I'M BACK

The NBA has been insane these past couple of weeks. Obviously we have all been distracted by a move that hit really close to home, sending Perk to the Thunder for Green. I haven't spoken since. I was shocked, mad, confused, betrayed, any negative word you can think of I felt it and more. The ball sack on Danny Ainge.

Now that the smoke has cleared, I've seen two games, I can calmly, and clearly analyze what the hell just happened.

First of all, the down side...Lets all be honest and not biased for two seconds and admit what we lost. We lost maybe the toughest on court presence in the NBA. We lost the best Dwight Howard defender in the NBA. We lost a great rebounder. We lost one of the backbones to our defense. We lost an attitude and approach to the game that can't be defined by statistics. When I think of the Celtics mentality and how they play the game, first I think of Garnett, and then I think of Perk. You cannot and will not replace a guy like that. A lot of the league will fear us less. Let me quote a few people around the NBA. "When our starting five is in tact we've never lost a playoff series." Doc Rivers. "I would have to say Kendrick Perkins is the toughest defender I face in the league." Dwight Howard. "Had they had Perkins in game 7, we'd be talking about banner 18 instead of the LA's 16th." John Barry. I could keep going. but why? We get the picture. I really think this will haunt the Celtics one day for one reason or another. If we don't win it all, what do you think everyone will blame it on? It's a pretty cocky move by Danny Ainge. But lets look at it from a GM's point of view and a guy who has to think about more than just this year.

First of all, and a lot of people don't even know this, Perk was offered a 22 million dollar contract by the C's earlier in the year and rejected it. That means he was leaving after this season anyway. Wanna know how I know that? Well because that was the max amount of money the Celtics could pay him. Why would he change his mind later when other teams will be offering him 15 million more? So Danny Ainge is thinking like he's in a Carmelo situation on a smaller scale. Get what you can get for him right now and don't look back. Smart move Danny, but you need to convey this to the public a little better because more people don't know this, they just think your a heartless prick. Secondly, Perk is starting to be a little injury prone. We have a team already harassed by injuries. Cut the dead weight. Get healthy. Smart.

Thirdly, Perk is an offensive liability in the last 5 minutes of a game. We, because Rondo is as well. We need a center who can shoot the jump shot. We got it. So I'm actually looking at this trade center for center, Perk for Krstic. Your basically trading defense for offense. And for a team defined by defense it didn't make much sense at the time. But when you think about it, it does. If anyone watch the Jazz game last night, I notice Garnett being a littler crazier than usual. He had Al Jefferson on "tilt" at the end of the game. What did big Al do, demand the ball, then traveled. Garnett was inside his head. He's in everyones head. But last night I noticed him turning it up a notch. Before the big 3 era, Ray Allen was a defensive liability, Paul Pierce couldn't even spell defense. Then Garnett came in, and in one offseason these defensively challenged players, are playing all NBA defense. Why? Garnett makes you. Because defense isn't so much a skill as it is an approach. An attitude. So if the land of Celtics fans think Krstic is going to come in, put on the green jersey and stand around on defense, your out of your minds. Garnett would never let that happen. In fact, I bet in 6 weeks people will be saying, "Wow, I never knew Krstic as a defender but he's surprising me." Don't be surprised at all. Expect it. Because I'll tell you one statement you'll never forget, Perkins, is Perkins, because of Kevin Garnett. Before KG, Perk was a fat high school kid who didn't understand the concept of receiving the ball in the post, and going straight up with it. I think Krstic will be just fine. Will he have that attitude like Perk, hell no. But guess what, we were the best team in the NBA without him right...so why not add some low post offense. Nice call Danny, you run your team like this is NBA2k11, and I respect that.

Jeff Green. Haven't liked what I've seen from you so far, but hell, we know the deal. What Jeff Green is, is the future. Because one day Ray Allen, KG, and Paul will be too old to play. Everyone knows we will go through a down period...or will we? In Danny Ainge we trust. I love the Rondo, Green, Big Baby, era getting ready to come up. 2012 pick of the clippers (which will prolly be useless unless Griffen gets hurt next year) and we'll have cap room to sign a big name free agent. I don't wanna start any rumors. But if I'm Dwight Howard I'm either going to LA and being the man, or Boston where I can play with the best set up man in the league.

So when the smoke clears I love the moves by Danny Ainge. One key for this all to work is for Shaq to be healthy, and it would be nice to get Jermaine back. Troy Murphy is a great pick up because he a 6'10 guy who can shoot the 3. But guess what, we're not done. Theres one roster spot left, I'm sure we'll see it filled in the next couple of days.