Pierce's thoughts on the deal

[BlackCeltic]

Leave your feelings at the door. Positivity is the key to good chemistry.

[asiangreen]

I agree with PP. You use your hands and your head to play basketball but you definitely use your heart to win it.

[JSD]

First off, very well written article. But even with Paul's comments I feel your overrating chemistry a bit. There's no indication that the new players won't come in here and fit right in.

Culture>Chemistry

[JSD]

Actually, what I should say is, chemistry is a product of our culture. And our culture starts at the top.

[action781]

The one thing that every opposing player (Wade, Howard, Lebron, etc.) talked about in regard to the Celtics was our cohesion/chemistry.  I think there's something to that, which is why the reaction around the league is that we made a mistake here.

I had some similar feelings about this, but as Jsaad just mentioned, I think we fans must be completely overrating this.

What on earth do we know about actually being in an NBA locker room and how important chemistry is?  Anybody here been a part of an NBA team before?  Can anybody personally attest to this?

What about Danny and Doc?  Think they can?  They both know first-hand how important chemistry is.  Yet they (I have a hard time believing Danny didn't consult with Doc at all on this) were the ones who made this trade.  So obviously they believed that the talent/chemistry this trade will result in is greater than the talent/chemistry before the trade.

Do I think this trade will affect our chemistry?  Yeah, I do.  But I think the people who made this trade have a lot deeper insight to its true impact than we do.

[TheReaLPuba]

Talent does matter.

But chemistry and understanding what we're trying to do is paramount.

You can bring in the most individually talented players, the most athletic players, and the most smartest players but if they don't mesh together as a team then there's no way they win a championship.

Changing a team's chemistry mid-way through the season is very risky and dangerous.

The guys on our team are considerably more close to each other than other teams so making a change like this is not the norm.

I can see why Ainge did the trade and it must not have been easy thing to do but he's always under-valued chemistry and instead put more value on youth and athleticism more.

Just because we didn't have Perk for most of the year and we still had a great record doesn't mean we should play without him.

Other guys stepped up and filled a void as best they could KNOWING he would come back at some point.

But the injuries have really put this team in a tough spot...along with the impending lock out and CBA uncertainty.

I still think we're a championship caliber team but this team will need more time to get their minds and their hearts back on track....hopefully 20 or so games is enough.

[paulball2007]

I think that Chemistry is key but I think there is still time to obtain it.  The starting 5 when Shaq gets back is pretty much our starting unit for the majority of the year.  The chemistry issues on the court will be with the bench guys.  Green and Kristic and any street free agents will need to find their role on this team and get used to being around these all star veterans.  There is no way that KG and co. will get anyone rock the boat.  I think our bench was weak especially w/o marquis.  Nate did not provide the instant offense that we thought we were getting with him.  Jeff Green and Kristic both are offensive players.  They will need to buy into the defensive system and hopefully will not have a problem playing it.  I think Nenard is better then Semih and Green is way better then anyone that was on that bench.  We still need two guys to fill out the 2nd unit and I have no faith in Jermaine coming back strong.  The chemistry off the court will be the same with the rest of the guys on the team and it will be up to them to get Jeff Green and who ever else is signed.  If we pick up Powe it will help since he understands and knows the guys.  Then it will be fitting in two other players that will most likely be veterans that know what is at stake.  I feel we will be fine and have as legit a shot as we did before the trades to win number 18.  

[winsomme]

By his estimation a team shouldn't try to improve a team through trade because chemistry will always be messed up. Chemistry is a risk, but you don't hold off on trying to improve a team because of it. That's how teams get stuck.

but was improving this team the motivation of the trade? Sounds like re-signing Perk was a major factor.

[BudweiserCeltic]

By his estimation a team shouldn't try to improve a team through trade because chemistry will always be messed up. Chemistry is a risk, but you don't hold off on trying to improve a team because of it. That's how teams get stuck.

but was improving this team the motivation of the trade? Sounds like re-signing Perk was a major factor.

In my opinion it immediately improves the team. Are wings are a mess at the moment. We add flexibility. Our depth at the big spot remains the same (it's less now because he made some additional deals afterward). We got lengthier on this trade. We potentially improve our bench significantly, and we got healthier.

[winsomme]

By his estimation a team shouldn't try to improve a team through trade because chemistry will always be messed up. Chemistry is a risk, but you don't hold off on trying to improve a team because of it. That's how teams get stuck.

but was improving this team the motivation of the trade? Sounds like re-signing Perk was a major factor.

