Considering the Celtics’ Season, Series and Future

When We See This Again

It is incomprehensible that the Bruins are still playing and the Celtics are done.  Both the Celtics and Patriots were sent packing earlier than expected, and the Red Sox can’t seem to break .500.  The Bruins?  They just defeated long-time foes the Canadians and Broadstreet Bullies (who derailed the last few seasons for the Bruins by putting key players out of commission).

So what went wrong with the Celtics’ season?  Lots of things actually.  Danny Ainge, in a WEEI interview today, admitted that one of the key mistakes he made was letting Tony Allen leave for Memphis.  There he has found more playing time (now that Rudy Gay got hurt) and they are still playing though not for long.  That was an important decision, and they could have used Tony to defend the Heat on the perimeter.  While Tony has issues, he was an important piece for the last few seasons.

Instead of Tony, they initially relied on Marquis Daniels to spell Paul Pierce.  This probably wasn’t the wisest thing since he was injured much of the previous season.  He actually played very well, until the injury that ended his season.  The stage was set for a perfect storm.

To bide time until Perkins was able to play again, the Celtics signed 3 players- the O’Neals and European center Semih Erden.  They played very well with Shaq, but Jermaine was injured almost immediately.  Soon Shaq was hobbling and missing time.  Then it was Semih who had a series of injuries.  While Perkins came back, he was clearly not 100%.  Just before the trade deadline he sprained the ACL in his good knee.  The only men who could play center were their PFs- KG, Big Baby and rookie Harangody.  The Celtics essentially had no one to back up the center and forward positions.  Par for the course in an injury-plagued season in which the primary backup for both guard positions, West, was largely injured.

Danny had to do something.  He needed people who could play, but he had to clear roster spots to get them.  People who are critical of the trade forget this.  In his latest B.S. Report, Bill Simmons mentions that Big Baby could have been traded.  Yes, but he was one of the few “Bigs” who could play.  Trade him and you need to bring in at least 2 guys who can play center or power forward.  At this point I’d rather have Perk than Baby with his bad knees (only tendonitis which have bothered him since February) and bad attitude (he wants to start).  But it just didn’t seem possible at the time.  (Tommy Heinsohn, in an interview after I wrote this made the same assessment.)

So, away went Perkins, Erden, Daniels, Harangody and Robinson.  In came Green and Kristic via trade, and then free agents Murphy, Pavlovic and Arroyo.

Wade the Destroyer

As the playoffs approached the only new players to actually play were Green and Kristic who had since gotten bone bruises on both knees.  The Celtics were primed for defeat.  But as the series unfolded, it got worse.  Shaq would try to play, averaging 6 minutes over 2 games before his Achilles couldn’t take any more.  The other O’Neal would often be seen laying on the sidelines with back pain.  But he also had a left wrist injury that will require surgery.  But he kept playing.  Ray Allen would receive a blow to the chest that bruised his sternum, but kept playing.  West would bruise his shoulder.  But kept playing.  Pierce would strain his Achilles.  But kept playing.

But the biggest blow was Rondo.  His back was acting up, but in game 3 things would get worse.  While falling down, Wade would use his arm and leg to pull him down.  I’ve heard former players defend this as a normal reaction.  Really, grabbing and tripping someone else?  Either way, Rondo experienced a gruesome injury.  He dislocated his elbow.  But he kept playing.  Lacking toughness?  I don’t think any rational human being, including those in Orlando, would make that statement.

What is amazing is that the Celtics were ahead most of the time in this series.  This with a one armed point guard.  In the end of those games, the Celtics would not execute key plays or throw the ball away.  They could have won this series.  But the more athletic Heat starters wore them down and executed at the end.  And I can’t stand it.   So close, and yet so far- yet again.

The Celtics could have used Perkins to prowl the paint and make Wade and James think twice.  But the Celtics’ defense was still pretty good.  The trade didn’t sink the Celtics, numerous injuries did.

A few things are clear.  The Celtics need to get younger and more athletic.  I’m not exactly sure how that will happen.  If the O’Neals retire that will free up a little money.  The big decisions they need to make concern Green (restricted free agent), Kristic and Davis. Ainge plans to extend a qualifying offer to Green, who wants to stick around.  Kristic was playing well for the Celtics until he was hurt.  He’s not a great defender, but he can hit open shots.

I’m not sure about Big Baby.  He’s too short to start at center.  I hope this doesn’t become a Tony Allen scenario, but at this point I’m okay with letting him go and using his salary to sign another C/PF.  I have no idea who.  Tyson Chandler would be a good defensive presence and rebounder now that he seems to have sorted things out.  But Dallas is sure to toss lots of money at him.

Ainge still has high hopes for Bradley, but with Rondo and possibly West getting most of the minutes, when does he play?  Green can be a primary sub for KG, Pierce and Allen (sliding Pierce to SG, but you’ll lose quickness).  KG and Pierce need to play less minutes.  But if the replacement isn’t good, there is a problem.

But all of this may be a moot (no, not mute) point.  The CBA is ending and they seem poised for another work stoppage.  They have a very different problem than the NFL.  There they are trying to divide lots of profits.  In the NBA, they have to cope with some serious deficits.  They have an economic crisis looming and have to sort out how they can survive in the future.  The players most likely will resist this reality just like a roomful of D.C. politicians.  If the season is lost, Garnett and Allen come off the books and the Celtics have plenty of money to spend on free agents. But that is not quite the solution we are looking for.