Add Bosh to the list of: Celtics aren't the same without Perkins

[Tai]

How did the C's go 27-27 down the stretch last year with a healthy Perkins?  He wasn't just in the locker room, and with the team; he was actually on the court and contributing to games then.

The team was injured, and was admittedly coasting at the direction of Doc and the front office.  The goal seemed to be to get healthy before the playoffs, and the lack of effort was visible on the court.

This year, it just looks different.  The effort seems to be there (from everyone but Rondo, at least), but the results have been largely terrible.  Doc is calling the team out, the players are getting frustrated, the team lacks an "identity" for the first time in four seasons, and the chemistry just isn't there.  Coincidentally or not, this slide seems to coincide with the trade.

To say we were injured this season is an understatement. Like others have mentioned, a trade may never had happened if we could even be mistakened for a healthy team, and I probably would have been OK with that. And at the end of the day, Shaq's still not back.

I'm not even sure where we ever truly admitted we were coasting last season. Was that from Sheed? Seriously, who? I definitely remember hearing that other teams weren't scared of the Celtics last season WITH Perkins, resulting in our 27-27 finish to the season.

The only thing I see different from this season from last is that Perkins isn't there. Maybe that means something, maybe it doesn't. We'll find out in the playoffs, I guess.

[angryguy77]

Ok guys, if it wasn't the trades that happened that day then why do we suck so bad right after them? And we do suck by the way. Both the Heat and Bulls are better then us right now.

And don't say Shaq. He's not been a factor in most of the big games we've won.

Neither was Perk for the most part

[csfansince60s]

Again the only people that I've heard say losing Perk made no difference to this team are here on this forum. Apparently they see something that the rest of the sports world (including the Celtics) don't see

I think people on this blog do see many things specific to the Cs that so many "experts" in the sports world don't see because of our blog members' proximity to the Celtic situation and the rabidity of our hunger for all things Celtic.

I have learned a lot from the informed, sharing (even though some may not perceive some others as being "sharing", but they are sharing just by virtue of the fact that they say something on here, they are sharing their ideas) people on this blog about many things in life in general, not just the Cs, but especially about the Cs.

This blog is such a metaphor for life and the varied people that you encounter. There are pessimists here and optimists. There are cynical people and those less questioning. There are open-minded people and close-minded folk. For me it makes for great reading and occasional participation.

This blog is also much like a family, including in-laws, where we all share something in common (Cs fandom)but we don't necessarily agree with everyone's opinion or take to others' "personalities" but do gravitate towards some others in the family, our favorites.

CelticG1, TP to you for this thought on your earlier post on this thread (on page 2) which alludes to our collective greater knowledge than the experts and the "casual fan":

"It's like the ultimate ultimate casual fan being asked why the Celtics have been doing bad. Last year it was because they were 'SOOOO OLD' this year it's because 'THEY TRADED PERKINS!!!'.

But then when you watch the games and if you know that Perkins barely played this year (and was on our horrible regular season team last year) and realize 'wow it's hard to believe that Perkins's is the root of all our problems' ".

[mgent]

Perk played what?  1 game against the Heat?  This is just piling on by Bosh, and rationalizations by teams trying to give themselves confidence.  

I'm starting to think that even though Perk wasn't playing all season, our team had it in their heads that he was gonna come back and they were going to be unstoppable (which allowed them to keep their swagga at a high level).

Now they are no longer looking forward to the reunion of the never-defeated-in-a-playoff-series starting 5.

[CaliCeltics]

Chris Bosh is feeling tough because he stood up to a point guard in yesterday's game. He's soft. Nothing about it. He tried to do any of that to KG, and he would have ended up with a lump on the side of his head. End of story.

[Chris]

Perk played what?  1 game against the Heat?  This is just piling on by Bosh, and rationalizations by teams trying to give themselves confidence.  

