#when i play comp i uber scouts all the time

[pantspissedinreverse]

i love ubering scouts because they get so confused, no its okay you silly casual scout i didnt uber the wrong guy, this was not a panic pop, go get em tiger, unleash your full potential

[boobachu]

What The T.C. thinks about the proposed TF2 weapon rebalancing

Crusader's Crossbow Spoiler: she makes a long god damn post

The Panic Attack! Okay well, I almost never use this weapon except as a sort of troll weapon, like it’s a good weapon, but I suck at it so I use it when I don’t care... I’m having a hard time visualizing the new panic attack.

I never was swayed by faster switch speeds which is why I never even tried the reserve shooter, more pelets okay? less damage... will this be another mafia shotgun?

The wide pattern? Okay so the better you do... the worse your shots? Am I reading that right?

Aunno it sounds like it sucks to me.

The Ambassador Alleluia! They want to nerf one of the n00biest weapons in the game!

Any Engie main will tell you how frustrating and unfair it is to have some stupid spy camp an awkward spot and spam headshots across the fucking map. Maybe? in comp this isn’t an issue, but comp isn’t the main game so I don’t care.

Spy’s always been and infiltration class, they shouldn’t be able to spam shots from across the map. Though honestly the default has a similar problem, are they gonna nerf that?

The Dead Ringer This is the other super n00by spy weapon. Like this weapon’s spy’s phlog.

...may I ask a question? ...how does this make the weapon more balanced?

The problem with the dead ringer:

Pyros can’t hurt spies, you light up a spy, they transform into Ringy Gonzales! The fastest shpee in all of Mexico! Then outrun you, you fire off a flare on the spy, and they take the hit, but still don’t catch on fire... then they come back to do it again.

Like, I guess it fixes the perpetual Ringy Gonzales problem, but I mean... Pyro is Spy’s counter! EVERYONE knows this!

I dunno, I guess? you’ll see it less, but this feels like when they nerfed the Perfect Phogistinator Pyro Mark III ...by only getting rid of the HPup rather than the fucking uber/quickfix taunt. Like... YEAH it’s a nerf, but it’s a lousy one that doesn’t fix the problem.

Your Eternal Reward This is probably the most interesting spy weapon... which... do people not use this? Like yeah it’s a little more difficult, but aunno it seems copacetic with what the spy is all about.

This change reminds me of the Eureka effect, where I found immovable sentries was a fine downside and it didn’t need retweaking, but I can kinda see why they do it.

Aunno, maybe it’ll make YER more interesting... aunno.

The Sandman This is one weapon where yeah, It’s cheap ... but it also requires skill I find. Like lesser skilled players won’t be able to do much, but those that have played since they were in their mother’s ballsack are probably going to annihilate you and question what God would allow this video game to exist.

I have no real opinion here, like maybe it’ll make the scout less annoying but aunno.

Bonk! Atomic Punch is... basically back to it’s original form.

I remember learning that the scout pants at the end of the bonk which was either supposed to mean the scout becomes slow or gets critted, I forgot which, but yeah it’s basically that again which... aunno I think it’s fair.

Though I doubt it’ll change that much really.

The Pretty Boy’s Pocket Pistol  Aw yeah! Finally this weapon looks decent!

This will change the design from a “Challenge weapon” to a “AAH I’m hit! Save me fox!” weapon similar to the blutsauger.

Crit-A-Cola RIP Crit fish strategy

I’m gonna be real. I never play scout properly. I just fish people. Which I liked using this thing to go fish people harder.

This sounds more fair, but I almost never saw people use the Crit-a-cola to begin with so aunno.

The Atomizer Well... hmm.

I guess I would like using this since I basically play n00by fish scout. Everyone else though would likely be upset by this change.

It’d pretty much add this to the garbage challenge mode pile.

The Flying Guillotine I think when people say The Sandman is OP... they mean this fucking weapon.

RIP The Flying Guillotine.

Well actually... this would turn the fucking Guillotine from OP to spam town.

Imagine... a team of scouts throwing these down Hoodoo’s chokepoint...

