Your Endless Negativity Swayed Me

[thebat]

Of course there will be a major uproar if Ray was traded, and please your analogy is silly.

The thing is, as a fan, I do not want to see anyone from the first five traded or let go. Not one. But, braniac Ainge here traded the best low post defender in the league and broken the best 1-2 punch frontline defenders in the whole universe!

I wonder if Danny traded ray there would be as much uproar on this forum as perks trade. Maybe not. Which proves how silly some of this is.

Ray is double the player perk is.

Let's support the team we have. If our healthy quality players perform to their best, we will win ball games. Simple as that.

[jdz101]

Of course there will be a major uproar if Ray was traded, and please your analogy is silly.

The thing is, as a fan, I do not want to see anyone from the first five traded or let go. Not one. But, braniac Ainge here traded the best low post defender in the league and broken the best 1-2 punch frontline defenders in the whole universe!

I wonder if Danny traded ray there would be as much uproar on this forum as perks trade. Maybe not. Which proves how silly some of this is.

Ray is double the player perk is.

Let's support the team we have. If our healthy quality players perform to their best, we will win ball
games. Simple as that.

How is my analogy silly? Danny looked to trade both players, and eventually traded one.

Your post proves my point on how overrated perk is here. Best low post defender and best
defensive duo in the universe. Give me a break.

[PosImpos]

Of course there will be a major uproar if Ray was traded, and please your analogy is silly.

The thing is, as a fan, I do not want to see anyone from the first five traded or let go. Not one. But, braniac Ainge here traded the best low post defender in the league and broken the best 1-2 punch frontline defenders in the whole universe!

I wonder if Danny traded ray there would be as much uproar on this forum as perks trade. Maybe not. Which proves how silly some of this is.

Ray is double the player perk is.

Let's support the team we have. If our healthy quality players perform to their best, we will win ball games. Simple as that.

best low post defender in the league?

oh please.

dwight is better, and by virtue of size probably bogut and bynum (when healthy). perk is a very good pick setter and low post defender, and also quite a good shot blocker.  but he's an offensively inept, less athletic emeka okafor.

[thebat]

"best low post defender" - I was just merely quoting what Kobe mentioned in the NBA a week ago. And perhaps what the NBA has been SHOUTING throughout the whole league!!!

As a matter of fact, Kobe and his team were very afraid of KG and Perkins and that's why it took them 7 grueling games to finish us off and it took them to win without Perkins in game 6 and 7!

Oh, and did you watch how easily they won their 2009 title against Dwight Howard!

[chambers]

So does every one who thinks the trade was a mistake...
think that if we hadn't traded Perkins, the other 4 core players would have gotten us the number 1 seed?
If Perkins was on this team would we be number 3 seed or number 1?
does it change our record going into the playoffs?

You are all putting waaaaayy too much importance on one slightly above average center who boxes out and sets good picks.

You're giving the big four an easy way out of this and it's not fair. They're the ones who are struggling.
If our new guys play the same throughout the playoffs and our big four play like they did last year in the playoffs we are a better team.
What is so hard to understand about this?

[jdz101]

So does every one who thinks the trade was a mistake...
think that if we hadn't traded Perkins, the other 4 core players would have gotten us the number 1 seed?
If Perkins was on this team would we be number 3 seed or number 1?
does it change our record going into the playoffs?

You are all putting waaaaayy too much importance on one slightly above average center who boxes out and sets good picks.

You're giving the big four an easy way out of this and it's not fair. They're the ones who are struggling.
If our new guys play the same throughout the playoffs and our big four play like they did last year in the
 playoffs we are a better team.

What is so hard to understand about this?

This to the max. TP.

[jdz101]

"best low post defender" - I was just merely quoting what Kobe mentioned in the NBA a week ago. And perhaps what the NBA has been SHOUTING throughout the whole league!!!

