Boston Celtics: Second-Guessing Celtics' Trade Deadline Inactivity

Veteran talent Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics (30-23) are winners of five of their last six games and have dominated their competition as of late, yet inactivity before the trade deadline may have hurt these Celtics' NBA championship hopes in 2012.

Or has it?

Gary Dzen, blogger with the Boston Globe, brings up an important point—this is a move that helps the Celtics build for the future of the franchise.

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"The Celtics didn't bolster their chances of winning a title at the deadline, but they kept offseason flexibility. A combined $31 million will come off the books when the contracts of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett expire at season's end."

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Dzen brings up an crucial point here. Not making a move prior to the deadline may have in fact been a major move for the future of this franchise. With Paul Pierce and the Big Three soon on their way out in Boston, it is Ainge's job to make sure the team will be equipped to compete in the post-Big Three era.

Yet when it comes to winning a championship in 2012, this has undoubtedly hurt the Celtics' chances at winning an NBA title. There is an evident lack of depth in the bench rotation, and it will be difficult for the Big Three to fight on through three rounds to get to the NBA Finals.

In spite of failing to make a move before the NBA's trade deadline, the Celtics are winners of 15-6 since the All-Star break. This has been a team clicking on all cylinders, picking up the pace significantly on the offensive end of the floor.

Things have looked up in Beantown for this team. After winning a whopping 15 of their last 21 and five of their last six games, the Celtics have jumped up to the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff seeds.

Talk about impressive.

The significantly improved play of backup guard Avery Bradley and 6'11'' center Greg Stiemsma have been key in this run as well. While Stiemsma has provided a much-needed effort defensively, Bradley has been especially effective offensively as well.

Each time Bradley takes the court, he's a threat defensively. It's a given.

Yet his offense has been what has driven this team in the absence of Ray Allen. His chemistry with Rajon Rondo and the team has been solid to say the least, making strong cuts to the basket and taking other guards to the hoop off the dribble.

The step-up play of just two players in the bench rotation is far from enough to take down the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference—the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.

The veteran leadership is there, as is the talent off the bench, yet the depth on this team overall is lacking. Tired legs deep into the postseason will more than likely hurt this team, as inactivity at the trade deadline will have the frontcourt rotation as slim as it has been since the Big Three.

There are championship hopes still alive in Beantown considering the major improvements and winning basketball the team has put on as of late. There's no question about it.

After weeks of playoff action, however, not having that one extra component could be the one factor that keeps this team from getting to the NBA Finals.