Imagine...

...said no one ever. SERIOUSLY?! Who has a hard time hitting these fuckers? If you can’t hit them it’s because your aim sucks.

What the fuck did Soldier ever do to you, Valve? AND WHY DON’T YOU FIX STOCK’S GLITCHY FIRING SPEED?!?!?

Thank you.

Darwin’s Danger Shield A weapon that’s supposed to protect you from headshots, but really only does against hackers.

Well, this makes it impossible for pyros to counter snipers long range and hackers just got stronger, thanks Volvo.

I guess from now on if a sniper keeps killing people, instead of spamming the scorch shot, I’ll just become the seventh sniper.

I wasn’t aware that this was a legit strategy...

The Razorback needs one thing and one thing only and that’s immunity to headshots because when a Spy sees this they just headshot you and IT’S WORTHLESS GARBAGE WEAPON

The Vita-Saw 

Congratulations, you just made a worse ubersaw.

Crusader's Crossbow

Well... I didn’t think it needed a buff, but fine? I guess Uber Arrer challenge just got easier.

Okay good, so I can creep around corners again... really I feel like the change was originally to nerf the tomislav, but there was no reason to throw the other guns under the bus.

The Gloves of Running Urgently I didn’t think these needed changing but okay.

So they’re basically the old ones... wait. Does that mean if a medic is healing me while I’m GRUing that my HP still diminishes?

WHO ASKED FOR THIS SHIT?!

WHO ASKED FOR THIS?!?!?!??!

The Heavy is the tank, having items that get rid of his Max HP IS THE STUPIDEST IDEA I EVER HEARD

These are garbage weapons now, this won’t work.

Fist of Steel Okay I use these for two reasons:A) being a distraction nuisance while my team charges and sometimes I get melee kills B) Stupid punch heavy

NOBODY TOLD ME LOSING MEAT YOUR MATCH MEANT BEING NERFED TO HELL!!!

Okay it’s not that bad. Medics almost never pocket heal the stupid punch distraction heavy... but still. Like, it needs more upsides if you’re doing this to it.

Most of the time people melee the fist o steel heavy, like people know its weakness. If you’re gonna do this then maybe get rid of knockback or SOMETHING

Gyah...

Man, fuck you Valve.

The Engineer’s life is hard enough. I would accept this if the Sigafoo save was possible again or you had six bolts or something!

I dunno most of these changes are either bad, not good enough, or okay, but these aren’t written in stone so maybe when the next update comes out it’ll be good.

Wait a second...

WHERE’S THE PYRO?!

[deerskewl]

A l l the tf2 numbers , m curious

Oh damn ok!!! I will cover the numbers I haven't answered yet then :3 (Also I forgot to post this yesterday so I had to change the answers sjndjskwk)

1. Who is my main?

Well, looking at my hours, Medic is my main with Pyro as a close second. But I really want to learn Spy and Sniper too!! I'm really saying I main Support + Pyro huh.

6. Rocket Jumping or Sticky Jumping?

Neither! idk how to do it and I don't play Soldier or Demo enough to try :') but being Medic and Quick-Fixing onto someone who DOES rocket/sticky jump? That's enough excitement for me jdjdjsj

9. Do you have a favourite NPC?

Bidwell. That's my boy! And Reddy and Miss Pauling are close seconds. I just. gently hold them. They're best friends thanks.

12. Are you free to play or pay to play?

Pay to play, but only since last year! I think the majority of the time I've spent playing TF2 has been as a f2p, and honestly there's not much difference except I can play comp and mvm.

13. When did you start playing TF2?

Wait, this is the same question as 8??? It was specifically May 2017 I guess then!

16. Favourite merc pet?

Harry, Archimedes and Aristotle!!

17. Last class you played as?

Uhhhh Pyro I think?

18. Last time you played?

Yesterday!!

20. Regular Demoman or Demoknight?

Demoknight TF2, demoknight TF2, demo knight TF2. Not that I can play either of them, I just think they're neat.

