20-9 down the stretch this year. Very simple picture:
(20/29) * 82 = 56.55.
One thing I'm willing to say definitively is that the Celts aren't going to maintain that pace into next year if no significant changes occur.
But I highly doubt Ainge is just going to stand pat.
That's where I am. Is this a 56 win team, as our record post-ASG would be played out over 82 games? God no. But 42-40? Absolutely. 45-37? Sure, that could happen. Just by keeping the same guys and Smart making improvements. 35 wins? That could happen too, if everyone takes a step back. All possible. But we're not a high lottery team anymore and we won't be without gutting the roster. Which would alienate Stevens, the best part of the rebuild so far.
Of course, who really thinks Ainge does nothing? Every year players get moved we didn't think we're available. There's more going on than what seems plainly obvious.
Say Cousins wants out of SAC. A very real possibility. Trade SAC: Sullinger/Olynyk, Young, 2015 #33, 2016 BRK 1st, 2016 DAL 1st, 2017 LAC 2nd, 2016 MIN 1st/2 2nds, 2018 BOS 1st, 2020 BOS 1st (Lottery-Protected)
Re-sign Crowder, Jerebko. Sign Khris Middleton.
Trade Bradley and #16 to Jazz for #12 and Rodney Hood. Trade #12, #28 (or conversely one of Zeller/Olynyk) and 2016 MIA 2nd to Detroit for #8. Select SF Stanley Johnson (Or maybe a falling Winslow?)
That leaves
Smart/Thomas
Middleton/Hood
Johnson/Crowder
Sullinger, KO or LAC draft pick/Jerebko
Cousins/Zeller.
Leaves us with: 2016 BOS 1st, 2016 PHI 2nd, 2016 CLE 2nd, 2017 Better of BOS/BRK 1st, 2017 BOS 2nd, 2017 CLE 2nd, 2018 BRK 1st, 2018 MEM 1st, 2018 BOS 2nd, 2019 BOS 1st. Still a lot to play with.
I like that team, that team can win 50 now with Stevens, and I like the future for them too. Just one direction things could go. I could go all day with plausible but unlikely scenarios.