Stick a fork in this team, they are done.

[aporel#18]

The Celtics are a legitimate contender, and they'll be ok. They lost Perk and others, but that opens the door for other players.

I wanted them to win it all last year, but things went wrong in the most important moment. They didn't have HCA, they didn't have a healthy KG and most of the starting 5 was banged up. Still they did well.

They will do well. And nobody will bring this thread back. We all now you are an optimist, kidding about the Celtics not being good.

Go Celtics!!

[action781]

I am finding myself agreeing with this statement more and more as the night goes on. Kristic is a FA after this year, he wont resign most likely, Green has a qualifying offer and if we give him an extension, I think that'll take away our cap space to sign another big name in the future.

This trade kills our chemistry, our toughness, and our defense. No longer will teams be intimidated by driving to the paint. Who is our shot blocker? Garnett cant jump anymore, Shaq can get off the ground, Kristic certianly wont be intimidating anybody. Teams are going to attack us inside without any problem and KG is just going to be seen as a weak target without big bad Perk to protect him. I just cant believe this.

Explain how we were doing that for the first 50 games of the season without Perk? Number 1 D in the NBA..

Playoff defense is a completely different story. Who battles Dwight Howard when we face him in the playoffs? Bynum, Gasol?

It is very possible we might not run into any of them...

[ACF]

Seriously guys, stop, take a breath, and step back from the ledge.  We're not gonna know the impact of this trade on our title chances for literally months.  At least give it a couple weeks before breaking out the Chicken Little routine.

If you are done, then move on to baseball. If you are a true fan of the Celtics, then I expect to see you back in the office Saturday night, Capiche?

[cman88]

It really depends on what peices danny is able to bring in for the bench..

Honestly, the Celtics looked real good the beginning of the year with Shaq in the starting lineup. KG etc. covered for his defensive deficiencies and he gave us an offensive threat at the 5.

If we sign a big man, also get JO to give 10mins, and Kristic we should be fine. we still have the "big 4"

[GreenBlood23]

OR much?? The team was the best defensive team in the league this season WITHOUT Perk.

Ainge even said Shaq was going to come back earlier than Perk even if he wasn't traded so I guess health played a lot on the decision too add to that that he isn't willing to sign any extension. Might as well get something for him without completely jeopardizing our chances.

No one really knows whats going to happen, with buy outs still to come and the Oneals getting back. People cry like we just traded Michael Jordan for some magic beans! I get Perk played an important role with #17 and might have done something with gam7 last year.  But saying we should just give up? Come on now  Last time I checked we still have Rondo, Allen, Pierce and Garnett.

So would definitely like to stick a fork on something or someone, but not to this team 
*cue KG scream: Anything is possible!!! 

[Megatron]

OR much?? The team was the best defensive team in the league this season WITHOUT Perk.

Ainge even said Shaq was going to come back earlier than Perk even if he wasn't traded so I guess health played a lot on the decision too add to that that he isn't willing to sign any extension. Might as well get something for him without completely jeopardizing our chances.

No one really knows whats going to happen, with buy outs still to come and the Oneals getting back. People cry like we just traded Michael Jordan for some magic beans! I get Perk played an important role with #17 and might have done something with gam7 last year.  But saying we should just give up? Come on now  Last time I checked we still have Rondo, Allen, Pierce and Garnett.

So would definitely like to stick a fork on something or someone, but not to this team 
*cue KG scream: Anything is possible!!! 

Rondo, Allen, Pierce, and Garnett are not the same players they were last night.

Our tougness takes a hit, as well as our chemistry.

No more Perkins helping out Rondo and Garnett when they get into it.
No more Perkins refusing to back down from the competiton and giving his 100% every game.
Perkins worked so hard to come back from the injury and had himself and the team hungrier then ever, all to be traded in the end.

[mmbaby]

I'm already missing Perk alot, but I have to agree that since he's barely played at all this season, and since in spite of that, Rhondo and KG have been playing like beasts all season without him, I don't see a big problem with this shake up.

