Thank you Danny Ainge for ruining this season

[Vermont Green]

I am sorry, but if Ray Allen and KG are saying that they are playing badly individually because we traded a guy who played 22 minutes or so in each of 17 games (and I am not sure they are) then I say suck it up guys.  You are pros, headed for the hall of fame.  You have probably had dozens of teammates traded in your careers.  If this is the problem, you need to get over it.  It is not an excuse.

I don't understand how anyone can accept this as an excuse that lets the players off the hook (as apparently many have conceded that it is OK to blame chemistry).  If you are playing bad because you are hurt, tired, just plain old, whatever, that would be different, but it is time to get over the trade and play.  Quit talking about it, quit thinking about it, just get your head back in the game and focus on the team as it is constituted.  It is still a very good team.

(OK, rant completed).  

I think we can all agree that the players *should* get over it, emotionally.  However, if they can't, or if the new guys aren't in sync with the offense or defense, then I don't think it's an "excuse" to blame the trade.  Instead, it's a reality, that we wish wasn't the reality because we want our players to be above that.

If I was Doc, I would have some kind of a mock ceremony where all of the player pay their respects to Perk, say what they want, clear the air, and then after, I would ask everyone on the team to not speak of the trade or the new players or the chemistry or whatever for the rest of the season.  I accept that this took an emotional toll but it has been what, 5 weeks?  It is time to move on and start winning some games.  Even just talking about it is bad Karma and perpetuating this needlessly.   Let go of the old and embrace the new.

[tyrone biggums]

Look this has been mentioned to death...our record would probably be the same or even worse with Perkins during this stretch.

But I'm not focusing on injuries.  I'm asking whether or not we would be complaining if Rondo had been playing well (assuming his recent problems are unrelated to Perk being traded).  Does it matter how many healthy centers we have if Rondo remains in a slump (hopefully the last game is a sign that he won't).

Rondo's slump has nothing to do with Ainge. Every player goes through droughts, it just so happens that Rondo's looks worse because hes not a 20 ppg guy. Hes been playing hurt and hopefully hes fine now.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Krstic injured now...wonder if Danny thought of this possibility 

[Fafnir]

Krstic injured now...wonder if Danny thought of this possibility 

Any player can get hurt.

[Change]

You guys almost had me convinced Danny Ainge robbed the Thunder. Its the other way around, Thunder got the better of the deal. Celtics nation bought Danny Ainge Bull****. Perkins was HUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEE part of this team's success. Just look at the turnaround OKC season. If you can't control the paint, you have ZERO shot winning a championship. Kendrick Perkins along side Kevin Garnett controlled the paint point blank.

[GrandTheftRondo]

You guys almost had me convinced Danny Ainge robbed the Thunder. Its the other way around, Thunder got the better of the deal. Celtics nation bought Danny Ainge Bull****. Perkins was HUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEE part of this team's success. Just look at the turnaround OKC season. If you can't control the paint, you have ZERO shot winning a championship. Kendrick Perkins along side Kevin Garnett controlled the paint point blank.

They almost had me fooled too.

[BballTim]

You guys almost had me convinced Danny Ainge robbed the Thunder. Its the other way around, Thunder got the better of the deal. Celtics nation bought Danny Ainge Bull****. Perkins was HUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEE part of this team's success. Just look at the turnaround OKC season. If you can't control the paint, you have ZERO shot winning a championship. Kendrick Perkins along side Kevin Garnett controlled the paint point blank.

  Pretty sure the turnaround in OKC's season came before Perk started playing.

[Marcus13]

The Thunder got there 5 spot filled with the best defensive Center in the game for years to come.

I can't believe how much size is underrated on this board.  Only a hand full of teams in this league have a well above average Center and most of them are title contendors.  Even very average Centers get big money just because there is such a lack of talent at that position in this league.  The Thunder got that filled for an average SF.

There's just no way we robbed anybody in that trade

[j804]

Why do we ignore Green offensively?

Doc needs to be accountable this isn't even funny anymore.

[jakeshuttlesworth]

Jeff Green is using and abusing the spurs right now...

[cdif911]

I predict the pendulum swinging in post land with this big win.... people need to see the big picture - highs shouldn't be too high, lows shouldn't be too low