Did Danny Ainge’s deadline deal sink the Celtics? NAY: The culprit was injuries

The way this is being spun, Danny Ainge’s deadline deal that swapped Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green will go down in Boston sports infamy with Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen in 1990. Indeed, the Ainge haters will portray this as the equivalent of the Trojan arrow in Achilles’ heel ? the Kryptonite that Lex Luthor brandished at Superman ? the seed of self-destruction that sunk any hopes the Celtics had for banner number 18.Yet the simple fact is, the Celtics got vanquished in the playoffs for the same reason their run was cut short two years ago ? and the same reason they fell in the Finals last year: A key member of the team got hurt.We all remember the collective crash we felt when we learned, back in the 2008-09 season, that the Celtics would be defending their NBA championship without the services of one Kevin Garnett. And we all remember the sinking feeling of seeing the C’s march into the Staples Center sans Perk for Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals.Well, the same scenario applied when the Celtics and Heat tangled in Game Three on Saturday night at TD Garden. Boston was turning the series around ? and then, alas, Rajon Rondo’s arm got turned around.Rondo’s injury – and not Perk’s exit through a trade several months ago – was what doomed the Celtics this year. The team may have finally adjusted to losing its fearless center ? but it could not overcome playing with Rondo at less than 100 percent.Green actually helped the Celtics stay in games against the Heat. He scored nine points in Game Five on 3-of-5 field-goal shooting and made the only three he tried – as well as both of his free throws. So don’t blame him. And though it may be tempting, don’t blame Ainge either.Rich Tenorio is an Item sports copy editor.