When the dust settled last evening after another overtime shootout between the Celtics and Bulls, fans were left to wonder what might have been had the Celtics been at full strength. Surely, a healthy Kevin Garnett could have a greater impact directing the team’s defense rather than directing the trash talking toward the Bulls’ bench. Surely, Ray Allen is capable of more than 10 points and six fouls, even if many were nothing more than calls that stemmed from referees testing the function of their respective whistles.

Man in suit threatens player

But the Celtics were not at full strength, and the champions proved they will not hide behind excuses as they go kicking and screaming past the first round. What’s striking is that last night’s standout Celtics were players who have rewarded Danny Ainge’s patience. Any general manager can pull the trigger on a Kevin Garnett deal that immediately changes the complexion of the franchise at a minimal cost. Many others, acting out of fear of getting fired, would trade a draft pick for a sharpshooter like Ray Allen, knowing the rewards would translate to a few more wins the following season. But Ainge’s faith in last night’s Big Three — Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins — will likely come to fruition when the team escapes the NBA’s most competitive playoff series in years.

Let’s review Ainge’s impact on three players’ career paths.

Rajon Rondo: To understand the depths that my confidence level in Ainge had fallen, I’ll cite an interview I heard Ainge give in the spring of 2007, when the Celtics were on their way to losing 18 straight games. It may have been a TV interview, it may have been on the radio, but Ainge was asked about his point guard situation. He had Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo on the roster — two undersized slashers who couldn’t shoot and didn’t have the size to defend in the NBA. Ainge declared that his point guard of the future was on his roster. He believed Rondo could lead a team to an NBA championship.

At the time, I remember shaking my head and thinking, “Ainge has no clue.” Rondo lacked so many of the skills competent point guards absolutely need. He lacked a 15-foot jump shot, let alone a 3-pointer. He had no post-up game, and he didn’t have the build to defend against a taller point guard. And he seemed more interested in flash than substance. Ainge, on the other hand, had the foresight to embrace what Rondo could do. He could fill passing lanes faster than anyone in the league. He could get to the rim on almost every possession. He could finish fast breaks as well as any swingman. And he could show leadership and poise in pivotal situations.

A short two years later, I have egg on my face. Rondo is AVERAGING 24.2 points, 10.2 assists and 10.2 rebounds this series. Last evening, when Derek Rose collected his fifth foul, Rondo recognized his mismatch against Kirk Heinrich and collected the next four points by slashing to the hoop. There are three players in the NBA capable of putting up Rondo’s numbers in a playoff series, and the other two are Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. And Kobe would have to play at a break-neck pace on every possession — something he doesn’t do anymore — to round out the scoring line beyond the points. Some of the best decisions a general manager makes are the ones that never show up in the news. It was rumored that Kevin McHale refused to do the Garnett deal unless Ainge included Rondo. Ainge said he wouldn’t budge. Rondo is still with the Celtics.

There's only room for one superstar.

Paul Pierce: Following the Celtics’ awful season two years ago, we all read Jackie MacMullan’s annual Pierce profile in the Globe. Pierce said he was a superstar, and the Celtics needed to do a better job of surrounding him with better players. Most Celtics fans got pissed, pointing to the fact that superstars don’t preside over a team that loses 18 games in a row. Get him out of town, we screamed. He’s a loser.

It turns out Pierce is a superstar. And rather than take his statements as a slap in the face, Ainge answered his calls. He surrounded a player who had never really had the chance to show his ability to elevate his game in the biggest moments with two other proven All-Stars. Pierce scaled back his game in a way few thought he was capable. He earned an NBA Finals MVP, and he was at it again last evening. Yes, Rondo had the mismatch over Heinrich in overtime. But Pierce got the call for the four biggest shots in the closing minutes. And he made all four. He proved he is still the biggest superstar on either team — regardless of what happened in the first 47 minutes. When Pierce made his plea to Jackie MacMullan two summers ago, many saw it as the final straw. Ainge saw it as an opportunity.

Kendrick Perkins: Similar to Rondo, Perkins was only recognized for what he couldn’t do until last season. Yes, he has hands of stone under the basket. No, he’s not going to make an 18-foot jump shot consistently. And no, he doesn’t present himself like the smartest player on the floor.

Over the past two seasons, Perkins has turned into a guy who can have a huge hand in two or three wins over the course of a seven-game series. In last year’s NBA Finals, he outplayed Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Last night, he logged the following stat line: 16 points (7 for 13), 19 rebounds, 7 blocks and 0 fouls. How can someone with so little control of his body on offense register 19 rebounds and 7 blocks without committing a foul? He has become one of the best defensive big men in the league. His rotations are always on time. He allows very few easy buckets. McHale didn’t ask for Perkins instead of Al Jefferson. But two years later, how many Celtics fans would rather have Perkins than Jefferson? Sometimes a G.M. needs a little luck. Ainge is certainly lucky McHale is so incompetent.

"Now you love me?"

Danny Ainge: Doc Rivers has seen his stock rise from someone who was once considered the worst coach in the NBA to a man who can lead a team to 60 wins with a patch-work edition of the NBA champions. Ainge’s stock has encountered a similar rise. Many baseball fans credit general managers who adopt the Moneyball philosophy, valuing on-base percentage and defense. But those general managers are one-dimensional compared to Ainge. He’s shown he can acquire and remain patient enough to develop young talent like Rondo, Perkins and Big Baby. None of those guys are top-1o picks, but they all remain huge assets. Ainge has shown he’s not above being criticized by superstars like Pierce. He’s shown he’ll cut his losses on failed picks like Gerald Green. And he’s shown he can pull the trigger on a few blockbusters (Garnett, Ray Allen) without mortgaging the future.

The Celtics may not repeat this year. Pierce hasn’t shown that he’s healthy enough to defend Lebron James for a seven-game series. Garnett hasn’t shown that he’ll do anything more than serve as an obscene cheerleader for the next month or two. But these Celtics will not go down quietly. The team has players who refuse to feel sorry for themselves when the situation looks bleak — like when one superstar goes down and another fouls out. If this team is anything, it’s a resilient group. Kind of like its general manager.

One Comments for “Ainge the architect of resilient team”

1. NC Says:
   April 29th, 2009 at 10:46 am

   Good points about Danny’s patience. Down the stretch, the Celtics were briefly playing a roster straight out of 2006-2007 – Perk, Baby, PP, Tony Allen, and Rondo. Not many Celts fans would have expected to see that lineup together in a playoff win 2 years later.

   I have to take issue with a couple points though. Perk is definitely becoming a beast but you’re saying Danny (or any team for that matter) would rather have Perk than Jefferson? I’m not sure about that one.

   Also, Danny definitely did mortgage the future somewhat to get KG and Ray ray. Sure Rondo, Perk, and Baby are solid-to-great pieces going forward but the big 3 will be moving on over the next 3 years and the Celts will have some big holes. Holes that guys like Al and Gomes could help fill.

   Another strike would be Danny jumping the gun on Mikki Moore instead of waiting to for Joe Smith to become available. Mikki can’t even get off the bench ahead of Scal right now.

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