In my opinion it immediately improves the team. Are wings are a mess at the moment. We add flexibility. Our depth at the big spot remains the same (it's less now because he made some additional deals afterward). We got lengthier on this trade. We potentially improve our bench significantly, and we got healthier.

well I was responding to the motivation for making the trade and from that standpoint re-signing Perk was a factor...

but as for improving the team, we'll only know as the season plays out....personally, I think our front court D has taken a major hit because I'm not conviced Shaq or JO will be consistent contributors or even have to time to build the necessary chemistry that our rotating defense requires...

[BudweiserCeltic]

By his estimation a team shouldn't try to improve a team through trade because chemistry will always be messed up. Chemistry is a risk, but you don't hold off on trying to improve a team because of it. That's how teams get stuck.

but was improving this team the motivation of the trade? Sounds like re-signing Perk was a major factor.

In my opinion it immediately improves the team. Are wings are a mess at the moment. We add flexibility. Our depth at the big spot remains the same (it's less now because he made some additional deals afterward). We got lengthier on this trade. We potentially improve our bench significantly, and we got healthier.

well I was responding to the motivation for making the trade and from that standpoint re-signing Perk was a factor...

but as for improving the team, we'll only know as the season plays out....personally, I think our front court D has taken a major hit because I'm not conviced Shaq or JO will be consistent contributors or even have to time to build the necessary chemistry that our rotating defense requires...

Oh, it's a factor alright, I just don't know if it's the deciding factor ultimately.

I don't know how our front court D can take a major hit if we factor that the guy going out hasn't played much this season. AND we got the best defense in the NBA still, so how much was Perk really bringing to the table in addition to our other pieces?

Shaq and Perk really aren't very good bench centers, their good value is when they play with starters so they become a bit redundant with each other.

We improve offensively significantly in the front court.

[ScoobyDoo]

TP to Incoherent. Look Perkins has been one of my all time favorite Celtics, I love the guy. But...

The "facts" are that this team was 41-14 without Perkins this year ( he played about 6-7 games ). So we can basically say we're 40-14 this year without Perkins.

Keep in mind also...Jermain out all season, DWest out most of the season, Daniles missed games, Rondo and KG missed 10 games each, Shaq's been in and out....etc,,,

And we're still 41-14 without Perkins? Our Chemistry is fine.

KG, Pierce, Ray and Rondo is why we are so good. It's just like Jordan and Pippen, you can cahnge the pieces around them with equivalent, if different pieces, and they will be just as good because of Jordan and Pippen...

I absolutely hate to see Perkins go, I just hate it. But I understand the trade.    

[Junkyard Dawg]

you know, listening to the players' quotes today, it's obvious they're hurt and feel like they just lost a family member.  but there does seem to be some resignation and acceptance there instead of anger like I was expecting...

anyone who doubts the importance of chemistry is contradicting what PP, a finals MVP and polished vet, is saying here... if there is one person in this league who I can think of to fill Perk's shoes in this regard, it's Shaq, but it remains to be seen if talent-wise he can compensate in the postseason.  the rest of those guys, we will see how they stack up too.

Losing Perk hurts big time.  but there's nothing you can do now.  hopefully the players can rekindle the magic with shaq et al.

[winsomme]

By his estimation a team shouldn't try to improve a team through trade because chemistry will always be messed up. Chemistry is a risk, but you don't hold off on trying to improve a team because of it. That's how teams get stuck.

but was improving this team the motivation of the trade? Sounds like re-signing Perk was a major factor.

In my opinion it immediately improves the team. Are wings are a mess at the moment. We add flexibility. Our depth at the big spot remains the same (it's less now because he made some additional deals afterward). We got lengthier on this trade. We potentially improve our bench significantly, and we got healthier.

well I was responding to the motivation for making the trade and from that standpoint re-signing Perk was a factor...

but as for improving the team, we'll only know as the season plays out....personally, I think our front court D has taken a major hit because I'm not conviced Shaq or JO will be consistent contributors or even have to time to build the necessary chemistry that our rotating defense requires...

Oh, it's a factor alright, I just don't know if it's the deciding factor ultimately.

I don't know how our front court D can take a major hit if we factor that the guy going out hasn't played much this season. AND we got the best defense in the NBA still, so how much was Perk really bringing to the table in addition to our other pieces?

Shaq and Perk really aren't very good bench centers, their good value is when they play with starters so they become a bit redundant with each other.

We improve offensively significantly in the front court.

but SOMEBODY has been playing. I mean how many games have we played without at least one of Perk, Shaq, or JO?

[snowball]

after hearing what PP and KG said, I do believe
this trade was a mistake.
Their thoughts should have been considered, and
Perk could have been forewarned before the deal was inked.
Maybe Perk would have come to an agreement to avoid 
free agency.
We don't know nearly as much about what makes this team
click as the team itself does.
This is not an easy time to be a Celtic player or fan.
I have been a defender of the deal, but I won't defend
it after hearing this.