As a matter of fact, Kobe and his team were very afraid of KG and Perkins and that's why it took them 7 grueling games to finish us off and it took them to win without Perkins in game 6 and 7!

Oh, and did you watch how easily they won their 2009 title against Dwight Howard!

Dwight Howard dropped 46 and grabbed a bucketload of boards today and his team still lost. Not his fault. This is about the quality of individuals.

I also wouldn't be taking what the nba "analysts" say and what Kobe says as gospel.

[celtics2]

Not swayed. I stay my post. Shaq will run out onto the floor the 7th Game Finals 2nd half, do a cart wheel and beat LA. Danny is saved from the Gallows.

[Bahku]

My optimism isn't swayed in the least when it comes to this team ... I'm way too old to not be highly opinionated and obnoxiously set in my ways.

[scoop1977]

Of course there will be a major uproar if Ray was traded, and please your analogy is silly.

The thing is, as a fan, I do not want to see anyone from the first five traded or let go. Not one. But, braniac Ainge here traded the best low post defender in the league and broken the best 1-2 punch frontline defenders in the whole universe!

I wonder if Danny traded ray there would be as much uproar on this forum as perks trade. Maybe not. Which proves how silly some of this is.

Ray is double the player perk is.

Let's support the team we have. If our healthy quality players perform to their best, we will win ball games. Simple as that.

best low post defender in the league?

oh please.

dwight is better, and by virtue of size probably bogut and bynum (when healthy). perk is a very good pick setter and low post defender, and also quite a good shot blocker.  but he's an offensively inept, less athletic emeka okafor.

Better overall defenders, yes, especially Howard and Bogut (Bynum is about the same). Better low post defenders, no way.

[ThaPreacher]

I actually liked the trade when it happened.  I thought Perk was overrated.  A big body who plays defense and gets some rebounds.  I loved Jeff Green.  I thought the kid was a stud who was just stuck playing out of position in OKC.  I made giant leaps of logic, claimed he was a future "fringe all-star" and compared his talent level to someone like Danny Granger... saying that had Granger been stuck playing Power Forward full time next to Durant, he would have put up numbers equal to Jeff Green.  I figured we lost very little... and gained a lot for our present and future.  I pointed out that Perk only played 12 games this year and that we were probably a better team with Shaq.  I said that removing Perk solidified Jermaine O'Neal's role... and that now he was going to fully buy into being a Celtic either as a starter or our 6th man.  I was so delusional this year that I actually posted in a thread that I had finally gained respect for Glen Davis.

But an endless stream of negativity from this forum finally swayed me.  I'm here to admit I was wrong.  You're right guys.  Sorry.  I'm was being an idiot homer and looking at things through green-tinted glasses.  Kudos to those of you who argued with me.  You win.  Pat yourselves on the back!

My biggest mistakes:

#1 Shaq -  This entire time I was under the impression that Danny Ainge wasn't a total moron.  The idea that he'd put this team's title hopes on a 39 year old fatty who has a history of missing games was so absurd that I assumed (incorrectly) that Ainge knew something I didn't.  In other words, I thought that Shaq was healthy.  I legitimately thought that the Celtics planned all along that Shaq was going to take most of the regular season off.  I figured it was written in his contract... he's a legend, the regular season essentially is irrelevant and he's a weapon to be saved for the playoffs anyways. If Shaq wanted to take a couple months to film a TV show or something, that was fine.  This entire time I seriously thought that the Celtics had him on some kind of weight-loss and leg-strengthening regimen and that his "injury" was a joke.  I figured we would unleash a "rejuvenated" Shaq on the NBA in the playoffs and destroy the league.  I figured Ainge/Doc saw how well we were playing with Shaq at the start of the season and decided, "you know what... we got this.  Our only real weakness is a backup for Pierce.  Shaq should be starting for us... we are better off with him than Perk... let's save shaq for the playoffs and strengthen our only weakness"....   In other words, I was an idiot.  You guys are right.  Danny Ainge absolutely should be fired at season's end.  It's completely totally moronic... we win the 2010 title with a good big man... so Ainge makes a trade where we end up relying on a 39 year old BROKEN fatty.  I doubt we even see Shaq in the playoffs.  He looks like he can barely walk.  I was stupid to have faith in Celtics management.  It was borderline criminal relying on this fat former Laker.  The basketball gods will have our heads for it. 
  
