NBA Going Green: Celtics proving you can rebuild on the fly...

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/03/22/bos...as-jae-crowder

Really good article. Some good mentions and quotes from Jae and good insight into Stevens' M.O.

Some highlights:

- "Nearly any team in the league would find a way to get Crowder into the starting lineup."
- The advantage they found is players who came to Boston pissed off. "It's our DNA," Crowder says.

This is the best part the article IMO:
- Ask a fan to explain what makes Gregg Popovich great, and it will start with "wins," and then you'll hear mumbling about "culture" and "systems" and other words that get thrown around in every HR meeting in America. Let's try to settle this without buzzwords, then. Here is a theory about what the best basketball coaches actually do, with Stevens as the perfect case study. "Every NBA player has an elite strength," Stevens explains. "Some of them have 10 of 'em, and those guys are the very best in the league, right? But every one of 'em is here for a reason. And there are times when you can really soar with that skill, and there are times when they may not be as effective." The best coaches understand those times before they happen. For example, Thomas struggles on defense, so that means Bradley or Marcus Smart will always handle the best guard on the floor. Bradley struggles creating his own shot, but he's the fastest player on the court and he can hit threes, so he's going to spend the possession running off screens like Reggie Miller, and he'll get his open looks that way. Crowder won't scare teams in isolation, but if he's popping off a screen, he can knock down threes or get into the lane to create for everyone else.

And the Celtics have 3 first round picks this year too.
That is going to be a team to contend with in the East for years to come.

Stevens is the next Pop, can get guys to play for him and buy in. Need to bring in a 'star' that has Butler type qualities.

Careful getting that star player, especially if you do it through trade and have to give up some of what makes you good.
Crazy as it may sound, the Bucks may have been with Zaza than Monroe.

The Celtics are going to have to give up something. It is just so hard to win in the NBA without those "10 strength guys" that Stevens mentions. Right now they are the #5 seed in the east and likely to go out in the second round if they don't get past the first.

I know they have been after DeMarcus Cousins, who I think isn't as much of a problem player as he is eccentric where a change of scenery can do him some good. They need to find a guy like that either via the draft or via trade. They don't want to be a repeat of the Bulls, who valued their own guys more than anyone else did and it lead them nowhere.

The key to winning an NBA championship is having multiple top 10 players. As of now, Celtics have 0.

I'm incredibly impressed with how that organization has built from the ground up, but they'll never break that glass ceiling until they land a "big one."

Granted with 3 1st round draft picks, and the clout of the Celtics, that could easily change.

Right now the Celtics could very well be picking in the 3-4 range in round 1, with two other first round picks, one of which is close to the lottery.

Could they get a star in the making with such a high pick?

I don't watch the Celts enough to know what type or at what position they need a player that would help turn the corner.

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

They don't want to be a repeat of the Bulls, who valued their own guys more than anyone else did and it lead them nowhere

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Agree 100%

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

They don't want to be a repeat of the Bulls, who valued their own guys more than anyone else did and it lead them nowhere.

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Sorry, did you say Packers or Bulls?

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Originally Posted by bleedbluegold03

Sorry, did you say Packers or Bulls?

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Packers won a Super Bowl under that philosophy, so how could I say it "lead them nowhere?" :cool:

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Originally Posted by bleedbluegold03

Sorry, did you say Packers or Bulls?

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You can overvalue your own talent, and even make mistakes doing so, as long as you have a QB like Rodgers following a QB like Favre.

Word is the Celtics will go after Kevin Durant in free agency, and Durant has been on record saying that Boston is a great sports city. With Golden State and San Antonio in the West, a move to the East might be a smart move for Durant.

Picks #3, #16, #23, #31, #35, #50, #54, #58. Unreal. (Nice to see the Bucks have the 6th pick in the 2nd round from New Orleans, in addition to their own)

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2016/

If they could land Durant, and then add some talent in this draft the Celtics could be very dangerous.
With that many picks, I'm sure there will be a foreign player not ready yet, and maybe a few seconds added to a first to move up a few slots.

Ainge has really put this franchise in great position.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/03/23/cel...as-jae-crowder

Kind of a follow-up SI article on the Celts - more flattering things thrown Jae's way...

I could easily see Durant jumping ship for Washington or Boston.

With San Antonio and Golden State dominating for the foreseeable future, he prolly sees he'd just be an "also ran" in that conference.

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Originally Posted by bleedbluegold03

I could easily see Durant jumping ship for Washington or Boston.

With San Antonio and Golden State dominating for the foreseeable future, he prolly sees he'd just be an "also ran" in that conference.

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...and maybe he'll get all his potential new teammates to wear his zany new shoes - yikes.

http://solecollector.com/news/2016/0...lite-high-knee