When Danny Ainge was a player, nobody ever questioned his “grit” or “burning fire” to win. Yet, I’m not sure that anybody predicted him to instill such a ruthless demeanor into his same goals as a GM.
In 2008, Danny Ainge pulled off what many believe to be his greatest accomplishment by acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen simultaneously while keeping Paul Pierce. The trio went on to win the 2008 NBA championship and came mere minutes away from doing it again two years later. The famous run by a group of Hall of Famers lasted five years before Danny did what many believed to be unthinkable. He traded them all away.
Boston went through a franchise overhaul as they hired Brad Stevens, stockpiled a bevy of draft picks and prepared to slowly turn the franchise around. A 25-win season turned into a 40-win season. This turned into a 48-win season and later turned into a 53-win season. Eventually, this led to last season which accumulated in 55 wins despite major injury losses. They became relevant again fast and it couldn’t have been possible without a few major decisions by Ainge.
For starters, the Brad Stevens hire was spectacular. Many were shocked when he decided to take a chance on a young college coach who had no experience coaching in the NBA, but he is now regarded as one of the best coaches in the NBA and was a finalist for coach of the year. He is known as the king of sideline drawn up plays that his players have said on the record just how shocked they get when some of them work. He is also known as one of the best in the NBA at maximizing talent and turned castaway players such as Evan Turner, Isaiah Thomas, and even Jordan Crawford into wanted commodities. Ainge may not have thought that this hire would have worked this well, but it has.
Another thing that has led to the Celtics being one of four title favorites going into the 2018-19 NBA season has been his masterful drafting. As many people call him, “trader Danny” has done his fair share since the 2013 trade with the Brooklyn Nets. That famous trade landed him three first-round draft picks and the combination of that trade as well as several other trades for draft picks has helped land Boston with some of the best young talents in the NBA. They boast a group that includes Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and rookie of the year finalist Jayson Tatum. Boston hasn’t hit perfectly on every draft choice; however, it is hard to ignore just how talented the players they have nailed are.
-
Ep 161: Lions Dissapoint; NFL MVP; Week 12 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 12:12 am
Beyond the coaching and the drafting, free agency and trades have been at the forefront of all this as well. Boston started it all by acquiring Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder and as Stevens maximized their talent, they became valuable enough trade chips to acquire Kyrie Irving. Other than this, they also used Stevens and a promising young team to convince Al Horford to join the team and this led to Gordon Hayward reuniting with his old coach to join the team.
It all has built up to this season. Many believed last season was the final build up but alas the fans were robbed of this opportunity. Major injuries to Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward forced the team to make due with their young pieces but they still did not disappoint. In a season that could have ended when Irving officially went down, the Celtics were still one game away from the finals. In the grand scheme of things, the season might have been for the best as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown developed and got far more opportunities then they would have ever gotten if the Celtics two all-stars had stayed healthy. Even when Ainge wasn’t trying to win, he still did.
Yet, upon us, is the season of all seasons for Celtics fans. Lebron James is officially a Laker and will be battling against the juggernauts of the Western Conference. The biggest threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference will most likely be the Philadelphia 76ers and that is the same team that lost in five to the Celtics last playoffs without their two best players. The Celtics could have up to four or five all-stars on the same team next year and if they stay fully healthy, the Eastern Conference should theoretically be a breeze for this team. Danny Ainge has done the impossible yet again just 10 years after doing it the first time. That “fire” to win remains and minus Golden State, is there anybody that can stop them this time?
