Post by runrondo on Sept 12, 2020 12:19:18 GMT -5
Fresh mentioned this in a thread
Ainge really does deserve some credit for that transition from the '08 core into only missing one playoffs (13-14). The Pierce/KG trade was a fleecing, but taking into account our Kyrie trade really back-firing, we still didn't miss a beat with that. That really could've lingered with some organizations. It helps that Stevens/Ainge were pretty diplomatic to not throw Kyrie under the bus and our young guys taking accountability for how they handled that.
It's possible his major plan was hoping for Kyrie/AD, but our ability to identify the larger picture and not be reactionary (not trading Brown/Tatum/etc) means we might find ourselves in a good position for the foreseeable future. Even the way he's handled Marcus Smart (I admit I wasn't a fan of his for most of his tenure), means he's got a vision of what character traits he likes in players and makes me confident he's confident in his own decisions.
Obviously, we were saying our future was unlimited when Kyrie joined so anything can change by losing just one all-star (free-agency), but I'd say our young guys seem to enjoy the dynamics we've built right now. Kemba deferring when defenses key in on him allow Tatum or Brown to be "the guy" and hopefully teaches them by example to not feel the need to force it all the time (still learning that).
It is bonkers that we have Jaylen and Jayson for the last 1-2 years of Paul Pierce and KG's career. Absolute insanity. Where would this team be if it wasn't for that deal? I think they would've had to reallllly bottom out and hope for some lotto luck. The fact that we were able to go from the Big 3 era to the Kemba-Jayson-Jaylen era with only missing the playoffs once is remarkable.
Ainge really does deserve some credit for that transition from the '08 core into only missing one playoffs (13-14). The Pierce/KG trade was a fleecing, but taking into account our Kyrie trade really back-firing, we still didn't miss a beat with that. That really could've lingered with some organizations. It helps that Stevens/Ainge were pretty diplomatic to not throw Kyrie under the bus and our young guys taking accountability for how they handled that.
It's possible his major plan was hoping for Kyrie/AD, but our ability to identify the larger picture and not be reactionary (not trading Brown/Tatum/etc) means we might find ourselves in a good position for the foreseeable future. Even the way he's handled Marcus Smart (I admit I wasn't a fan of his for most of his tenure), means he's got a vision of what character traits he likes in players and makes me confident he's confident in his own decisions.
Obviously, we were saying our future was unlimited when Kyrie joined so anything can change by losing just one all-star (free-agency), but I'd say our young guys seem to enjoy the dynamics we've built right now. Kemba deferring when defenses key in on him allow Tatum or Brown to be "the guy" and hopefully teaches them by example to not feel the need to force it all the time (still learning that).