The Celtics released Lester Hudson prior to Wednesday’s game in Miami.  All this on the day the New Jersey Nets released Rafer Alston in a buyout.   Boston knows they are one hamstring tear away from losing Rajon Rondo, their mercurial point guard.  They cannot afford to go through the season with Tony Allen or Eddie House as their only option.  

Alston is a 10 year veteran with a little bit of a reputation as a malcontent.  It is easy to see him as a less brittle version of Sam Cassell.  His well televised slap of Eddie Houses’ head last year may be a source of tension, but a chance at a championship can smoothe this over.  Rumor has it that the Miami Heat has the inside track on his services.

Rafer Alston can still score and is a decent defender.  He has career averages of 10 PPG and 1.8 turnovers per game. The Celtics can then use Tony Allen as tradebait to upgrade the bench.  If he really wants a championship instead of playing time he should talk to Boston. If he subscribes to the Allen Iverson school of thought then the Celtics should pass.

South Beach saw some unseasonable weather last night; the temperature was in the 40’s and the natives were forced to don sweaters to the game.  The Miami Heat looked to make it just as frigid for the Celtics in-doors.

 Pierce and Rondo were game time decisions as the Celtics limped into Miami. Boston had managed to beat Toronto without them, but it would be a tall order to beat the ‘Flash’ on his home turf; fortunately for the Celtics they were both able to play.

Dwayne Wade lived up to his nickname by knifing his way to the hoop.  Miami exposed Boston’s Achilles, by forcing Boston into 22 turnovers and crashing the offensive boards.  At one point they got at least four offensive rebounds in a row but Miami was not able to take advantage of it.

The injuries are mounting and Eddie House was a late scratch with the flu. The Celtics also waived Lester Hudson leaving them without a legitimate back-up for Rondo. Pierce’s lack of conditioning was evident in the fourth quarter and the Captain couldn’t get any lift on his shot. 

Rondo played 55 minutes and took control of a game that seemed all but lost.  In a span of 5.5 seconds Ray Allen became the ‘goat’ as Rondo’s miracle play with .6 seconds erased the erstwhile moniker.  No one expected him to be much of a factor. 

The Celtics were hoping to ease him back into action because of his hamstring . Rondo’s game is predicated on speed and quickness making it necessary to monitor his minutes.  The diminutive point guard picked his spot and was able to have a spectacular performance in spite of this. 

Ray Allen shot a respectable 8-10 and Doc Rivers wisely used Tony Allen as a defensive substitute because of Ray’s foul problems.

The on-going conversation among fans is that Rajon Rondo is not an All-Star because he doesn’t average high-double figures.  He has beaten Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Derek Rose in head-to-head match-ups.

Rondo and Paul had a heated discussion in Boston in which he told ‘CP3’ that he was the best.  Paul promptly responded that Rondo was nothing without ‘The Big Three.’  This game showed that those remarks are far from the truth.

His game transcends what the 21^st century point guard offers the NBA.  He doesn’t have a consistent jump-shot or free-throw, yet he controls the game.  Opponents dare him to shoot as his off-season work with Mark Price is slow to bear fruit. Last night he made 7-8 at the charity stripe and shot a respectable 9-12 from the field. 

His teammates only have to run the floor, keep their head on a swivel and have their hands ready for his amazing passes.  He can play with anyone. He makes NBA journeymen such as Kendrick Perkins near all-stars. Perk knows to stay ready and you can see shades of Stockman-to-Malone comparisons happening with every pass.

The Celtics don’t mind if the rest of the league continues to dismiss his unique gamesmanship.  They are hoping his new found maturity culminates into banner 18. 

The Celtics were without Paul, KG and Rondo. This was not a good sign and it seemed like they were going to lose their fourth game in a row.  But a funny thing happened on the way to the TD Garden, someone forgot to tell the Celtics that. 

The Celtics had a well-balanced attack and no one took over thirteen shots.  The Celtics can breathe a sigh of relief that they learned how to play and win without the ‘big three’ intact.  Rasheed Wallace displayed and array of offensive moves and rarely drifted out of the post. 