21. Have you participated in any events?

Uhhh I played Halloween last year if that's what "events" means! Other than that, no.

22. Ever cosplayed from TF2?

YES, ACTUALLY!! I did a discount Second Opinion Medic cosplay, I have a link to a bunch of photos and videos (read: tik toks) that I posted to Twitter if anyone wants to see!!

24. Something you hate about playing TF2?

Outside of the obvious bot crisis, the fact that people genuinely rage about the game? Like, you'll get people who lose a match and go off raging in chat and everyone's just stood there like bro chill the fuck out it's only a game. And then there's people who think using slurs in chat are funny (it's really not). It just gets tiring.

28. Favourite comic in the series?

The Naked and the Dead!! Epic Medic hours? Dadspy moments? Heavy avenges Medic's death? The fucking Australium Overclock thing??? Dude I have looked at that comic so many times I even have it bookmarked on Google Chrome sjdndjjsjwk

29. Something you love about each merc?

I'm gonna do this for just in-game things, because if I delve into character things this is gonna get LONG.

Scout? Being the fastest class does help a lot, plus the double jumping is wonderful. Soldier? God it feels so good to hold a whole ass rocket launcher, and when you can do it rocket jumping is FANTASTIC. Pyro? Sometimes you just wanna burn shit down, and it's so good to get uber and sprint head-first into a group of the enemy team and just burn em all to a crisp. Demoman? Haha funnie demoknight go NNNYOOOOMMM. Heavy? Bit sad being the slowest class but damn do they tank well and output a bunch of damage. Engineer? Stressful job but someone's gotta do it, very fun in theory. Medic? I control the die, and Ubering is SO FUN if you get it right. Sniper? Aren't you tired of rushing headfirst into conflict, don't you just want to sit halfway across the map landing headshots. Spy? Bastard hours unlimited, it's so fun sneaking around and avoiding people, it's actually a major adrenaline rush oop.

30. How long do you think you'll play TF2?

Honestly, I think I'll play it as long as I can. It's a good fun game to play with friends!!

31. Favourite map?

I'm a bit of a sucker for maps I know well, like Upward and Dustbowl, but I'm also a fan of Badwater Basin and Swiftwater! I just think they're neat.

32. Last map you played?

Uuuuhhhhhhhhhhh I think it was 2Fort actually!!

33. Favourite game mode?

Gotta say, Payload. But Medieval Mode is really fun too!!

34. Last game mode you played?

If it was 2Fort, it was Capture The Flag! Which I think is fun, but I've never played a CTF map other than 2Fort, so idk.

[emblem-333]

Ainge Knows How To Draft

Since the Boston Celtics obtained the first overall pick - of course having just dealt it to Philadelphia for their No. 3 pick and a 2-5 protected 2018 Lakers pick, if not conveyed becomes a 2019 Kings first…*whew* - We as fans of the green and white routinely this time of year bring up Ainge’s…spotty draft record. Well, thought to be spotty. People tend to measure you as a drafter not where you are picking or your current roster situation. What matters is: how many All-Stars, All-NBA players you’ve drafted and just by judging Ainge’s draft record off that criteria he’s been downright horrendous. Not plucking a single one of those elite players in the draft.

But Masai Ujuiri never picked an All-Star either. Jerry West never drafted an All-NBA caliber player or even a fringe All-Star when building the Shaq-Kobe dynasty. Why? Cause the Lakers weren’t picking in the early tens or in the middle of the lottery. When you’re atop the NBA landscape, picking twenty-three at the highest, Devean George is all you can hope. The Vlade Divac and Nick Van Exel’s of the world fall in the draft off on luck alone. Even their upsides don’t drastically change your franchise.

Ainge’s draft record suggest the same issues: from ‘04-‘07 Boston floated in and out of the playoffs, picking in the mid-to-late teens, having to cross their fingers for a team to pass up on a prospect they liked. Nine teams passed on Paul Pierce before Rick Pitino made the lone smart decision of his time as Celtics coach/GM.

