Ok let me address this the best I can. I've always used the efficiency rating (I read it was Larry Bird's method back in the day) to determine the best statistical player in the NBA. It's pretty common sense. Points + rebounds + assists + blocks + steals. Subtract missed field goals, missed free throws and turnovers. I think I started paying attention to those stats back when NBA.com had Virtual GM (not sure if they still do it... just a form of fantasy basketball really) and they used that for determining the night's best performers. I was suddenly enlightened to why some ball hog shooting 41% is a bit overrated (like Iverson or Walker back in the day).
http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Efficiency.jspEvery freakin year KG is #1. He's dominant statistically. This year he's #2 behind only King James. We all see the impact that KG makes beyond the statistics. He's an outstanding team player, he's an outstanding defender, he intimidates opponents and keeps his teammates focused, he consistently makes the correct and intelligent decision. He's a brilliant player and impacts the game in every way imaginable. We are 11-2 because of him.
Big Al statistically is the 15th best player in the NBA right now. He's going to be fantastic. He will never be on the level of Dwight Howard (or maybe even Greg Oden?), but he'll be a solid scoring and rebounding big man. In a few years when KG has slipped and Big Al is nearing his peak (assuming nobody gets hurt), obviously Big Al will pass him at some point. Al will learn how to impact the game more. I don't expect he'll ever be on the level KG was, but he'll eventually pass an old and busted KG in terms of effectiveness. And of course... some day KG will be retired and Big Al will (assuming he doesn't get hurt) still be kicking ass.
But heres the thing... it's like squashing a butterfly in the past an changing the entire course of the future. By trading for KG, Ainge just squashed the butterfly in the present. Theres no telling what this will lead to. We are a legitimate threat. The Celtics are in the national consciousness. They are at the forefront of popular teams in the NBA. The team is one of the few that is pretty much carrying the league this season. Come playoff time, the thought of the Celtics making a serious run at the title will be huge news. We have suddenly developed a culture of winning and an aura of excellence.
I always felt like the modern Boston Celtics has an excellent organization going for them. I looked at them as a very professional team with solid owners willing to build a great team and entertaining experience for the fans, a GM who was at least in the top percentile of NBA GM intelligence and a staff that for the most part had a very pro situation happening. I mean to say that... even as we were losing nobody got out of line. We didn't have anyone barking to the media. We didn't have any crap going on like the Knicks or anything happening like the Jail Blazers. We had a solid, professional team. For the most part we kept Ricky Davis in line. Gary Payton came here and was impressed by how well run everything was. The problem was just our players weren't there. By bringing in Ray and KG, we have suddenly got excellence spewing out of every facet of the Boston Celtics. We are a team reborn and one to take notice of.
The Celtics had missed the entire modern era of NBA basketball, sports media and marketing. This team has been irrelevant since before Michael Jordan won his first title. The Celtics were meaningless. By taking this step, we are back. Heres my point: There is no telling what this will lead to. Perhaps we become a free agent destination. Perhaps as KG ages and these 20 million dollar contracts evaporate, some kid like Kevin Durant sees Boston as a viable destination. Amazing fans, amazing East Coast sports market, professional organization, a culture of winning and an aura of excellence. We had to take this step to reach the forefront of modern sports. From here on out, I don't see why we can't sustain it. The franchise had become a joke. Scoff at importance of relevance, but I think it will impact our future more than people anticipate. Enjoy the fact that we are a contender now... and watch what happens now that the Celtics are on the map. The league and the media is now understanding what it means to have a competitive basketball team in Boston... It's a position worth getting into -- even at the cost of a mediocre, "under the radar" Al Jefferson future.