This Means Everything

Dr Mr Ainge ,

On a scale of between 1-10 for stupid comments..

That ranks a 9.5 Mr Danny Ainge.

Whatever happends next week will drastically effect the decisions you make further down the line , so how you arrived at 4 mystifies me.

Please stop talking , youre driving me and a few other nuts.

Does anyone have Jerry West’s phone number?

How about Adam West ?

Batman could fix the lottery for us. I know he could.

To me a 61.3% chance of being disappointed sounds like false hope…or at least another 10 year excuse. Jeff, I expected more.

Roy ,

My point is any pick between 1 and 5 whatever happens to be , its going to be crucuial in which direction they head in. Thats why i think its a stupid comment.

gives the lottery countdown a dirty look

What Danny says does not matter…what Danny does after the ping pong balls drop does matter. Based on past drafts I have confidence in how Danny will handle this draft regardless of what number we get.

Leaving out the mysterious Yi, there are in my opinion at least ten potential NBA allstars in this draft NOT named Oden or Durant. You may have to wait on some of them (e.g. Javarais Crittendon, Brandan Wright), but the potential is there.

In fact, there are 5-6 players with serious NBA potential who may not be drafted at all, e.g DaShaun Wood, Joao Gomes, Trey Johnson, Mario Bogggan, Reyshaun Terry and Avis Wyatt.

a lot of top picks play AL’s spot which makes trading 3-5 a HUGE option…teams will kill to get B Wright….the best thing about top 2 is that makes Pierce a luxury in 3 yrs NOT a must….Durant makes him and a shooting point a luxury …Durant is the guy we need

There’s an assumption here that Oden is good to go (not a project). Is he? Sure, he’ll be a presence, but its agreed his psot moves are mechanical and he has struggled with foul trouble. Durants’s game is more polished but he’ll have to adjust to the pro game. And the lower picks can still yield a decent player or trade=for=vet options (ex Bosh and Wade were 4-5 in their draft. Just sayin’.

no doubt it’s a crapshoot but by Christmas Durant will be a top player and by playoffs a stud….he’s a can’t miss…finding a gem 3-10? that’s a artform or blind luck? Danny gave up 7 for Bassy but got Rondo at 21…never know

Is Brickowski Big John? Writes very similar and pulls some very interesting names out of his hat…much like Biggie J.

I think were putting too much emphasis on getting the 1 or the 2 in this draft when there is clearly a top 5 in my opinion. We seem to harp on Durant and Oden and if one thing the drafts have proven to us that there isn’t always a number one consensus unless your a Duncan.

Look back at all the mistakes many teams have made over the years, going back to when Jordan was picked 3. Oden and Durant are getting way too much coverage in my opinion, granted I’d take both in a heart beat, but if we end up getting the 3-5 to picks in the draft, we are still in good shape.

The “KEY” is what does Danny do in making a trade to get a proven “Veteran” on this team. That should be our main focus.

I didn’t hear the interview, but Danny’s “4 out of 10” ranking actually seemed to me to be a clever play on our chances of getting a top 2 pick: about 4 out of 10.

Danny is a supremely confident jock. His jock credentials are beyond question. But is he smart? How come we can look over at the TWolves and clearly see McHale for what he is – a jock, a good guy for sure, but pretty witless when you look at his track record -and not wonder about Danny. Re-upping Doc was nice but it wasn’t smart. Just because it is custom NBA behavior to not make a coach a lame duck, doesn’t mean we should have done it if we are truly trying to break into what winning takes in the future. If Danny is calling the ping pong balls a 4 out of 10 to publicly temper the anxieties of the faithful that’s smart. If he believes what he’s saying he’s not smart. Having said that…I believe in him and believe in the moves for a veteran that he didn’t make last year. Stay with Draft, Hold, Develop. Available veterans come with baggage. I have more faith in Danny saying “Trust me about Ji Lian” than “Trust me, Kirilenko just had a bad year”. I don’t know if I’m going to watch the draft but I’m not missing the lottery.

wright is inconsistent? horford is unpolished?

