Who cares?
Danny made our team better by making something out of nothing.
I care. I totally disagree that Danny has made the team better. Since he lucked into the KG/RA deal, in fact he has never picked up, or kept pieces, that allowed the big three to grab more rings. I believe that by not standing by his franchise players he has hurt the Celtics reputation for loyalty immeasurably.
That seems a little harsh. Look at the injuries we had. KG's knee, Perk in 2010, Shaq and Rondo in 2011, Green's heart, Bradley's shoulders and Pietrus's concussion/whiplash in 2012. I don't think you can really expect more than "if we're fairly healthy we'll have a solid shot at winning a title" from your team.
Most of those were foreseeable. Maybe not the exact injury, but the fact that they would be hurt just given age, history, position, etc.
I do agree though that Boston was clearly in the hunt if they could have mustered better health, just acting like guys like Shaq weren't going to be hurt is silly (though him missing the playoffs is what killed that team). And who knows what 11/12 looks like if Green is healthy (of course you could say the same thing about Chicago missing Rose, Atlanta missing Horford, etc.
I don't think that is when the trouble started...it was before that. I know the big three were aging, and I may be the only one who feels this way, but I felt that a little more loyalty and patience should have been shown for Powe and the Perkins to see if they (even the next year) could have come back healthy. Instead of trying to find "replacements" Danny should have been looking for effective "team" players to hold the standard until the Champions had a chance to repeat...that team was too close to championship caliber to break it up at that time. And you can't say, for example, that Perkins never regained his former form, who knows what might have happened if he had stayed in Boston. (I never felt that Perkins was the perfect center....but I felt that he was the hardest working and perfect for the Celtics. While Paul Pierce was never my favorite player on the team, Paul Pierce WAS the franchise. The Captain was drafted by the Celtics, stayed through the lean years...he played for the Celtics for thirteen, THIRTEEN years! He should still be on the team in one capacity or another...I realize it is not fair to expect PP to haul the heavy load anymore, but we Do need veteran Celtic experience, and a franchise player should never be forced out, IMO. Some people expected Pierce to resign with the Celtics. I felt that he would not, at least not to play, as long as Danny is in charge (exception: maybe for a one day contract to retire in Green. Even if Pierce's number is retired, it is now just a little tarnished...he should have played his whole career in Green. I think it is wonderful that everyone thinks that KO is the next Dirk, and the rooks are the next "whoever," but they have not done anything yet, and may not even be here, given the trade rate on the team, when anything is accomplished. Rookies generally do not carry teams. Jordan couldn't, Lebron couldn't, Howard couldn't, Shaq couldn't. Larry was an exception. It has been a long time since there was that kind of exception.
I was impressed by a presser by Larry Bird yesterday (true Celtic values) who said that they will not replace Paul George, that it may take a while, but he will be back, and during his recovery they will still put a competitive team on the floor. Even if it is just talk, I think it is the right kind of talk. Although age is creeping up, Dirk is still going strong (if not quite as long) and "will never be traded."
I just find it interesting that after Danny told Red that Bird should be traded while he still had value(?) and seeing how Red always showed loyalty to his franchise players (Bill Russell, Tommy, Bird, etc.) that Danny was the one Red traded. I have often wondered if his lack of "we are a team and we can/will do it together" was a reason. Again, only my opinions and thoughts.
Topic: Love to Cavs: Danny's Doing? (Read 7689 times)