Ainge in particular is too smart for that.

Everyone knows Boogie is trouble. Coaches in particular won’t want anything to do with him.

I’d offer a lowball amount if I were the Cs..and if the Kings don’t like it then walk away. 

 

[Hype Machine]

The suggestions that the Kings are asking too much is nothing more than a rumor.

I’d be more inclined to believe that teams aren’t willing to gamble on Boogie by giving up equal value.

Danny Ainge in particular is too smart for that.

Everyone knows Boogie is trouble. Coaches in particular won’t want anything to do with him.

I’d offer a lowball amount if I were the Cs..and if the Kings don’t like it then walk away. 

 

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 I think Boston can get a pretty good deal for that pick. Fans from every team have been targeting that pick in trades, and I suspect that GM’s have been doing the same. Everyone assumes the Celtics want talent, and they’ll have plenty of offers.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 I think Boston can get a pretty good deal for that pick. Fans from every team have been targeting that pick in trades, and I suspect that GM’s have been doing the same. Everyone assumes the Celtics want talent, and they’ll have plenty of offers.

[StraightOuttaMyMineParticipant]

 There was a report from My Underground Basketball Mine that said the Celtics r overachievers!!! them being 0-6 in the playoffs under ferris bueler looking Stevens isn’t anything new!!! move along!!!!!!! Nothing to see here

[StraightOuttaMyMineParticipant]

 There was a report from My Underground Basketball Mine that said the Celtics r overachievers!!! them being 0-6 in the playoffs under ferris bueler looking Stevens isn’t anything new!!! move along!!!!!!! Nothing to see here

[Hype Machine]

Disrespecting Brad Stevens is borderline sacralelgious around these parts. If you really want to get negs, criticise Brad Stevens. Watch and observe… 

44% career-winning record including 0-6 in the playoffs, yet you’d think he’s the best coach in the NBA if you listen to Celtics fans (and many non-Celtic fans). Or that he’s done so well despite having a below-average roster (which I’d seriously disagree with). 

Better yet…that he’s proven that college coaches make good NBA coaches. 

My opinion: (which I’m 100% certain no-one will agree with)

List of coaches that are clearly better than Brad Stevens: 

• Budenholzer
• Carlisle
• Van Gundy
• Kerr
• Spoelstra
• Vogel
• Popovic
• Rivers

List of coaches in the Brad Stevens Group:

• Clifford
• Stotts
• Casey
• Brown

 

[Hype Machine]

Disrespecting Brad Stevens is borderline sacralelgious around these parts. If you really want to get negs, criticise Brad Stevens. Watch and observe… 

44% career-winning record including 0-6 in the playoffs, yet you’d think he’s the best coach in the NBA if you listen to Celtics fans (and many non-Celtic fans). Or that he’s done so well despite having a below-average roster (which I’d seriously disagree with). 

Better yet…that he’s proven that college coaches make good NBA coaches. 

My opinion: (which I’m 100% certain no-one will agree with)

List of coaches that are clearly better than Brad Stevens: 

• Budenholzer
• Carlisle
• Van Gundy
• Kerr
• Spoelstra
• Vogel
• Popovic
• Rivers

List of coaches in the Brad Stevens Group:

• Clifford
• Stotts
• Casey
• Brown

 

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 Using Stevens overall win percentage to determine how well he’s done in the NBA isn’t fair when it was the 1st year of a rebuild.  That year the best players were Jeff Green and Avery Bradley.  Rondo was out with an ACL tear and Jordan Crawford was our starting PG.  He maximized Crawford and he was actually the Eastern Conference Player of the Week at one point.  Yes the team went 25-57(30.5%) in that year but how much can you expect to do with that roster. 

What you also failed to mention was that each year his number of wins has gone up from 27(30.5%) to 40(48.8%) to 48(58.5%).  He is 0-6 in the playoffs but last year they were heavy underdogs against a full strength Cavs team.  Even this time around the Hawks are one of Boston’s worst matchups in the Eastern Conference.  

