Bulls (1-0) at Celtics (0-1) PO game #2 4/18/17

[cltc5]

Instead of tanking properly and getting some stars, we've effectively built a roster of soft pretzels and bench players.  3 years later and here we are

We have the best odds in the league at landing the top pick. Why would we tank?

I meant 3 years ago

[celticinorlando]

The big pick is 2018. Porter or Ayton are bigs that would be a welcomed addition

Pair them with Fultz and that is a start

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Not ready to count us out of the series, but I'm sure as hell convinced we aren't getting past Cleveland, and would fully expect to lose before then.

Fortunately, we have the youngest team in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the third lowest payroll of the bunch and two premium draft picks coming. This is one year earlier than I would have expected to contend. Just glad we got to enjoy the ride.

I felt pretty  much this way ... as long as they made it out of Round One.

This year was time to finally show some results in the playoffs.

That's not happening, obviously.

It changes things.

I don't see how. We were never a title contender as constructed, and have been playing the waiting game to see which path to take. It's embarrassing if we go out this way, but it's hardly shocking that a team built on the fly around a player we gave up spare parts to acquire isn't ready for the big show yet. We took our shot at KD and missed, so we are back at the drawing board. It just so happens that it's a pretty nice board, too.

If this series ends up a Boston loss—which I'm now expecting—I don't see how it can't change things. Sure, Boston wasn't winning a title this year, but it was fair to expect a first-round win.

We have one all-star who plays terrible defense, another all-star who shows up only half the time (and is a "big" who can't rebound well), and a bunch of "value contracts" who are showing that their real value isn't all that much. And there's no guarantee Danny hits on either of the Nets picks. These team is what it is—a bunch of regular-season overachievers who can't cut it when it counts.

[liam]

The Cavs tanked away the end of the season just to avoid The Bulls and it's working out for them not so much for us...

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

The big pick is 2018. Porter or Ayton are bigs that would be a welcomed addition

Pair them with Fultz and that is a start

Do you really think Ainge is going to draft a legit big? I don't. He loves his undersized "bigs" and combo guards. And the last time he drafted bigs, they were an underachiever (Sully) and a bust (Melo).

[mqtcelticsfan]

Instead of tanking properly and getting some stars, we've effectively built a roster of soft pretzels and bench players.  3 years later and here we are

We have the best odds in the league at landing the top pick. Why would we tank?

I meant 3 years ago

Up until this year we might as well have been tanking. It's not really anybody's fault that the pieces we got for a Rondo rental, Marcus Thornton and a late first round pick overperformed. We signed nobody and traded no future assets to build this team.

I can accept the criticism of Ainge not going for it this year with Butler or George, but outside of doing that, I don't see how we should have really played it any differently.

[BoulderMike]

Are we the worst team in the playoffs?

[outcry]

Welcome to Fultz ball next year. That's all I'm saying.

[celticinorlando]

Danny has missed in the draft and it has caught up to him...drafting rozier at 16 still is a dumb pick...

Fab Melo...instead of Crowder, Green, Middleton...awful. Heck throw Sully in that

Jajuan Johnson...barf

Smart has been his best pick...book still out on Brown

[Atzar]

One team is playing like it expects to win.  Confident, stars playing like stars, role guys contributing, steady effort in all phases.

The other is playing like the weight of the world is on its shoulders.  Mental mistakes, inconsistent, unfocused, periods of manic effort followed by mistakes followed by deflation and repeat.

[CelticSooner]

Instead of tanking properly and getting some stars, we've effectively built a roster of soft pretzels and bench players.  3 years later and here we are

How do you tank properly when you have pick swaps with the Nets? They've done a great job at tanking.

[celticinorlando]

The big pick is 2018. Porter or Ayton are bigs that would be a welcomed addition

Pair them with Fultz and that is a start

Do you really think Ainge is going to draft a legit big? I don't. He loves his undersized "bigs" and combo guards. And the last time he drafted bigs, they were an underachiever (Sully) and a bust (Melo).

If he passes on those 2 he should be fired immediately.

[PhoSita]

Are we the worst team in the playoffs?

Honestly?

....

Maybe?

[Ogaju]

Are we the worst team in the playoffs?

playoffs? playoffs? 

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=youtube+playoffs

[Somebody]

The big pick is 2018. Porter or Ayton are bigs that would be a welcomed addition

Pair them with Fultz and that is a start

Bamba seems great as well