Boston forced the Raptors into committing 16 turnovers and only three fast break points.  The Celtics were able to maintain the lead and kept the pressure off of Ray Allen to carry the team.  He was able to lead the way with 23 points and Boston received contribution from everyone.

Doc Rivers and his coaching staff had a simple game plan based on ball movement and everyone played within themselves.  J.R. Giddens  played solid defense and Lester Hudson showed he belonged in the NBA.

Glen Davis and Eddie House were double figure scorers of the bench but as usual it was the defense that won the day. They didn’t do anything spectacular; they simply paid attention to detail and did yeoman’s work on the board. 

The Celtics have three days off before their next game and Doc will continue to teach the youngsters how to play the right way.

The bench will have to trust and build on their new found confidence because KG, Pierce and Rondo will not be gracing the parquet any time soon.

The Celtics started the 2009-10 season with a bang and ended the calendar year with a whimper.  Three of their top players are injured and the bench couldn’t find its way through the Arizona desert.  The Celtics were torched by Channing Frye, a player who couldn’t find his way of the Portland bench last year.

Frye shot the ball beyond the arc with impunity. He made six out of 10 three point attempts which left Boston searching for answers.  Time and time again Scalabrine was too late on his rotation or was caught with his hands down. 

Amare’ Stoudamire started the game making his first seven shots and simply out-hustled the Boston big men.  Boston had no one who was willing to do the dirty work in the paint.  Rasheed Wallace had a non-descript game, contributing only six points and spent most of his time drifting out to the three point land.

Wallace was lauded as being the most coveted free-agent during the off-season.  He had offers from other contending teams but liked the Boston vibe better.  He is rumored to have an excellent basketball IQ and to be a very good three point shooter.  Neither of these aspects has been evident in his play as of late. 

His intensity and passion seems to be relegated to getting technical fouls.  Somewhere along the way ‘Sheed’ has to realize that the Celtics work like a clock.  Each part is geared toward the machinations of Boston’s championship drive.   He has not found his way yet.

Last night he looked like a reluctant participant and the team had to depend on a gimpy Rondo and a frustrated Perkins. They have a 23-8 record and are riding a three game losing streak; something that has not occurred in Boston in the last three years. 

The Celtics are tied for third place in the league and rank second in the Eastern Conference standings.  They are not where they want to be, but at least they are still in the conversation with the elite teams in the NBA.

Boston can make the excuse that they have not had a healthy bench yet this season.  Glen Davis’ recent return was short lived as he suffered an ankle sprain.  Marquis Daniels valiantly played through his thumb injury until it started really affecting his game.

Shelden Williams’ play rises and falls like the stock market and Doc’s level of trust in him has diminished.  The Celtics may need to mull over whether or not some additional changes need to be made. 

They have a few days of to lick their wounds before taking on Toronto this weekend.  It looks like KG, Pierce and Davis may still be out for that game.  The Celtics may very well end up with a four game losing streak if they can’t reestablish their trademark defensive focus. 

After an emotional win in Orlando the Celtics have now lost two in a row too under .500 teams.  The Clippers on Sunday and the Golden State Warriors last night simply outhustled them.  What has been particularly troubling is Kendrick Perkins seems to have reverted backto his pre-championship ways. 

 He is being called more for moving picks and for extracurricular activities under the basket.  This has turned his normally stoic façade into a perennial frown.   KG is moving like an arthritic old man since that Christmas day spill.  He is doing his best but he has not been a dominant force down in the paint.

In some ways Perks frustration could be understood.  He is often the only Celtic who grapples for rebounds.   More often than not he is the only one pounding the offensive glass.  Rasheed Wallace is capable of helping but he constantly drifts to the perimeter.

The Celtics Achilles heels are young athletic teams who simply take advantage of Boston’s older legs.  Shelden Williams would have helped in that regard, but he seems to have regressed over the past few months.  Doc Rivers is not panicking but there should be cause for concern, because he is not utilizing the likes of Bill Walker or J. R. Giddens. 

