New Celtic Slogan: "We Lost...Blame Krstic"

[Andy Jick]

I tend to have a love-hate relationship with sports blogs like this one.  Though I find the information enjoyable, I will readily admit that some people post informatively and others with knee-jerk reactions.

But let me say this: I'm very sickened when I come here and basically see the white flag being risen because we traded Kendrick Perkins away.

And even more bothersome, there are those who now want to blame our shortfalls on Nenad Krstic.  The guy is NOT Kendrick Perkins...  Yes, he is not the defensive stopper Perk was...

BUT, maybe it's time for our veterans to start playing basketball the way they can, namely KG and Rondo.

Krstic is the kind of guy who can succeed provided he he has a shot-blocker behind him.  KG can be that guy to help him.

And it would also be nice to see Rondo start caring more.  I must admit that he seems to be in a fog.  He needs to snap out of it.  The first line of great defense is not the center, but the point guard.  Rondo has skills he hasn't tapped into.  I hope the kid doesn't think he's arrived, because he hasn't.

My prediction: Rondo will be the next Celtic shipped out...  IF he doesn't get it figured out.  I like him, but not what I'm seeing out of him now.  Blame is to be shared for the Clippers loss across the board, not because Perk isn't here.

(Let the firebombing begin...)

[Fafnir]

I don't think most people are blaming Krstic, in fact this post is very similar to what a lot of people have said in the Rondo thread. Or even the game thread.

[Tai]

I only see people like Eja blaming Krstic.

[wdleehi]

People don't blame Krstic.



A lot of poster blame the lack of a defensive intimidatory in the middle right now.  


To blame Krstic would to think he could do that, but it is not his game.  He is playing his game at about the highest level we could expect.


That doesn't fix the hole created between the injuries and the trades.  

[Donoghus]

A lot of people will use Nenad as the whipping boy for Celtic failures no matter when reality may say otherwise. (I'm not saying he's off the hook, he may very well be responsible at times )

He seems to be the poster child for this big trade even more so than Green.  He's replacing a C that was beloved by the fanbase and part of the starting five for a team that won the championship only a few years ago.  

When things go bad, a lot of critics will immediately point to Kristic.  

Then I'm also convinced there are some people out there actually rooting for Kristic to fall flat because, to them, it'll reinforce their strongly held belief that trading Perk was the worst idea in the history of mankind.  (Don't take that as a shot at everyone critical of the trade, that's not the intention here although I'm sure some will bury their heads and read it that way)

[Marcus13]

#BlameAinge

[droponov]

Krstic is the kind of guy who can succeed provided he he has a shot-blocker behind him.  KG can be that guy to help him.

I agree that you always want to pair Krstic with a good shot-blocker, but he'd succeed into being what?

I don't think you're familiar with KG's game. He isn't an elite shot-blocker. Never was, not at the same level of guys like Perkins, Jermaine O'Neal or Shaq. And in the last couple of seasons he's been pedestrian and that won't change. Perkins has been the best shot-blocker in the Celtics during the big 3 era. So yeah, KG can't be that guy.

What do you think it should be done now that you know this? Find a shot-blocker to pair with Krstic to allow him to succeed?

The problem isn't Krstic per si. He's a solid rotation player who isn't good enough to handle such a large role as he's being asked to handle and doesn't bring what this team needs mostly from that position. To be the elite defensive team they need to be to win the championship, Boston need Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal manning that center position.  

[GreenFaith1819]

I did not see any game footage, beside NBATV. From what little I saw Nenad played well, but DeAndre played well also.

I just don't know if - say Perk was still here - that it would've made much difference. I do know that Perk was torched by Kaman (and Bogut) last year.

I can understand Andy's laments with Rondo - to a point. Some of it MAY be missing Perk....I just think he is tired - or injured?

We all know that Rondo is perhaps the most stubborn Celtic. If he is injured, I can see him telling Doc "Naw, Coach - I can still play through it. No need to sit me out."

As a fan I will give Rondo the benefit of the doubt here.

I can certainly understand the number of "Perk" related threads around here.....most of us will ALWAYS have a spot for Kendrick Perkins....I mean, the man was here during our 24-58 season....he practically grew up in Green.

That can't be forgotten overnight.

Boston lost to a GOOD Clips team...one that has been playing well as of late. Not too much shame in that.

And as for Nenad? He will fit in. I do find it rather disheartening that it appears as if some of us are critiqueing his every move, but hey he has HUGE shoes to fill - especially on the Defensive end.

Will he ever fill those shoes? Maybe not - but he isn't playing bad at all.

I like Nenad Krstic in Green. Yes - he may go back to the bench once Shaq comes back, but the man is giving an honest effort in the short amount of time he's been here.

[Rondo9dunx]

Seriously guys, you're acting like heat fans.

[GreenFaith1819]

Krstic is the kind of guy who can succeed provided he he has a shot-blocker behind him.  KG can be that guy to help him.

I agree that you always want to pair Krstic with a good shot-blocker, but he'd succeed into being what?

I don't think you're familiar with KG's game. He isn't an elite shot-blocker. Never was, not at the same level of guys like Perkins, Jermaine O'Neal or Shaq. And in the last couple of seasons he's been pedestrian and that won't change. Perkins has been the best shot-blocker in the Celtics during the big 3 era. So yeah, KG can't be that guy.

What do you think it should be done now that you know this? Find a shot-blocker to pair with Krstic to allow him to succeed?

