If you thought the Cs were done or don't like the makeup of the Cs, a few ???

[nickagneta]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

[ThePaintedArea]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

Hasn't changed my mind, but the heart they showed - in real terms, the team defense - was encouraging for the next round and into the future.

Well, maybe my doubts have quieted about the Celtics' ultra-small backcourt being able to handle bigger players in the playoffs.

Can we please put an end to the mythology about Olynyk being soft/slow/specialist shooter/heartless/inconsistent/whatever? He's added a big repertoire of roll action to his pop, leads the team in defensive rebound%, is one of the league leaders in drawn charges, pressures out on the floor, gets lots of deflections... etc....

Going small was a pretty bold move - though they were very much backed into a corner after the second home loss - given the weak track record this season (are you listening, Oracle?).  But it paid off, with Mirotic and Lopez repeatedly left flat-footed.

[positivitize]

I did not anticipate us bouncing back. I thought the 0-2 hole was too big. I am pleasantly surprised and I hope that we don't give Was a lead because I don't think we'll be able to bounce back again.

I hope IT is okay. I wish the league had scheduled us for Monday instead of Sunday.

[ThePaintedArea]

I did not anticipate us bouncing back. I thought the 0-2 hole was too big. I am pleasantly surprised and I hope that we don't give Was a lead because I don't think we'll be able to bounce back again.

I'd say - obviously the 0-2 hole was too big. And yet they overcame it. I don't think that the loss of Rondo really takes away from that.

The chance of repeating that rare feat is small, and grows smaller as the competition gets stiffer. I agree about Washington; Boston needs to get them down early and keep the pressure on.

[rondohondo]

Still don't believe IT is a max

I would give him 3 or 4 years at near max money (around 25-30 mil per year).

No way I would give him the full max

He has to work so hard for his shots and puts a lot of torque and punishment on his body, I don't see him playing at this level past the age of 32.

[ThePaintedArea]

Still don't believe IT is a max

I would give him 3 or 4 years at near max money (around 25-30 mil per year).

No way I would give him the full max

He has to work so hard for his shots and puts a lot of torque and punishment on his body, I don't see him playing at this level past the age of 32.

I share your concerns; mostly small players who rely on speed tail off in the early 30's.  But he's certainly beaten the odds before, and if he can deliver something spectacular in the playoffs this year, now that he's contributing more to team defense, I think that signing him through 32 is the logical course of action.

[Rosco917]

Lets talk about the elephant in the room. The inability of the Celtics backcourt to deal with Rondo. Without pointing fingers. We had nobody to hinder his ability to get exactly where he wanted to, distribute the ball exactly where he had to, and score when he needed to.

When he got hurt, magically we won 4 in a row, certainly not a coincidence. What the next series will expose, or not expose, is anyone's guess.

No... the reality is difficult to except, but the "makeup" of the team will need to be addressed.

[Celtics4ever]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

I think there are some improvements we can make and we have some holes in our roster.   The main problem is guys not showing up to play when they play, that has to stop.    We did not start winning until Rondo left the series with an injury and you think we are a perfect team.   

I would wager that this may get bumped after the CLE series assuming we make it there.

I am very proud how we turned it around, we all should be here.

[nickagneta]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

I think there are some improvements we can make and we have some holes in our roster.   The main problem is guys not showing up to play when they play, that has to stop.    We did not start winning until Rondo left the series with an injury and you think we are a perfect team.   

I would wager that this may get bumped after the CLE series assuming we make it there.

I am very proud how we turned it around, we all should be here.

Never said I think this team is perfect. Never even gave my opinion on anything. Just asked some questions of those that...and I want to say this delicately so as not to label people...didn't have the most positive opinion on the questions I asked. Later on I may give my opinions.

[tarheelsxxiii]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

I think there are some improvements we can make and we have some holes in our roster.   The main problem is guys not showing up to play when they play, that has to stop.    We did not start winning until Rondo left the series with an injury and you think we are a perfect team.   

I would wager that this may get bumped after the CLE series assuming we make it there.

I am very proud how we turned it around, we all should be here.

Never said I think this team is perfect. Never even gave my opinion on anything. Just asked some questions of those that...and I want to say this delicately so as not to label people...didn't have the most positive opinion on the questions I asked. Later on I may give my opinions.

Will viewers need to pay to read your opinions? An Insider subscription of sorts? Thanks in advance.

[nickagneta]

What do you think now? Are you satisfied with where this team is? Has this been a successful season?  Is IT now a proven max guy? Has Horford been a great addition? Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept? Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

This isn't a call out thread. I want to honestly know if this series win has changed your mind on anything.

I think there are some improvements we can make and we have some holes in our roster.   The main problem is guys not showing up to play when they play, that has to stop.    We did not start winning until Rondo left the series with an injury and you think we are a perfect team.   

