Is sweat pouring from Greg Stiemsma’s skin as tonight approaches? Stiemsma, the lone Boston Celtic on a non-guaranteed contract this season, will find out by 6 p.m. tonight whether the team intends to guarantee his contract for the rest of the season.

According to the Boston Globe, Stiemsma’s contract is expected to be guaranteed before the deadline. A month or two ago, when Stiemsma was garnering comparisons to Bill Russell and blocking any shot released within a two-mile radius of his lengthy arms, the question hardly even warranted asking. But Stiemsma has played just 11 minutes this month and hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in a single contest since Jan. 18. Since then, Stiemsma’s contributions have noticeably regressed, JaJuan Johnson has started to make an impact and Chris Wilcox has stolen almost all of Stiemsma’s minutes.

Does that mean the Celtics will (or should) cut Stiemsma? No. They would be right to keep him around, if only because they don’t have very much center depth. Stiemsma provides some insurance in case Jermaine O’Neal injures himself while eating a meatball grinder, tying his shoes or reaching for his cane after a game.

Still, the big fella’s role has dwindled, and the Celtics could want to keep a roster spot open for when players are bought out later in the season — lawdy knows Danny Ainge loves the likes of Stephon Marbury, Carlos Arroyo, Mikki Moore and Troy Murphy.

And he’s just nine points shy of Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list. Not bad company.

Doc Rivers, to CSNNE after Johnson scored 11 garbage-time points against the Toronto Raptors: “We’re one injury away from JaJuan starting; really.”

Oh. Okay. Sure thing, Doc.

(h/t Red’s Army for the video)

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) drives the baseline around Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson (2) as Celtic's Chris Wilcox (44) looks on during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

With Andrea Bargnani sitting out due to a  calf injury, the Toronto Raptors looked more like D-Leaguers than a bonafide NBA team Wednesday night at the TD Garden.

The Celtics outclassed the Raptors in every facet of the game, encountering very little resistance as they marched to a 100-64 victory which put Boston above .500 for the first time since January 4th.

Paul Pierce once again took hold of the offense in Rajon Rondo’s absence (Rondo is expected to return Friday), registering eight assists and six rebounds to go along with 17 points. Pierce canned four of the Celtics 12 three-pointers, which tied the team’s season-high for made three-pointers.

Boston shot just as well from inside the arc, establishing a 22-point halftime lead after shooting 62% from the field. With the exception of Chris Wilcox (who hauled in five rebounds), each Celtic player scored at least one basket. Boston assisted on 30 of its 39 field goals, while committing just 10 turnovers.

Holding a 28-point lead entering the fourth quarter, Doc Rivers elected to rest the Big Three and give extended minutes to the bench players. Rookie JaJuan Johnson took advantage of his opportunity, making all five of his shots for 10 points in 10 minutes.

Johnson has a feathery touch from both the post and out to 15-feet, but he lacks the strength to compete on the defensive end. If Johnson can fill out and develop his lower-body strength, he’ll have no trouble cracking the rotation down the road. After all, he was the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Considering the starters played fewer minutes than they are accustomed to, and the Celtics have an off-day on Thursday before hosting the reeling New York Knicks on Friday, Boston seems to be in a good position to avenge their loss in the season-opener. The Knicks have lost nine of their last 11 games, and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back after they host Chicago on Thursday night.

First, Rajon Rondo was day-to-day. Now it’s been almost two weeks. Rondo said he’d like to return before the All-Star break, which is Feb. 26. Danny Ainge noted that Rondo could probably play right now if it were the playoffs.

And now Doc Rivers is adding to the confusion by saying Rondo should return this week. (CSNNE)

“He’s back pretty soon,” Rivers said of Rondo. “He may play tomorrow (versus Toronto), but I’d say closer to Friday would be the target date.”

As usual, I love how open the Celtics are regarding injuries. Hah.