-
Ep 180: Hall of Fame Class Of 2024 Semifinalists Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Ira and Clark dissect the 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists. Learn […]
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
Ep 177: Hall of Famer Mel Blount Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 11, 2023 at 1:00 am
Former Steeler and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount joins Clark and […]
-
Texas A&M hiring process revealed some of their internal problemsby LandryFootball.com on November 28, 2023 at 4:30 pm
For much of the day Saturday, Texas A&M appeared to be on a collision […]
-
What we learned in week 12 in the NFLby LandryFootball.com on November 27, 2023 at 1:00 pm
This season continues to be one of surprises. Up seems down and vice […]
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 313: Week 10 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 9, 2023 at 1:53 am
-
Ep 312: 2023 NFL Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on November 2, 2023 at 1:03 pm
-
Ep 197: Recapping Weeks 11 & 12by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 11:26 pm
This episode is a double-dip in a good way. Kyle Senra and Jesse Hall […]
-
Ep 196: Week 11 vs Chargersby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 9:27 pm
In this solo show, Kyle Senra previews the Green Bay Packers Week 11 game […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 827by Charlie Saunier on November 29, 2023 at 7:23 am
Ep 827 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 3-2 OT/W Vs Penguins Preview Wild & […]
-
ROP Recap Preds 3 Pens 2 F/OT Game 21 2023-24 NHL Seasonby Charlie Saunier on November 29, 2023 at 4:43 am
ROP Recap Preds 3 Pens 2 F/OT Game 21 2023-24 NHL Season Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Panthers - 11-28 - Florida Panthers win on the road against the Ottawa Senatorsby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 4:50 pm
The Panthers get it done on the road in shutout form against the Senators. […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 11-27 - A Mixed weekend a great win and a bad lossby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 6:25 pm
The Isles had mixed weekend with a win in Ottawa but followed it up with […]
-
Full Press Wild - 11-27 - Recapping the two weekend games for the Wild.by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Weekend games, Detroit, Colorado, losses. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Panthers - 11-27 - Florida Panthers lose back to back at home against the Winnipeg Jetsby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Post-Thanksgiving, the Panthers did not look good in this shutout loss. […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
11/24 - Thanksgiving Recap, Jets/Dolphins, Week 12 Picksby Full Press Coverage on November 24, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Ian and John react to all of the action on Thanksgiving Day and look ahead […]
-
11/23 - Thanksgiving Day Preview, Tom Brady, Top 5 NFL Teamsby Full Press Coverage on November 23, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Ian and John discuss the Thanksgiving Day slate of games in the NFL, Tom […]
-
11/21- MNF Reaction, Eagles Handle Chiefs, NFL MVPby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:31 am
Ian and John react to the Eagles win over the Chiefs on Monday Night […]
-
11/20 - Week 11 Reactions, MVP Race, MNF Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 20, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Ian and John react to Sunday's NFL action, talk MVP, and preview MNF […]
-
11/17 - Ravens Handle Bengals, Injury Concerns, Week 11 Picksby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Ian and John recap the Ravens win over the Bengals and discuss the […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
FPH Daily: Patrick Kane Signs, Wild Make Coaching Changeby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 5:24 pm
-
Seahawks at Cowboysby Broken Controller Media on November 28, 2023 at 4:55 pm
-
Bulls at Celtics - Thunder at Timberwolves - Rockets at Mavericks - Warriors at Kingsby Broken Controller Media on November 28, 2023 at 1:00 pm
-
Raptors at Nets - Pelicans at Knicks - Bucks at Heat - Hawks at Cavaliersby Broken Controller Media on November 28, 2023 at 12:30 pm
-
Ep 197: Recapping Weeks 11 & 12by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 11:26 pm
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
-
Rivalry, Royalty & Riches - Nov. 27, 2023by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 11-27 - MMA Junkie’s 30 Greatest Fighters of All-Timeby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Pelicans at Jazz - Nuggets at Clippersby Broken Controller Media on November 27, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Lakers at 76ers - Trail Blazers at Pacers - Wizards at Pistonsby Broken Controller Media on November 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 8:08 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again getting you ready for AEW 2023 Full Gear […]
-
Ep 192 - Matt Morganby Full Press Coverage on November 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Matt Morgan is a 7-foot monster who had runs in both WWE and TNA. This […]