Back up guard Nate Robinson was supposed to give the Celtics instant offense after coming over from the Knicks but that hasn’t been the case so far. Robinson has played in 17 games (0 starts) for the Celtics so far and he is averaging 16.1 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Robinson could be in trouble as far as playing time goes as Michael Finley is off to a good start for the Celtics. Finley has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Celtics and he is averaging 14.0 minutes, 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Finley has also found his shot as he is shooting 56.3% from the floor and 45% from three point range for the Celtics. Robinson better get into gear soon or he will be watching Michael Finley taking his minutes away.

Age appears to be creeping up on 33 year old starting power forward Kevin Garnett. Garnett has played in 53 games (all starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 30.0 minutes, 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. His scoring and rebounding averages are the lowest they have been since his rookie season (1995-96). Garnett needs to stay healthy and return being his old self if the Celtics are going to really make another legit run at a NBA Championship this season.

The Celtics have signed 36-year old SG/SF Michael Finley. Finley played in 25 games (6 starts) for the Spurs this season and he averaged 15.8 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He has now played in 1,082 games (874 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 34.8 minutes, 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. I can’t figure out where the minutes for Finley are going to come from but I still like the signing for the Celtics as you can never have too many good players.

Paul Pierce, who is the Boston Celtics’ leading scorer, returned to the lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons after missing a week due to a thumb injury.  Pierce looked a little rusty in their game against the Pistons and was not very aggressive on either end of the court.  He played 29 minutes and only had 9 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.  Being back on the court was a great sign for the Celtics though, and Pierce bounced back very nicely last night.  He looked like his old self in the Celtics’ win over the Bobcats, and came out much more aggressively.  In only 27 minutes he lit it up for 27 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block en route to a Celtics 104-80 blowout win.  If this is a sign of things to come for the Pierce and the Celtics down the stretch, then they may get themselves back to the team that started the season 23-5.  Injuries and age looked like they were really starting to catch up with the Celtics, as they even lost to the 6-54 New Jersey Nets recently.  However, if they have a healthy and determined Paul Pierce back, it could change the whole dimension of their team.  Hopefully for the Celtics’ sake, last game was not a fluke for Pierce and he can get this Celtics team back on track.

The Celtics shot 53.5% from the floor last night and they turned up the D holding the Bobcats to 36% shooting from the floor which explains the easy win in Boston. Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics last night with 27 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in only 26 minutes. K.G. pitched in with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocked shots in only 25 minutes on the floor. Nate Robinson was solid off the bench with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in only 20 minutes off the bench. The Celtics are now 38-21 on the year.

The Celtics outscored the Pistons 33-25 in the 4th quarter which helped them overcome the fact that they were outrebounded 46-34. Ray Allen led the way for the Celtics last night with 18 points and 2 rebounds. Rajon Rondo did a good job as usual of running the offense as he finished up with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals. Kevin Garnett also had a decent game with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Nate Robinson (14 points and 2 rebounds in 15 minutes) and Glen Davis (12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 18 minutes) were both solid off the bench for the Celtics last night. The Celtics are now 37-21 on the year.