It isn't that bad!!!!

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

Poor luck is to blame more than anything else for what has happened. Our faith has been sorely tested. But the lottery storm front passes through tomorrow night and some teams will benefit, others will get screwed.

I certainly am not a Danny and Doc apologist here, howewer,

I happen to think the Celtics are in a pretty good position to improve a lot next year based on their young talent base and Pierce still in his prime even without the draft pick. Getting Oden puts us back in The Finals as soon as next year. Getting Durant opens doors for productive trades, not the kind of setback trades we have had to take to accumulate draft picks and cover for past contractual blunders. Getting picks 3-5 could bring us a productive lateral trade and allow the young players to develop and grow and get us back to the second tier of teams like Golden State and Utah. Unfortunately, we will have to compete with the Bulls, and the teams that get Oden and Durant respectively. I'd much rather be the Celtics rather than the Pacers and Timberwolves as I sit here and watch.

BTW, I think drafting Yi Jianlain is a mistake. I'm afraid he could be a Jerome Moiso than a Dirk Nowitzki. I would take Al Horford or Roy Hibbert to shore up our frontline behind Perkins and Jefferson. I'm not sure Yi does that for you. I might consider a trade down to get Acie Law IV if we get 3 to 5.

[Roadrunner]

I think if the Celtics can nab Oden or Durant, they maybe the next team out of the East. Detroit, and Miami are aging teams; and Chicago chokes every year.

[DERRENMATTS]

I think the Pistons are an elite team for another 2 years, at which time Rasheed and McDyess will start to deteriorate, as well as Lindsey Hunter. Chauncey, Rip, and Tayshaun will remain in their primes, but the Pistons just won't be the same without their surrounding role players being at their best. But they do have un and coming players they hope will take the place of the aging Rasheed and McDyess (Jason Maxiel and Amir Johnson).

Miami will not be an elite team, though with the right moves to surround Dwayne Wade with very good talent, they should be in the playoff mix. How quickly their window has closed, considering that Shaq, Antoine, Payton and Williams were key players in their championship run, and now they are on the downside of their careers.

If we get Greg Oden (and we'll find out in less than 17 hours), we will be an elite team in a couple of years. If we get Durant, we should be able to compete for a title, but the picture gets a bit cloudy because defense is what will take us to that elite level and I'm not sure if Pierce and Durant can be defensive enough.

[Ossric]

Q, if you want to win a title in the NBA, one needs an exceptional talent to do so. Jefferson is good, but i dont know if he´s that good. We will be a much better team next year regardless of this draft but we are not a championship caliber team with this roster. Plus when healthy we will never get a special talent in the draft cause we will normally never be in the lottery the next 10 years. So yea, this is a once in a decade opportunity. We win 1 or the second pick & our chances of winning a title in the coming years are pretty good. If we loose, it will be highly unlickely that nr17 will be coming our way in the next 8 years.

[DERRENMATTS]

Ossric, is that you?

[freshnthehouse]

ossric said:

Q, if you want to win a title in the NBA, one needs an exceptional talent to do so. Jefferson is good, but i dont know if he´s that good. We will be a much better team next year regardless of this draft but we are not a championship caliber team with this roster. Plus when healthy we will never get a special talent in the draft cause we will normally never be in the lottery the next 10 years. So yea, this is a once in a decade opportunity. We win 1 or the second pick & our chances of winning a title in the coming years are pretty good. If we loose, it will be highly unlickely that nr17 will be coming our way in the next 8 years.

Agreed. If we want to win a title, we've got to luck out in this years lottery.

[Ossric]

derrenmatts said:

Ossric, is that you?

oh my, apparently retired! But i´m still so young... i still have some good years left in me!