I don’t mean to be debbie downer here, but oden and durant will both be inconsistent and unpolished next year as well. every player in this draft has serious things they need to work on before they can be considered legit players in the nba. (oden and his offensive game, durant and his body – no way can he handle an 82 game season at his current weight).

the media, fans, and even some nba executives seem to be fixated on the top 2 guys in this draft. It’s like the year lebron and carmelo came out….i’m sure the miami and toronto fans were disappointed that they didn’t win the lottery that year, but things have a funny way of working out sometimes. i’m pretty sure that 4 years down the road we will look at this draft as being a lot deeper than just oden and durant.

The Celtics are fortunate to even be in the running for Oden or Durant. Yes, they did tank games, but with Pierce fully healthy it’s probable they’d be somewhere where they were last year, record-wise. Then we’d be looking at a 7th-8th pick in the draft.

The fact is, the Celtics have been trying to rebuild with the exception of extending Pierce and keeping him around. Other than that, the roster is full of young players, one salary dump (Ratliff), and one overpaid mistake taken on to get rid of previous overpaid mistakes (Wally). I hardly think Celtics management thought this was a championship roster.

That being said, they probably expected to do a little better last season but quit on the year when the wheels came off. My point is that Celtics fans frequently have unrealistic expectations and then get angry when reality sets in. I certainly believe next year SHOULD be a make-or-break year, but I don’t think the team needs to make all kinds of moves out of desperation to add a veteran. Why don’t we just draft the best player available and forget about who can “help next season”? I thought most fans believed this was already a playoff team in the East – So why don’t we leave the roster intact and add another developing talent like say, B. Wright?

brandon wright looks as if he will be great player. in any other draft the celtics would be delighted, estatic over getting a 6’ 10" pg with his skills. pair him with jefferson and the team would be deadly under the basket. he may not have quite the physical skills of durant or oden, but he will be an great player. i wont grieve if the celtics get him.

It continues to amuse me how Celtic fans bother to discuss the top two picks as if we have a snowball’s chance in hell of landing one of them. Why it’s written in the stars that we are going to be screwed on May 22 I don’t know, but screwed we certainly shall be. Just wait until May 22.

We’ll all look back in a year when corey brewer is rookie of the year

And then let the moaning begin.

Jeff said:

“And is Brickowski the once permanently banned Big John? Will he reveal his true identity?”

Brickowski is Brickowski. My late father’s name was John, though.

One interesting possibility is that if we don’t get a top 2 pick, we’re much more likely to trade a package of youth and salaries for the kind of veteran(s) that could put us solidly in the playoffs for the next few years (i.e., not an automatic out in the first round). In terms of record, we could easily be better off for the next year or two if we don’t get a top 2 pick.

(And yes, I know a top 2 pick gives us a higher ceiling and for a longer period of time. I’m just refusing to play the “Durant/Oden or bust” game.)

I think Danny is trying to downplay the importance because he already knows that 1-2 (and probably 3-4) isn’t going to happen. There is no way he makes the comments he makes over the last week if he doesn’t know. He’s way too bright to make the public comments which would open anybodys eyes about what was obviously going on.

Everybody needs to RELAX ! If Danny had said that the importance of the lottery was a 10 out of 10 that wouldn’t increase the chances of us landing the first or second pick.

He is merely trying to temper expectations…..lighten up and let things play out .

Iowa, you still feel Mr. Stern will punish us? Master Po, can you explain why you like Durant over Oden? I’m sure you have before but I missed it. I’m just curious. Do you feel Oden will not be a “franchise center”?

Que será,será.

Having the opportunity at the 1st pick is a GM’s dream you can get any player you want. If I remember correctly we never had a number one lottery pick before. Maybe Lucky will go with Tommy to cheer him on! The last 14 years we have had 11 losing seasons we all must be great Celtic Fans to be discussing the lottery, trades and the draft etc.

