3 AM Thoughts: No One Can Say Danny Ainge Is Doing a Poor Job.

By Jared Colbert

I've argued this with some of my friends before, and there's a high chance I've eluded to this on the show before, but Danny Ainge is doing a fine job right now. More than fine, he's doing really good. I'd even say he's doing great. Yet there is still a group of people, granted it may be small at this point but I don't know, who don't like the job that Ainge is doing. Another group disagrees with the recent moves that suggest he's in 'win now' mode. Well sit down and read what I typed up at 3 am as I explain that Danny Ainge is pretty good at what he does. 

First of all let's look at some numbers, more specifically, number of wins. Five years ago, the Celtics said screw it we're not gonna win with Pierce and Garnett again so let's start over. And they really started over. To the point where in the first season of the rebuild, 2013-14, Rajon Rondo was the only remaining member from the 2009-10 team, which made it to the NBA Finals. That 13-14 season, the Celtics won 25 games. Here we are, three seasons later, and they have doubled there wins total and then some. The 2016-17 Celtics won 53 and took the top seed in the East, something that few teams four years into rebuilding can claim. 

That's the biggest bone to pick I have with people who don't like what Ainge is doing, it's that this team has re-entered the world of contenders in such a short amount of time. "But Jared, it's just the Conference Finals, and no way are they beating LeBron," says the Ainge hater who must also hate winning 53 regular season games cause that's the only justification for such hatred. And sure, beating LeBron isn't easy and I'm not sure Hayward (minus Bradley) is enough to topple the Cavs, but if winning 53 games and getting the top seed and winning two postseason series en route to an Eastern Conference Finals birth is the consolation prize, I'm still a satisfied fan. Three other fan bases could watch Conference Final basketball last season, and those fans saw 33 win (Cavs), 51 win (Warriors), and 62 win (Spurs) seasons four years ago. 

Lastly, some people question all the moves that show we're trying to win now, when no matter what we can't beat the Cavs let alone the Warriors. Moves like signing Horford and Hayward have been called into question when neither will help raise Banner 18. To those fans, I once again question if they enjoyed last season whatsoever. Sure claiming the top spot in the conference doesn't mean diddly squat if you don't bring home another Larry, but it was a lot of fun during the five month season. We can also win now without worries because we have other teams' draft picks, and they can do the losing part for us. The 76ers would want to win now if they were also given Brooklyn Nets picks. Why suck and get high draft picks when you can be a 50 win team and still get high draft picks?

Danny Ainge, if you're reading, first tweet at me @Jared_atHome, but second just know that you're doing great and that the fans love ya. And to those fans who aren't so sure if they trust Danny, pump your breaks, slow your roll, and know that your opinion on whether or not Hayward closes the gap and whether or not we should close the gap at all means jack cause he's getting paid the big bucks to actually move the pieces, and your on phone criticizing his moves.