I don't know about you guys, but I feel the Celtics are finally back to the team we expected. Sure, our offense still needs a few minor adjustments to provide more consistency but I am more than thrilled with our defense lately. Here's my opinion on the players in rotation so far:

-Rondo: He has given us exactly what we have come to expect over the years. He facilitates the offense brilliantly and looks to the basket when needed. If he stays healthy, we'll get the same consistent play from him that we've been getting. Rondo is the best pure point guard in the league. He definitely deserves an all-star reserve role despite the injury.

-Ray: Wow. This guy has truly been unbelievable shooting the ball this year. He has solidified his spot as the all time best 3-point shooter in the NBA. My only concern with RA is his tendency to be turnover prone due to bad passes or sloppy dribbling. Tone it done a bit and Ray will still be as solid a 2 guard as there is in the league.

-Pierce: Our captain, leader, closer, all-around playmaker. After his slow start upon returning from a nagging heel injury, PP has been off the charts. He instantly changes the game for us when we need him to step up. He has been huge in the clutch for us, draining treys and slicing to the basket for easy opportunities. I can't compliment him enough for his play thus far this year.

-KG: "Too old", "no lift", "slow first step defensively", and "lack of aggression offensively" are all phrases that have been flung in KGs direction this season. He has taken the criticism and stepped his game up substantially. Garnett is energized and provided maximum effort on both ends of the court. He's looking to back down defenders more and finishing shots at a high rate. He's even shown us he can change his game to add another trick to his arsenal: the trifecta. Keep it up KG. Our offense desperately needs you to be aggressive and efficient. Your defense has been on point against some of the best frontcourt players in the league (Howard, Hibbert, Gasol, etc.)

-JO: The ole bag o' bones. Though he hasn't been overly productive on the stat sheet, JO's presence on the court has been felt lately. He is stepping up defensively by collecting more blocks and drawing charges ala BBD. He's even knocking down the occasional jumpshot and throwing down dunks like its 2002. Barring any major injury, JO should continue with the same production and be a solid contributor to this team.

-Pietrus: My god. I love this man. Every time I see him on the court or in post/pre game interviews, one thing continues to stick out: he takes the utmost pride in being a Boston Celtic. In my opinion, Pietrus has been one of the best bench players we've seen in Beantown for years. Big time threes and malicious defense have earned MP extended minutes in the rotation. Keep strokin' threes and doing what you do, MP.

-Bass: Where to even start with this guy.. Can a team expect any more from a reserve PF? He is a certified sniper from mid-range and should continue to look for his shot on a regular basis. It's nice having a big man that can rise above the rim and finish big or earn some points from the charity stripe. What a pickup DA

-Wilcox: Looks like Wilcox is finally rounding into form. Though his inconsistency is still troublesome, he has given us a much needed spark at times to put us over the top against some good teams. Big boards, solid defense, and timely buckets will keep getting Wilcox minutes down the line. My advice is to spend some one on one time with Rondo so you can get used to his flashy, quick passes and earn yourself some easy dunks.

-Avery: I must admit I was ready to write AB off as an NBA-caliber player. And I still have my reservations, but good lord the man can play defense and get under the opposing PGs skin. His ball-handling and ability to run the offense has improved enough to consider AB as a solid back up to Rondo. I keep hearing about this lights out jumpshot he possesses... I hope we get a look at it sometime this season.

-E'Twaun: Having the luxury of a PG with the defensive skills of AB along with another sub that provides instant offense through jumpers and threes gives the second unit plenty of options. This kid is gonna be very, very solid at the NBA level. I hope Doc really looks into game-to-game matchups more to decide where our backup PG minutes go.

-Dooling: I know he's gonna be a consistent contributor, I just know it. Once he returns to full health, I expect more time for Keyon at the 2 spot, where he seems more comfortable on this team.

-Daniels: Probably the most disappointing Celtic in my eyes up to this point. I like what Quis can bring to the table but it's starting to look like we can get the same production from Sasha, who is a great defender with more range than Daniels.

-Sasha: He hasn't seen consistent minutes at all, which can take any player out of rhythm. I do think Sasha can be a solid option for us in short spurts but he has to settle down and get more comfortable offensively.

-JJJ: Another guy that has yet to see extended minutes. However, when his number has been called the guy has shown us a lot of promise and potential. I expect great things from him next year as he finishes this season with a minor role on this team. He has the tools to be great, he just needs more time to adjust to the size, speed, athleticism, and defense of the NBA. Having a mentor like KG will pay huge dividends in the long run.

-Stiemsma: Steamer is obviously a defense-first type player. And he's good at it, but not great. I often see him one step slow on his rotations or a little too aggressive in going for a block. Maybe that's a product of being thrown into the very complex defensive system of the Celtics. Take a page from JO's book and get set for more charges. He'll continue to develop into a decent option as a backup center the more he plays, watches, and learns. I'd like to see him utilize that salty jumper he's shown at times.


To sum everything up, I believe we as Celtics fans have a lot to cheer for this season. We have overcome the slow start and are looking more and more like a team that no one wants to face come playoff time. Players are carving out their roles and playing them to perfection, with what seems like a new unsung hero emerging game after game. Will we ever climb back into elite status with this team? No, probably not. But we are far from finished. Don't "blow it up" (unless we get some out of this world offer) and we'll be just fine. Analysts and commentators have already written us off as contenders, but I cannot accept that fate. Neither can these Celtics. You can never count out a veteran team with championship experience.

UBUNTU

"Don't give up. Don't ever give up"