It wasn't long ago we were talking about all the massive trades that could be taking place before the NBA Trade Deadline occurred on February 24th.
There were a ton of trades this year, and a few involving big name players. We saw guys like Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter moved all in one trade. Other veterans like Gerald Wallace got shipped last moment, Shane Battier heading back to his first team the Memphis Grizzlies, and the one that got the most attention....Carmelo Anthony going to the New York Knicks.
The biggest trade of them all made little noise amongst the average fan, and analysts. It was the Kendrick Perkins trade. The Boston Celtics shipped off Center Kendrick Perkins, and Guard Nate Robinson for Forward Jeff Green, Center Nenad Kristic, and future 1st round pick. To me in my opinion this trade killed any hopes of the Celtics making it back to the Finals. Is Kendrick Perkins a deadly threat on offense? No. And that's why this trade didn't get the attention it should have. Kendrick Perkins was the rock of that defense. Perkins is the tough big man who has the hard stare and pissed off look all game long. He brings a mentality and attitude to that team, combined with an already fiesty Kevin Garnett to make any team think twice about getting into the paint. He is an old school type of player that never got enough praise for what he brought to the Celtics.
Three months later we are now in the playoffs and looking at where the Celtics stand in the series against the Heat down 2-0. Why are they not playing as well as they did in the playoffs last year? I'll tell you why. Kendrick Perkins being gone, added with the Celtics not getting any production out of their other two centers who are often injured Shaquille O'Neal, and Jermaine O'Neal. They are relying on Nenad Kristic to be the big man. The Celtics defense is getting thrashed by the Heat. Letting Chris Bosh have his way on the boards, and letting the rest of the Heat get to the rim whenever they want, and without giving out any punishment for doing so. You best believe the Heat would not be getting to the rim so easily if Perkins was sitting there waiting for one of them to even attempt getting an easy bucket. I bet they miss him now.
The Celtics did get a good young player in Jeff Green, and has been decent off the bench. But, what got the Celtics to the Finals was their defense and tenacity. They "dropped the ball" on that trade, and they are paying for it in these playoffs. They could be going home earlier than most expected due to that single trade.
On the flipside, the Thunder got just what they needed to add to their young core. A powerful, tough big man in the middle that brings playoff experience and leadership. Ask anyone, even the Thunder players themselves what they were missing before the trade deadline and I bet they all say a big man. They got that big man in Perkins, and last night you could see what a difference he makes to that team. 17 seconds into the game Perkins fouled a driving Tony Allen hard, that set the tone for the entire game. They were not going to get pushed around again at home and that they were going to be the bully.
One man changed the entire look of this years playoffs for the Celtics and Thunder. Who would have thought Perkins would be a bigger factor than say, Carmelo Anthony?
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| Image Source Page: http://boston.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2011/03/18/sports-photos-of-the-week/ |
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