1. How will everyone react if we get either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 pick in the lottery, what will be the course of action?

2. Should we keep the lottery pick depending on the draft pick. Are we ready to trade the pick for veteran players if the pick is 3 or lower? Do we
trade down in the draft if we get a 3, 4 or 5 pick. There are 3 teams with multiple 1st round draft picks.

3. Do we need to trade for a couple veterans and or sign free agents?

4. Do we trade any current players on the Celtics current roster if we get the draft picks the Celtics organization wants. The last 3 years we average approximately 5 to 6 new celtic players a year.

5. Should we just make the 1st draft pick and our 2nd round pick along with
   inviting players that were not drafted and see how things play out?

There are hundreds of scenarios to come up with and anyone of us might have the best idea of all. Any ideas to make the Celtics the best?

I for one agree with what Danny boy said. It (the lotto) is about a 4. Look luck plays a roll in anything in life. However successful people increase their “luck” by taking action, learning from mistakes, and determination in the face of adversity. People who think luck (and only luck) makes or breaks their success are doomed to fail. Like all the people who by scratch tickets in hopes of making money instead of looking for better ways to make more money. To often people are looking for the “quick fix” instead of what could work in the long run. (Which most people on this board are!) If you feel the lotto is what we should pin all our hopes on I for one am glad your not running the team and would be willing to bet you have never tasted true success in your own life. But instead sit around and complain how “bad luck” has keep you from it.

I continue not to see eye to eye with Danny on drafting. Last year Danny said we need a point no matter what. We threw 2 first round picks last year at the point spot. I said it last year pre draft- get Aldridge,even if it meant given up the #7 and a promising youngster like West, Gomes or Allen.

Last year was considered a “skunk” draft, yet there was and is at least a half dozen quality all stars last year.

Big Al is developing to a “star” type player, yet we still need that big man help and not getting the #1 or #2 is going to put us in the middle of the pack again next year. Well Danny, we did it your way last year and despite injuries we were a 24W team.

X and Os don’t matter much, yet the best X and O teams in the league (Spurs/Jazz) are still playing for a crown.

At some point, I wish Danny would pack his bags and go because to hear this nonsense time and time again translates into a weak organization. Either he is out there B.S. us again, or he belives it.

I’m with Obnoxiousmime on this one. Forget the approaching timetable on Paul Pierce and forget the urge to trade away a top-five pick in a very strong draft. When a franchise desides to force results they usually get what they deserve. We’ve been there before, done that and still haven’t apparently learned anything by it. Don’t trade JUST to get a veteran whose upside we already know when we have 6 or seven “potential” future all stars to choose from.

Then what should we do? Draft for talent and if two players are evenly matched for talent, then obviously take the one that best complements your team. To base all decisions on Paul Pierce seems short-sighted. What if the injury bug hits Paul again? Talent always pays dividens whereas drafting simply for need often disappoints.

Jordan was 6’7" and was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. While we’re unlikely to see his kind again we may see a Bosh or Wade or a Nash etc. I would be more inclined to trade a 3, 4, or 5 slot for multiple picks in this draft. That would allow us to rebuild our team with the balance we’ve lacked.

Celty86, I think it’s already been done. Everything Danny has said thru today tells me it’s been done. There is no way he even hints an inkling of inpropriety, let alone suggesting it, as he did with his coaching commentary if a decision hasn’t already been made. I think what they did was far too obvious for too long. From the ridiculously bizarre game strategies (Even by Rivers’ standards), to the holding of the best available players out until the desired position had been reac hed. I think downplaying the importance of the draft just adds to my theory.

getting oden and durant is important to the c’s from a fan interest standpoint. i know a lot of fans who are fed up with the C’s (especially after the extension) and won’t spend anymore money on them (season tickets,tickets period). if we get oden or durant though, it will be tough to stay away.

I think Jeff’s perspective is sound.