I'm starting to think that even though Perk wasn't playing all season, our team had it in their heads that he was gonna come back and they were going to be unstoppable (which allowed them to keep their swagga at a high level).

Now they are no longer looking forward to the reunion of the never-defeated-in-a-playoff-series starting 5.

It's certainly possible.  Personally though, I just believe that they (subconsciously) jumped on the chance to have an excuse not to focus for the last 1/3 of the season without being called out for it nearly as much as they should. 

It is like the guy who is really done with a relationship, but can't bring himself to actually end it, because he doesn't want to be the bad guy...and then his GF ran into an ex, and was caught giving him an innocent hug.  Suddenly, he had an excuse to break up with her without feeling bad about it, even though, it wasn't the real reason.

[GreenEnvy]

I personally don't get any of this.

I got the initial shock of the trade, which left me awestruck. But as the games pass, and the more we lose, the more players, fans, and media are making it out like Perkins was an all-star.

He was a good player. Inconsistent, but good. He could defend very well, rebound good, and score poorly. He was an above average Center. He wasn't in the top 5 like some are making him out to be.

He, like his buddy Rondo, benefit from having a great team around him.

Maybe he is still here is Marquis doesn't suffer that injury. But neither happened. He's gone. Jeff Green is a better NBA player.

Seeing "experts" like Henry Abbott saying Ainge got pennies on the dollar for Perk boggles my mind. He's not alone in that sentiment, not now at least. When the C's got into a groove after the trade and Krstic looked good and Green was running the break, everyone said it was a steal.

Now the team is struggling, and would be with Perkins because Rondo can't effectively run the offense or stop opposing PG's.

Maybe I am underestimating the psychological aspect, but this team is more talented - by a wide margin - than last year's squad.

[Tai]

And that doesn't even include that JO only came back very recently, and Shaq's only been back for like 5 minutes.

[barefacedmonk]

Kobe, Big Al, Rose, Noah, Bosh...who is next? JaVale McGee and Amare?

[angryguy77]

Bosh sounds as intelligent as JVG. That should tell you how seriously his quote should be taken.

[Assassin70]

We will see what they all say...when the new Disney commercial comes out this summer.

Disney annoucer: Shaquille O'Neal you just won the NBA championship what are you going to do?

Shaq: Kobe how my...

[mc34]

I miss Perkins as much as anybody. But seriously, the Perk trade is NOT the reason for our struggles... Remember when KG was our "defensive anchor?" In every ESPN article, Perk was our "defensive anchor" and now we don't have him anymore blah blah blah... The more other teams bring up the Perk trade and how we are missing something, the more likely it is for Rondo and the others begin to believe it. I think Rose, Bosh, and everyone else who keeps bringing up the Perk trade is just trying to gain a psychological edge on us. Not saying we don't miss Perk's toughness and defense, but let's get real here people; the offense wouldn't be any better with Perk in the lineup.

[kg is king]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2011_0411miami_happy_perks_gone/

MIAMI — After whacking the Celtics [team stats], 100-77, yesterday afternoon, the Heat hit them again.

Speaking of the difference in the Celts since their big trade, Chris Bosh said things were essentially the same in what they try to do. Then he added, “It’s just a difference in players. Kendrick (Perkins) brought a certain element to that team, and it’s not there anymore.”

Lol. Like this actually matters to Bosh...he's soft anyways regardless of who's out there.

[j804]

Kobe, Big Al, Rose, Noah, Bosh...who is next? JaVale McGee and Amare?

pretty much everybody except CelticsBlog homers

[Jeff]

who were the others to say that they were glad that the C's traded Perk?  I remember that there were others (Lakers? Bulls? LeBron/Wade?)

anyone have links?  I'm curious to see just how pervasive these sentiments have been

I think one of the main places I heard this was Bill Simmons' podcast, so unless someone has the transcript somewhere, I don't know if I could get the word-for-word quotes (and he might have been paraphrasing for effect anyway)