The Celtics had another laugher tonight against the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics were really on their game tonight hitting 58.1% from the floor and 50% from behind the three point line. Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics in this game with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Eddie House was electric off the bench with 22 points and 2 rebounds in only 22 minutes. Kevin Garnett only had to play 25 minutes tonight in which he scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 2 assists. Shelden Williams had his best game of his NBA career tonight finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots in only 24 minutes. The Celtics are now 3-0 on the season.

The Celtics were relentless on defense in this laugher of a game tonight in Boston. The Celtics held the Bobcats to 18 points or less in each of the 4 quarters tonight. The Bobcats only shot 31.1% from the floor, 0% from three point range (0 for 10) and 52% from the free throw line showing how great the Celtics were on defense in this game. Ray Allen had a poor shooting night (6 of 17 from the floor) but he still led the way for the Celtics on offense with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Paul Pierce was also effective with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in only 25 minutes on the court. Back up big man Shelden Williams had a really nice game for the Celtics as he finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in only 22 minutes on the court. The Celtics are looking pretty darn good as they are 2-0 on the season.

The Celtics sent the Cavaliers and the NBA a message in Cleveland last night…..that they intend to win it all in 2009-2010. Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics in this game with 23 points and 11 rebounds. He was hitting big shots this whole game and he was mixing it up in the paint which is a little bit unusual for him. Ray Allen was o.k. in this game finishing with 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Kevin Garnett was very effective last night especially on defense as he finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Rasheed Wallace was outstanding off the bench which is the reason the Celtics wanted him so bad. In 24 minutes, Sheed finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. The Celtics are now 1-0 and it was because of the defense which shut down the Cavs last night.

The Celtics have lost Glen “Big Baby” Davis indefinately as he recently has underwent surgery to repair his right thumb that was injured in a fight with an ex-teammate in Louisiana. Davis’ injury won’t hurt the Celtics too much as Rasheed Wallace will likely pick up all of his minutes in addition to backing up Kendrick Perkins at center. Still, the Celtics are a better team with Davis on the active roster so they hope that he will be ready to return to action soon.

UPDATE: Davis will miss two months as he recovers from surgery to repair his broken thumb. He was also indefinately suspended by the Celtics which was deserved.

The Boston Celtics are so deep and talented that I would have to take the over for this season. Any team that can sweet talk players like Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels to sign with them for way below market value is going to win a lot of games. Doc Rivers has the Celtics on a roll lately and they are going to sneak up on “experts” who keep talking about the Cavs and the Magic. That is because K.G. is healthy and ready to rock this season. So, take the over with confidence.

Doc Rivers led the Celtics to the NBA Championship just two years ago and he hopes to get back to the promised land in 2009-2010. The Celtics will have no excuses this season (even injuries) as they have loaded up the bench with quality players. Rivers led the Celtics to a 62-20 record last season (75.6%) and they were 7-7 (50%) in the post season. I hate to say it but that just isn’t good enough for the NBA’s version of the New York Yankees. In Rivers’ five years with the Celtics he has compiled a regular season record of 230-180 (56.1%) and he has a post season record of 26-21 (55.3%) with them. Rivers has essentially an All-Star team in Boston so he should be able to pad his career coaching numbers this season. He has a 401-348 (53.5%) career record as an NBA coach in the regular season and he is 31-31 (50%) in the post season.

24-year old Kendrick Perkins knows his role and that is to rebound and play defense and he does that well. Perkins played in 76 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 29.6 minutes, 8.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game. His minutes might come down a little bit because he has a much better back up than last season. 35-year old Rasheed Wallace will give the Celtics a awesome offense when he is on the floor. He is also still a good defensive player but the fact that he can drag the opposing center out to the three point line will open up the paint for other Celtics. Wallace played in 66 games for the Pistons last season and he averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He will likely only get 20-25 minutes a game for the Celtics this season and it will be interesting to see how he handles that because he has always been a starter. 31-year old Brian Scalabrine will be the #3 center for the Celtics this season. He played in 39 games for the Celtics last year and he averaged 12.9 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Don’t look for Scalabrine to play much this season unless the Celtics have injuries to at least two of there big guys.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2009-2010: B

The Boston Celtics have brought 26-year old power forward Michael Sweetney into training camp giving him a chance to revive his NBA career. He last played during the 2006-07 season with the Chicago Bulls. Sweetney has played in 233 games in his NBA career in which he has averaged 15.5 minutes, 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He will have a hard time making the Celtics who are loaded at power forward.

UPDATE: The Celtics have released Michael Sweetney. He just picked the wrong team to try out for when he could have possibly made a team like the Sacramento Kings or the Minnesota Timberwolves.

33-year old Kevin Garnett is healthy and ready to rock this season. The Celtics will likely watch his minutes this season but they have a lot of talent behind him which should help keep him fresh and healthy all year long. Garnett played in 57 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 31.1 minutes, 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The Celtics value K.G. more for his defense than his offense but he still can drop 30-35 points on any given night. Glen “Big Baby” Davis will again back up K.G. this season. The 23-year old Davis played in 76 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. But, he stepped up big time in the playoffs while Garnett was out of action and the Celtics expect him to do the same if K.G. were to get injured this season. He has a huge upside. 35-year old Rasheed Wallace will likely get a few minutes at this position but most of his time will likely come at center. 25-year old Shelden Williams, a former lottery pick of the Hawks, is also trying to make the team. He played in 45 games for the Kings and T-Wolves last season and he averaged 11.4 mintues, 4.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 26-year old Michael Sweetney is also in camp trying to make the Celtics. He has not played in the NBA since the 2006-07 season with the Bulls.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: A

31-year old Paul Pierce might just be the best player on this basketball team. He played in 81 games for the Celtics this season and he averaged 37.5 minutes, 20.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Pierce is the guy the Celtics look to when they need someone to make the big shot. The Celtics signed 28-year old Marquis Daniels is the off-season and he will back up both Ray Allen at shooting guard and Paul Pierce at small forward. That job will likely give him at least 25 minutes a night as the Celtics have to start watching the minutes that both of those players (Allen and Pierce) get to keep them fresh and happy. Daniels played in 54 games for the Pacers last season and he averaged 31.5 minutes, 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Daniels took less money from the Celtics to try to play for a ring so he will be ready to play whenever Doc Rivers calls his number.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: A