Captain_Caveman wrote:Writebloc wrote:tl;dr
I don't hate IT a bit. Just have a different impression of how to build a championship team, and not a pretender like the Raps or Horford Hawks. Regardless of my opinions on them, the Warriors are the gold standard right now. IMO, more of you IT pom-pom wavers should watch more of the Ws, to get a clearer idea of exactly how far away we are right now.
How many different franchises have even won titles since 1980, like 8-9? It's not good enough to be good enough in this league. More than any other sport, you have to be great. If we go for greatness and fall short, I can live with it. But there's no excuse for settling for pretty good just because you are entertained, and that's what an IT-led team is.
Bright side is, because of a historically great trade that I was the biggest advocate here for (and which you probably would have argued against haha), we do have a shot to be great someday. Let's not **** it up.
First of all, I never argued against Paul Pierce trade, you won't be able to find the data, but I can assure that I knew the era was finished. If there were arguments against you than we would have been brothers in arms. But in this paragraph is my case in point. You get so upset when other posters call you out, and yet right here you are calling other posters out. It's the golden rule my friend.
I've watched the Warriors, and in fact I find them boring. Hell yes they are a great team, and they were a great team before they signed Kevin Durant. Every team in the NBA is playing catch up. It's not like Danny didn't try to sign Durant, and while he may have never been close he was in the conversation whatever that means.
Your next point is where our main point of contention lies. You don't think IT can lead this team to a championship, I disagree, but that doesn't mean that I'm right and your wrong and vice versa, it just means the book hasn't been written yet. As far as going for greatness if you can't appreciate the fact that 5'6 Isaiah strives and by all metrics (aside from defensive) is achieving greatness on a nightly basis I don't know what to tell you. Isaiah is not the problem in my opinion. No one on this board is settling for pretty good, it is just the realization that the climb is a process. It was a process for the Warriors, it was a process for the Spurs, it's been a process for every single team that has won a championship.
These teenagers that are coming out of college aren't Magic or Bird, they aren't ready to contribute to a championship day one anymore. It is clear in the supposed juggernaut Timberwolves who were forecasted to be a top four seed in the West this year. Clearly the talent level is there, but those kids don't know how to win yet. The first thing that team was to find a coach in Thibs that has a proven track record in winning. People thought the process was going to occur over an offseason for that team and it is obvious that it hasn't. On top of that **** happens, Zach Lavine gets injured, Wiggins has questions on whether he'll be a full fledged star, Kris Dunn could be a bust. As amazing as KAT is that team has a long way to go before it has reached its final destination. Do they have a clearer path to title? Maybe? But who truly knows. Greatness is subjective quality I suppose, I truly think that Ainge is aiming to make this team great. I think he works exhaustively to make that happen. If this guy believe that IT has the ability to be part of the next great Celtics' team I'll believe him because of his track record. If he ends up trading IT for various reasons than I guess we'll have our answer. Don't assume because I'm amazed by what IT is doing means that I don't question what right move is next. As I've stated many times Ainge has a tough job and he's been walking a tightrope. I'm only glad that he's making the decisions and not me because it seems he made the right moves. There is always items to debate, but for the most part he's staying disciplined even in the face of an intensely questioning media, an enthusiastic owner, and a rabid fan base who's chomping at the bit for another championship.