For anyone that believes the NBA Draft after its top-5 is anything but akin to taking a shot in the dark while blindfolded is flatout wrong in their criticism of NBA GMs. Heck, sometimes the draft isn’t even five players deep. Last year Boston earned the third pick in a two player draft. The drop-off in terms of ceiling when having to pick between Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray or Dragan Bender is obvious to the casual eye when you understand the hype surrounding No. 1 & 2 picks Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram going into the draft. This year they traded the number one overall choice, opting to pick between Kansas forward Josh Jackson and Duke forward Jayson Tatum, judging the drop-off from either of the two from the consensus number one to most scouts, Markelle Fultz, to be not all that steep.

While it is easy to lob snarky comments about Ainge’s draft record, it is worthy to note how often the Celtics find themselves picking below the middle-teens in his fourteen-years as general manager. The NBA Draft isn’t a plethora of talent hidden under the sexier, more desirably prospects like in the NFL. In the NBA, one or two “sure-fire” prospects go one and two, then the draft becomes a crapshoot where you’re more more likely to be hit by lightning than to find an All-Star. Fluky choices like Jimmy Butler (30th), Paul George (10th) are not common occurrences; and it is unwise to heap praise on otherwise unaware GMs for drafting someone who turned out to be special, but wasn’t taken because that team believed in that player *cough Phil Jackson *cough).

This year’s draft can be the same as last year’s, just the perception of certain players similar to the ones we were lukewarm on a year ago changed. People harshing the buzz about Josh Jackson and his inability to shoot, forgetting their utter indifference towards similar and superior 2016 draft choice Jaylen Brown. Guards who cannot shoot earn praise over a gym rat like Jamal Murray, who was selected amidst yawns from the talking head crowd.

Ainge usually had to pick from the rut of the litter, having to get creative in how to use useless assets from sheer wit…and mostly prying off dimwitted GMs. Hey, the greats in sports always made a living off ripping off the uneducated. The only reason the Lakers were able to get Magic Johnson is because the Utah Jazz wanted an almost forty-year-old Gail Goodrich. The reason Red Auerbach constructed the greatest front-court in league history is by flipping number 1 pick Joe Barry Carroll for pick number three and Robert Parish…uh….

In his first NBA Draft rodeo Ainge turned two useless copper pieces (Troy Bell & Dahntay Jones) for Kendrick Perkins. Brandon Hunter lasted only two seasons before being submerged in a black hole, never to be heard of again. The following year, Danny enjoyed his greatest draft class; is damning praise considering the names, but bare with me: Al Jefferson (15), Delonte West (24), Tony Allen (25), Justin Reed (40). Taking on Chunky Atkins and Linsey Hunter so the Detroit Pistons could trade for Rasheed Wallace, Boston obtained an extra first rounder in return. And while Big Al was never an All-Star, his highest honor was All-NBA Third Team in 2014, he averaged a double-double four times in his career, found himself on some decent low-seeded playoff teams as their second or third best player. Delonte was the starting SG for two sixty-win LeBron-led Cavalier teams, shot a respectful 44.9 fg% and probably slept with..ugh, almost said the wrong thing there. Hehehe.

Tony Allen played a key role on the 2008 championship Celtics, 2010 finalist Celtics, western conference finalist Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and is still a plus on defense to this day.

Delonte and Al helped the famous KG deal happen; West, along with Jeff Green (5th overall pick of '07), Wally Szczerbiak, later traded to Seattle for Ray Allen and Glen Davis, irreplaceable parts to the '08 & '10 teams.

The Celtics draft class of 2004 did more good on the trade market than on the floor wearing green and white; Ainge is known more for his shrewd trading, this is when “Trader Danny” and “Draft Picker Danny” became one for one night only. In 2005, Ainge fell in love with the letter “G” and tapped Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes and Orien Greene. Trash. Trash. Uber trash. I will say this: Gerry G helped Boston not get swept by the Bulls, being inserted into the starting lineup in Game 3 helped swing the series. And a revenge minded Rajon Rondo getting sidelined. Orien Greene posted a magnificent negative 0.7 win shares. I’m going to give Danny an “L” for Draft Day 2005.

