Should we just (subtly) tank next season whilst Tatum is out ?

[doogie_hauser]

I am pretty sure I am not the only passionate C's fan here thinking it, especially with our off season departures so far.

Jaylen Brown didn't look right for much of the latter second half of the season and playoffs, kinda hoping we send him into surgery to totally fix up his injury issues and or rest him for much of next season

Not really interested pragmatically in just making the play in and or losing in the first round, it's not currently a buyers market for available big men (to replace Kornet, KP and most likely Horford) , I feel we are better off just stinking next season, hope for some lotto luck and reload next season with cap space and some draft capital

[phincsfan]

With Stevens as HC this roster would be a play in at worst.

With Joe this team will be a lottery team.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

18 players featured in all 7 games of the finals this year. Here is where they were picked:
2nd Chet Holmgren
6th Bennedict Mathurin
8th Obi Toppin
10th Cason Wallace
11th Myles Turner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12th Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Williams
14th Aaron Nesmith
26th Ben Sheppard
27th Pascal Siakam
31st Andrew Nembhard
43th Isaiah Hartenstein
55th Aaron Wiggins
Undrafted TJ McConnell, Kenrich Williams, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso

Apart from Holmgren those other guys were all available without doing anything resembling a tank. The evidence doesn't support the need to tank to be in position to pick up players that can lift a team to contention. I'd rather root for the Celtics to win games and hope the front office identifies the right guys to bring in and the coaching staff will develop them. And if they can't do that, then tanking isn't going to put Boston on a contention path either, there's just going to be a lot more losing.

[Bad-Thoma]

I'd wait to see how the season unfolds. The east isn't all that scary, I don't think we're going to be that bad without injuries derailing things. If the season goes poorly for whatever reason, be it the front court questions or injuries, then it's time to start sitting guys for (insert weak excuse here) or doing a little trade deadline selling. The draft is always fun but it's a gamble, the only semi-good reason I see to maneuver the draft position is for the trade asset to go all in again when Tatum is 100% and the 2nd apron penalties are gone.

I thinks it's a moot point though, other than being something for us fans to talk about. Neither Joe or Brad seem like type to do anything other than try to overachieve though I'm sure if the team does really poorly they'd be pragmatic enough to keep the vets healthy and develop the younger guys later in the year rather than trying to win every game.

[flintsky21]

My hope for next season is not about as much about positioning for a better pick next year as it is about seeing a leap in the development of our existing players, especially the younger ones.

[jfs1000d]

With Stevens as HC this roster would be a play in at worst.

With Joe this team will be a lottery team.

How?

Team isn't near championship level. But in east it is gonna be a 7-10 seed. It could even be better if Brown and White are all star level players. I am think 40-45 wins.

This roster much better than the 40-42 Celtics in Brad's second year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[playa-hater]

The last time Boston had not 1, but 2 top 5 picks (Tatum-Brown) we set ourselves up for the future as a true Contender. We might not get another chance to draft that high. You absolutely have to consider a "Soft--or--Big tank"

[Parliament10]

My hope for next season is not about as much about positioning for a better pick next year as it is about seeing a leap in the development of our existing players, especially the younger ones.

With Brown and White and others like Pritchard on the Team, I actually don't think that we can lose that much?
I'd go for focusing on Development. But, even in a Soft Tank, I think that we make the Playoffs.

[Hal14]

The last time Boston had not 1, but 2 top 5 picks (Tatum-Brown) we set ourselves up for the future as a true Contender. We might not get another chance to draft that high. You absolutely have to consider a "Soft--or--Big tank"

Yup.

Especially with who's available in this draft.

I want Boozer.

Read on Twitter

C Boozer
F tatum
F Brown
G White
G Pritchard

Championship

There is a few other good players in this draft (Peterson, AJ, Ament, Mikel Brown Jr) but imo Peterson/Boozer are a notch above the rest. And Boozer is a better fit for our team than Peterson..

Make it happen, Brad!

[165bows]

18 players featured in all 7 games of the finals this year. Here is where they were picked:
2nd Chet Holmgren
6th Bennedict Mathurin
8th Obi Toppin
10th Cason Wallace
11th Myles Turner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12th Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Williams
14th Aaron Nesmith
26th Ben Sheppard
27th Pascal Siakam
31st Andrew Nembhard
43th Isaiah Hartenstein
55th Aaron Wiggins
Undrafted TJ McConnell, Kenrich Williams, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso

Apart from Holmgren those other guys were all available without doing anything resembling a tank. The evidence doesn't support the need to tank to be in position to pick up players that can lift a team to contention. I'd rather root for the Celtics to win games and hope the front office identifies the right guys to bring in and the coaching staff will develop them. And if they can't do that, then tanking isn't going to put Boston on a contention path either, there's just going to be a lot more losing.

I don’t think there’s been a time when the best players have been picked farther down the draft in my life time than now.

That said if they get a high pick this year I won’t hate it.

[brackdan70]

The last time Boston had not 1, but 2 top 5 picks (Tatum-Brown) we set ourselves up for the future as a true Contender. We might not get another chance to draft that high. You absolutely have to consider a "Soft--or--Big tank"

Interestingly, outside of Tatum and Brown, the best players in those two drafts were outside the top 10. It’s similar for most drafts. There is a star outside the lotto. Just have to hit. Of course a soft tank gives you a better chance.
I think by prioritizing shedding some Salary we are kind of doing that. Probably not a lotto team but likely pick in the teens.

