Okay, perhaps the headline is a bit misleading. The Celtics trading Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks to the Golden State Warriors in a three-team trade that involved the Celtics, Golden State and the Miami Heat had nothing to do with the Celtics beating the Toronto Raptors to snap an 8-game losing streak - the two events just happened to occur on the same day.
The event that did trigger Crawford's trade was Rondo being in uniform and participating in warm ups before Wednesday night's game. Rondo did not enter the game, but word is Rondo will play this Friday when the Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers. Only fitting that he should return against the Celtic's historic rivals, though both franchises have significantly declined since the 2008-2010 seasons when the two teams battled each other for the NBA championship.
It will be interesting to see if Coach Brad Stevens can work with Rondo on a team where Rondo is the most dominant player. At least when Doc Rivers was coaching Rondo, he had three star veterans to keep a moody Rondo in check. Query whether Stevens will be able to manage Rondo with any seasoned veterans helping keep Rondo in line.
With Rondo back in the line up and recently acquired Jerryd Bayless to serve as backup point guards, Crawford became expendable. The Celtics also have point guard Phil Pressey. It was a shame to see Crawford go after he proved this season that he is a capable combo point/shooting guard who was exciting (though often frustrating) to watch with his herby jerky moves and his off-balance sometimes clutch shooting. You have to credit Coach Brad Stevens for helping to make Crawford a desirable NBA player by helping showcase his playmaking ability.
The Celtics traded away Crawford and Brooks for center Joel Anthony and two draft picks, adding to the Celtics already deep war chest of draft picks - now totaling 17 draft picks spread across the next five seasons. Let's hope GM Danny Ainge will be able to work some magic with this stockpile of draft picks.
On snapping the losing streak, the Celtics followed a familiar pattern of the Celtics getting out to a big lead early in the game, only to watch it dwindle away and disappear in the 4th quarter. This time, the Celtics has built up an 18-point lead over the Toronto Raptors at the beginning of the 4th quarter only to have it shaved down to 3 points before hanging on to beat the Raptors at the TD Garden. This time the lead did not disappear, though late in the 4th quarter it sure seemed like the Celtics were trying to give the game away by taking ill-advised shots and missing their free throws. Jared Sullinger scored 25 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the win - the first 20-20 game by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnett's debut game as a Celtic in 2007.
Those worried that tonight's win will hurt the Celtics in the Andrew Wiggins/Jabari Parker sweepstakes need not worry just yet. With the win, the Celtics remained tied with Philadelphia for the cellar of the Atlantic Division of the NBA Eastern Conference now the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets have seemingly turned things around over the last month.
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