The Celtics outrebounded the Clippers 43-36 last night and it helped them win this game.  Paul Pierce (24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals) and Ray Allen (22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals) led the way for the Clippers last night.  Kevin Garnett also had a very solid game as he stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  Glen “Big Baby” Davis pitched in with 10 points off the bench.  The Celtics are now 42-15 on the year.

The Celtics figured that they could move Nate Robinson in a deal because Delonte West is back from injury.  West can handle playing both guard spots, which makes him pretty valuable going forward.  West has played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Celtics so far this year and he is averaging 17.6 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  He has now played in 371 games (223 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Von Wafer has played in 49 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Celtics and he is averaging 9.1 minutes, 3.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He will likely see more minutes behind Ray Allen as the season goes on.

The Celtics only shot 39% from the floor last night and they were outrebounded 52-38, but it wasn’t until the 4th quarter when the Nuggets outscored them 28-15 that the Celtics lost the game.  Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics in this game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot.  Kevin Garnett also filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots.  Glen “Big Baby” Davis also filled up the stat sheet for the Celtics with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots in 36 minutes on for the floor.  Ray Allen and Delonte West also pitched in with 10 points apiece in this game.  The Celtics are now 41-15 on the season.

The Celtics have signed 25-year old rookie center Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract.  He played in 2 games earlier this season for the Trailblazers in which he averaged 8.0 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Johnson made his debut for the Celtics in last night’s game at Denver.  He played 17 minutes in which he scored 6 points, grabbed 1 rebound and blocked 3 shots.  Johnson needs to make a good impression (like he did last night) if he wants to stick around more than 10 days.

The Celtics have dealt 30-year old SG/SF Marquis Daniels to the Sacramento Kings for cash considerations.  Daniels played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 19.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He played in 100 games (4 starts) in parts of two years with the Celtics and he averaged 18.8 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Daniels will likely miss the rest of the season due to a spinal chord injury.  The Kings needed to add some salary or they were going to have to pay a league fine, so the Celtics took advantage of that situation.  The Celtics are going to need Daniels’ roster spot.

The Boston Celtics have dealt 24-year old rookie center Semih Erden and 23-year old rookie forward Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Minnesota T-Wolves’ 2nd round pick in 2013.  Erden played in 37 games (7 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 14.4 minutes, 4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  Harangody played in 28 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this year and he averaged 8.6 minutes, 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  This deal was to free up roster spots and little more, as the Celtics are going to be looking to sign some veterans who are about to be bought out and become free agents.

The Boston Celtics have sent 26-year old center Kendrick Perkins & 26-year old guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for 24-year old forward Jeff Green and 27-year old center Nenad Krstic.  Kendrick Perkins played in 12 games (7 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 7.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He played in 454 games (335 starts) in his 8 years with the Celtics and he averaged 22.3 minutes, 6.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  The Celtics will miss his defense & rebounding going forward.  Nate Robinson played in 55 games (11 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 17.9 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  He played in 81 games (11 starts) in his two years with the Celtics and he averaged 16.9 minutes, 6.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.  The Celtics will likely use Von Wafer in Nate Robinson’s old role off the bench.

24-year old “power forward” Jeff Green might have the most upside of any player in this deal but I just don’t know where he will fit in for the Celtics.  Green played in 49 games (all starts) for the Thunder this season and he averaged 37.0 minutes, 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  Green has now played in 289 games (261 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 34.5 minutes, 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  Nenad Krstic will likely replace Kendrick Perkins’ minutes in the middle until Shaq is ready to return to action.  Krstic played in 47 games (all starts) for the Thunder this season and he averaged 21.7 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 393 games (353 starts) in his 7 years in the NBA and he has averaged 25.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. 

The Celtics have been getting bashed for this trade but in the long run it will turn out to be a good one for them, mark my words.  That is because at some point Jeff Green will have a big role on this team, heck, it might even come this year.

The Celtics shot 55.6% from the floor and they outrebounded the Warriors 52-35 which were the huge reasons for the easy road win last night.  The Celtics outscored the Warriors 55-33 in the second half last night to surge to victory.  Kevin Garnett (24 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots), Paul Pierce (23 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists) and Rajon Rondo (19 points, 6 rebounds, 15 assists and 2 steals) led the way for the Celtics last night.  Ray Allen (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal) and Glen Davis (12 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes) also had solid games for the Celtics last night.  The Celtics are now 41-14 on the year.

The Boston Celtics have a 12 game lead over the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star Break.  They are also tied for first in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat who they have beaten all three times they have played each other so far this season.  The Celtics have a very deep roster and they know how to win.  I think that they might make a small deal this week to help out the bench but I don’t think they need to make any major moves to compete for the NBA Championship this year. 

Biggest Surprise:  25-year old Rajon Rondo has looked to pass more this season and he’s looking like a young version of Jason Kidd (but one that can shoot well from the floor).  Rondo has played in 43 games (all starts) so far this year and he is averaging 37.7 minutes, 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 12.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game.  Rondo is the best passer in the game right now, period.  He is shooting 50.2% from the floor which shows how unselfish he is with the basketball, especially when you consider that he’s only hitting 30% of his shots from behind the 3-point line and only 55% from the free throw line.  Rondo is the most important player on the Celtics as he is the only one they for sure couldn’t replace.

Biggest Disappointment:  32-year old Jermaine O’Neal was supposed to help the Celtics get by until Kendrick Perkins was ready to return to action.  Well, he has been gimpy this season and he was passed up by Shaq before he was injured.  O’Neal has played in 17 games (5 starts) for the Celtics so far this year and he is averaging 18.1 minutes, 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  The Celtics hope that O’Neal will be ready to return to action by the playoffs.

The Celtics held the Nets to 38.8% shooting from the floor and they outscored them 24-10 in the 4th quarter to seal this win.  Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics in this game with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot.  Kevin Garnett also had a solid game with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocked shots.  Ray Allen pitched in with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.  The Celtics are now 40-14 on the season.