For all the analysis and mind-reading of Danny Ainge and his approach to the Celtics of next season, the decision of Nenad Krstic to leave Boston for the former Soviet Union may speak volumes about the Cold War between the NBA and its players.

Now that the obvious giant shadow has fallen over the Boston team, if not the entire NBA, players figure there is no season next year. The result is not pretty.

Shaquille O'Neal's early departure for the green acres of retirement and country life as an ESPN shill could be tied to the impending doom.

Nenad’s departure is no less a recognition that an asteroid is about to hit the NBA a bit earlier than the Mayan calendar predicted.

So, the new approach of Danny Ainge—his grand vision of the future for Boston—is the dribs and drabs approach. Fans may not like the Chinese water torture while it drives them mad with its inexorable fate.

The Celtics intend to let nature take its course.

That means to let the chips fall where they may, fans. If Kevin Garnett also wants to retire, so be it. If Glen Davis wants to sign elsewhere, then Danny says so long to him.

It also means not much will be done with players like Carlos Arroyo,  Jeff Green and the rest on the Gilligan’s Island of Danny's Boston team.

If they want to go, Danny will wave goodbye and send his best wishes. The pieces left may seem like shredded shards, but from the remnants will come some kind of team.

Of course, this also indicates that perhaps the real plan is to let the season slide into oblivion and wait till the year after next.