Stevens might not be the best coach in the league but he’s already one of the brightest coaches out there.  I couldn’t be happier with the job he has done in the last 3 years.  

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 Using Stevens overall win percentage to determine how well he’s done in the NBA isn’t fair when it was the 1st year of a rebuild.  That year the best players were Jeff Green and Avery Bradley.  Rondo was out with an ACL tear and Jordan Crawford was our starting PG.  He maximized Crawford and he was actually the Eastern Conference Player of the Week at one point.  Yes the team went 25-57(30.5%) in that year but how much can you expect to do with that roster. 

What you also failed to mention was that each year his number of wins has gone up from 27(30.5%) to 40(48.8%) to 48(58.5%).  He is 0-6 in the playoffs but last year they were heavy underdogs against a full strength Cavs team.  Even this time around the Hawks are one of Boston’s worst matchups in the Eastern Conference.  

Stevens might not be the best coach in the league but he’s already one of the brightest coaches out there.  I couldn’t be happier with the job he has done in the last 3 years.  

[Knicks44Participant]

Steve Clifford has done a phenomenal job with the Hornets. Don’t forget 4 years ago, before he took over they won 7 games in the whole season. Clifford does not have much talent on the team and one of their better players MKG was hurt pretty much the whole year. He led a team of mediocre NBA players to a 48-34 record this year. They have definitely overachieved and it’s greatly due to his coaching. If you think all those coaches are better than him, you do not understand the impact that Clifford has made at Charlotte and how much better he made them. Also a lot of respect to Brad Stevens for having the same record with the same or maybe even less talent than Charlotte. It is their first few seasons as head coaches and they are making incredible steps each year and I am sure they will be great coaches for a long time.

[Knicks44Participant]

Steve Clifford has done a phenomenal job with the Hornets. Don’t forget 4 years ago, before he took over they won 7 games in the whole season. Clifford does not have much talent on the team and one of their better players MKG was hurt pretty much the whole year. He led a team of mediocre NBA players to a 48-34 record this year. They have definitely overachieved and it’s greatly due to his coaching. If you think all those coaches are better than him, you do not understand the impact that Clifford has made at Charlotte and how much better he made them. Also a lot of respect to Brad Stevens for having the same record with the same or maybe even less talent than Charlotte. It is their first few seasons as head coaches and they are making incredible steps each year and I am sure they will be great coaches for a long time.

[Hype Machine]

 I hear you with the Clifford love which is why hes included…but I couldnt put him in the top category just yet.

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 I hear you with the Clifford love which is why hes included…but I couldnt put him in the top category just yet.

 

 

[Knicks44Participant]

I agree but I think him and Stevens should maybe have their own section haha I’m a huge fan of Clifford At the moment my favorite coach in the league. He just knows how to get the team to play together and be together and you can see the results. Only if Charlotte could get some better players now.

[Knicks44Participant]

I agree but I think him and Stevens should maybe have their own section haha I’m a huge fan of Clifford At the moment my favorite coach in the league. He just knows how to get the team to play together and be together and you can see the results. Only if Charlotte could get some better players now.

[HitsterParticipant]

Brad’s winning percentage is down to the Lakers having a transitional season post Big 3 era. If Doc Rivers had stayed with the same team I doubt the results would have been any different and we’d be lauding Doc at creating another good side post Big 3 era.

Brad isn’t even 40, has taken a team to two NCAA finals and improved a team by 20 plus wins in his last two seasons in the NBA, so he’s a very good young coach IMO. Sure he’s not up there with Popps, Doc, Carlisle etc yet and other NBA coaches may be more shrewd than him at this stage of his career. But he has a solid front office behind him and knew the job would take time.

