Is anyone still mad we traded KG and Pierce??

[LarBrd33]

When Rondo got injured last season, we were in the midst of a 6 game losing streak.  The team was 20-23.

Immediately following the injury, we won 7 in a row.  The team finished 1 game above .500 thanks to KG and Pierce.   Pierce, our only consistent scorer.  KG, a guy who remained one of the most dominant defensive players in the game.  Unfortunately, KG and Pierce alone weren't enough to deal with a 54 win Knicks team.  Unlikely we would have beat them with a healthy Rondo either.

This year, KG and Pierce are once again key contributors to a low-level playoff team hovering around .500.  Even as elderlies with a foot in retirement, they still remain winners.  KG remains a dominant defensive player:

When Garnett is on the floor, the Nets post a defensive rating of 101. When he is on the bench, the Nets defensive rating drops to 107, a drastic decrease in defensive efficiency.

Pierce remains an effective offensive weapon.  Putting up Per-36 stats of 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 43%/36%/84%.   

The Nets are the 6th seed team in spite of the fact Brook Lopez played a mere 17 games and Deron Williams has been an injured shadow of himself all season.


Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are the 4th worst team in the entire league.  Prior to Rondo's return, the team had a 14-26 record (.350PCT)  ... We are 2-11 in games Rondo has played (.150PCT)...   Our only two victories coming against 17 win Orlando and 15 win Philly.   If we're looking to make a verdict from the early results... it appears that the fears of a Rondo-lead team playing themselves out of prime lotto position was completely overblown.   This team appears to be hot garbage without ancient hall of fame talent carrying them to mediocrity.

But we're getting worse to get better.  And long-term, this should turn out rather well for us.  Getting 3 picks for the vets and 1 pick for Doc was amazing return.  It does seem to me, though... this team COULD have been a playoff team this year. For you anti-tankers out there... is anyone still mad about the trade and what could have been with KG and Pierce having 1-2 more cracks at the playoffs together?

[indeedproceed]

I didn't know people were mad. Sad, maybe. I was sad. Not overly so. I was a bit verklempt.

[Boris Badenov]

This guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJzx-PeG8zs

[LarBrd33]

I didn't know people were mad. Sad, maybe. I was sad. Not overly so. I was a bit verklempt.

I remember quiet a few people being ticked off that Ainge didn't let Pierce retire here and that we shipped out the heart-and-soul of the team.

[freshinthehouse]

There were definitely some rage-filled posts just after the trade was made. 

[LarBrd33]

We're on pace to win 27 games, but we've actually been even worse lately... dropping back-to-back-to-back games against equally horrific tanking teams.

Just curious... In an alternate universe where Ainge brings back everyone during this past offseason and trotted out a lineup of PG - Rondo, SG - Ray Allen, SF - Pierce, PF - KG, C - Perk... with Tony Allen and Glen Davis off the bench...

How many games does that team win?  Let's pretend they had this post-prime version of Rondo all season.

[beshtija]

Nobody should be mad. We won that trade big time.

[LarBrd33]

Nobody should be mad. We won that trade big time.

Will you feel differently if Brooklyn wins a couple playoff series? 

[timobusa]

If the trade didn't happen, we're probably have 4th or 5th seed in the east with a 1st round exit, and get a 20-25th pick in the 2014 draft.

And after KG and Pierce retires lets say in 2015 or 2016, we would be stuck without anybody or any assets for the future.

I was really sad the trade happened, but a part of me knows that it was necessary if we want to be real contenders again.

[feckless]

I, a 50 plus year Celtic fan, am still quite angry.  Thought I would be over it by now, but it has not gone away.  I consider it an unCeltic like move, a great disrespect to Paul Pierce (more of a Celtic than Danny), I cancelled my league pass and still feel that the right thing for me to do is follow the Brooklyn Celtics until Danny Ainge is fired.

I do still love the Celticsblog.

Does anyone think Red Auerbach would have made the trade?

[freshinthehouse]

Nobody should be mad. We won that trade big time.

Will you feel differently if Brooklyn wins a couple playoff series?

I would hope that wouldn't faze anyone.  Do we strive for playoff wins or championships?  Making it to the ECF with a young team on the rise is good.  Making it with a team full of vets on their last legs is a sign that changes need to be made.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

The title's about KG and Pierce, but the OP reads like a Rondo adds no value to the team thread. That aside, this trade has been and alway will in in the 'necessary evil' box.

[feckless]

Nobody should be mad. We won that trade big time.

Will you feel differently if Brooklyn wins a couple playoff series?

I would hope that wouldn't faze anyone.  Do we strive for playoff wins or championships?  Making it to the ECF with a young team on the rise is good.  Making it with a team full of vets on their last legs is a sign that changes need to be made.

  Bill Russell would beg to differ with your comment about vets and he proved it his final year.  That is part of the Celtic lore that Danny flushed away.

[feckless]

If the trade didn't happen, we're probably have 4th or 5th seed in the east with a 1st round exit, and get a 20-25th pick in the 2014 draft.

And after KG and Pierce retires lets say in 2015 or 2016, we would be stuck without anybody or any assets for the future.

I was really sad the trade happened, but a part of me knows that it was necessary if we want to be real contenders again.

  Real contenders? When 2018, 2020, realistically when?

[timobusa]

If the trade didn't happen, we're probably have 4th or 5th seed in the east with a 1st round exit, and get a 20-25th pick in the 2014 draft.

And after KG and Pierce retires lets say in 2015 or 2016, we would be stuck without anybody or any assets for the future.

I was really sad the trade happened, but a part of me knows that it was necessary if we want to be real contenders again.

  Real contenders? When 2018, 2020, realistically when?

Definitely not another 22 years.
Maybe 2 to 4 years, we'll be back as real contenders.

Or if it does take another 20 years, I'm young enough to see another 20 years. *knock on wood.