In '06, slotted with the seventh choice, Ainge picked Randy Foye for the Portland Trailblazers in return for them taking Raef LaFrentz’ albatross. The next pick was Rudy Gay. Gay is fifth in the draft in win shares, behind Rajon Rondo (Ainge traded the pick that would become Rudy Fernandez for RR on draft night), Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul Millsap.

Am I crying tears the Celtics didn’t draft the guy who’s improved every team he’s been on by just not being on it anymore? No. No, not really.

Foye hung around the NBA, drifting and compiling stats on piss-poor teams. Will proudly let it fly in garbage time, Foye became a way to for OKC management, desperate to appease an approaching free agency Kevin Durant, but not willing to spend, to act as if they were adding to a Finals contender; the Thunder fell one game short of reaching that NBA Finals that year. Forget all I said on him taking the easy way out, they deserved to lose KD.

Rajon Rondo transformed himself to a redundant starter on a team that didn’t need him, to the engine that made the Ford Model-T run. In 2010 he outplayed LeBron James -in his prime- in a playoff series (20.7 pts, 6.3 trb, 11.8 ast) - almost did it again in 2012 - (20.9 pts, 6.9 trb, 11.3 ast), was the third best player on a finals runner-up (13.6 pts 6.3 trb, 7.6 ast) and was only twenty-three after the 2010 Finals. After 2012, I firmly believed Rondo was the bridge to Boston staying relevant post-Big 3. When the stoic C’s returned for the 2012-13 season, revamped with Courtney Lee, Jason Terry and Leonardo Barbosa set the stage for Rondo to graduate from overqualified complimentary player to a contending team’s number one.

Only that didn’t happen. Statistically Rondo enjoyed one of his greatest season yet, 44.8 fg%, 13.7 pts, 11.1 ast, 5.6 trb, 1.8 stl; started the season on fire, but his double-doubles didn’t lead to team success. Rondo complied four triple-doubles (3-1 in those games), sixteen double-doubles and Boston was 20-23 in the middle of what Rondo’s career defining season. Half the year and Boston failed to play above-.500 ball. Post-Rondo injury: 21-17. Players improved too:

Brandon Bass Pre-Rondo Injury: 6.8 FGA, 44.6%, 7.4 pts, 4.9 trb

Post-Rondo: 7.8 FGA, 52.5%, 10.1 pts, 5.7 trb

Jason Terry Pre-Rondo Injury: 8.3 FGA 42.6 fg%, 36.1%, 9.8 pts, 2.2 ast, 0.9 stl

Post-Rondo: 8 FGA, 44.3 fg%, 38.4 3P%, 10.1 pts, 2.8 ast, 0.8 stl

Kevin Garnett Pre-Rondo Injury: 12.2 FGA, 50.1 fg%, 14.7 pts, 7.4 trb, 0.9 blk

Post Rondo: 13.1 FGA, 48.9 fg%, 14.8 pts, 8.9 trb, 0.9 blk

Paul Pierce Pre-Rondo Injury: 15 FGA, 42 fg%, 35.2 3P%, 5.5 FTA, 18.8 pts, 5.7 trb, 3.8 ast, 1.4 stl

Post Rondo: 13.1 FGA, 45.9 fg%, 41.7 3P%, 5.5 FTA, 18.3 pts, 7.1 trb, 6.1 ast, 0.7 stl

Either players improved noticeably or the Rajon Rondo injury didn’t affect their stats one-bit. Originally, I scoffed at the notion that the Celtics were better without Rondo. Now it’s not even a debate. Rondo hunted for assists, padded his rebounding stats and passed up easier shots - either because he never trusted his jump shot or he wanted to increase his assists totals. Rookie Jared Sullinger, veteran bench swing man Leonardo Barbosa fell to season-ending injuries as well, did more to cripple a thought to be promising last ride for Pierce-KG than their starting point guard.