#2 - Perk ...  I underestimated his value.  I forgot a couple key things.  First, I read a quote from Cliff Ray where he said the best defensive player on the Celtics was Perkins.  You'd figure he'd say KG, but he actually reiterated that Perk was the most important guy out there.  Second, I forgot the numerous quotes from people throughout the league that said that Boston set the best picks out of any team in the league.   Our offense has gone in the tank since Perk left.  Ray can't get open.  Perk is a monster at setting screens and with him (and Shaq) gone, Ray always has two guys on him, Rondo can't get any assists and we have to rely on Rondo bricking a wide-open jumper, driving to the lane and bricking free throws... or tossing it to Glen Davis so he can brick a shot... You guys were right.  I was wrong.  I'm an idiot.  Our 4 all-stars should retroactively be stripped of their "all-star" designations.  Hall-of-Famers or not... they are nothing without Perk.  Playoff fodder for the Knicks (who have no center) or the Heat (who have no center).  That's saying something.    

#3 - Our System/Chemistry -  I said countless times that I wasn't concerned about our end-of-season losses.  It's easy for OKC to fit in Perk.  They just needed a big body.  However, I explained that the Celtics system was intricate and notoriously hard to pick up for newcomers... and that by bringing in 5 new players, we were inevitable heading for a month-long slump while we had what amounted to pre-season.  "You can't expect these guys to play like Celtics the second they get here", I said... With our limited practice time (where the starters weren't even participating), I said that come playoff time we'd be ready.  

Somehow while saying all these things, I was glossing over the first thing I said:  THE CELTICS SYSTEM IS INTRICATE AND NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO PICK UP FOR NEWCOMERS.   Sam Cassell never got it.  Nate RObinson never got it.  I AM AN IDIOT for assuming that these 5 players would get it. You guys were right.  I was wrong.   They look lost out there.  We ran out of time.    

Also, I underestimated how much that trade killed ubuntu and our chemistry.  The Celtics should be angry about choking away game 7 against the Lakers.  That was a winnable game.  Every player/coach on the team should be driven with the goal to get back to the finals and destroy whoever stands in front of them.  Forget the regular season, I figured... these boys have a chip on their shoulders.  Once playoff time comes... look out.  These boys are looking for blood! ....   Unfortunately, I'm an idiot. "These boys" don't exist.  Somehow I neglected to realize that the entire team is different.  Tony, Sheed, Perk, Nate, Quis, Finley, Shelden and Scal are gone.  In replace of them we will expect minutes from JO, Green, Delonte, Krstic and maybe Shaq, Murphy, Arroyo, Sasha, Wafer and Bradley...  Even our mastermind coach is gone (leading the Bulls to the NBA's best record).   The team that got humiliated by the Lakers doesn't exist any more.  This Celtics team has no more of a "chip" on it's shoulder than the Heat do with LeBron (who got humiliated by the Celtics last year).   You guys win.  


#4 - Jeff Green -  Wow.  Shows flashes, but bricks half his shots.  Looks completely uncomfortable.  Looks lost on defense.  Shows no aggression.  I expected "Rondo-To-Green" to be a common sight, but Jeff Shows none of the explosive high-flying finishing I thought he had.  I thought he'd be a defensive stopper for the Brons/Kobes... but I'm not seeing that out of him at all.  He's put up some stats and I figure he'll be part of our core next year when KG and Ray retire and the Celtics are lottery-bound... but I have to admit that you guys were right once again.  Jeff Green is a 7th man on this team.  We traded a starting center for a nobody.  His only value at this point is basically "Paul Pierce insurance"... and if we ever need to use "Paul Pierce" insurance, we're toast anyways.  I clearly don't know enough about the NBA outside of Boston.  I was dead wrong on this kid.  You guys swayed me.

