Tanking No Longer an Option for the Boston Celtics

Feb 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) shoots the winning basket against Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) and guard Kent Bazemore (24) in the final seconds of play at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated Atlanta 89-88. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

At no point has it even been a consideration that the players and the coaches intentionally lost games to secure a better draft pick. That being said, it is no secret that Danny Ainge and the front office had every intention of trading and selling away many crucial pieces of their roster. A large aspect of those trades was to secure cap space and draft picks, but you would be fooling yourself to think that falling in the standing and securing a higher draft pick was not a part of the plan.

The fact of the matter is that Danny Ainge did a tremendous job in clearing house. With a minor blip is selling too low on Rajon Rondo the Boston Celtics have set themselves up to build a team that will last. The unbelievable and even unprecedented collection of draft picks the Celtics have assembled is explored thoroughly in Breaking Down the Boston Celtics’ Collection of Draft Picks. Amidst everything the Celtics have managed to have a potential scenario where they can have a total of five picks in the first round. Yeah five picks in the first round alone is enough to validate everything that Danny Ainge has done this season.

While the impressive haul of assets has more than justified Danny Ainge’s tanking mentality it has finally reached the point where playing to win on every level will benefit the team the most. That’s not to say that the Celtics are going to go out and find some big name free agent at the trade deadline, but it does mean that Ainge can stop shipping everyone out of Boston.

The main reason the Celtics should focus everything on winning in the second half of the season is because as we are sitting at the all star break the Celtics are 1.5 games out of the seven seed in the east. Yeah thats right, there may be playoff basketball in Boston after all. Remember the playoffs Celtics Nation –

A lot of people may have held the opinion that getting into the post season would only hurt the Celtics. Even if they make it there is next to no chance that they escape the first round, as even though the East has been horrific they have also been top heavy. With the likes of the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls looming in the first round it would be unrealistic to think the Celtics have any chance of playing a second playoff series.

That being said, the Celtics still stand to gain a lot from any kind of playoff series and because of what the Celtics have already done with draft picks and cap space they have a lot more to gain by simply playing in that series than wishing for a better draft pick. The Celtics entered the all star break winning four of their last five with by far their most impressive victory beating the Atlanta Hawks 89-88. During that stretch the Celtics continued their impressive offensive system scoring over 100 points in three of the victories. Even more impressive is that the Celtics never gave up more than 100 points in that stretch. Brad Stevens always had the Celtics playing good offense and not they have finally started playing good defense.

With the Celtics improved play it is no longer unrealistic to believe the Celtics can make the post season. With the sorry state of the East the Celtics have as good a chance as any of the teams fighting for a playoff spot. They have been the hottest team that are between 7 and the 12 seed in the east and they now have a prime opportunity to steal some playoff experience for the young talent.

Jan 26, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge looks on prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

That is what is comes down to, playoff experience. One of the bigger downsides of Danny Ainge’s selling everything is that is has left the Celtics are one of the most inexperienced teams in the NBA. The Celtics have an opportunity to give all their young guns the kind of experience that no one expected to receive.

In addition to some valuable experience, making the playoff could have a tremendous impact on the young players’ confidence. These players have had to deal with a lot of losing and in some cases it is all they have known for they brief careers. If this collection of young players can manage to get into the post season it will leave no doubt that they believe in themselves, and more importantly in Brad Stevens’ system. Making the post season is all about the mental gain for this Celtics team and with so many players so early in their careers having them make the post season without the help of a big name free agent will give them an extra edge for when they do acquire a big name.

That is another area the Celtics stand to gain. If they can manage to get into and maybe even win some post season games the Celtics became a much more attractive option for a free agent. The Celtics can present a rare case where a free agent can join a team that has already proven they can have some success while still needing a go to number one option. Big name free agents will have big egos and the Celtics will allow them to not only succeed, but to be the top guy while succeeding.

The Celtics have reached a point where they are playing well enough that they have absolutely no chance to beat out the bottom dwellers in the east in tanking while standing a great chance against the teams fighting for a playoff spot. Brad Stevens’ system is starting to pay dividends and the Celtics have collected more assets and cap space than anyone could dream of. They may have started the season intending to tank but the tides have turned and it is not a better option to go forward with full force and get into the post season.