Kendrick Perkins Trade: How it Affects the Emotionally Unstable Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics had it all.

The experience to outplay the youth surrounding them in the Eastern Conference, the strength to barrel through their defenders and the size to intimidate all challengers that stepped foot onto the court.

With Kendrick Perkins spending all of his time with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, the Celtics have been in an emotional freefall.

The trade makes no sense in any way that you analyze it. Perkins was a bulky responsibility as a Celtic because of how intimidating he was and how involved his dominance was in the rest of the team’s performance and attitude during and after active play.

The family atmosphere that the Celtics experienced during his time with the organization was perfect and translated excellence in games played. Now that he is gone, so is the chemistry and the confidence that Boston had all year.

Rajon Rondo has seemingly lost his best friend and is playing with no motivation. Last year in the postseason, Rondo burst into households with his speed and model passing skills.

He allowed the players around him a trust that is only developed through time and from a proven elite athlete. In his last four games, he scored at least 15 points against the likes of the Washington Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers, but only averaged seven points against the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls.

Playing against Derrick Rose is never an easy task, especially when taking him one on one like Rondo was designated to do.

However, the way Rose was able to run circles around Rondo—a point guard that deserves a top-five mention as far as active point guards are concerned—left many shell-shocked. Coach Doc Rivers could do nothing but sit back and watch the disaster unfold, especially in the game against the Miami Heat, where the Celtics looked like rookies.

Dwyane Wade was a defensive machine, but Boston blew numerous opportunities and received their worst loss of the season, 77-100.

The chemistry of the powerhouse has been so heavily affected by the reassembly of parts that there is no clear deadline as to when it will end.  Boston fans should be very concerned because the players that replaced Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins are not as valuable in those positions and are not operating well in the positions to which they have been assigned.

The Boston Celtics front office should consider the mistake they made and how far they have caused the organization to drop in the ranks because of it.