#5 -  Obese (Glen Davis) - He's a fat loser.  How the heck does this guy continue to get fatter while playing for a championship caliber team?  I saw him shirtless in the latest episode of "The Assocation" standing next to a shirtless Ray Allen and it's a freakin embarrassment.  Too many pancakes, not enough focus.  He did look pretty good early on in the season as a backup, but I guess my mind was clouded by all the Shaq-fueled early-season dominance.  Reiterating what I've said about "Obese" for years... he is only as good as his teammates.  Not a great defender.  Pretty poor rebounder.  Poor finisher.  Hits some wide open shots.   It's not all Glen's fault.  Team's have found a way to exploit the Celtics by making them "live and die" with Glen Davis jumpers.  When he makes them, he's a hero.  When he doesn't, he looks like the bench-warming role player he's destined to become.  No need to beat a dead horse here.  I'm back on the bandwagon... Glen Davis is a bum



Bottom line:  Thanks for setting me straight.  TP's for all of you who were on board with Celtic Pride dying weeks before I was.  I look forward to our lively debates in the offseason where we will argue over who should replace Ainge/Rivers and who will fill the void left by KG and Ray.    See you all on May 1st, I guess.  Knicks in Six.

ROF L M AO endlessly. 
Flame on Birdie!
Strip away our enui, (boredom) as we wait for the playoffs to begin.  Take away our frustration of the start of the Red Sox season.  Help alleviate our fear of the Bruins being swept again.
And make the WWE rue the day, they didn't have you on mic doing a shoot before a match.
I bow down to you.  (Throws up West Coast Gang Sign Used in Laker Land)

In one post you created a page long rant where you have totally taken away our boredom over the last few days waiting for the playoffs to begin.  You're post will generate 8-10 (or more) pages of responses.  Some yay, some nay. Some will raise you as the fallen archangel, others will villify you.  Some will take small points that you made and debate them.  Some will simply write one line responses. Others will think you were "just funnin" and are a satirical genius.  I read your post a few times, thought of going point for point with you. 

Instead I will repeat a few of your gems:


"Obese Glen Davis is a fat loser"

"The entire time I was under the impression that Danny Ainge wasn't a total moron"

"Our 4 all-stars should retroactively be stripped of their "all-star" designations.  Hall-of-Famers or not... they are nothing without Perk."

"Jeff Green.....We traded a starting center for a nobody. "

 "look forward to our lively debates in the offseason where we will argue over who should replace Ainge/Rivers"

"It was borderline criminal relying on this fat former Laker.  "

The attention you garnish call for the parparazzi  to follow you. Archie Bunker, Al Bundy, Dennis Rodman, Howard Cosell, Marv Albert (bite bite), Charlie Sheen all would be proud!!!


I have only one more thing to say,


SHOW YOURSELF,  FELGAR,

I know its you!!!

[dark_lord]

I actually liked the trade when it happened.  I thought Perk was overrated.  A big body who plays defense and gets some rebounds.  I loved Jeff Green.  I thought the kid was a stud who was just stuck playing out of position in OKC.  I made giant leaps of logic, claimed he was a future "fringe all-star" and compared his talent level to someone like Danny Granger... saying that had Granger been stuck playing Power Forward full time next to Durant, he would have put up numbers equal to Jeff Green.  I figured we lost very little... and gained a lot for our present and future.  I pointed out that Perk only played 12 games this year and that we were probably a better team with Shaq.  I said that removing Perk solidified Jermaine O'Neal's role... and that now he was going to fully buy into being a Celtic either as a starter or our 6th man.  I was so delusional this year that I actually posted in a thread that I had finally gained respect for Glen Davis.