It was his take no shit demeanor that made a name for himself on a team with three Hall of Famers that lead to his destructive behavior in Dallas, Sacramento and Chicago. The league also moved away from his style: a point guard that could pass extremely well, is a ball-stopper, can’t shoot and used to be a fantastic defender. Put him in the 1980s, early 90s and Rondo gets COMPs to Celtics Dennis Johnson. He was just born in the wrong time.

In 2008, Ainge drafted Jeff Green for the defunct Seattle Supersonics in the aforementioned Ray Allen trade. Jeffery Green went from an intriguing prospect in 2010 to one of the most frustrating players in the NBA. I’ve watched Jeff Green play on my team for two-in-half-years, there was a gear collecting dust in that head of his. Green had the body, athleticism and talent to be a top scoring wing, but he only wanted to play at a high level once every few weeks. In 2012-13 the majority of he time he spent his time at the four, Pierce flanking him at the three and Kevin Garnett at the five. Naturally, Green enjoyed statistically his best season, shooting 46.7% from the field, 38.5% from three-point and a career high in PER with 15. When those two left, his numbers became…empty calories. His scoring average went up on the year, but it was then Green became an asset with questionable value, not a building block for the future.

A damn shame. The three brightest moments of the Jeff Green-Boston era were his 43 point duel with LeBron in the middle of their twenty-seven game winning streak. Tom Heinsohn is known around Boston to make almost idiotic comparisons to legendary players with those who would later fall off the face of the earth (Greg Stiemsma = Bill Russell, Leon Powe is Moses Malone), for Jeff Green, Tommy thought of James Worthy. For that one night, he was James Worthy.

Second greatest Jeff Green moment was during the failed rally against the Knicks in Game 6 of the 2013 playoffs. Also known as: “Pierce and Garnett’s Last Stand”, with 5:45 left in the fourth, Boston down 75-68, Jeff Green, coming off a heart surgery less than a year earlier drove to the basket and drew a crucial foul and sent to the line. By then the Celtics have all but completely closed the massive 26 point deficit the Knicks owned with 9:31 left. In less than four-minutes, Pierce, KG and Green lead us back. Stepping up to the charity stripe, the crowd was long ago unglued from their seats. I watched at home, my stomach in knots, knowing his was probably the end of this era of Celtics basketball if not victorious. The raucous crowd not willing to let the KG era end chanted at the top of their lungs “JEFF GREEN JEFF GREEN JEFF GREEN”…and he missed the free throw. If I had to pick a singular moment to describe my experience watching Jeff Green: I’d choose that one. No matter how hard you believed, the teasing he put all of Celtics Nation through would never stop. His scoring came and went as it pleased.

The last one: a very sentimental moment for him and me as a sucker for happy endings. On an obscure late March night in Cleveland, the post-LeBron days miserable as they were unbearable to just watch, the 22-47 Cavaliers lead Boston by one measly point with 9.2 seconds left. Off an assist from Avery Bradley, Jeff Green took the feed and laid in the game-winner and went directly to a court side seat and hugged the person responsible for him being alive: his heart doctor. After being traded from the Thunder in 2011, it came out Green was in need of serious heart surgery. Sam Presti didn’t disclose that piece of information to Ainge while the negotiations were going down. As penalty, David Stern took a second round draft choice from OKC. Sounds fair. Team lies about a player’s medical records to get ahead, a second round pick fits the crime. Lenient jackasses.

From a story standpoint Jeff Green is a 'Lifetime’ special that writes itself. But when it came to actual substance, Green failed to reach levels even those hacks at HBO wouldn’t touch. I had high hopes for Green once he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. A team with three established scoring options - that two years ago shocked the world by making it to the conference finals, I believed Green would thrive as a role-player tasked with only taking over games once in every while, the burden lightened on him and the spotlight almost completely off him. But the same trick-or-treat performances that made Boston fans pull their hair out, did the same to the Grizzlies faithful. Teams have learned the hard way that Jeff Green isn’t the answer to any of their questions; there isn’t a switch to be flipped or a fire yearning to ignite within him. He’s Jeff Green. Nothing more.