In the past 10 years, rate draft prospects:
1. Duncan
2. LeBron
3. Oden
4. Durant
You have 2 few-in-a-decade prospects in this draft. And you have a decent shot at one. How will this be any different for this franchise than missing out on Duncan in ’97?

The other point is that Doc certainly and likely (hopefully?) Danny will not last through another poor season. A draft pick who is a “project” and can’t help the team next year — but who may end up as an all-star down the road — isn’t going to help Doc and Danny in the short run. [Though they might be in the best long-term interest of the team.] I am concerned about Danny trading to “improve” the team in the short term – especially given his trading history and the possible cost to the franchise in the long-term.

Iowa, no offense but I hope you’re wrong. I cannot believe that Stern wields that much power. Master, I agree that Durant will probably always have more “skills” than Oden but if Oden develops into a “Duncan like” center the impact he could have on the game would outweigh the skills disadvantage I would think. Of course, that’s if he develops into that.

So Iowa, which team will Stern deem worthy of a top two pick? Milwaukee, whose transparent run at the 2nd most ping pong balls led to the C’s shutting down Pierce and Al? Minnesota, which has aggressively tanked now for two years running? Or what about Memphis, who raised the white flag after Gasol’s injury by trading away Battier?

Perhaps Danny’s comments are to temper fan disappointment if the ping pong balls don’t follow Tommy’s instructions. Or maybe he simply believes the draft is more than 2 deep. Either explanation makes more sense than yet another Stern-based consipiracy theory

I hear Paul Wolfowitz might make himself eligible for the draft. That could turn the whole draft upside down.

Boston 5th, Milw 6th, Atl 7th….It’ll just happen that way…and mysteriously, not a word of protest will be heard from management of those teams

I hope Jeff you don’t agree with what Ainge said but not him saying it. I’m in the camp with the group above that includes Roy Hobbs, obnoxiousmime, Celtics win and warriorspirit. They seem to have some of the perspective needed.

Ainge is saying what any sane GM has to say. He wants to sell whatever position he’s in after the lottery to give it its maximum market value.
There is some truth to what he says. In this draft they can get a terrific player who can help get them a piece or two that can play big roles in reaching the top. But Oden or Durant would likely be bigger and faster pieces in doing that. But using a top five pick, trading down or dealing for a veteran need while not giving key players away will be big help as well. It’s not always the blockbuster transaction that works (and very often they do not). Patience is still needed with the team and with trades.

But we have a lot to work with right now and one way or another we’ll be adding to that. Except for G.Green and Rondo this is not going to be a team of kids anymore and with a fair share health, as it stands today this team is ready to move up.

All that said let’s hope that Red is up there working his ways in the afterlife to bring the Celts some good fortune.

How sad. We are debating whether or not Danny’s ranking of the lottery day is accurate. It is what it is. The key to this franchise turning around starting next year may seem boring, but this is it: Tony Allen getting healthy, Wally getting healthy, and Pierce staying healthy. Those factors will have a much bigger impact on next season than whether or not we get Oden or Durant or some other player. Our team as constituted, if healthy, is a play-off team (albeit in 40 wins category). Oden or Durant would add maybe 5 wins next season. They would be key in a couple of years for sure. But next year? I don’t think so.

If David Stern could choose, which teams do you suppose he’d select for #1 and #2 in the draft? What’s in the best interest on the NBA?

I would hazzard a guess that he wants to infuse some talent into the East to balance things out a bit. I know he doesn’t have direct influence over it, but I just love a good conspiracy theory… Ewing to the Knicks.

Plowboy – Discussion of a “conspiracy” and the draft already being set and known throughout the league is absolute nonsense. No one could keep that secret first of all with all these “anonymous sources” out there. Second of all if it did and got out, the NBA would be finished. They are making money hand over fist and there is no way they would risk that. Come on. Be serious on here. If you are being serious then we should all disregard everything that comes out of your posts. Grow up!