Chemistry is still there amongst the key players.

[davemonsterband]

Good Lord, how could an educated fan think this thread is an educated statement? For all we know, Danny could have a verbal agreement with ANY of to-be-bought-outs. The lesser acknowledged trade is the one that indicates something else is coming, it's too telling to ignore. Jeff Green has missed 6 games in 4 seasons. Delonte and Perk are lucky to make it through the season. This trade was a no brainer if we can land a bought out player. Let's not even get into cap space and a free first rounder from a team that's NEVER been able to repeat ANYTHING. Danny's playing the odds and the odds say this team could have been done if it wasn't for this deal. If Perk or Delonte were hurt going into the playoffs, no M.D. and Perk looking for an extension in the offseason, where would we sit? With Kobe or Lebron with a ring and the C's down a bunch of money, a centre that walked and no free draft pick. Managing the cap matters.

[makaveli]

To me, nothing has changed really, I truly believe that with a healthy roster Celtics will win it all this year

[mmbaby]

Good Lord, how could an educated fan think this thread is an educated statement? For all we know, Danny could have a verbal agreement with ANY of to-be-bought-outs. The lesser acknowledged trade is the one that indicates something else is coming, it's too telling to ignore. Jeff Green has missed 6 games in 4 seasons. Delonte and Perk are lucky to make it through the season. This trade was a no brainer if we can land a bought out player. Let's not even get into cap space and a free first rounder from a team that's NEVER been able to repeat ANYTHING. Danny's playing the odds and the odds say this team could have been done if it wasn't for this deal. If Perk or Delonte were hurt going into the playoffs, no M.D. and Perk looking for an extension in the offseason, where would we sit? With Kobe or Lebron with a ring and the C's down a bunch of money, a centre that walked and no free draft pick. Managing the cap matters.

You make a good point here. The injury bug has plagued us more than normal this season and wasn't getting any better. In fact it was a little horrifying.

Thank goodness KG is totally back and rr, pp, ra and baby are all in excellent health (Knocking wood now, so it's okay for me to say this).

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

Yes we are done! THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!

[guava_wrench]

Feel free to quote this post in the future if the C's win it all, but that is pretty much impossible now.

I will, as I have before with past hyperbolic posts you have made.

What is ironic is so many people felt us winning was dependent upon remaining healthy. Now Danny is making moves that will make us much deeper so that health is less of an issue. We have 3 roster spots that will can fill with contributors.

I think I am a little more optimistic than most regarding JO because my understanding is that he could have played many more games, but was held out with hopes of rehab helping him in the long run. Even if it doesn't help much, he can still play through pain once we get to the playoffs and there is nothing else to save him for.

With Shaq playing regularly and JO playing spot minutes, Jeff Green becomes much more valuable than Perk this season, never mind long term.

[jdpapa3]

I think I am a little more optimistic than most regarding JO because my understanding is that he could have played many more games, but was held out with hopes of rehab helping him in the long run. Even if it doesn't help much, he can still play through pain once we get to the playoffs and there is nothing else to save him for.

I'm in this camp, too. I trust Danny's intel on JO and he even alluded to your point in the pre game show. I get the impression that he could've played in his previous state, but this was to help him to be pain free and to have more explosion. I feel like I'm the only one that saw an in pain Jermaine look like a great defensive center in his 306 minutes this season. Stats show that out as well.

[Marcus13]

We just gave away half our team, of course they are done for the season

[Roy H.]

I think "done" is an overstatement, but I do think this hurts their chances.  I also think the chance of getting the #1 seed in the East is a bit of a pipedream at this point; I think we're most likely going to end up at #3, with the prospect of going on the road to Chicago and Miami.

Arguably, by the time the playoffs roll around this team could be deeper and better, but in the short-term I think it's going to be handicapped by lessened chemistry and a steep learning curve.