Danny Ainge's trade of Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic took a lot of people by surprise, but he though the Celtics were in need of something dramatic.

"Yeah, I think it’s bold, and it would be a lot easier not to do anything," Ainge said. "I acknowledge that. But I really believe this is better for our team now and in the future.

"I know what our record is, but I just think we needed to get better."

The Celtics are a half game ahead of the Heat for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

"If it is, and I don’t really know what that means, I would take it as a compliment," Ainge said when faced with the word 'Belichickian.' “You have to do what you think is right. You listen to your staff. We collectively and unanimously make decisions like this. Things are discussed, researched and looked over and weighed against other alternatives. These aren’t just freewheeling, seat-of-the-pants chances we’re taking.

“I certainly respect what Bill Belichick has done with his team, knowing that some of the things weren’t popular at first. But he’s been proven out.

“I think it’s great for people to question moves and fall in love with local players and be mad and passionate. And I love that about Boston.”