Danny is planning for the worst and hoping for the best. What do you do if you say it all depends on being 1 or 2 and then it doesn’t happen?! Give up?! A lot does ride on being 1 or 2, but if we don’t get there, which is likely, Brandan Wright is the pick. By far the most upside from waht we can see now. Sure, there will be someone that we may wish we would have taken, but if he won’t help in the short term then you take Wright for the future.

All you guys wanting to trade out of the spots after 1-2 for a veteran, I have one word for you…Telfair.

“If David Stern could choose, which teams do you suppose he’d select for #1 and #2 in the draft? What’s in the best interest on the NBA?”

Well, the largest market, the Knicks, can’t get the pick. Chicago is the third largest market but has a good team anyway and is pretty unlikly to get it via trading picks with the Knicks. The fact is that the NBA is on lifesupport in the entire Northeast corridor. The Eagles own Philadelphia. The Yankees, Mets, Giants, and Jets all matter more in New York right now than the Knicks. The Red Sox and Patriots both matter more than the Celtics in Boston. It is a pretty sad state of affairs for the NBA. Right now in the second round of the NBA playoffs, the only two teams east of Chicago left playing are New Jersey, always the Knicks ugly step sister in NYC, and the Cavs, small market.

Oden and Durrant are destined to be linked to each other for all of their careers. They will be compared to each other endlessly. If the fix were in, which it isn’t, but if it were, where would David Stern want them to go? Let’s see, how about one of the great traditional NBA rivalries that has meant nothing for nearly 20 years in two huge markets whose basketball teams haven’t been relevent in nearly a decade? Where would that be? How about Oden to Boston and Durrant to Philadelphia? I can’t imagine a bigger win win scenerio for the NBA short of Oden to Boston and Durrant to the Knicks, which can’t happen.

I don’t think Stern has ever chosen….but I don’t remember outright flagrant tanking and holding out of healthy players like this season ever. While not thinking he’s choosing, I think he’ll make sure those who participated so heavily this season won’t be rewarded.

Happy hybernating, Dino.

Beep, Beep, Beep…What’s that sound?! Plowboy backing up quickly. You flat out said it was already done and that the positions were already in place and that Danny knows where we are. If he “makes sure those who participated so heavily this season won’t be rewarded” how do you suppose he will do that without selecting the teams in your bizarre land of conspiracy. You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth and unfortunately both sides are spewing the same rediculous nonsense. Youve got to have something better to add than that!!!! You really aren’t serious about this?!?!?!

late to the party but well said.

I think Brandon Wright will be an excellent addition to the Celtics. I love how under control he plays. And he has a huge wingspan. Pair him with Jefferson and give us health and we will improve dramatically (notwithstanding the coach)

Funny, EJPLAYA, I heard no sound. I’ve been consistent since the Orlando game. I think we’ll pick 5th. I think it’s already been determined. I can’t imagine Danny’s quotes over the last week if it wasn’t. Is someone else posting for me? I don’t know any more than you do. After watching 81 of the 82 games, 5 live, watching bizarre substitution patterns and crunch-time decisions that even by Doc Rivers’ standards, defy even basic common sense and percentages, the sitting out of healthy players, in an obvious effort to reach a negative conclusion, I can’t fathom that someone who knows the game a lot better than I do doesn’t come to the same conclusion. Particularly when said coach gets an extention, his boss says the things he says about his coach, and downplays the importance of the draft? I can’t fathom that that person, the commissioner, who seems to make every move with the integrity of the game in mind, would reward what the Celtics, Hawks, or Bucks have done. If Stern does, he ruins the credibility of the game and the league he’s spent years building.

a top 2 pick is obviously a major goal. but considering that we have a 60% chance of not getting either, we have to prepare for the high posibility of that. yes, nobody in this draft is in oden or durant’s world, but guys like brandan wright, julian wright, the florida guys (horford, brewer, noah) are all very good – well, noah in the right system is. brandan wright would be the #1 pick in almost any other draft. we’re getting a really good player no matter where the ping pong balls fall. though obviously, getting oden or durant makes us legit title contenders in 2 years.

