By the way, could someone post the Big Four's averages for the last few years? I suspect that, despite the brutal condensed schedule (which will lighten up next year), none of the four have experienced a significant decline in terms of efficiency/productivity.
I just briefly looked at the stats for the past three years for Rondo, Allen, KG, and Pierce.
From what I see, none of the four have experienced any notable decline in production. Pierce's shooting percentage is down several points this year, but his assists are up. Ray is having a career year from 3-point range. KG is still putting up the same numbers. Rondo is too.
If the rationale for blowing things up is that the Big Four are on a decline, it's a false one.
The core is still worth retaining. Find a legitimate starting big and scoring punch off the bench, and the team makes another run next year. In the meantime, continue to stockpile assets (future cap flexibility, draft picks, developing young players) for the day when the right opportunity to cash them in presents itself.
The Celtics are the 7th seed in the weakest conference and have a bottom five offense in the league. Saying the Big Four aren't in a decline is just silly. I mean, you can nitpick some stats that haven't declined, like Ray's 3pt %. However, Ray these days is little more that a spot-up jump-shooter. He's a 15ppg sniper who can't create his own shot.
In any case, if there is no decline in the Big 4 and you can still build a contender around them, then I have no idea how can you excuse Ainge from not trading some future assets for immediate help. You want to wait for next year? When KG/PP/RA will be one year older? When you have a contender with 3/4s of the core in their mid-30s, you have to give away expirings and future late 1st and seconds to build a decent bench. You need to run the risk. Otherwise it's just nonsensical.
Of course, the fact that Ainge has tried to trade Ray Allen and Pierce shows he doesn't really agree with you.
I like how you accuse me of nitpicking, without demonstrating in any meaningful way how I was factually wrong.
Ray Allen a sniper who can't create his own shot? Big deal. When has he had to, since coming to Boston? He's still scoring 15 a night as the third/fourth option in the offense, just running off screens. That's his job, and he's done it well since coming here.
The issue is not the Big Four: it's surrounding them with a supporting cast. As others have pointed out, this season's fortunes now see the Celtics relying on a 5th starter (Bass) who should have been a rotation player, and rotation players (Pietrus and the rest) who should have been bench reserves. It's this reality that accounts for the Celtics' offensive ineptitude (as you characterize it, with the "5th worst offense"): the Big Four represent just over 2/3 of the entire scoring average of the team this season: a combined average 61.8 ppg of the C's 91.4 ppg.
Why didn't Ainge sacrifice assets to get them help at the deadline? Why would he cash in picks and young players for an incremental improvement? Unless you can bring in two or three rotation worthy players, the team's chances for a long playoff run don't significantly improve.
As for shopping Pierce and Ray, I have a hard time believing any legit possibility of a Pierce trade. For Ray, of course: get a 1st rounder and a young prospect, and see if you can bring him back next season as a free agent. If not, you still have his Bird Rights at the end of the year, to either resign at smart money, or trade him for assets.
Of course, maybe I'm just a sentimental fool for wanting to see this group continue playing together. I'm looking forward to the rest of this season, and the playoff run.
