A month ago it seemed like the Celtics were going to run away with the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. But they have only won 3 of their last 10 games and don’t look now but the Raptors are only 4.5 games behind them. They have also fallen to fourth in the Eastern Conference. Part of the problem is the Celtics have been playing poorly at home as they are 13-8 there this season. The good news is that they are 16-8 on the road this year. They need a little more out of the offense as they are averaging 99.1 points per game but they are still tough on D allowing only 93.8 points per game. I think the Celtics will need to monitor the minutes that Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnestt get in the second half of the season because these guys are getting a little long in tooth.

The Boston Celtics have hit the low point of their season after losing to the Detroit Pistons (15-26) last night, making it their 5th loss in 7 games.  However, you cannot blame Paul Pierce for the Celtics current losing ways.  Pierce is playing hard, leading the team in scoring, and shooting a great percentage (especially from three).  Pierce is shooting 47% from the field and 47% from three, while averaging 18.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals.  With Kevin Garnett out, the Celtics have really struggled.  He is expected to return tomorrow, but it will take some time for KG to get back into form.  In the meantime, perhaps Pierce should get some more shots since he is shooting the ball so well.  He is only averaging 12.4 shots per game and has not shot more than 19 shots in one game all season.  The Celtics’ point totals have been hovering in the 80’s and 90’s lately, so maybe it is time for Pierce to put up some more shots and take on more of the scoring load, especially with the way he has been shooting the ball this season.

Kendrick Perkins is having by far his best season with the Boston Celtics this year. He has played in 39 games (all starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 29.3 minutes, 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game. His shooting range seems to be expanding a little bit every game as he is hitting 63.9% of his shots from the floor this season. Perkins’ next trick should be improving his free throw shooting as he is only hitting 59.6% from the charity stripe. Perkins is looking like he and Rajon Rondo will be the major players for the Celtics down the road in the future.

Rajon Rondo is playing very well for the Celtics this season. He has played in 20 games (all starts) this season and he is averaging 33.3 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Rondo is shooting very well from the floor hitting 54.5% from the floor but he is having serious issues at the free throw line as he is only making 40.6% of them. Rondo is the man who makes it all go for the Celtics as his defense and passing often get the break going resulting in easy points.

Starting center Kendrick Perkins is playing the best basketball of his NBA career right now for the Celtics. He has played in 15 games (all starts) for the Celtics this season and he is averaging 26.4 minutes, 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game. The Celtics just require Perkins to play defense and rebound but he has developed a decent mid-range shot which is making him very hard to defend because of his size. The Celtics hope that Perkins can keep up the good work because the team is really benefitting from it.