In 2008, the defending champion Celtics weren’t expected to add much in ways of the draft considering their low position, holding the final selections of the first and second rounds. For whatever reason, I still do not know, Ainge’s biggest blemish in the draft came from this draft by selecting 23-year-old gunner J.R Giddens over DeAndre Jordan, Goron Dragic and Luc Mbah a Moute. Giddens played only 38 games in his professional career and amounted to very little. When you find yourself in a situation that is likely to warrant little success playing it safe, a risk is what is in order to at least maximize the little opportunity you have. Ainge didn’t do that. He went for an experienced hand. This one falls into the “indefensible” category. Most likely the stigma of “Ainge is a bad drafter” stems from this choice and the infamous Fab Melo decision. The next year Boston found themselves without a first round pick (traded to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett; became pick 28: Wayne Ellington), picking fifty-eighth Ainge selected Lester Hudson, point guard, and hasn’t played a single second of professional ball since 2015. Another swing in a miss. And in such a great place in the draft too.

2010, off the heels of one of the toughest losses in my sports fandom, coming ever so close to squeezing one more title out of the Pierce-KG-Ray core, Ainge drafts a soon to be staple of the Celtics next generation: SG from the University of Texas Avery Bradley. First-Team All-Defense and has grown into a quality jump-shooter. Picked nineteenth. Interestingly enough, Eric Bledsoe was picked 18th, right before him at eighteen by the Thunder; traded for a first round pick that became…Fab Melo. See how this all ties together. Fifty-second pick was power forward Luke Harangody from Norte Dame, lasted two seasons before falling off the face of the earth. But if you land just Avery Bradley with your already low draft choice then you’ve exceeded all expectations. Albeit, low set expectations, but regardless, Avery Bradley would go in the lottery if the draft was redone.

The next year, Ainge again found himself picking his favorites in the undesirables bin: MarShon Brooks, guard out of Providence and E'Twaun Moore guard outta Purdue. Both gave the Celtics absolutely nothing. Brooks found himself packing for Brooklyn not too long after Stern called up his name, flipped for the equally forgettable JaJuan Johnson. Then sent back to Boston in 2013 in the Billy King very skilful deal that destroyed Brooklyn Nets basketball, later moved to Golden State with Jordan Crawford for picks that would later become Jordan Mickey, Ben Bentil and Deyonta Davis. Three “we’ll wait and see” fellas, I wish tremendous success for.

Moore did squat in Boston and Orlando. It was his third stop, Chicago, in the last year of his contract he became a quality energy shooter from deep. Nailing 45.2% of his threes, out of a measly 104 attempts. Earning himself a contract worth $34 million four-years. His three-point attempts doubled on the unstable Pelicans, making a respectful 37% of them and shooting a career-high 50.1% on 2s. While he did this for Chicago and New Orléans, E.T proves, yet again, that Ainge isn’t a dummy and can spot a penny in the rough - I was going to say “diamond in the rough, but I’m not that much of a homer.

On June 28th, 2012, after the AARP Celtics almost snuck into the Finals for a third time in five seasons, Ainge reloaded with Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger at 16, Syracuse center and recently departed Fab Melo (who I’m ashamed to admit I liked when picked), and Kris Joseph, mostly known for being one of the throw-Ins for the Brooklyn deal a year into the future.

I was irrationally high on Sully after one game I saw him play at Ohio State in the tournament. I knew he was going to drop because of his back injury scaring off other teams, I kept my fingers crossed the Celtics would scoop him up. And they did.

Sully gets a lot of flack, is a frequent and an easy punching bag for Celtics & NBA fans for his weight issues, but for four seasons he was mostly productive, 16 points, 11.1 rebounds were his per 36 averages; basic averages 11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds. Before succumbing to a stress fracture caused mostly to his overweight stature, Sully averaged 14.4 pts, 8.1 trb, 2.1 ast, 0.7 stl, 0.7 blk, a respectable 21 DRB%, and an average 105 DRtg. Solid. Admittedly, his flaws became prevalent around this time too. Too short to guard opposing team’s centers, too slow to guard fours like Paul Millsap. He only worsened after the injury. Expected to miss the rest of the year, Sully went from an “untouchable” asset, to a laughingstock.

