New York Knicks Vs. Boston Celtics (Game 2) 4/19/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

New York Knicks Vs. Boston Celtics (Game 1) 4/17/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

New York Knicks Vs. Boston Celtics 4/13/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Boston Celtics Vs. Washington Wizards 4/11/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Dwyane Wade Chases Down & Rejects Ray Allen

By: Stephen Patterson

Boston Celtics Vs. Miami Heat 4/10/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

The Celtics definitely seem to be missing Kendrick Perkins, and that feeling isn't likely to get much better in the postseason.

After getting handled by the Heat yesterday, the Celtics now trail Miami by one game for the second seed in the East.

Boston is definitely a better team at home with the crowd in the Garden than they are on the road, where they catch quite a bit of heat (no pun intended) from crowds despite there being so many bandwagon fans around the country.

Do you think they will have what it takes to beat the Chicago Bulls or the Heat without home court advantage in the series?

Let us know what you think below the video,

Washington Wizards Vs. Boston Celtics 4/8/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

ESPN Sport Science: Ray Allen Edition (Video)

By: Stephen Patterson

ESPN Sport Science: Rajon Rondo Edition (Video)

By: Stephen Patterson

JaVale McGee Throws Down Sick Dunk On Nenad Krstic Of The Boston Celtics

By: Stephen Patterson

Boston Celtics Vs. Chicago Bulls 4/7/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Derrick Rose: Ridiculous Cross-Over & Drive On Rajon Rondo & The Celtics

By: Stephen Patterson

Philadelphia 76ers Vs. Boston Celtics 4/5/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Detroit Pistons Vs. Boston Celtics 4/3/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Boston Celtics Vs. Atlanta Hawks 4/1/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Boston Celtics vs San Antonio Spurs 03/31/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

Indiana Pacers Vs. Boston Celtics 3/28/11 (Highlights)

By: Stephen Patterson

The Indiana Pacers picked up a solid victory over the struggling Boston Celtics.

After trailing 85-81 heading into the fourth quarter, the Pacers outscored the Celtics 26-11 in the final quarter to pick up the 107-100 victory.

Boston fell to 51-22 with the loss and have dropped seven of their past twelve games.

It's kind of funny how Boston seems to be losing to teams with decent or better front court combos in the post-Kendrick Perkins era.

Isn't that the problem Danny Ainge said he wasn't worried about when he pulled the trigger on that deal?

Do you think these front court struggles are going to eventually cost the Celtics in the postseason?

How early in the postseason could the problems arise?

Let us know what you think in the comments section after you check out the highlights.

Boston Celtics vs Memphis Grizzlies Highlights (March 23 2011)

By: Stephen Patterson

The Grizzlies continue to look good heading towards the postseason after another impressive victory over one of the NBA's elite teams. Tony Allen and Leon Powe stepped up huge in their returns to Boston.

NBA 2011 All-Star Weekend: Previews & Predictions For All Of The Festivities

By: Stephen Patterson

The NBA's annual All-Star blast is heading to its' biggest stage this season, and it will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this weekend.

Before this season, most people around the country would have gotten mental images of Kobe Bryant or his Los Angeles Lakers if you mentioned the Staples Center, however, this season there's another show in town (and I don't mean the All-Star game).

That show goes by a few names, but the most popular one seems to be the "BlakeShow", and his talents and skill set will be on full display this weekend during the All-Star festivities.

Not only will he participating in the Sprite Slam Dunk Competition, but Blake Griffin will also appear in the Rookie-Sophomore game as well as the main event, the All-Star game itself.

This slideshow will give previews and predictions for all of the big events this weekend in Los Angeles. Just a tip, be prepared to witness the nationwide breakout of the BlakeShow.

Note: For a full list of participants for the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge and the All-Star Game, visit this site: http://www.espn.go.com/nba/allstargame

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

Participants: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Predicted Winner: Blake Griffin

If you have watched 'SportsCenter' at some point this season, or happened to catch a Clippers game, you probably know why Griffin has to be considered the clear-cut favorite in this event. He has lit-up almost every opponent the Clippers have faced this season with electric dunks, and I believe he will have a few extra-special dunks in store for this event.

This contest has the potential to be the most entertaining one since the 2000 Dunk Contest, which Vince Carter turned into a career-defining performance. While Griffin likely won't top Carter's performance from that contest, there is a decent chance he will have the most entertaining array of dunks since.

DeRozan would be my dark, dark horse pick in the event, although I don't think anyone will even realize Griffin had competition after the contest is finished. I would be stunned if anyone other than Griffin won this year's event.

