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.

Glen “Gigantic Baby” Davis really needs to take his job seriously or he is going to eat his way out of the NBA. Davis has played in 29 games (0 starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 17.0 minutes, 5.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Davis is only 24 years old so he could have a long career ahead of him if he keeps in shape. If he decides to keep eating like he is right now he will be the next Mike Sweetney.

The Celtics need Marquis Daniels to step up while Paul Pierce is out of action. Daniels started for the Celtics at small forward last season and he played 28 minutes in which he scored 14 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and he dished out 1 assist. He has now played in 26 games (1 start) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 20.2 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Celtics brought in Daniels to help them in case the old guys started showing their age so they need him to reward them for that.

Rajon Rondo has been getting a lot of credit ever since the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA Championship.  A lot of it was deserved, with Rondo putting up some great stat lines as the starting point guard for an NBA championship team, along with his continued improvement since 2008.  The only problem I have is that Rondo has been doing this with three future Hall-of-Famers in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.  Now with Paul Pierce not at 100% and missing some games recently, an ailing KG, and an aging Allen, will Rondo continue to put up his near triple-double stat lines?  I’m not so sure he will, and I’m also not so sure that is what the Celtics need out of him.  Without Pierce and KG scoring like they used to, Rondo needs to put some more points on the board.  He is young and healthy, and the Celtics really need a boost when it comes to scoring, especially without Pierce.  Rondo is averaging a career-high 14.4 points this season, but in his last 5 games he is averaging 18.8 points.   He deserves a lot of credit for this, as he still has been dishing the ball well.  He has even been extending his shooting range a bit, going 2-3 from three against Miami last Wednesday and 2-2 last night against Orlando.  The Celtics need him to continue to score like this until Pierce and KG get back to their old form (if they can).  If Rondo can not continue to score at this pace, the Celtics may be in big trouble.

Tony Allen is replacing Paul Pierce in the starting lineup while he is out of action. Allen has played in 26 games (6 starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 19.5 minutes, 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Allen is a outstanding shooter from the floor hitting 51.7% of his shots from the floor but he is not a good three point shooter as he hasn’t many any this season. The bottom line is no matter how well Allen plays the Celtics will still miss Paul Pierce.

With “Big Baby” Davis and Rasheed Wallace ahead of him for bench minutes at forward, Brian Scalabrine better pick up the pace or he’s going to be nailed to the end of the bench. Scalabrine has played in 35 games (3 starts) this season for the Celtics and he is averaging 10.0 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Scalabrine’s shooting has been awful this season as he is only hitting 35.9% from the floor, 30.8% from three point range and 66.7% from the free throw line. If his shooting doesn’t improved his minutes on the court will disappear.

The Celtics need more out of Glen “Big Baby” Davis who is off to a slow start after missing most of this season due to a broken thumb. He has played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Celtics so far this season and he is averaging 14.1 minutes, 4.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He is only shooting 35.5% from the floor so far this year and that is very weak for a power forward who is usually shooting from close range. With Kevin Garnett hurting and Rasheed Wallace in the starting line-up the Celtics need Big Baby to step up.

With Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce out of action due to injuries the Celtics really need Rasheed Wallace to step up. Wallace has played in 31 games (2 starts) this season for the Celtics and he is averaging 21.6 minutes, 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. But, it’s Wallace’s shooting which has been way off this season as he is only hitting 38.7% from the floor and 28.1% from three point range. He starting to look like a player who is on the downside of his career which is not good news for the Celtics who need him to step up right now.

Tony Allen is the player the Celtics would like to start at small forward until Paul Pierce returns from injury. He has only played in 8 games (1 start) for the Celtics so far this season and he is averaging 15.9 minutes, 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game. Allen has always been a good offensive player when healthy in his career so he should be able to do a solid job with the extended minutes the Celtics will give him the next couple of weeks.