[jfs1000d]

The last time Boston had not 1, but 2 top 5 picks (Tatum-Brown) we set ourselves up for the future as a true Contender. We might not get another chance to draft that high. You absolutely have to consider a "Soft--or--Big tank"

But how?

Only way to tank is get Brown off the squad .


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[Smart2Nesmith43]

18 players featured in all 7 games of the finals this year. Here is where they were picked:
2nd Chet Holmgren
6th Bennedict Mathurin
8th Obi Toppin
10th Cason Wallace
11th Myles Turner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12th Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Williams
14th Aaron Nesmith
26th Ben Sheppard
27th Pascal Siakam
31st Andrew Nembhard
43th Isaiah Hartenstein
55th Aaron Wiggins
Undrafted TJ McConnell, Kenrich Williams, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso

Apart from Holmgren those other guys were all available without doing anything resembling a tank. The evidence doesn't support the need to tank to be in position to pick up players that can lift a team to contention. I'd rather root for the Celtics to win games and hope the front office identifies the right guys to bring in and the coaching staff will develop them. And if they can't do that, then tanking isn't going to put Boston on a contention path either, there's just going to be a lot more losing.

I don’t think there’s been a time when the best players have been picked farther down the draft in my life time than now.

That said if they get a high pick this year I won’t hate it.

You would be right:

Watch on YouTube

[djFan71]

A complementary counterpoint to the ability to get stars late lotto is not a ton have been picked late 20s like where we have been lately. A good, old fashioned natural, we’re just not as good this year, but play as hard and try to win season will still result in a better chance at a really good player then we’ve had in a while. Without the tank stank.

[cloverleaf]

The strongest coach-led, specific game tanking I've ever seen is the Bills over the Pats in the final game of last season. Overwhelmingly it is done at the GM level with the roster given to a coach.

[Hal14]

18 players featured in all 7 games of the finals this year. Here is where they were picked:
2nd Chet Holmgren
6th Bennedict Mathurin
8th Obi Toppin
10th Cason Wallace
11th Myles Turner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12th Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Williams
14th Aaron Nesmith
26th Ben Sheppard
27th Pascal Siakam
31st Andrew Nembhard
43th Isaiah Hartenstein
55th Aaron Wiggins
Undrafted TJ McConnell, Kenrich Williams, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso

Apart from Holmgren those other guys were all available without doing anything resembling a tank. The evidence doesn't support the need to tank to be in position to pick up players that can lift a team to contention. I'd rather root for the Celtics to win games and hope the front office identifies the right guys to bring in and the coaching staff will develop them. And if they can't do that, then tanking isn't going to put Boston on a contention path either, there's just going to be a lot more losing.

I'd rather tank for someone like Cooper Flagg, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Evan Mobley, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Victor Wembanyama as opposed to just getting someone later in the draft like Ben Sheppard or Aaron Wiggins.

[Hal14]

A complementary counterpoint to the ability to get stars late lotto is not a ton have been picked late 20s like where we have been lately. A good, old fashioned natural, we’re just not as good this year, but play as hard and try to win season will still result in a better chance at a really good player then we’ve had in a while. Without the tank stank.

The higher the pick, the better the odds, though.

14th pick, we drafted Langford and Nesmith.

Meanwhile, SGA (11th pick), Haliburton (12th pick), Paul Pierce (10th pick), Booker (13th pick), Donovan Mitchell (13th pick), Jamal Murray (7th pick), Luka (3rd pick), Tatum (3rd pick), Brown (3rd pick), Paolo (1st pick), Ant (1st pick), Chat (2nd pick), Wemby (1st pick), Flagg (1st pick), Harden (3rd pick)..Trae (5th pick), Zion (1st pick), Ja (2nd pick), KD (2nd pick)

Most of the league's top players were picked in the top 13.

[djFan71]

A complementary counterpoint to the ability to get stars late lotto is not a ton have been picked late 20s like where we have been lately. A good, old fashioned natural, we’re just not as good this year, but play as hard and try to win season will still result in a better chance at a really good player then we’ve had in a while. Without the tank stank.

The higher the pick, the better the odds, though.

14th pick, we drafted Langford and Nesmith.

Meanwhile, SGA (11th pick), Haliburton (12th pick), Paul Pierce (10th pick), Booker (13th pick), Donovan Mitchell (13th pick), Jamal Murray (7th pick), Luka (3rd pick), Tatum (3rd pick), Brown (3rd pick), Paolo (1st pick), Ant (1st pick), Chat (2nd pick), Wemby (1st pick), Flagg (1st pick), Harden (3rd pick)..Trae (5th pick), Zion (1st pick), Ja (2nd pick), KD (2nd pick)

Most of the league's top players were picked in the top 13.

Cmon man, of course. With the team we have we can still try to win and if injuries or whatever put us in the lotto, great. But, Brads not gonna trade away anyone of consequence to be worse. Hes also not necessarily gonna improve the team unless he thinks it’s for a long term guy.

[djFan71]

We’ll probably trade Simons for $ savings and a bench big (who may start , but good team rotation bench level). Then let it play out. Thats kind of a soft tank on its own, but driven by money / basketball penalties, not solely with the goal of improving the pick. If that also happens as a byproduct, awesome.

[ryan in Maine]

We can only lose so many games now that White has broken out.