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

The NBA's annual All-Star blast is heading to its' biggest stage this season, and it will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this weekend.
Before this season, most people around the country would have gotten mental images of Kobe Bryant or his Los Angeles Lakers if you mentioned the Staples Center, however, this season there's another show in town (and I don't mean the All-Star game).
That show goes by a few names, but the most popular one seems to be the "BlakeShow", and his talents and skill set will be on full display this weekend during the All-Star festivities.
Not only will he participating in the Sprite Slam Dunk Competition, but Blake Griffin will also appear in the Rookie-Sophomore game as well as the main event, the All-Star game itself.
This slideshow will give previews and predictions for all of the big events this weekend in Los Angeles. Just a tip, be prepared to witness the nationwide breakout of the BlakeShow.
Note: For a full list of participants for the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge and the All-Star Game, visit this site: http://www.espn.go.com/nba/allstargame

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

Participants: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Predicted Winner: Blake Griffin
If you have watched 'SportsCenter' at some point this season, or happened to catch a Clippers game, you probably know why Griffin has to be considered the clear-cut favorite in this event. He has lit-up almost every opponent the Clippers have faced this season with electric dunks, and I believe he will have a few extra-special dunks in store for this event.
This contest has the potential to be the most entertaining one since the 2000 Dunk Contest, which Vince Carter turned into a career-defining performance. While Griffin likely won't top Carter's performance from that contest, there is a decent chance he will have the most entertaining array of dunks since.
DeRozan would be my dark, dark horse pick in the event, although I don't think anyone will even realize Griffin had competition after the contest is finished. I would be stunned if anyone other than Griffin won this year's event.

3-Point Shootout

Participants: Ray Allen (Boston Celtics), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Daniel Gibson (Cleveland Cavaliers), James Jones (Miami Heat), Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Dorell Wright (Golden State Warriors)

Predicted Winner: Ray Allen

Considering Allen just surpassed Reggie Miller for the most three-point makes in NBA history, I think he has to be considered the favorite in this contest. While it's always possible for someone to catch fire and win out-of-nowhere in this event, Allen is by far the best shooter from downtown out of this group.

Gibson would probably be my second pick as the most likely to pull out a victory other than Allen this year. "Boobie" is shooting 44 percent from distance this season, which barely trails Allen's 46 percent as tops among the competitors.

And although Durant says he is competing in this event basically for amusement, I could see him catching fire on the big stage and stealing a victory in this shootout, although his season average of 34 percent is the lowest among the six shooters.

NBA Celebrity All-Star Game

Predicted Winner: Bill Simmons' team by 10+

I couldn't tell you one participant in this year's Celebrity Game, and frankly, like most people, I'm not too concerned to know.

Most years I don't even acknowledge this game as being a part of the "real" festivities of the weekend, but that changed this season with Bill Simmons being given a spot as a coach for one of the teams.

I'm just going with the team coached by Simmons for my pick because he is one of my favorite writers and was an inspiration behind my decision to go into sports journalism.

This one is for you, Bill. Don't let me down.

Rookie-Sophomore Challenge Game

Predicted Winner: Rookies 133 - Sophomores 124

For some reason, the sophomore team looks really weak to me this season. Beyond Stephen Curry, Wesley Matthews, DeJuan Blair and Brandon Jennings, there aren't too many bright spots on the second-year roster in my opinion.

Tyreke Evans would've given the sophomores a much better chance at victory, however he will be sitting out the event due to injury. Blair will integral to their success on defense, as he will be tasked with trying to stop Blake Griffin. Curry will need a huge game on offense for the sophomores to stay in this one.

I think Griffin could have a historically good performance for the rookie team. Considering he is playing on his home floor, I think he will have a monster game. Also, I think the reunion of former Kentucky teammates John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins will be very successful for the pair.

The All-Star Game

Predicted Winner: West 117 - East 112

While the Eastern Conference clearly has the better starting five of the two squads, I don't think their reserves will have what it takes to keep up with their Western counterparts and that will lead them to a loss.

I don't think Chris Bosh deserved to be in the game this season, and his selection could be costly considering Kevin Garnett is also a reserve with less-than desired production at the power forward position for the East.

With Doc Rivers coaching the Eastern squad, I expect the four Celtic reserves will see plenty of playing time as well. Also, Rivers recently said he would probably experiment at the center position with the player closest to free agency while he has his four players on the court; that player happens to Dwight Howard.

With Los Angeles being a Western Conference city, and Blake Griffin, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol all potentially playing a home game, I think the crowd energy will be overwhelmingly behind the West this season. That energy will likely be all the Western team needs to take home the victory.

Also, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a signature dunk from Griffin at some point during his big moment celebrating his selection as the first rookie to be voted into the game since Yao Ming in 2003 (and yes, that means not even LeBron James can claim that achievement).

