The problem is our 'Bigs"

[ScoobyDoo]

Duh...right? Well, yes and no...
 
The Celtics recent struggles are due to a lack of the required type of big men. It is not because Perkins is gone. Let's break down the season.

1.
We started out with Shaq, a Little JO and Semih Erden.
Shaq is a dominant physical presence
JO is a long, physical presence
Erden was an athletic,active & long presence around the rim.     
** we accumulate the second best record in the league, by 4-5 games, regardless of a rash of other injuries.

2.
Shaq goes down but but Perkins comes back and we have Erden.
We continue to do well and maintain our second place standing by a decent margin.

3. Perkins and Erden get traded and Shaq and JO are still out. Meanwhile, Krstic comes in. But Krstic has no other true seven footer to carry the load in the paint with him and to help him when necessary.

My point is that the team is not falling apart. We are having trouble in the paint because we are missing the big physical presence of a Shaq, Perkins, JO or even, yes, Erden. Erden was much longer and defensively aggressive than Krstic.

I'm just saying don't get too down. Stay positive that Sha2q and JO will come back and add that enforcer presence in the paint. It's not Krstic's fault, he's not that type of player, but he has other skills that will be hlpeful in a supporting role.

Not having these big guys to hammer other team's bigs is taking a toll on KG, Pierce and Big baby.

If Shaq and JO come back, give us 15 minutes a night and stay healthy, you will see a much rejuvenated Celtics team.

Alot more things will open up for KG, Pierce and Ray, not to mention Rondo. People will start getting hammered coming into the paint - the teams' mojo and swag will start turning a corner.

We'll be fine but we do need Shaq and JO to be healthy. if so, we raise #18 and then I wouldn't be suprised to see the rebuilding start in earnest this off season.     

[CoachBo]

While I see other problems - poor PG play and a general inattention to defensive intensity - TP for a solid post.

[18isGREATERthan72]

Good post.  I think people have a pretty short memory when it comes to things like this.  People made a pretty big fuss about the Perk trade.  We played very well with him injured so far this season, and while it'll be tough to win Banner 18 without him, it is still possible.  If Shaq or JO are healthy, we have as good a shot as anyone.

The real challenge will be in the playoffs, and if/when we match up with the Lakers.  The Perkins playing Game 7 scenario definitely gives the loss of Perkins a bitter taste, but when the game slows down in the Playoffs, hopefully Shaq/JO should be able to stay relatively injury free and fresh.

As far as poor PG play goes, Rondo 9 times out of 10 delivers big in the Playoffs...  I'm not worried about Rondo right now, as that also falls into the short memory point I already mentioned.

[CoachBo]

True. As I've said in other threads, the one place you can count on Rondo being engaged is in the playoffs. Despite the requiste attempts here to blame his lousy play on hangnails, et al, he's clearly healthy enough to play well - when he wants to, as most of last night showed until his brain vapor-locked at the end of the game.

He'll be engaged by the playoffs. Derrick Rose will see to that in a couple of weeks.

As for the trade, the reality of the NBA is that some fans dote on their favorite players and rationality takes a back seat. We did quite well without Perkins this year, and we'll manage to put a team on the floor without him. Krstic will be handy as a situational 5 in the playoffs, as crazy as that will drive the folks here rushing to write him off. He comes to us from a subpar defensive team.

[jasail]

I would add one thing to your post and that is making the distinction that Perkins was injured before he was traded.

Also, in addition to poor size inside, the C's just seem disinterested (and to be honest at this point in the season so am I).  The effort is uneven every night and often between halves.  The sky isn't falling, we saw them play like this for most of last year.  If healthy they can turn it on.

At this point I'd love for them to get the 1 seed, but I really don't care so long as they are healthy in May and June.  This is a team that can win on the road, can win with defense or with offense, can control the tempo, loves hostile environments (see MSG Knicks game) and has shown time and again they can close.

I like the Bulls and they are a great defensive team but I just don't see them having the fire power on offense (outside of Rose) to win big playoff games.

If they don't show up for the upcoming SAS, MIA or CHI games, I'd be surprised - a Wednesday against Memphis not so much.

[BASS_THUMPER]

early in the season i have gotten a lil bored..

but i have loved the last few games..fun to see this team fight back..im not sayin i love to see us struggle but it's been a lil more exciting

[Celtics18]

Great post. 