As I’ve said before – Danny Ainge doesn’t tend to rush moves, he’ll see where the lottery balls come out, listen to offers, look at FA market and then decide what moves if any he will make. Boston have salary space so best case scenario they land a top pick and a good FA and Ainge still has all his other assets to play with.

[HitsterParticipant]

Brad’s winning percentage is down to the Lakers having a transitional season post Big 3 era. If Doc Rivers had stayed with the same team I doubt the results would have been any different and we’d be lauding Doc at creating another good side post Big 3 era.

Brad isn’t even 40, has taken a team to two NCAA finals and improved a team by 20 plus wins in his last two seasons in the NBA, so he’s a very good young coach IMO. Sure he’s not up there with Popps, Doc, Carlisle etc yet and other NBA coaches may be more shrewd than him at this stage of his career. But he has a solid front office behind him and knew the job would take time.

As I’ve said before – Danny Ainge doesn’t tend to rush moves, he’ll see where the lottery balls come out, listen to offers, look at FA market and then decide what moves if any he will make. Boston have salary space so best case scenario they land a top pick and a good FA and Ainge still has all his other assets to play with.

[markfitz14Participant]

 Whatever they do they need patience. They are developing guys so they are getting a little more value to put in with trades so that is really good. Becuase to win a championship they will need to bring in 2 top players. The bar is set At GS and Clev in the east. They both have several top players. To compete at the highest level they will need 3 top players. 

[markfitz14Participant]

 Whatever they do they need patience. They are developing guys so they are getting a little more value to put in with trades so that is really good. Becuase to win a championship they will need to bring in 2 top players. The bar is set At GS and Clev in the east. They both have several top players. To compete at the highest level they will need 3 top players. 

[I am an idiotParticipant]

That was ugly, but pretty much what I would expect. They are a team with .500 level talent that over-achieved during the regular season due to youth and energy. Basically, they got a handful of extra wins because they out-hustled a few teams that couldn’t be bothered to put in the effort during the regular season. 

That all changes with the playoffs. Everybody comes to play and the C’s weaknesses get exploited. Once you pack the paint and shut down penetration the C’s can’t score. 7 points in a quarter? Ridiculous. (it didn’t help that Bradley and Olynyk were both out)

They are primed to make a move, lots of draft picks, cap room and young (cheap) journeymen players that would contribute on other teams. There has to be a trade or a free agent signing. Until they do, there will be more early exits. Draft picks are great, but even low ones are a crap-shoot. The exact deal? Who the hell knows, it takes two to tango.

As for Brad, let’s not put too much on his shoulders. The NBA is a talent league. KC Jones won rings in the ’80’s by putting his starting five on the floor and tossing them a ball. I think Brad is a better than average coach, the players work hard and over-achieve given their talent levels. But he doesn’t have a magic wand that can turn Smart into Curry.

 

 

 

[I am an idiotParticipant]

That was ugly, but pretty much what I would expect. They are a team with .500 level talent that over-achieved during the regular season due to youth and energy. Basically, they got a handful of extra wins because they out-hustled a few teams that couldn’t be bothered to put in the effort during the regular season. 

That all changes with the playoffs. Everybody comes to play and the C’s weaknesses get exploited. Once you pack the paint and shut down penetration the C’s can’t score. 7 points in a quarter? Ridiculous. (it didn’t help that Bradley and Olynyk were both out)

They are primed to make a move, lots of draft picks, cap room and young (cheap) journeymen players that would contribute on other teams. There has to be a trade or a free agent signing. Until they do, there will be more early exits. Draft picks are great, but even low ones are a crap-shoot. The exact deal? Who the hell knows, it takes two to tango.

As for Brad, let’s not put too much on his shoulders. The NBA is a talent league. KC Jones won rings in the ’80’s by putting his starting five on the floor and tossing them a ball. I think Brad is a better than average coach, the players work hard and over-achieve given their talent levels. But he doesn’t have a magic wand that can turn Smart into Curry.

 

 

 

[Author]

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