NBA Rankings: Ranking the Boston Celtics 10 Most Valuable Players of 2010-11

By: Stephen Patterson

The Boston Celtics have been widely recognized over the past several seasons because of their "Big Three", consisting of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Ever since the trio was formed, they have been the faces of the Celtics franchise.

But are any of those players still able to be considered the best on the team? There are plenty of other big names on the Celtics star-lined roster.

The Celtics also have several players that are young, and clearly still improving with every game and season. Could one of these players be the most valuable Celtic moving forward for the franchise? Check out this list ranking the ten most important players on the Celtics' roster heading into the future for the team.

#10. Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley is in his first NBA season after the Celtics drafted him in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, the team hasn't seen much from Bradley since the draft, as he had to undergo surgery on his ankle that kept him out of the summer leagues.

Bradley was one of the top rated players in the country heading into college, but somewhat shaky season at the University of Texas definitely hurt his stock in the NBA Draft. While he averaged 11.6 points per game in his 34 appearances with Texas, those numbers didn't live up to the hype surrounding him.

Luckily for Boston, there is no rush for Bradley to be an All-Star caliber player, as the Celtics will likely only use him on occasions this season to spell starter Ray Allen at shooting guard. He was compared to Monta Ellis by NBADraft.net coming out of college, and if he could have the same kind of production as Ellis, I think Danny Ainge and the Celtics would be thrilled with their choice to take Bradley in the draft.

#9. Jermaine O'Neal

After multiple knee injuries and countless miles on his legs that have piled up over the years, Jermaine O'Neal is far from the All-Star player that used to play for the Indiana Pacers. Luckily for Boston, they don't need to rely nearly as much on him.

O'Neal was signed to add depth in the front court and to help fill minutes while Kendrick Perkins is still out recovering from knee surgery. As long as he can stay healthy and isn't a liability on either side of the court, the Celtics will be pretty content with what he gives them.

When Boston signed him the offseason, they only gave him a two-year, $12 million deal. While the money is a little high for a player that is 32 years old on bad knees and clearly on the decline, he will be well worth the money if he has enough in the tank to help Boston win in the postseason.

#8. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaq has played an over-sized game of musical chairs during the past few seasons, jumping around to a new team with each season. The decision to bring O'Neal to Boston could be one the Celtics regret, but all depends on how Shaq interacts with his teammates and the coaching staff.

O'Neal has clearly been a successful force in the NBA, accumulating four NBA titles during his extensive career. However, he hasn't been able to get a team to the conference finals since helping bring the Miami Heat a championship during the 2005-06 season.

His recent stops in Phoenix and Cleveland have both ended with the franchises coming up short in their expectations and somewhat unhappy with their decisions to bring Shaq aboard. However, if he can gel with his teammates in Boston, he could be a solid piece in their quest to win a 18th NBA title this season. He will definitely help the Celtics in the postseason if they get matched up against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.

#7. Nate Robinson

Nate Robinson is an extremely valuable asset to the Boston Celtics because of his ability to score in massive amounts. While he may not always have the best judgment in his shot selection, Robinson has shown on several occasions that he has the rare ability to completely catch fire offensively in games.

He is also extremely valuable because is Boston's best and only real backup to Rajon Rondo. While the two guards definitely play completely different styles of basketball, I think Robinson is a good compliment to Rondo's distributing abilities.

Robinson showed several times in the playoffs last season that he can come off the bench cold and catch fire shooting. As long as he can maintain that ability, he will be very important to the Celtics' success in the near future.

#6. Glen Davis

Glen Davis brings a unique energy to the Boston Celtics, and it is definitely obvious during the postseason. Davis is one of the most energetic big men in the NBA and can keep up with most smaller players in the open court.

If Davis can continue to grow and develop, he will likely take over for Kevin Garnett once his career comes to a close. Davis has the potential to be an All-Star in the Eastern Conference, and if he was ever given the opportunity to be the starter for Boston, I'm pretty sure he could meet those expectations.

Davis had a strong postseason in 2008-09, when he started in place of an injured Kevin Garnett. While the Celtics came up short of reaching the NBA Finals that season, it definitely wasn't because of a lack of effort from Big Baby.

#5. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is clearly showing the mileage on his body that he endured carrying a hapless Minnesota Timberwolves franchise for over a decade. After his knee injuries during the 2008-09 season, Garnett has clearly been a different player than the one that first arrived in Boston.

Garnett can barely finish at the rim if he is remotely contested now, and he clearly has lost a lot of his jumping abilities. However, he is still one of the best defenders at the power forward position and brings a special energy to the Celtics. He also still plays as hard as he did when he first came into the league, an impressive quality considering the condition of his knees.

