Boston Sports Fan Blog

Danny Ainge has rolled the dice numerous times as General Manager of the Boston Celtics coming up a winner every time, however his latest trade may crap out! The trade of center Kendrick Perkins shook the Celtics tightly wound cocoon and left all involved emotionally drained, except for Ainge. Its a general managers job to make the hard decisions and take the heat that comes with those decisions but this one may be hard to sell. Although Perkins has been injured for most of the season dating back to last years NBA finals and recently turned down a four year $30 million extension he is still one in a small class of centers in the league. It has been logged into the history of the NBA that you can’t win a title without a good center and the Celtics just traded one of them for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic.
Look at the last three NBA champions, in 2008 the Celtics won because the Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum was hurt and no one could guard Perkins. In 2009 the Lakers won because they were able to match Bynum against the Superior Dwight Howard and at least slow him down and in 2010 the Lakers won again! Why you ask? They won because Perkins got hurt in game six leaving them without a center for the two crucial games in Los Angeles and the Celtics had no one to replace him. Compile those previous three scenarios with the fact that one of the Celtics biggest threats is the Orlando Magic who have possibly the best center in the league in Howard. Howard is a monster and he abuses most teams with his size and strength, however his worst performances in his career have come against whom you ask? You guessed it…the Celtics!
Yet the biggest issue I have with this trade is that Ainge put all his money on Shaquille O’Neal being the Celtics center for the playoffs. The oft-injured Shaq isn’t able to dominate a game anymore, matter a-fact he isn’t much of a factor at all anymore. Take a look at the last two teams who put there playoff hopes in Shaq’s hands, the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers and check the results…it blew up in there faces. I fear that Ainge and the Celtics have sealed their own fate with this ill-advised trade of Perkins. Again, you need a big man to win titles and the Celtics lack that now. So I ask you this question Mr. Ainge. Why take something that wasn’t broke and try to fix it?

Both O’Neal’s have had lingering injury problems throughout the twilight of their careers and it has once again become a problem with the Celtics. Shaquille O’Neal said that his bruised right knee is in good enough shape to get back on the court for Thursday night’s round two showdown with the Heat after missing the last five games. Jermaine O’Neal, who sat out the second half of Monday’s loss to the Mavericks, said the soreness in his left knee has not subsided so he will sit out, possibly for the remainder of the Celtics four-game road trip.

It is possible that Doc Rivers leans on rookie Semih Erden to start at center if both O’Neals can’t go. Erden is having his own injury pangs with his left shoulder which will apparently require surgery eventually.

Kendrick Perkins could not be more needed right now for the Celtics. Rivers said it himself, this team is merely trying to survive until he gets back. There still is no timetable for his return.

As far as tonight goes, I think the Heat have the upper hand at home. They should learn from their poor offensive performance in their loss on opening night. Dwyane Wade probably won’t have another dud like he did in that game. The Celtics interior defense will be weaker due to the deteriorating health of their frontline. That fact is just one of the things that will be in the Heat’s favor in tonight’s contest.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network