It is true that they are built for the playoffs, but there is a lack that is not easily quantified in these type of losses.  They looked like a road weary team just wanting the game to be over with.  The Celtics put up very little resistance and simply went through the motions as Golden State ran over their lifeless bodies.

They are in danger of posting their first losing road record this year.  By all means they are still road warriors but now they have lost two out of three with Phoenix waiting for them.  Last time they met Steve Nash and company ran them in the ground at home.

The team’s collective basketball IQ seems to be regressing.  Their offensive balance is gone with Ray Allen being the only viable three point threat in the starting line-up.  If Wallace wasn’t so prone to being on the perimeter Doc would have the option of starting him.  As this is not the case Perk must find away to regain his momentum and focus. 

Perk was averaging double figures in scoring prior to this road trip and his lack of production is hurting their cause.  Glen Davis may have taken a step back after spraining his ankle last night.  Rondo is nursing a sore hamstring and it was evident in the way he dragged his leg up the court.  He had no lateral movement and Montae Ellis was unstoppable because of it.

Boston definitely needs to find an athletic swingman for their second unit.  Tony Allen does his best but he is only 6’4” tall and his mental lapses come at the most inopportune times.  The hamstring injury to Rondo may speed up the process of finding a back-up for him.  Rumor has it that Tyronne Lue was brought in to split time as a staff member and an emergency back-up for Rondo. 

Tomorrow night’s game in Phoenix will tell if Doc needs to rest Rondo and give Tyronne Lue a 10 day contract.

It would be very easy to blame Rajon Rondo for missing two free throws with 1.5 seconds left.  He was not to blame.  The previous play saw Baron Davis drive the lane and collapsed the defense, for some inexplicable reason Ray Allen left Rasul Butler open for a dagger three. Teams know that Ray-Ray is a defensive liability and more often than not it is his man that ultimately makes the shot. 

 Ray is in the final year of his contract and the Celtics are going to have to make a big decision next year.  He can still play but will next year see even further deterioration of his game?

The Celtics need to get younger at the two guard position and make Ray the designated sniper of the bench.  This will not bode well for Eddie House, but at least the Celtics will have some length at that spot on the second unit.

The emergence of Rondo allows the team to pursue a replacement for Ray Allen.   Bill Walker or J.R. Giddens must prove that they can handle those duties.  Unfortunately neither has been able to crack the rotation.

Allen makes 19 million in this last year of his contract; the Celtics will have the ability to sign a second tier marquee player.  Tracy McGrady comes to mind, but he has a history of thinking me first.  Joe Johnson could be a perfect fit if the Hawks do not make it beyond the first round again.  If that happens the chances of a Joe Johnson re-dux would be great.

Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks is another viable option but has had health issues in the last two years. Anthony Morrow is someone who is flying under the radar.  He has a smooth stroke like Ray with range.  He will be a restricted free agent for Golden State.  If they let Pietrus walk I don’t think they will put out for Morrow.

The Celtics have some options next year but for now, they will focus on tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors.  After last night’s last second defeat the Celtics will look to bounce back against the Warriors.  The Celtics still have the best road record in the NBA so they won’t panic.  It is their lack of focus when playing lesser talented teams that has hounded them so far.

Christmas Day saw the Celtics wake up to consecutive starts without one of the “big three”.  This time it was Paul Pierce that was sidelined with what was called as a knee infection.  The Celtics had already won their last home game without the services of Kevin Garnett. 

They have a reputation of being the ultimate road warriors of the NBA landscape.  Boston had a 12-1 record on the road and they weren’t given a chance of extending that current streak without Pierce.

Doc Rivers simply inserted Tony Allen into the starting line-up which gave them a unique attack.  This enabled the Celtics to have two players that think defense first at the guard position.  Tony Allen drove to the basket with impunity and was a respectable four out of seven at the charity stripe.  Rondo simply picked up the tempo in the second half and finished with a double –double; he led by example. 

Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace have a very good defensive resume when matched up against Dwight Howard.  The combination of ‘Sheed’ and ‘Perk’ held Dwight Howard to five points, they were focused.  They had a slight scare when KG took a spill, but by all accounts he is alright.

The Celtics displayed a defensive mindset that boosted their confidence and served notice to the rest of the NBA.   The Celtics have a very deep and experienced team. They did what the Lakers could not do; beat a top rival on Christmas Day without one of their star players. 

Think the Lakers could have done that without Kobe Bryant? We will never know, because Kobe is too selfish to sacrifice today for a better opportunity tomorrow.

Early season losses at home against top teams like Phoenix, Atlanta and Orlando raised questions about whether they could compete against top tier teams.   Last night the Celtics game showed Ubuntu could be a powerful force in the Magic Kingdom.  It was reported that Howard was mesmerized by the brightness of the green.

Last night saw the debut of Glen ‘The Ticket Stub’ Davis.  He sported a protective covering on his injured thumb and finished with three rebounds in 11 minutes.  Davis along with Tony Allen is the energizer of the second unit.  The Celtics are loaded and do not a skip a beat in the midst of these early season injuries. 

Tomorrow night they will have another opportunity to show the Los Angeles Clippers that they can be inhospitable house guests.  The Clippers lost to Phoenix on the road and will look to take advantage of being at home.  The Celtics should be done with the euphoria of their win over Orlando.  If they are not, their focus will again be questioned.

It began with Tony Allen and Bill Walker then Glen Davis’ misadventure on the eve before opening day.  The injury bug continues to test the Celtics resolve in the early part of the season.   Kevin Garnett missed Tuesday night’s game (bruised thigh) and it took the team the whole first half before they pulled out the win in the second half. 

Tony Allen is back but now Marquis Daniels (thumb injury) and as of yesterday, Paul Pierce is out for two weeks. Pierce had his knee drained due to an infection that was discovered after the Indiana game.  He did not travel with the team for the ensuing road trip.

This is where the loss of Marquis will affect the team the most.  Who will Doc Rivers turn too?  The Celtics are most vulnerable at small forward, point guard, power forward and to some extent the center position.  Will Doc be able to trust Tony Allen with increased playing time?  The answer is a resounding yes.

Tony’s playing history has shown that with increased playing time he is less prone to mental lapses.  Prior to his rash of injuries, he was well on his way to making a name for himself in the league.  He did not warrant all-star status but teams would have had to game plan for him.

The team has recalled Bill Walker, a player whose athleticism has yet to translate to consistent playing time.  Walker was averaging 16 PPG for the Maine Red Claws; in NBA terms he may be able to score at least 5 PPG.

Last year Walker showed glimpses of what he could be a Paul Pierce type player with increased athleticism.  Yes, this was said to me during his rookie season by Comcast Tonight’s Greg Dickerson during a chance encounter.  He still has a long way to go to deliver on this insight; this is his opportunity to play his game within the structure of the offense.

The Celtics will have to believe and play with Ubuntu beginning with Friday’s game in Orlando.  The Magic beat the Celtics badly when KG was still adjusting to life after his first surgery.  Now it is Pierce who will be out with minor surgery of his own. 

In his post-game presser, Paul stated that the Celtics could not win in the long term without KG.  The team will now have to face life without “The Truth” for two weeks.  Pierce is an underrated star with great scoring efficiency.  He can take 12 shots and end up with 32 points at any given time.  Kobe, LeBron and the other so-called stars need volume shots to get those types of numbers.

 The Celtics will have to use a forward by committee approach; platooning with the likes of Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, J.R. Giddens and maybe  a dose of Bill Walker.  This maybe a defining moment in the genesis of fringe players like Walker and Giddens.

This stretch of games will determine which one of these players will be part of the team’s future. 

