Is it good if the Celtics have 45-49 wins, get knocked out in second round?
To me, it is largely irrelevant how many games Boston wins next year.
The goal is to develop star talent. If Boston is winning games because Smart or Sully (or someone else) makes a major jump and shows themselves to be an All-Star caliber talent ... that is a win. Whether Boston wins 30 games or 47 games.
If Boston wins 45 games but does it on the backs on role players who range between steady starter and above average bench players ... with no young players making a big leap forward and displaying All-Star talent ... than that means very little to me. Whether that is (1) 35 wins and miss the playoffs or (2) 45 wins lose in the first round or scratch and claw their way into the 2nd round amounts.
To me, it's not about the immediate result.
It is about individual players proving themselves to be a top level talent. That is the goal.