“As far as the offense goes, of course we are talking about the pair of jump hook-half floater moves that were nothing short of NBA-caliber. With Wrightâ€â"¢s wingspan, body control and athleticism, such as shot is virtually impossible to block, no matter which league Wright is playing in. Even more impressive was the touch with which he finished the scores, something that he has struggled with for most of the season. It was certainly Wrightâ€â"¢s night in the shooting department, as the sub-par free throw shooter managed to convert all 6 of his attempts at the charity stripe. Simply put, if Wright can become more consistent with these types of moves, it wonâ€â"¢t be long before he is proving right all those that have compared him to Chris Bosh.”

—Draft Express

Not a bad consolation prize, if we get #3 (which is most probable)

or how about this guy:

The Seminole senior has shown throughout the season that he is a near automatic shooter from 17 feet and in, whether it be off of the dribble or with his feet set. Although his shooting form is a bit mechanical, he has a virtually unblock able release point on his jumper and can hit his pullup going either left or right. Thornton does an outstanding job utilizing his shot fake as well, which is identical to his actual jumper, forcing defenders to bite on it the large majority of the time. He has shown the ability to consistently knock down the three point shot this year, shooting 44.8% from beyond the arc and nailing 30 three pointers so far on the season—admittedly a small sample size.

What makes Thornton even tougher to guard however is his remarkable first step for a 6â€â"¢7 player. He is too quick for opposing power forwards to stay in front of and too skilled on the blocks for a small forward to defend. The Florida native has shown the ability to absolutely smoke big men off of the dribble and get to the rim, especially when going to his right. In the low post, he generally goes towards his left shoulder for a turnaround jumper, but does a pretty adequate job of actually feeling his defender out and taking what the defense gives him.

idk about all of you guys but i will be soooooooo pissed if say the bucks, suns or bulls win any high pick. The bucks would make me flip the most prob cus they just had a freakin number 1 pick with the bogut draft. oh god i would go nuts. I would prob join whats his name in hibernation.

As much as I’d like to see Oden or Durant in a Celtic uniform, the fact of the matter is that there more than a 6 in 10 chance that the Celtics get neither. And that’s the mindset I will have on the 22nd. Prepare for the worst, which really isn’t that bad, and hope for the best.
Bottom line, I’ll be more than happy if they end up with Brewer or Wright at 3 or 4. Yi is a wildcard. I won’t pretend to know much about him or his game. He could be Yao, or could be Wang Zhi Zhi. But if, for no other reason than poor luck, they end up with the 5th pick, that’s when I’ll become a bit nervous. But, odds are, it’ll be 4th or better.

And that’s not so bad.

Does it really matter what Danny says? I think his point is, it’s not the end of the world if we don’t get a top 2 pick. It’s not like there is anything the team can do to make the balls bounce the right way.

There is a 61% chance we’re not getting a top 2 pick, but we can still improve this team with even a #5 pick. We’re trying to win #17 for the C’s, not for PP. There is no need for panic moves or trading for .50 on the dollar for immediate returns.

It would be foolish to trade our top pick two years in a row. Why trade for a veteran who may/or may not have issues playing for Doc?

Plowboy – You flip flopped once again back to this. You said that Stern had already made the decision as to the draft order and that Danny knew the result, and then you said “I don’t think Stern has ever chosen…” Direct quote!!! Look at your posts above!! Which is it? You either have this rediculous belief that Stern selects the draft order and all the owners and GM’s know about it and for some reason are quiet about it even though it kills their franchise for years, or you are somehow convinced that Stern is a magician and can make the balls come out in the order he wants. If he were serious about the tanking issue, which teams have done for years, he would either correct the problem by changing the % issues, or he would make an example of the teams at the bottom and publicly demote them out of the draft. What good does selecting them into the 5th spot do for future avoidance?! Come on. Think Plowboy!!! Stern isn’t rewarding or punishing anyone. The lottery is played out with the percentages and it is more likely we won’t get a top two because of mathematics, not some stupid conspiracy. We should all be talking about 3-5 because that is what is likely to happen. If we get 2 then we take whoever is left between Oden and Durant. If we get one then the real trouble begins! If we get 3 through 5, then we should go for talent. No stupid trades for a has been or a one year wonder veteran when we can set ourselves up through the draft.