I generally agree with you.  I think that Shaq's return will help us immensely.  Despite a lot of concerns about Krstic's defense, I actually think where we have been missing Shaq the most is on the offensive end.

Our D has been pretty solid lately.  Where we've really struggled has been offensively.  We were hovering around the top ten in offensive efficiency for most of the season.  No, that's not fantastic, but we've dropped down to the bottom half of the league recently.  Also, for most of the season, we've been atop the league or among the leaders in assists per game, assist to turnover ratio, field goal percentage, and 3 point field goal percentage.  So, even though, we were never at the top in the god of efficiency stats, points per 100 possessions, I'd say those numbers point to a very smooth running offense.  

Although, some like to point to Rondo's struggles as being mostly responsible for our offensive woes, it seems to me that having the big fella back down there commanding attention will go along way towards helping to rekindle this offense.  

At least that's the theory I'm clinging to right now.

[j804]

I agree legit reason why we aren't playing well. Still you have to see why there is concern the big question is just how much, or will there bodies  even allow them (Shaq and JO) to give us anything in the playoffs.

Will we make it like last year all the way back to the Finals ala Sheed and his achy back but with the Oneal's hobbling on one leg giving all they can? Will the results be different?  Will fatigue catch up with us and we are kicked out the second round with both of them inactive day to day?

[billysan]

Thanks to the OP for this topic and how it was adressed.

I think another point should be made here regarding our bigs. I rarely see any criticism of KG when we are talking about our bigs. The one area I would like to point out is this, KG and Krstic share one thing in common that Krstic is regularly hammered for on this blog. We all give KG a pass for some reason. That thing is toughness in the post up game and the subsequent offensive rebounding. 

I know that KG is invaluable in a team defensive sense. I also know that he has a beautiful outside shot. I also know that he doesnt postup for us much. My point is that if he and Krstic are both this 'type' of player, then they should be paired with a big that is a banger if we hope to compete with many teams in the paint.

If Perk, Shaq, JO and even Erden were complements to KG's game then they certainly would be complements to Krstics game as well. It is clear that KG is the better defender, but also that he likes the outside shot and 'needs' that enforcer/big body inside on offense to be at his most effective....Just like Nenad Krstic does.

[vinnie]

Shaq got a cortisone shot and is back wearing a boot. I would say this is not a positive sign.

[indeedproceed]

Shaq got a cortisone shot and is back wearing a boot. I would say this is not a positive sign.

Agree..but a walking boot doesn't seem like it the harbinger of doom it once was 3 years ago, right? Now guys just do it to maximize immobilization and rest an injury as much as anything else. Probably a good indicator of swelling though.

[vinnie]

Shaq got a cortisone shot and is back wearing a boot. I would say this is not a positive sign.

Agree..but a walking boot doesn't seem like it the harbinger of doom it once was 3 years ago, right? Now guys just do it to maximize immobilization and rest an injury as much as anything else. Probably a good indicator of swelling though.

The fact that he had a cortisone shot is of more concern to me. It means the inflammation and pain are not improving. I don't believe that this is going to end well. I so hope I am wrong.

[Celtics18]

Shaq got a cortisone shot and is back wearing a boot. I would say this is not a positive sign.

Agree..but a walking boot doesn't seem like it the harbinger of doom it once was 3 years ago, right? Now guys just do it to maximize immobilization and rest an injury as much as anything else. Probably a good indicator of swelling though.

The fact that he had a cortisone shot is of more concern to me. It means the inflammation and pain are not improving. I don't believe that this is going to end well. I so hope I am wrong.

Me too.

[jambr380]

We might as well have signed Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Dikembe Mutombo. At least they would have been able to walk on to the court.

But I do agree with the original poster. The world has been falling since we traded Perk to many people here. The loss of Perk hasn't been the problem - the loss of Shaq/JO has, at least this season. Now, if neither of those two can come back healthy, then those other people have a point.

[Who]

Shaq got a cortisone shot and is back wearing a boot. I would say this is not a positive sign.

Agree..but a walking boot doesn't seem like it the harbinger of doom it once was 3 years ago, right? Now guys just do it to maximize immobilization and rest an injury as much as anything else. Probably a good indicator of swelling though.

The fact that he had a cortisone shot is of more concern to me. It means the inflammation and pain are not improving. I don't believe that this is going to end well. I so hope I am wrong.

Yeah, the cortisone shot part is worrying.

For a guy who is not playing and has had as much rest as he has had ... and there is still significant problems there. Not good.