As of Feb. 24, the Boston Celtics are tied for first place with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Division.
Recently they have traded center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City and acquiring Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. Also leaving the Celtics is three time slam dunk contest winner Nate Robinson. He will go to the Thunder also and the Celtics will receive in exchange a first round draft pick in the 2012 Draft along with some money. Robinson is considered weaker than he was last season after a knee injury in game six of last years finals.
Once loaded with size, the Celtics have grown smaller and they’re playoff hopes will be placed on the recovery of big man Shaquille O’neal.
“We need to get Shaq healthy. Shaq will be healthy. But if Shaq plays great, then this deal was obviously really, really good for us,” coach Doc Rivers said. “And that’s on Shaq. Getting Shaq in great shape, getting him ready, getting him healthy is really going to be important for us in the playoffs.”