But an endless stream of negativity from this forum finally swayed me.  I'm here to admit I was wrong.  You're right guys.  Sorry.  I'm was being an idiot homer and looking at things through green-tinted glasses.  Kudos to those of you who argued with me.  You win.  Pat yourselves on the back!

My biggest mistakes:

#1 Shaq -  This entire time I was under the impression that Danny Ainge wasn't a total moron.  The idea that he'd put this team's title hopes on a 39 year old fatty who has a history of missing games was so absurd that I assumed (incorrectly) that Ainge knew something I didn't.  In other words, I thought that Shaq was healthy.  I legitimately thought that the Celtics planned all along that Shaq was going to take most of the regular season off.  I figured it was written in his contract... he's a legend, the regular season essentially is irrelevant and he's a weapon to be saved for the playoffs anyways. If Shaq wanted to take a couple months to film a TV show or something, that was fine.  This entire time I seriously thought that the Celtics had him on some kind of weight-loss and leg-strengthening regimen and that his "injury" was a joke.  I figured we would unleash a "rejuvenated" Shaq on the NBA in the playoffs and destroy the league.  I figured Ainge/Doc saw how well we were playing with Shaq at the start of the season and decided, "you know what... we got this.  Our only real weakness is a backup for Pierce.  Shaq should be starting for us... we are better off with him than Perk... let's save shaq for the playoffs and strengthen our only weakness"....   In other words, I was an idiot.  You guys are right.  Danny Ainge absolutely should be fired at season's end.  It's completely totally moronic... we win the 2010 title with a good big man... so Ainge makes a trade where we end up relying on a 39 year old BROKEN fatty.  I doubt we even see Shaq in the playoffs.  He looks like he can barely walk.  I was stupid to have faith in Celtics management.  It was borderline criminal relying on this fat former Laker.  The basketball gods will have our heads for it. 
  
#2 - Perk ...  I underestimated his value.  I forgot a couple key things.  First, I read a quote from Cliff Ray where he said the best defensive player on the Celtics was Perkins.  You'd figure he'd say KG, but he actually reiterated that Perk was the most important guy out there.  Second, I forgot the numerous quotes from people throughout the league that said that Boston set the best picks out of any team in the league.   Our offense has gone in the tank since Perk left.  Ray can't get open.  Perk is a monster at setting screens and with him (and Shaq) gone, Ray always has two guys on him, Rondo can't get any assists and we have to rely on Rondo bricking a wide-open jumper, driving to the lane and bricking free throws... or tossing it to Glen Davis so he can brick a shot... You guys were right.  I was wrong.  I'm an idiot.  Our 4 all-stars should retroactively be stripped of their "all-star" designations.  Hall-of-Famers or not... they are nothing without Perk.  Playoff fodder for the Knicks (who have no center) or the Heat (who have no center).  That's saying something.    

#3 - Our System/Chemistry -  I said countless times that I wasn't concerned about our end-of-season losses.  It's easy for OKC to fit in Perk.  They just needed a big body.  However, I explained that the Celtics system was intricate and notoriously hard to pick up for newcomers... and that by bringing in 5 new players, we were inevitable heading for a month-long slump while we had what amounted to pre-season.  "You can't expect these guys to play like Celtics the second they get here", I said... With our limited practice time (where the starters weren't even participating), I said that come playoff time we'd be ready.  

Somehow while saying all these things, I was glossing over the first thing I said:  THE CELTICS SYSTEM IS INTRICATE AND NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO PICK UP FOR NEWCOMERS.   Sam Cassell never got it.  Nate RObinson never got it.  I AM AN IDIOT for assuming that these 5 players would get it. You guys were right.  I was wrong.   They look lost out there.  We ran out of time.    