Well said Phaze…

I really hope we end up with the #2 pick. It sounds crazy but I’d rather we had no choice but to take Durant.

But if we don’t and Danny doesn’t trade the pick I think Corey Brewer is going to be NASTY. I’d take him with the 3rd over Wright in a second. There’s a video up on ESPN.com of he and Noah’s summer workout program, if you want to get a feel for what a workhorse he is.

No easy answers if we don’t get a top two pick. All I know for sure, it will “suck” for awhile knowing the ping pong gods toyed with us again. I will wait until the order is known before concentrating too hard on our options. I have some I favor over others at this point, but too early to put the pedal to the metal.

we are and have been rebuilding and boy has it taken time.if we are not 1-2, we will get a great player but a project and we wait some more. with 1-2, we are in the playoffs but not too far. we need defense, rebounding and moxie. as a team, we need a cohesive system-fewer turnovers. i like brewer but we have enough at his position. a brewer opens up a trade situation- maybe gg, dw,rg, or even pp. we won’t get much for wally.we would need a healthy vet. who could it be? ejplaya wants to know. E.G. who would have ever imagined what a life saver mikki moore has turned out to be. or boris diaw or diop. i would love a charlie bell or even a darius songalia (once again), or luke walton. who knows, maybe del fino would be a great filler,or turiaf or ron dupre.just about any utah jazz player. you know going in the jazz guy has been well coached.look at how low ak47 was and now that he has excelled how much his value has accrued.i would rather have kirilenko than gasol or oneal. wouldn’t antonio daniels be a good vet pg. ejplaya i am no capologist and i don’t follow the other teams. i don’t have the time. maybe we do need more scouts. at any rate, ej, hope you had a good vacation and lets get lucky.

We’ve suffered through 20 years of bad luck, false hope, and unmet expectations. This is the chance to turn all that around in one day. That’s why this means everything.

And that is why the NBA sucks. If we don’t get Oden or Durant, it is Duncan all over again — get ready for another 10 years of pain. Ainge has been a disaster, Doc is a joke, and Wycless brought us dancers and a light show. I’d rather have Pitino running the show — at least he wanted to win.

Can someone refresh my memory and tell me how badly we can fall w the balls?
In any event, Ainge is right…who wants to come to Boston and play for Rivers? People talk of veterans to obtain…who will come here w this coach? Nobody w basketball brains. So lets stick w the draft…pick sure things if we can’t get a center…we need size and a great off guard- Al/Leon will do—Pierce/Gomes will do—- Rondo/West will do—-
if we can’t get 1 or 2…then who will best add to the above..for the next 8 years…
whatever happens…it will be interesting…
I got a hunch Ainge will not blow this one. But I don’t expect Rivers to do much with whoever…I’ll be looking forward to the next coach. For Rivers, the 1st 1/2 of the season will be thumbs up or down…and I expect a new coach at that time.

That’s what I am talking about Nazzbo!! I really like the idea of Antonio Daniels. Not a favorite of Walton’s at all. I think if it weren’t for his name he wouldn’t see a minute of PT. I don’t know if we could get Antonio, but he is a solid veteran backup. Charlie Bell isn’t bad either. Same thought about getting him though. The problem is that if they have any value then teams don’t want to get rid of them. They have to either be coming off an injury or have a bad contract to turn them loose.

EJPLAYA, you need a reading comprehension class. I don’t think Stern has chosen before now, but I don’t believe trying to lose has ever been so overt and so flagrant before this. We’ll choose 5th. You can decide what happenned for yourself after.