Don't Be Fooled: The Celtics Will NOT Tank This Season

Another thing about B/R articles I hate is that they like to do it via slideshow, and that makes it harder to cut-and-paste...


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1787499-dont-be-fooled-boston-celtics-wont-tank-2013-14-season


The Boston Celtics won’t be tanking in 2013-14.

True, expectations for the team are lower than they’ve been in years. So if losing happened to become the norm in Boston, nobody would bat an eyelid. However, doing so could mean disastrous results for the team’s future.

In fact, it could even be considered the kiss of death.

Here are some of the reasons why the Celtics should strive for nothing but their best this season.


Too Good as Currently Structured


Believe it or not, Boston’s roster is no joke.

From the opening tip of the season, Jeff Green should be getting most of the headlines. It’s an honor he certainly deserves.

After a subpar start to the year, the 27-year-old picked up his play, averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over the Celtics' final 16 games of the regular season. He was even better in the playoffs, posting 20.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in six contests during the team’s first-round loss to the New York Knicks.

Now, with the small forward position all to himself, Green should continue his ascension into NBA stardom.

Boston will also be expecting a turnaround out of Avery Bradley.

Following surgery on both shoulders last summer, the 22-year-old missed the team’s first 30 games of the season. When he returned, Bradley struggled with his shot, averaging just 9.2 points on 40.2 percent shooting.

With another summer of rest, the Celtics are hoping Bradley can return to form this year. More specifically, the form he ended the 2011-12 season in, when he averaged 15.1 points on 52 percent shooting (54.5 3PT%) in 15 games during April.

The team also returns last year’s first-round pick in Jared Sullinger. Throw in this year’s choice, Kelly Olynyk—on the heels of a terrific summer league performance—and Boston has a young frontcourt that should provide some optimism for the future.

And this is without even mentioning Rajon Rondo, who is expected to return in December after recovering from a torn ACL.



Stevens Needs to Instill a Culture

When the Celtics hired Brad Stevens to be their new head coach, many were skeptical. The fact that he’s just 36 and a former college coach didn’t help matters, especially to those in Boston—Rick Pitino, anybody?

Regardless, it’s been quite difficult to find anybody who’s had anything but nice things to say about Stevens.

With that said, if the Celtics were to tank and finish with 20 wins or less, most, if not all of those people, would gladly recant those recommendations. Not to mention, it wouldn’t do anything but give way for more of that aforementioned skepticism.

What Stevens needs to do is push for the team to exceed expectations. That means winning 40 or so games and making the playoffs.

Doing so will show people Stevens means business. That he’s about winning games and returning Boston to the forefront of the Eastern Conference.

Losing is just not an option.



Still a Borderline Playoff Team in a Weak Eastern Conference

The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers are pretty much the only locks as far as the Eastern Conference playoffs go.

Sure, the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are also up there. However, both teams are an injury or two away from being out of the picture.

Other than that, the conference is totally up for grabs.

According to ESPN’s 2013-14 NBA predictions, the Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers will fill out spots No. 5-8 in the Eastern Conference. Surprisingly, all three were also predicted to finish with sub-.500 records.

If anything, that’s evidence of the lack of strength in the East. In comparison, you’d be lucky to wrap up a spot in the Western Conference with 50 wins.

That’s also good news for the Celtics—projected to win just 29 games.

It’s quite clear that it wouldn’t take a lot for the team to make the postseason this year. With the roster Boston has, this is a squad that could potentially finish as high as fifth in the conference.

It would be pretty pointless to give that up by tanking.



Need to Show Packed 2014 Free-Agency Class They Can Win

Next summer’s free-agency class is one to behold. Players such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are all projected to be on the market.

And that’s just to name a few of them.

Fortunately, the Celtics only have a total of $48.7 million guaranteed on the books for 2014-15. That means the team should have ample space to try to lure in a big-name free agent or two.

The class also includes Chandler Parsons, Derrick Favors, Greg Monroe, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe. Given that all are under the age of 25, they would be great targets for Boston to pursue.

However, would any of these players really want to come join a team that looks to be a lost cause?

Instead, players would prefer a team that looks to be on the rise. One that is potentially one or two additions away from making a serious push to be an NBA contender.

There’s no doubt the Celtics have the championship history. But it’s imperative they start showing a winning attitude.


Why Sacrifice Fan and Team Morale for a One-in-Four Shot?