Kendrick Perkins has slowly molded himself into the prototypical NBA caliber and most importantly Boston Celtic center.  He is part of a list of championship centers that began with Bill Russell and is now embodied in him. 

This young man from humble beginnings brings a lunch pail game and a hard hat attitude. His stoic face reminds you of ‘The Chief’, Robert Parish, but he has a more fiery approach to his game.

His game transcends any NBA era. He could rock in the time of “Mcfilthy” and “McNasty” of the Washington Bullets or the “Bad Boys” of the Detroit Pistons.  There is nothing self serving about his game; he simply understands his job within the greater scheme of things. 

This year the media questioned whether Doc Rivers should start Rasheed Wallace.  Perk simply welcomed the challenge of learning from the veteran and has started every game.  He reinvented himself. Training camp saw a quicker slimmed down version and an array of offensive moves.

He is often overlooked by the other teams and he is beginning to make them pay.  Perk knows his game is confined within a constricted area; but somehow the ball seems to always find him. The team is rewarding his efforts in setting solid screens; he is averaging 12PPG, 8 RPGS and 2 BPG. 

Tomorrow night he will be facing a young center who has publicly stated that he relishes being a back-to-the-basket center. Roy Hibbert is in his second year and outplayed Perk in the early part of the season. 

Hibbert will pound the boards and has a slightly better jumper than Perk.  He is averaging 9 PPG, 5 RBG and about 1 BPG. Perk must not take him lightly again or Hibbert will make him pay. 

The Pacers star Danny Granger is out with a significant injury and this may be the de facto matchup of the game.  Roy will be out to prove himself in what he may view as the best center and team in the East.

The Celtics were finally able to play their game and beat the Timberwolves without having to make a last second bucket.   Paul Pierce tied a Celtic record for most three pointers made and Tony Allen once again was the catalyst behind the deciding run.  As soon as he came in the game he forced a turnover and whipped the Celtics defense into a frenzied attack.  Eddie houses’ steal and behind the back pass culminated in a ferocious dunk and one for him.

Everyone knows about Tony’s ongoing problems between the ears and his legal issues in Chicago.   A  meaningless dunk after a foul was the beginning of his injury woes. Through it all he has continued to work hard and stay out of the headlines except to report on his rehab.  He is giving Boston something energy and athleticism, something they have sorely missed in the past two years.  

The lack of team athleticism has manifested itself in the team’s rebounding efforts. Opponents have also been feasting on the perimeter defense of Ray Allen.  Lately, he has been beaten for back door layups and not boxing out. 

The Celtics know what they will get with Ray, offense and clutch buckets when you least expect it.  It is the mid-quarter drop in defensive pressure that has made Tony Allen more valuable then Marquis Daniels.  Daniels will give you what he can with his length and basketball IQ.  He brings the same level of play as the starting unit.  

The problem is the second unit does not surge like it does with Tony in the mix.  The team has rallied around their prodigal son and he is rewarding them with his play.  He has scored a respectable 10 and 15 points in the past two games as well as filling out the stat sheet. 

If Tony can keep his focus and Glen Davis can contribute, they will provide the enthusiasm that can provide a boost through the dog days of the NBA season.

Tomorrow Jim O’Brien’s Indiana Pacers come into Boston looking to win consecutive games against the Green.  Paul Pierce’s nemesis, Danny Granger is out with a torn plantar fascia so he may have an easier time of it on the defensive end. 

Once again it will be the rebounding effort that will determine the outcome of the game.

Roy Hibbert is slowly rounding into a keeper for the Pacers.  Not since the days of Rik Smits have the Pacers had the luxury of a decent center.  Kendrick Perkins will have to pay attention to him because he took advantage of Perks lack of respect for his game last time. 

Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy will stretch the defense with the three point shot.  The Celtics will have to be aware of where they are on the court.   

Indiana will be playing the second game of a back-to-back and Boston will have the luxury of having a day-off.  Home hasn’t been kind to the Celtics, but with a win, this game can go a long way in boosting Boston’s confidence about playing on the parquet.