Deja Vu All Over Again

by **bobheckler** Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:35 pm

Kudos to Yogi Berra, the poet idiot savant of baseball.

Career highlights and awards
18× All-Star (1948–1961², 1962²)
13× World Series champion (1947, 1949–1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1969, 1977, 1978)
3× AL MVP (1951, 1954, 1955)
New York Yankees #8 retired
Major League Baseball All-Century Team

http://celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2014/09/deja-vu-all-over-again.html

As we approach this season, I can't help but look back on the 2006-07 season. I may have been one of the few Celtics fans who really enjoyed that season. I loves watching that team. They always played hard. They may not have won because they lacked the seasoning to get over the hump at the end of games, but, they were in most games and had more close losses than blowouts.

That year, the team was loaded with young players who showed promise. Danny had a bucket load of draft picks to use as trade chips. The Celtics had one star player who was rumored to be on the way out. There were rumors that a disgruntled Paul Pierce wanted out. There were rumors that the Celtics wanted to trade the Captain. Danny constantly said that he wanted to keep Pierce just as he has been adamant about wanting to keep Rondo.

Paul Pierce missed a lot of games with injuries. The Celtics were headed for the lottery and there was a lot of talk about tanking for a better draft pick. Most Celtics fans felt that the Celtics would never attract a big name free agent so they wanted to get a top pick and build through the draft.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Lottery. Even though they had the second worst record in the league and a very good chance at getting either Kevin Durant or Greg Oden, the lottery once again failed the Celtics. They got the fifth pick, the lowest possible pick they could get with the 2nd worst record.

The rest is history. Danny used all those draft chips and many of his young players to make trades to bring in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. There was a lot of talk before the trade for KG that he wouldn't re-sign in Boston and didn't want to go there. But, the presence of Paul Pierce helped to change his mind.

The Celtics kept some of their promising young players: Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Tony Allen to name a few. But Danny also give up both Al Jefferson and Gerald Green who were promising young talents but both of whom needed time to develop. This past season, we finally saw both players break out and become stars in their own rights.

This season, the Celtics have a lot of young players and a lot of draft picks. Most writers figure that they will be in the lottery again. The league doesn't see them worthy of any national TV games. I signed up for League Pass yesterday and I'm looking forward to watching every game. I think this will be a fun team to watch in spite of their youth and expectations.

And, who knows? Perhaps Danny will work his magic again and next year the Celtics will once again be on top of the world.

bob
MY NOTE: Nobody knows what's going to happen and that includes Danny himself. What I do know, with absolute total confidence, is that Danny isn't doing all this "for nothing". I also know, with absolute certainty (not just "confidence") is that he is fearless when it comes to pulling the trigger on a deal that he thinks is a good one for the franchise. He has a plan. Whether the plan works or not remains to be seen.

.

by **k_j_88** Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:17 pm

Anyone else think Danny might have his eye on the Kevin Durant Sweepstakes?

KJ

by **dbrown4** Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:18 pm

Durant would be a real good fit and model Celtic. Have always liked his demeanor. Needs to get out of OKC. They just ain't going to get over the hump there.

db

by **k_j_88** Mon Sep 29, 2014 7:59 pm

dbrown4 wrote:Durant would be a real good fit and model Celtic. Have always liked his demeanor. Needs to get out of OKC. They just ain't going to get over the hump there.

db

A lot of assets have been gathered. Boston could potentially have a a very nice package by then, if KD decides he wants out of OKC.

KJ

by **Sam** Mon Sep 29, 2014 11:27 pm

I don't believe Danny has a plan that includes specific features, such as going all out for Kevin Durant. I believe his method of operation is to set the stage with enough flexibility so he can opportunistically jump at opportunities when they arise. That's what he did in 2006-07. He built assets. And, when opportunities arose, he jumped on them.

Sam