KG will likely be the first of the "Big Three" to begin to decline at a rapid rate, but I think he has at least one more quality season in him before that becomes a real issue. As long as he can stay healthy and be around in the postseason, Garnett will provide more than enough to an already deep front court in Boston.

#4. Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins will likely miss at least half this season thanks to the knee injury he sustained against the Los Angeles Lakers last season in the NBA Finals. If Perkins hadn't gone down with that injury, many Celtic fans think that series may have had a slightly different outcome.

While the Celtics brought in both O'Neals in the offseason to help fill the void in his absence, Perkins will likely retake most of the minutes at center upon his return later in the season. While he is expected to be ready sometime around the All-Star game, I wouldn't expect Doc Rivers to rush him back into action until he is completely recovered.

Perkins' recovery will be key to his ability to remain the starting center for the Celtics beyond this season. He has been a mediocre player throughout much of his career, but he was playing pretty well before going down with the knee injury. If can play at a consistently solid level, look for him to be Boston's starting center for a long time.

#3. Ray Allen

Although Ray Allen has struggled slightly shooting so far this season, hitting just over 40% of his shots, he has always been known best for his clutch shooting in the big games. Allen clearly has plenty left in the tank despite being 35 years old now.

Allen is one of the best three point shooters in the history of the NBA, and he has proven on more than one occasion in the postseason that he can hit them when they are needed most. While Allen had a fairly postseason shooting from downtown last season, I wouldn't expect his numbers to be that low this year in the playoffs.

The Celtics re-signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract in the offseason, and I'm pretty confident he will be worth the investment for Boston. As long as Allen is healthy and can find his shooting touch in the playoffs, the Celtics will be a major in the East this season.

#2. Paul Pierce

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Paul Pierce has been the leader of this franchise for a long time, as he stuck through some very rough times before the franchise made the trades that formed the "Big Three". He was the MVP of the 2007-08 NBA Finals, and has been an integral part to all of Boston's recent success.
However, as with all great players that have been in the league for a long time, Pierce will likely continue to decline at this point in his career, although in his case the decline doesn't seem very rapid. Pierce is still a solid player on both ends of the floor and can score in large amounts in clutch situations.
Pierce will likely save his best performances for the postseason, as he clearly is a smart player and understands that he is getting a little older. As long as he can bring around 15 points per game and be a solid force on defense, the Celtics will be more than content with their decision to keep Pierce in Boston for the remainder of his career.

#1. Rajon Rondo

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Rajon Rondo has clearly become the best player on the Boston Celtics roster over the past two seasons. He has transformed from a player some thought would never be good to hang with the "Big Three" into one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Through the first three games of the season, Rondo has a whooping 50 assists, which is an all-time NBA record. That streak also included a 24 assist performance against the New York Knicks that was one of the best performances by a point guard in Celtics history.
As long as Rondo is running things and leading the way for Boston, they will be in playoff contention for a long time. If he can continue to improve his shooting and scoring capabilities, the sky really is the limit for where Rondo can take the Celtics. While the Eastern Conference is growing increasingly powerful every season, he will likely keep the team in the top echelon of the conference for quite a while.

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#2. Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce has been the leader of this franchise for a long time, as he stuck through some very rough times before the franchise made the trades that formed the "Big Three". He was the MVP of the 2007-08 NBA Finals, and has been an integral part to all of Boston's recent success.

However, as with all great players that have been in the league for a long time, Pierce will likely continue to decline at this point in his career, although in his case the decline doesn't seem very rapid. Pierce is still a solid player on both ends of the floor and can score in large amounts in clutch situations.

Pierce will likely save his best performances for the postseason, as he clearly is a smart player and understands that he is getting a little older. As long as he can bring around 15 points per game and be a solid force on defense, the Celtics will be more than content with their decision to keep Pierce in Boston for the remainder of his career.

#1. Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo has clearly become the best player on the Boston Celtics roster over the past two seasons. He has transformed from a player some thought would never be good to hang with the "Big Three" into one of the best point guards in the NBA.

Through the first three games of the season, Rondo has a whooping 50 assists, which is an all-time NBA record. That streak also included a 24 assist performance against the New York Knicks that was one of the best performances by a point guard in Celtics history.

As long as Rondo is running things and leading the way for Boston, they will be in playoff contention for a long time. If he can continue to improve his shooting and scoring capabilities, the sky really is the limit for where Rondo can take the Celtics. While the Eastern Conference is growing increasingly powerful every season, he will likely keep the team in the top echelon of the conference for quite a while.