Sure, receiving the No. 1 pick in the draft can turn a franchise’s luck around. However, having the worst record in the league only guarantees that team a 25 percent chance of landing the top prize.

Not exactly the kind of odds to bank a franchise’s entire future on.

Furthermore, the worst team has failed to land the No. 1 pick more often than not. Only four such teams have accomplished the feat since 1985 and none since 2004. In fact, a team that finished in the bottom four of the league has only received the No. 1 pick just three times over the past nine years.

With all that said, is it really worth sacrificing team and fan morale on a gamble?

ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan offers a closer look at the last time Boston attempted to tank. That was back in 1996-97 and the top prize was Tim Duncan. The Celtics wound up with the No. 3 pick and Chauncey Billups.

It was only seven years ago when the Boston fans were so disgusted that they actually chanted “MVP” to a Los Angeles Laker. Let that sink in a bit.

Why risk sending the fanbase into such a low again?

Not to mention, people considered Rajon Rondo difficult to coach. And that was when the Celtics were winning. Just imagine how he’ll be on a losing squad with a new head coach.

Either way you look at it, it doesn’t make sense for Boston to tank.



bob



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How about another headline: Even the remote thought of tanking sucks rotten eggs.

Sam

The only way the Celtics should go "tanking" is if they are backed up by air support and armored personnel carriers.

Otherwise, it's not the Celtic Way.


bob


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Hear hear. In fact, it could very well be that all the asinine talk about the Celtics tanking could be a huge motivator for at least some of the players. We've already read about several of them who have taken note of the talk and have taken it upon themselves to debunk it. I believe this year's Red Sox players personally reacted to aspersions (unfortunately mostly correct) cast at last year's clubhouse and had added motivation to avoid a repetition of the smears this season. And how are they looking right now?

Sam

Winning the draft lottery has rarely worked. So tanking in the NBA is an idea left to fools.

Do you best, play hard, give an honest effort and if you go 20 and 62, so bet it. But I am guessing they are .500 at worst.

Need to Show Packed 2014 Free-Agency Class They Can Win

Next summer’s free-agency class is one to behold. Players such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are all projected to be on the market.

Why on Earth would the Celtics want any of those guys? Paying max dollars to a star free agent goes against the rebuilding plan they've set in place.

In any event, none of them is coming to Boston, and none of them except LeBron even makes a shred of sense for Boston. Going all-in for LeBron is a high-risk endeavor with low chance of success. Carmelo is problematic from a team play, chemistry perspective. Wade is falling apart. Please provide the name of the genius who thinks Kobe signing with Boston is an actual possibility and that paying huge bucks for him at this point in his career makes sense for the Celtics.

The class also includes Chandler Parsons, Derrick Favors, Greg Monroe, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe. Given that all are under the age of 25, they would be great targets for Boston to pursue.

Is that all it takes to be a great target for Boston to pursue -- being under the age of 25? Wait, what happened to the idea of signing old superstars two paragraphs before?

Parsons is the jewel of the bunch, but if I'm not mistaken, power forward isn't a position of need. Going forward, Sullinger and Olynyk are their guys at that position.

I'm not sold on Favors, and he's another power forward.

Monroe is a possibility at center, but the main attributes the Celtics need at that position are defender, shot blocker, and rebounder, and Monroe doesn't fit the bill for the first two.

We've discussed Cousins -- talented head case. Do you really want a less mature Rasheed Wallace on your roster? If so, they should play their games in a circus tent, because that's what would be coming to town.

Bledsoe will likely be looking for a starting point guard job. Let me check the Celtics roster and see if they have one of those...

Yes, Boston will have cap space, but I think Boston can leverage that best through trades, where their stockpile of draft picks will come in handy, not free agency. This Bleacher Report bit was put together by someone in love with the NBA star system and the "wow" factor of free agent signings.

I agree, Outside. In general, I'm not a big fan of free agent signings. With occasional exceptions, you're dipping in to the overpaid has-been pool or the overpaid head case pool or the over-paid injury risk pool. You take on salary without getting rid of equivalent salary, and you'll probably pay dearly down the road for that tactic. And, since free agency, by its very nature, usually involves players who have established themselves in one way or another, there's always the likelihood that a free agent will bring with him a sense of entitlement that can mess up other aspiring players on the team. If they're significantly under the cap, I'd rather save that money to pay the freight for the players they've developed who have some continuity with the team.

am