Sure, this Celtics team was nowhere close to the Cavs....but we all knew that. Of course, there is always the inevitable panic and overreaction that follows the type of loses the Celtics have endured, but that is to be expected. As we get further from the reality of these two losses, a few things will be clear.
Superteams like the Cavs have a shelf live in the NBA. Typically, it is no more than five years before they erode for a variety of reasons. It is designed that way. Lebron's first super team lasted about four. The Celtics were competetive from 2008-2012. The Lakers in the early 2000s failed in their super team attempt. The Celtics really don't have so long to wait.
Keeping the pick, trying to add a free agent, and trading some of their current players for a rebounding big (such as Terry Rozier, Avery Bradley, one of this stashed players, and a pick - not Brooklyn's next year), could easily bump them up to the next level, which is still one below the Cavs at this point.
Allowing the young players to evolve while maintaining the stable of Crowder, Thomas, Horford, Smart, Brown, and Olynyk (who can be resigned because such trades, will make a team that has solid young and older veterans that will be hard to beat.
The Celtics have created their own recipe for this rebuild. It is ahead of schedule...and will work fine. Probably not next year - though they will be even more competetive - but things should look very promising the year after that.
(originally posted as a response to John Tomase article in WEEI May 20, 2017)