I would wager that this may get bumped after the CLE series assuming we make it there.

I am very proud how we turned it around, we all should be here.

Never said I think this team is perfect. Never even gave my opinion on anything. Just asked some questions of those that...and I want to say this delicately so as not to label people...didn't have the most positive opinion on the questions I asked. Later on I may give my opinions.

Will viewers need to pay to read your opinions? An Insider subscription of sorts? Thanks in advance.

Way to be antagonistic. Could really do without the snide comments.

[More Banners]

Lets talk about the elephant in the room. The inability of the Celtics backcourt to deal with Rondo. Without pointing fingers. We had nobody to hinder his ability to get exactly where he wanted to, distribute the ball exactly where he had to, and score when he needed to.

When he got hurt, magically we won 4 in a row, certainly not a coincidence. What the next series will expose, or not expose, is anyone's guess.

No... the reality is difficult to except, but the "makeup" of the team will need to be addressed.

Yeah. It was big to win on the road in th playoffs. It's big to win 4 in a row.  On the other hand, all they managed to do was meet a low expectation by winning a 1-8 series, and I have no confidence whatsoever the C's would have won against Rondo. He didn't just outplay our backcourt, which is supposed to be elite defensively with Smart/Bradley. He broke down our entire defense, and we had no answer.

So far, it's an incomplete, even though winning means we bested last year and the year before.  Let's see how it goes against a full strength playoff opponent.

Props to Stevens for making the lineup and rotation changes, though I wish he would get he fellas to stop shooting 3's in a close possession- basketball situation. Maybe we need a different look up front for those situations. 

IT still just half a player, a 1-way guy.  Not the guy I'd pick to ride with to the Finals. The off balance transition threes would get his ass pounded by his own teammates in most gyms.

AB is who I thought. Smart taking a shot makes me cringe. I'd try to upgrade both of the forward spots in the offseason. Smart, Crowder, and 2018 C's 1st hopefully brings in one of those upgrades (and opens up minutes for Brown and Rozier-or the PG we draft).

I still don't know what to make of Olynyk.  That might be the toughest offseason decision.

And a tp to nick for such a good thoughtful, poetic thread title!  ;-)

[guava_wrench]

I do not think we are a great team. Based on W-L record, we are the worst #1 seed in 38 years. We are at a similar level as many other teams in the playoffs. I felt that before the playoffs started. I felt that when we were down 0-2. I feel that now. Can we beat WAS? Of course. They too are mediocre. We also have home court.

My response to being 0-2 was that it points out that we are still lacking, but I didn't think the series was over. Chicago was not a good team. We were always the better team, but just not enough better to make it an easy series.

But I never doubted that we would win (or lose) a series against a mediocre team. Chicago was 41-41. I also didn't think the playoffs mattered as far as deciding if this season was successful. It was incredibly successful. I was also on here defending Stevens when we were down 0-2. We aren't a good enough team to call for a coach's head for losing in the playoffs.

I have like Horford all along. I loved the IT trade when we did it, but am concerned about giving him a max deal. He is an amazing asset with his below market deal. Things change a lot when he is eating up the cap.

[mctyson]

I am generally a huge supporter of Ainge and Stevens' directions, but I will humor you:

What do you think now?

I think this franchise is in amazing shape, and is the envy of the league outside of GSW.

Are you satisfied with where this team is?

Won't be satisfied until the make the NBA Finals, but I am happy with the progress

Has this been a successful season? 

See above...we measure success differently here but they are top-7 team so that should be considered a success.

Is IT now a proven max guy?

He will receive a maximum contract, no question.

Has Horford been a great addition?

Horford has been as good as advertised, if not better.  One of the most talented players to wear a Cs uniform in the last 25 years, we are lucky to have him.

Is Bradley a real deal #2/#3 option that can give you All-NBA defense and should be kept?

Bradley is one of the best 2-way players in the league because his defense is unbelievably good.

Is Brad Stevens vindicated as a top coach in this league?

I think Brad has shown he can develop guys and maximize their ability, which is a great asset to have.  It seems like the players love playing for him and his staff, so that's a huge bonus too.  I will hold out on the "top coach" stuff as his decision to start Zeller in the 2nd half of game 2 still mystifies me, and the team did quit in that game.

[tazzmaniac]

Why would beating the Bulls in the first round change anything especially with the Bulls up 2-0 with Rondo playing?  We need to make it to the ECF and get a couple wins against the Cavs.  I agree with Wyc that we are 2 significant moves away.  If Ainge can make those moves to make us a contender, I would be okay with giving IT MAX but otherwise I wouldn't.  Paying big bucks to retain IT, Bradley and Smart (as well as Horford) to lock us in as a pretender for a few years makes no sense.