Also, I underestimated how much that trade killed ubuntu and our chemistry.  The Celtics should be angry about choking away game 7 against the Lakers.  That was a winnable game.  Every player/coach on the team should be driven with the goal to get back to the finals and destroy whoever stands in front of them.  Forget the regular season, I figured... these boys have a chip on their shoulders.  Once playoff time comes... look out.  These boys are looking for blood! ....   Unfortunately, I'm an idiot. "These boys" don't exist.  Somehow I neglected to realize that the entire team is different.  Tony, Sheed, Perk, Nate, Quis, Finley, Shelden and Scal are gone.  In replace of them we will expect minutes from JO, Green, Delonte, Krstic and maybe Shaq, Murphy, Arroyo, Sasha, Wafer and Bradley...  Even our mastermind coach is gone (leading the Bulls to the NBA's best record).   The team that got humiliated by the Lakers doesn't exist any more.  This Celtics team has no more of a "chip" on it's shoulder than the Heat do with LeBron (who got humiliated by the Celtics last year).   You guys win.  


#4 - Jeff Green -  Wow.  Shows flashes, but bricks half his shots.  Looks completely uncomfortable.  Looks lost on defense.  Shows no aggression.  I expected "Rondo-To-Green" to be a common sight, but Jeff Shows none of the explosive high-flying finishing I thought he had.  I thought he'd be a defensive stopper for the Brons/Kobes... but I'm not seeing that out of him at all.  He's put up some stats and I figure he'll be part of our core next year when KG and Ray retire and the Celtics are lottery-bound... but I have to admit that you guys were right once again.  Jeff Green is a 7th man on this team.  We traded a starting center for a nobody.  His only value at this point is basically "Paul Pierce insurance"... and if we ever need to use "Paul Pierce" insurance, we're toast anyways.  I clearly don't know enough about the NBA outside of Boston.  I was dead wrong on this kid.  You guys swayed me.

#5 -  Obese (Glen Davis) - He's a fat loser.  How the heck does this guy continue to get fatter while playing for a championship caliber team?  I saw him shirtless in the latest episode of "The Assocation" standing next to a shirtless Ray Allen and it's a freakin embarrassment.  Too many pancakes, not enough focus.  He did look pretty good early on in the season as a backup, but I guess my mind was clouded by all the Shaq-fueled early-season dominance.  Reiterating what I've said about "Obese" for years... he is only as good as his teammates.  Not a great defender.  Pretty poor rebounder.  Poor finisher.  Hits some wide open shots.   It's not all Glen's fault.  Team's have found a way to exploit the Celtics by making them "live and die" with Glen Davis jumpers.  When he makes them, he's a hero.  When he doesn't, he looks like the bench-warming role player he's destined to become.  No need to beat a dead horse here.  I'm back on the bandwagon... Glen Davis is a bum



Bottom line:  Thanks for setting me straight.  TP's for all of you who were on board with Celtic Pride dying weeks before I was.  I look forward to our lively debates in the offseason where we will argue over who should replace Ainge/Rivers and who will fill the void left by KG and Ray.    See you all on May 1st, I guess.  Knicks in Six.

ROF L M AO endlessly. 
Flame on Birdie!
Strip away our enui, (boredom) as we wait for the playoffs to begin.  Take away our frustration of the start of the Red Sox season.  Help alleviate our fear of the Bruins being swept again.
And make the WWE rue the day, they didn't have you on mic doing a shoot before a match.
I bow down to you.  (Throws up West Coast Gang Sign Used in Laker Land)

In one post you created a page long rant where you have totally taken away our boredom over the last few days waiting for the playoffs to begin.  You're post will generate 8-10 (or more) pages of responses.  Some yay, some nay. Some will raise you as the fallen archangel, others will villify you.  Some will take small points that you made and debate them.  Some will simply write one line responses. Others will think you were "just funnin" and are a satirical genius.  I read your post a few times, thought of going point for point with you. 

