Evan Turner has surprised me in a positive way. For the most part his body language has been positive-teammate body language -- engaging, patting teammatess on the back, fives on the FT line, helping up like KG. He's also seemed engaged defensively in every game I've watched (which is almost all). I get that he's frutrating to watch as a player at times, but overall he's been a pleasant surprise for me.
Regarding tanking -- I really hate the word. I want the C's to miss the playoffs and get the 9th/10th seed and a 5% chance at lottery gold. But I do not want the C's to throw games or for CBS to play lesser plays (with the exception of JY who I'd like to see get NBA pt) just to try to lose games. I want the C's to give it everything they have and then end up on the losing end of competitive games. This isn't tanking -- it's just hoping we get a better better draft pick because I think it will be slightly better for the team's future.
I hate wanting the team to lose, but I also can't deny that this is where my heart takes me every game. However, I'd feel much worse if I thought it was purposeful intent to lose (i.e., tanking).
That is what I have seen re: ET this year and I have tried to just view him as a Celtic. To elaborate on your hopes for the team lets say tonight they get the ball with 15 seconds left down 1. Marcus Smart gets the ball and puts up a floater. Do you want it to miss or go in?
Though that is obviously a random example, there probably are going to be some situations like that in the next week or so based on how close the standings are and the fact that we have some winnable games.
It truly pains me to say this, but I know that I would hope the ball bounces out.
I can't knock you for how you feel or being honest. I actually did feel like that during the season before Duncan. I was a teenager then but I remember being at a game against the pistons where the Celtics lost on a tip in with like .2 left. I was like ahhh that sucks, but it probably is for the best.
There are a few differences between this year and that year for me. For 1, we already have way too many wins to get Okafor or Towns. So it is a lot harder for me to talk myself into getting excited about a guy at 9-12 versus 15. Every week this season guys have been falling between spots 10 and 20 on these mock drafts. A few weeks ago when I looked one had Turner 7th and one had him 17th. There just isn't a big enough clear value there for me to root against them. In 1996 it was rooting for Duncan over Van Horn and all a lot more clear cut.
Another big difference for me is how hard they have played and tried and are primarily made up of young players could have solid NBA futures. On that 96-97 team Minor (his career was cut really short by a hip injury), Walker, Eric Willams and Radja seemed to have future NBA starter upside. There were way more wayward veterans like Barros, Brown, Pervis Ellison, Todd Day, the unforgettable Alton Lister and Marty Conlon than this year's team.
Here we have players like Smart, KO, Bradley, Thomas and perhaps Crowder that are pretty young and talented. Our only veterans left that play are really Turner and Bass.
Plus we won't even get started on the the coaches comparison.
Those kinds of factors make the difference for me between now and 97, but I guess I can at least understand the sentiment.