The Celtics played well offensively last night as they shot 51.4% from the floor, but, they didn’t play any defense as the Heat shot 56% from the floor and they were outrebounded 38-28 by Miami.  Ray Allen (28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals) and Rajon Rondo (22 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists) led the way for the Celtics last night.  Keyon Dooling (18 points and a steal in 24 minutes off the bench) and Brandon Bass (13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocked shots) had solid games for the the Celtics off the bench last night.  Kevin Garnett filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot in this game.  The Celtics are now 0-2 on the year.

The Celtics shot 51.3% from the floor yesterday and they outrebounded the Knicks 41-31, so they won….right?  Wrong, the Knicks outscored them 27-17 in the 4th quarter to snatch a win from the Celtics.  The Celtics left everything they had on the floor yesterday.  Rajon Rondo led the way for the Celtics in this game with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 steals as he had a monster game.  Ray Allen had a solid game with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists yesterday.  Brandon Bass was a beast off the bench for the Celtics in this game.  He had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 1 steal in only 28 minutes on the court.  Bass also shot a sizzling 9 of 13 from the floor in this game.  Kevin Garnett pitched in with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.  The Celtics are now 0-1 on the season.

The Celtics have signed 29-year old SG/SF Mickael Pietrus to a 1-year deal for the veteran’s minimum.  Pietrus played in 57 games (4 starts) for the Magic and Suns last year and he averaged 19.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He has now played in 496 games (150 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 21.5 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Pietrus gives the Celtics more depth in the backcourt and frontcourt, and that is needed because of the overall age of the players in the rotation.

The Celtics have re-signed 30-year old SG/SF Marquis Daniels to a 1-year deal.  Daniels  played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Celtics last year and he averaged 19.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He has now played in 451 games (113 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 22.5 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  This was a good pickup for the Celtics.

The Celtics have signed 28-year old PF/C Jamal Sampson.  Sampson last played back in 2006-07 with the Denver Nuggets.  Sampson has played in 72 games (5 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 8.8 minutes, 2.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  You can’t teach size, so it doesn’t hurt to give Sampson a chance to show what he can do.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Celtics waived Jamal Sampson.

The Celtics have signed 29-year old power forward Mike Sweetney.  Sweetney last played in the NBA back in 2006-07 with the Chicago Bulls.  Sweetney has played in 233 games (73 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.5 minutes, 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  If Sweetney is in shape, he could help the Celtics off the bench….so this was a nice very low risk/high reward signing for them.

UPDATE:  (12/22/2011) – The Celtics have waived Mike Sweetney.

The Boston Celtics have re-signed 28-year old shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic to a 1-year deal.  Pavlovic played in 31 games (7 starts) for the Mavericks, Celtics and Hornets last year and he averaged 11.7 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.5 assists per game.  He has now played in 483 games (134 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  It was a good move to re-sign Pavlovic as he brings a lot of energy to the court off the bench.

The Celtics have acquired 31-year old point guard/shooting guard Keyon Dooling and a protected 2nd round pick for rights to 29-year old Albert Miralles.  Dooling played in 80 games (22 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 22.0 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  He has now played in 675 games (84 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  This was a perfect deal for the Celtics as they took advantage of the depth the Bucks had at guard.  Albert Miralles was drafted back in 2004 by the Raptors and he has been playing overseas ever since.  So the Celtics likely got their #3 guard for next season for essentially nothing.

The Celtics have re-signed 25-year old forward Jeff Green to a 1-year deal.  Green played in 26 games (2 starts) for the Celtics last year and he averaged 23.5 minutes, 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He played in 75 games (51 starts) overall last year for the Thunder & Celtics and he averaged 32.4 minutes, 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  Green has now played in 315 games (263 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 33.6 minutes, 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  Green will likely get his minutes playing behind Paul Pierce this year.

UPDATE:  (12/17/2011) – The Celtics have lost Jeff Green for the 2011-12 season.  He needs heart surgery.  His contract has been voided due to his failed physical.  Green will likely be able to return to the NBA for the 2012-13 season as long as the doctor gives him an o.k. to play.

The Boston Celtics have signed 29-year old power forward to a 1-year deal.  Wilcox played in 57 games (29 starts) for the Pistons last year and he averaged 17.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  He has now played in 539 games (250 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 20.7 minutes, 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Wilcox has been a solid player his whole career, and he will likely really help the Celtics off the bench this year.