Danny Ainge: Don't Panic!

On the cover of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy are two simple words. Don't panic.

Well, grab your towel and Babel fish and gear up because everything is going to just fine. Just listen to Danny Ainge (who tried to trade Paul Pierce and Ray Allen last year).

Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers still preaching faith in Boston Celtics: masslive.com

"It’s always (dark),’’ he told the Boston Globe. "I’ll tell you why I’m not dark. Two years ago, we went 27-27 in the last two-thirds of the season. Then we gave what I consider the best playoff effort of this era. Last year, we started 13-17. It was really gloom and doom, moreso than now. "Maybe expectations are higher this year because of the success we had in the playoffs. But I’ve seen what Rondo and KG and Paul [Pierce] can do. I watched Jason Terry at Arizona. I know what these guys are made of. I know there’s more there. The next six weeks will tell us a lot about this team. "Doc is not panicking. This is like a repeat of the last two years and in both years I was frustrated. I know that three-game stretch [Clippers, Warriors, Kings, all going for triple digits in beating the Celtics] was pitiful. Everybody in the locker room knows that. That’s not who they are.’’

Yup, nothing to worry about. Everything will be just fine. Move along. In the meantime, enjoy these quotes from Hitchhiker's Guide along with some commentary from your's truly.

"This must be Thursday,' said Arthur to himself, sinking low over his beer. 'I never could get the hang of Thursdays."

Yup, and Thursdays after 4 straight losses are especially hard to handle.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."

I agree. Hopefully everything will be all right and all this hand wringing will be for naught.

"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."

(Looks at President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge)

"Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?"

A lot of you are wondering if I've done just this right about now.

"The Answer to the Great Question... Of Life, the Universe and Everything... Is... Forty-two,' said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm."

Tony Allen?

"For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after a second or so, nothing continued to happen."

Ahh trade rumors season. Don't you love it? Wait, you do? Go up a few quotes to the one about being mad.

"Ford!" he said, "there's an infinite number of monkeys outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out."

Ahh trade proposals. One of them is exactly what Danny is going to do. But which one?

"Did I do anything wrong today," he said, "or has the world always been like this and I've been too wrapped up in myself to notice?"

The entire Celtics roster just uttered those exact words in unison.

And finally, I leave you with this encouraging scene from the book...

"So this is it," said Arthur, "We are going to die."
"Yes," said Ford, "except... no! Wait a minute!" He suddenly lunged across the chamber at something behind Arthur's line of vision. "What's this switch?" he cried.
"What? Where?" cried Arthur, twisting round.
"No, I was only fooling," said Ford, "we are going to die after all."

But remember, ...don't panic.