Manu travelled so freaking bad.
If any team were to be able to come back from that it's the Spurs, with that said, there's pretty much no coming back from a choke job like that.
Of course I'd prefer the Spurs to win but all along I haven't really minded the possibility of the Heat winning again. They seem weaker than last year and I'd have to assume that a playoffs like this will take even more out of them going into next season.
I give Spoelstra big props for last night. He had the balls to sit Wade for the bulk of the 4th and during the course of the game he found a way to hide Mike Miller in the pick and rolls with Parker. Also, coming out of TOs he draws up excellent plays to get easy baskets. He's a better coach than he is given credit for.
The Celtics overplayed their hand with the Clippers. Getting Jordan and a first rounder for Doc and Garnett would have been a deal I would have taken. Instead they wanted to throw in Terry and Lee, wanted two first rounders...and Bledsoe. Way too much. I'd re-engage for the smaller deal I mentioned...I could see Doc walk away and then Garnett just retire because of it.
That's fine. It's still cap relief regardless and I don't know that Jordan adds a lot. They wanted a playmaker like Bledsoe and the Clippers wouldn't part. So we rebuild starting with the top pick next year.
No way the Celtics are bad enough to get the 1st next year unless the NBA fixes the lottery, which is possible.
If the NBA fixed the lottery, one of our 3 top 12 picks would have landed Duncan and we'd have 5 more championships.
I'm kind of partial to your 2001 draft. Joe Johnson, Joe Forte, and Kedrick Brown.

Sometimes you have to give a little to get what you want. Honestly those 2 first rounders likely weren't going to be greta picks.
If the trade went through and the Clippers had another 55-60 win season, which is very likely with Doc Rivers as HC and the roster talent, those picks would probably have been i nthe 25-28 range.
Not a big loss by NBA standards. And if you're the Clippers you have to make that move to prove that you're not the same old Clips. Show your fan base that you're all in to win one.
I just think that the Celtics need to get the rebuilding underway ASAP and this would be the first step in that process. Then you could look at deals for Rondo and Pierce. They have pieces to expedite a rebuild, but Ainge prides himself on being Mr Smart guy.