Yet, he returned after just twenty-four games missed, slowly worked his way back to the lineup, played adequately in the final three games of a four game sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting up a 15 & 8, including a hopeful 21 and 11 in Game 4, off of 9 of 17 shooting. For me, hopes were high he’d turned a corner and could produce at a starter-quality level.

Over the summer of 2015, Ainge made moves to ensure Boston wouldn’t have to rely on Sullinger. Signing Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, drafting Jordan Mickey and trading for Golden State Warriors center David Lee. Only Mickey didn’t progress, Lee was a net-negative on the floor and Steens had to save Amir’s knees for the homestretch of the season. So, Sully got the tap to start 73 games, 47 of those were victories, posted up 25 double-doubles and enjoyed his best season.

Considering where Sullinger found himself ripped for the plucking, four solid years was more than enough. Typically teams take either a draft & stash guy, or a player that never sees the floor and lives in the D (oh, I’m sorry. G)-League.

Fab Melo…I honestly thought he’d be a staple of our rotation. Give me a break, I was fourteen. How was I supposed to know he’d be a bad fit…for basketball in general. As Zach Lowe described the craziness of Melo being taken, it was a team that secured their guy with their late first round pick, had back-to-back picks and figured they’d take a gamble. Ainge did and somehow came out of the house with less than what little he had going in.

The next year, Ainge traded number thirteen pick Lucas Nogueria, an intriguing prospect in Toronto, moved to Dallas on draft night for Kelly Olynyk. Like Sullinger, Olynyk was a frequent punching bag for many Celtics fans, including myself. But all in all, he’s been a solid big man. No way was Ainge taking Giannis with that pick. All scouts had to go from him were grainy footage of this guy who was head above shoulders against competition that possibly wasn’t even in his age group.

Olynyk enjoyed an under the radar great year in 2016-17, averaging 60.8% on twos, 51.2% from the field, a career-high in True Shooting, 60.3%, DRB% (20.7 and AST% (15.2). And he got hot at precisely the right time in the postseason. After Game 2’s lost to the Bulls, Olynyk shot 59.2%, including his famous 10 for 14, 26 point performance in Game 7 to push the C’s over a very good Wizards team.

I don’t care anymore. The Kelly Olynyk pick is fine in my book, and he’ll most likely find a new team this summer. So let Game 7 be your last memory of the man-bun.

That’s pretty much it. After 2013 there’s a bunch of wait-and-see guys: Marcus Smart (still would take him over Payton), James Young (big bummer), Terry Rozier (shown brief flashes in the playoffs), R.J Hunter (bigger bummer), Jordan Mickey (monumental bummer), Jaylen Brown (promising), Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic (hopefully we’ll see them next season), Deyonta Davis (traded), Rade Zagorac (not wasting a BBall.Ref search on him), Demetrius Jackson (maybe a third guard in the future??), Ben Bentil (let go because of the roster crunch. Bummer), and Abdul Nader (In Maine with Yabu).

Going into tonight’s extravaganza, Ainge holds the third pick. Most likely he’ll take either Kansas forward Josh Jackson, a feisty competitor that can’t shoot for shit, or Duke forward Jayson Tatum, a good-natured kid that can shoot for shit, but can’t defend. Ainge isn’t one to shy away from gambles; he’s been itching to make a move for a while. We’ll see who he picks. But his track record isn’t as bad as people say.

Number of Notable Hits: Perkins (via trade), Rondo (via trade), Olynyk (via trade), Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Jared Sullinger, E'Twaun Moore

Notable Misses: Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Orien Greene, J.R Giddens, Fab Melo

Notable We’ll Wait and Sees: Smart, Brown, Rozier, Nader, Zizic, Yabu

That’s seven notable hits, five notable misses and six notable we’ll wait and sees. Not bad considering Ainge’s average pick place is somewhere just below twenty.