The problem isn't Krstic per si. He's a solid rotation player who isn't good enough to handle such a large role as he's being asked to handle and doesn't bring what this team needs mostly from that position. To be the elite defensive team they need to be to win the championship, Boston need Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal manning that center position. 

droponov - I can agree with you to a point about KG not being an elite shot-blocker - right now.

But he WAS earlier in his career - oh boy was he. "Youtube" Kevin Garnett Highlights and if you do a little searching, there is an amazing 4:17 video of JUST KG Shotblocking. It is called "Kevin Garnett Block Mix - Enter The Dragon"..the video has some coarse language in it, so I can't post it here - but yes IMO KG was an elite shotblocker.

As for your post, you make a good point - Shaq or JO will be welcomed back for their defense - especially JO. He was protecting the rim at nearly the same clip as Perk before he went down with injuries.

[ballin]

Here are my two cents as somebody who hated the trade.

1) It would be silly to blame losses on anybody in particular when the effort is as as poor as it was last night. The entire team failed, and that's not on Krstic.

2) That said, when if we lose in the eastern conference finals/finals I most certainly WILL point back to the trade as the moment things went downhill. Say what you want, but the trade made us worse in my opinion.

2a) Our starters are worse because what we gained in offense we lost in defense, rebounding, and shot blocking. Just wait until Krstic's offense regresses to his mean of .53 TS%. Why would you ever even give the ball to someone with a .53 TS% when you have four all-stars on the court? You shouldn't. You should just depend on that person for putbacks, rebounding, shot-blocking and defense, all of which Perkins does better than Krstic.

2b) Our bench isn't any better off either. Troy Murphy has been the biggest non-factor ever, and I don't know why anybody expected anything different from somebody averaging 3 points per game FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. Some people are insane with their optimism. Next, without Semih and Perk we don't have shot-blockers on our bench unit, which spells disaster for any NBA lineup. Pavlovic doesn't do much that Wafer doesn't do. Arroyo is a decent pickup, but Delonte was coming back soon enough anyway, and he's a better option (which also would have made Nate redundant). We got Green, so it's not all bad, but ultimately I don't think our bench will change in overall performance due to talent; it will just get worse until chemistry is developed and players understand our defensive schemes, which might take more time than we actually have.

3) Bringing this back to Krstic, he's key because we're going to have to rely on him, big time. I'm not gonna blame him for every silly little loss but time will tell if he can get it done when it counts. And I have my trepidations.

edit: last word. I actually hate Jermaine O'Neal (and I've never actually "hated" a Celtic player before) but I pray that he comes back in time for the playoffs because I'd rather deal with his putrid offense than let the other team go to the rim at-will and out rebound the hell out of us

[LB3533]

The Clippers abused us on the perimeter, they got to the paint whenever they wanted.

I don't think Perk would have made a difference at all in last night's game...he wouldn't have been able to stop any of the penetration nor would he have blocked a single one of D. Jordan's dunks.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth #20]

Oo Oo I know this one! This an internet blog where literally anyone can say anything. For instance, Heat fans can sign on posing as C's fans and say how badly the C's miss Perk. There are people like me who come on for 5 minutes, make a ridiculous post, then come back in a day or 2 and do the same thing just to stir up the spoiled beantown fans. What % of posts are real? I'd say under 25% and those happen to be the most boring ones where people try to make an actual point and get mad when it is not received they way they wanted forgetting the topic is basketball/entertainment not world peace. On top of all this, people are not blaming Kritic so the thread makes no sense.

[droponov]

Krstic is the kind of guy who can succeed provided he he has a shot-blocker behind him.  KG can be that guy to help him.

I agree that you always want to pair Krstic with a good shot-blocker, but he'd succeed into being what?

I don't think you're familiar with KG's game. He isn't an elite shot-blocker. Never was, not at the same level of guys like Perkins, Jermaine O'Neal or Shaq. And in the last couple of seasons he's been pedestrian and that won't change. Perkins has been the best shot-blocker in the Celtics during the big 3 era. So yeah, KG can't be that guy.

What do you think it should be done now that you know this? Find a shot-blocker to pair with Krstic to allow him to succeed?

The problem isn't Krstic per si. He's a solid rotation player who isn't good enough to handle such a large role as he's being asked to handle and doesn't bring what this team needs mostly from that position. To be the elite defensive team they need to be to win the championship, Boston need Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal manning that center position. 

droponov - I can agree with you to a point about KG not being an elite shot-blocker - right now.

But he WAS earlier in his career - oh boy was he. "Youtube" Kevin Garnett Highlights and if you do a little searching, there is an amazing 4:17 video of JUST KG Shotblocking...the video has some coarse language in it, so I can't post it here - but yes IMO KG was an elite shotblocker.

As for your post, you make a good point - Shaq or JO will be welcomed back for their defense - especially JO. He was protecting the rim at nearly the same clip as Perk before he went down with injuries.

Garnett had 2 years in his career where his blk% was above 4% - his first two years. His career average is 3.2%. Is this an elite shot-blocker to you? For example, Perkins' is 5% and he never had a full season below 4.5%. A guy like Camby had several years above 7%. If you think Garnett was ever elite, your concept of elite is very strange. There's lots of averageness in that elite.

I've watched Garnett blocking hundreds of shots, I don't need youtube videos. That doesn't make him an elite shot-blocker.

[BballTim]

The Clippers abused us on the perimeter, they got to the paint whenever they wanted.

I don't think Perk would have made a difference at all in last night's game...he wouldn't have been able to stop any of the penetration nor would he have blocked a single one of D. Jordan's dunks.

  He might have at least contested a few of those dunks, and he might also have fought a little harder for some of the rebounds than Nenad did.