Nice post Scooby, TP.
Looking at the bigger picture- the goal was always to try and get Love or a game changing player, whilst keeping Rondo too. I think that Ainge and Stevens knew that landing Love or that impact player was going to be a real long shot. Heck we got very close to catching lightning in a bottle until the basketball gods reached down and gave the Cavs another blessing.
Stevens was hired because Ainge plays percentages. This was, mathematically, the most likely scenario we'd find ourselves as Rondo's contract came towards a close and Ainge prepared by hiring a young, brilliant coach that will develop a young core as only an elite college coach knows how.
I think the aim this season will be to finish in the bottom 3 teams.
I'm really hoping they can find deals for Green and Bass ASAP because once they are gone, we are very strong candidates for being worse than the Timberwolves.
Ainge just isn't the kind of guy to be meddling around in these situations so there's really only one option now when you're trying to land a franchise guy- and that's via the draft.
Personally I'd be stoked with either Okafur, Towns or Mudiay. Using our other picks to try and move up to get Cauley Stein would be something I'd be interested in too.
But back to our team-I'm surprised how many people think we are a long shot at bottom three but right now we are:
5 wins ahead of New York, Detroit and Minnesota.
We are 2 wins ahead of the Lakers and Utah.
We have 58 games remaining and without Green and Bass I can't see how this team wins any more than 10-12 games or 1 in 5, which leaves us at around 20-22 wins.
Looking at a team like the Lakers, who are on track for 27 wins and a bottom 5 finish, we should be right there when you consider this will be our roster below.
Great young squad but boy will we be terrible defensively without Green, Bass and Rondo. We are going to really struggle to score without those three as well and their combined 40 points per game.
I just don't know where we get that scoring from.