What if Kendrick Perkins hadn't fallen in Game 6 with an ACL tear? Would he have been the difference for the C's in that final game?
While no one can predict the answer to these questions, the C's would have likely lifted banner No. 18 last season if they had a healthy Perk on their side in Game 7.
The Celtics went out during the offseason and procured more big men in Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal, two veteran centers who were supposed to fill in for Perk while he rehabbed the knee and serve as a solid support system when he returned.
That big-man plan didn't work out exactly as the C's had hoped, as both O'Neals continually struggle with injuries of their own this season.
And now, another knee injury has taken Perkins to the sideline. Granted, it'll only keep him out for three games and it's in his other knee, but it's a red flag that reminds the Celtics just how fragile they can be without a trusty center in the frontcourt.
The C's have persevered without a consistent force down low while Perk was recuperating from his first surgery, but they'll be hard-pressed to last throughout the second half and into the postseason in the stacked Eastern Conference without a solid center. The guys in green need a healthy Perkins backing them up down the stretch if they want to raise No. 18 to the Garden rafters.
It may be too early to think about, but Perkins' minor injury is a scary reminder of just how important he is to the Celtics' postseason hopes.
Do you think the Celtics can win the NBA title this season without a healthy Kendrick Perkins? Share your thoughts below.
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Can the Celtics win the NBA title this season without a healthy Kendrick Perkins?Market Research
