You know, many of us who are silly card carrying  loyalists don't want change for the sake of change.  We have heard them all in recent days/weeks.  We heard Ray for everyone.  Did you ever imagine that blasphemy in 2008?  This guy has been nothing but a true pro throughout.  Unfortunately, this may not be enough to us Number 18. 

Let's face it.  Our society, and certainly our city, is a "What have you done for me lately?" crew.  We are short on patience.  Short on sight, and quite frankly, driven by a local media that is always looking for the deficiency.  It must be years of grooming by the Red Sox.  The criticism has been well deserved of late, however.  This club is far too talented to be playing this poorly.   They are a sub .500 team in the last 20 or so, and they shouldn't be.

Why is it?  What happened to the team?  Well they broke camp healthy, with the exception of KG.  He clearly was hampered for the early portion of the season, but i don't believe that he is impaired as much as people are crying out now.  I saw him on NBA TV over the weekend, and he indicated that he has some things going on, but no more than any other older vet.  Look, he is not rebounding like 2008, but even then, he was 8.5 or so.  The guy was a career 12 board type guy.  Face it those days are over.  However, the gut has shown bounce on offense often.  He is not the same player as two seasons ago, but he can and likely will adapt.  His shooting percentage has been torrid at times.  It was running at a 70% clip prior to his recent knee hiatus.  The guy is in year 14 with high mileage.  He is facing that era in his career when great games are in the "here and there" category.  He will rely on his brain more than ever this season, which I am O.K. with.  The guy can play, just don't put it all on him. 

The problem is that beside an aging KG, everyone dropped off at once.  I don't understand Perk not getting good numbers.    The kid is intense, plays sound defense, has heart.  He should be able to get 10 per game.  The injuries through the line-up have forced him to try to score more, which leads to him getting away fro his game more.  The guy is never going to be a 20 and 10 guy, but he can and should be a 12 and 10 guy right now.  He'll probably become a 16 point guy in the next two years, when KG hangs it up.  Right now, he should concentrate on D and the glass.  He is smart enought to understand position defensive schemes, so be smart enough to position for boards.  The other team can't score if we have the ball.

Glenn Davis is a complete disappointment.  The kid has tremendous tools, but this whole nickname fiasco, the thumb, the whatever is sickening.  Think about it, and I realize that we aren't trying to solve the world economic problems or launch a rocket, but this kid is worrying about what people call him.  Worry about getting on the floor and staying productive.  A good bench player should always try to be a positive impact on the team, ALWAYS.  TO be immersed publically in this foolishness is insulting to the club, the coach, to himself.  This kid worked very hard to reach a point of effective play last season.  He perfected a reliable mid-range game to go with his energy around the rim.  Why get involved in this nickname silliness?  It is clear that his agenda is not focused on Number 18.  It's about Baby, or Glenn, or whatever.  To me he is tradeable, and frankly a change of scenery may provide him some smoothness.  The kid will be a solid player for years.  He is thge classic guy who is a good player on a crummy team.  Think Corliss WIlliamson with less hammer in him.  Message to Danny:: Pull the trigger now!

As for the others, whatever...They are all eminently likeable and periodically invaluable, but if they are suddenly disfunctional either on the court or behind closed doors, then it's time to move on.  There is no need to trade for the sake of trading.  The unfortunate thing is that the deadline is too soon out of the break.  I would rather hit the panic button after these next few road games.  I would be on board with anything you could do if they hit the road and continue looking up at mediocrity.  Trade any of the bench with Ray, Glenn, Perk, or whoever if it stabilizes the team.

One thing that does worry me though is the chemistry.  We heard all about how much everyone likes each other on this team.  The fans, like me, hear how Mike and Tommy gush about the good karma in the locker room.  However, we hear Rondo speak about focus and agendas.  We finally see chinks in Doc's stone faced party line post game conferences.  So, who knows.  You could go with the old "where there is smoke, there is fire" philosophy.  I'd rather not though.  Making a trade here could rupture the bulkhead in the ship, and we call rocket to the bottom in a hurry.

One thing that this team is, it is supremely confident.  They know what they can do.  I think that it even hurts them some at a time like this though.  They have fallen into the turn it on and off mode, and that kills all one win championship teams.  If these guys want to win, they need to search deep and remember what got them there.  Team defense.  Take charges.  Help guys up off the floor.  Put the hammer to teams and keep it down.  Won at home.  For God's sake, WIN AT HOME!  ESPECIALLY FRIDAY!  I say give it eight games out of the break.  If in eight games they are still flat, it is over...Get ready for the puppet show, because it will all be Kobe and LeBron.  I wish it was Friday...