Post Trade Expectations: have they changed from earlier expectations?

[LarryForThree]

I think the Celtics will lose in the second round. I hope not, but I think that's where the C's are headed.

Last year- this team went further than they should have. They played a lot of games. This may have been a great sign for a young team but this is an old team.

[Tai]

I think the Celtics will lose in the second round. I hope not, but I think that's where the C's are headed.

Last year- this team went further than they should have. They played a lot of games. This may have been a great sign for a young team but this is an old team.

Then they should have? The reason they were able to get that far in the first place was because they finally got healthy. I ain't sure about "flipping the switch" more than that.

If the Celtics get healthy for the stretch run and remain such until the playoffs start, they could easily have the #1 seed in the East, and definitely stand a great chance against of winning the East, if not the whole thing.

[Megatron]

Perk is an all-star and the most important player on this team by far.

Without him we go from a finals favorite to a second round out obviously.

Were nothing without Perk, hes our best player.

[LarryForThree]

Perk is an all-star and the most important player on this team by far.

Without him we go from a finals favorite to a second round out obviously.

Were nothing without Perk, hes our best player.

I'm not saying Perkins was an all-star. But its just not losing Perk, its losing HIM and replacing him.

We lose Quis Daniels (whose a back-up) and we get loads of threads like "What are we going to do? Who can we get to replace him?" If this team was so solid to be a Finals team why does Celtic nation worry about a back-up SF? Because not only do we lose Quis but Pierce may have to play more mins to make up for it.

Losing Perk means having to play O'Neal more or playing Curly more.

[anthony83]

I still think we are the champions of the East, for me the Celtics are now the best team, we need not fear.
 The important thing is that Shaq will recover soon, it will be important, and we bring a player for the rotation.

 Now we must look ahead, think Perk is useless, we have one goal: the ring if or if

[hpantazo]

Perk is an all-star and the most important player on this team by far.

Without him we go from a finals favorite to a second round out obviously.

Were nothing without Perk, hes our best player.

when was Perk an all-star? Did I miss it?

[GoGreen9]

I think the Celtics will lose in the second round. I hope not, but I think that's where the C's are headed.

Last year- this team went further than they should have. They played a lot of games. This may have been a great sign for a young team but this is an old team.

Second round, to whom? Why do you think that?

[Tai]

Perk is an all-star and the most important player on this team by far.

Without him we go from a finals favorite to a second round out obviously.

Were nothing without Perk, hes our best player.

TP for this post. You laid that down beautifully. 

[Neurotic Guy]

I'll admit my knee-jerk reaction to the trade was: we just lost our shot at the championship this year (and probably this era).   But one thought keeps me wondering: if the C's had Nanad Kritic in Game 7 last year, would we have won? -- Or, was it Kendrick Perkins that we all think was the difference.  In other words, wouldn't a servicable center who could have kept Sheed's minutes down in that game been enough?

Bottom line is I am not unsure just how much the C's need Perk in order to muscle Dwight Howard or match up with Gasol/Bynum.  I also had thought that the size factor would allow us to exploit Miami's weakness.  But, I am now thinking the jury is out on this.  We'll see.

[MisinFormed]

TP! Nice post!

[slamtheking]

My expectations going into this season was a title, nothing less.  The roster Danny put together should have no less of an expectation.

My expectations are still the same.  Should they fail due to being overpowered by a team with a dominant center or tough frontline, I'll lay that blame squarely on Danny's head.  If they win the title and the Green/Krstic/Waivers prove to be the difference, I'll give Danny his due in spite of his trading away a player I considered a keystone to the franchise at this time.

[Change]

Fun regular season team to watch. However, I don't think they are a championship team. This trade sets the transition post big3 nicely. But who cares what the Celtics will look like 2 years from now. The Future is NOW! Short term ramification>Long Term flexibility.

[Jon]

I'll admit my knee-jerk reaction to the trade was: we just lost our shot at the championship this year (and probably this era).   But one thought keeps me wondering: if the C's had Nanad Kritic in Game 7 last year, would we have won? -- Or, was it Kendrick Perkins that we all think was the difference.  In other words, wouldn't a servicable center who could have kept Sheed's minutes down in that game been enough?

Bottom line is I am not unsure just how much the C's need Perk in order to muscle Dwight Howard or match up with Gasol/Bynum.  I also had thought that the size factor would allow us to exploit Miami's weakness.  But, I am now thinking the jury is out on this.  We'll see.

Yes. 

And that was my knee-jerk reaction too; we're toast. 

But I'd say we lost Game 7 for two reasons. 

1) We only had 3 usable big men.  Now Kendrick certainly would've helped, but Nenad, Shaq, JO, or any other legit rotation center probably would've been enough. 

2) The other problem was that our offense completely fell apart.  And that's where I think Green can help in two ways.  a) he can provide offense himself, and b) he can keep Pierce and Allen fresh enough that they'll have their legs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. 

And outside of all of this trade, I think not only does KG look much better this year, I think Pierce and Allen have a lot more bounce in their steps.  I wasn't confident in either of them throughout most of the playoffs.  This year it's totally different.  Both look a year younger, rather than a year older. 

[Megatron]

Fun regular season team to watch. However, I don't think they are a championship team. This trade sets the transition post big3 nicely. But who cares what the Celtics will look like 2 years from now. The Future is NOW! Short term ramification>Long Term flexibility.

So Miami would be the only clear cut contender in the east? Or do you put us in the Orlando/Atlanta 2nd tier team category?

[aporel#18]

I expect to change my nick, I'll be aporel#19.

I would have changed it last june if not for the refs and our lack of a 7 footer to help Sheed. We seem to forget Sheed was the only one holding the fort against the evil laker trees. KG was injured and BBD is just too short, and like IP says, has T-Rex arms.

This year I expect more lenght in the frontcourt, via the O'Neal bros, Nenad, healthy KG... and Sheed. Yeah, nobody wants him, but Troy Murphy isn't better than Sheed. If everything else fails, I've read somewhere that Eddie Curry is working out to get into shape 

Health is our only concern, with KG,Nenad,Shaq and BBD playing injury-free, they are the champions and I'll change my nick