Instead I will repeat a few of your gems:


"Obese Glen Davis is a fat loser"

"The entire time I was under the impression that Danny Ainge wasn't a total moron"

"Our 4 all-stars should retroactively be stripped of their "all-star" designations.  Hall-of-Famers or not... they are nothing without Perk."

"Jeff Green.....We traded a starting center for a nobody. "

 "look forward to our lively debates in the offseason where we will argue over who should replace Ainge/Rivers"

"It was borderline criminal relying on this fat former Laker.  "

The attention you garnish call for the parparazzi  to follow you. Archie Bunker, Al Bundy, Dennis Rodman, Howard Cosell, Marv Albert (bite bite), Charlie Sheen all would be proud!!!


I have only one more thing to say,


SHOW YOURSELF,  FELGAR,

I know its you!!!

this is great!!!  tp

[Spicoli]

I too, thought the trade made sense, on the condition that Shaq was healthy enough to play. I had no idea that it would backfire in this sort of way, and Ainge has ruled him out "indefinitely." This makes the trade bad, because there's no way this team can go to war with BBD, Krstic, and Jermaine as the only enforcers in the paint. I feel sick.

[Spicoli]

Perkins was essentially the MVP our team.  The best defensive center in the league.  An true starting a center.  

No way man. Just....no. Dwight Howard is the best defensive center in the league, and it's not even close. Perk routinely gets owned when he goes up against Bogut, Lopez, and any other center who can move their feet a little bit. Perk's value is against guys like Bynum, Shaq, and other guys who are big, but who are just as slow as he is.

[LarBrd33]

Perkins was essentially the MVP our team.  The best defensive center in the league.  An true starting a center. 

No way man. Just....no. Dwight Howard is the best defensive center in the league, and it's not even close. Perk routinely gets owned when he goes up against Bogut, Lopez, and any other center who can move their feet a little bit. Perk's value is against guys like Bynum, Shaq, and other guys who are big, but who are just as slow as he is.

It took me a while to realize it, but a month worth of posts on this forum got me to see the light on this.  I severely underrated Perk.  I kept thinking of him as a 5th wheel with career averages of 6 points and 6 rebounds.  Somehow by following every game of his career and seeing how mediocre he was pre-big 3 (I use to call him a poor man's Adonal Foyle), I assumed he was being overrated by casual fans in the same manner that Luc Longley is a household name simply for sharing a court with Jordan in the 90s.  Now, don't get me wrong... I LOVED the beast.  I just didn't think much of him. I was one of the first people to point out on this forum his trend in limiting Dwight Howard.  I knew combined with KG he was a key cog in our intricate defense.  I knew he brought that intimidation factor.  That scowl.  Those angry Persian-esque eyes that threatened to blot out the sun.  But I underrated him nonetheless.  I underrated the defense.  I underrated the scowl. 

Thankfully, ESPN and CelticsBlog set me straight.  Perkins is a legit starting center.  Our pseudo-stars are nothing without him.  Without the beast in the middle, teams look like they are running layup drills against us.  Without the beast setting picks, Ray can't get open... the floor isn't properly stretched, Rondo can't get assists and the offense goes in the crapper.   Nobody is scowling.  Nobody is knocking down people who come into the lane.  We have nobody to protect the rim or play tough defense on Ronny Turiaf and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.   Some might say that the Thunder's success has more to do with Kevin Durant and the fact that Ibaka is shining in the PF spot, but it's clearly because they just shafted Ainge out of a gem.  Everything the experts expected has already happened.  The Thunder are contenders and the Celtics are an afterthought.  I kept wanting to wait until the playoffs to come to this conclusion, but the pros convinced me how simple-minded and pointless that would be.   It's over.  We're toast.  The self-proclaimed captain of our defense is gone and we already failed at regrouping without him.

I thought Shaq could provide some of what Perk brought.  I thought there was a "plan" revolving around unleashing a healthy Shaq in the playoffs.  Since that's not happening... this is a disaster of epic proportions.  Shoulda signed Eddy Curry when we had a chance.