We wait for so long for the switch to flip. We wonder whether the Celtics will ever play championship-caliber basketball again. We blame the Perkins trade. We blame Danny Ainge. We blame Rajon Rondo. We blame anyone who plays poorly, and we blame anyone in the front office who might have caused the players to play poorly. We even blame the O’Neals, whose bodies just won’t work properly, even though we know they’d be on the court if they could. It’s somewhat irrational, this blame game, this amount of time we spend pondering a basketball team, the theories we create to explain why a crew of NBA players doesn’t seem to care, but it’s what being a fan—a true fan—entails. During the good times, we fall in love. During the bad times, we’re still in love but love fucking hurts.

And then our team suddenly cares, and we remember how beautiful it was to watch them, and we remember exactly why they were considered title favorites as recently as a month ago. Rajon Rondo operates on another level most players could only dream of, and the offense runs well, and the defense looks suffocating, and the Celtics execute the Spurs to death like they were a bunch of rookies, and that love becomes beautiful again, like the first time you heard the Beatles.

The Celtics’ sense of purpose was so much better tonight, and by that I mean it actually existed. Maybe it was because Jermaine O’Neal returned. Maybe it was because the Celtics were waiting for a legitimate opponent. Maybe Doc Rivers gave a terrific motivational speech. Maybe the Celtics finally decided collectively, “We’d rather not shit the bed this time.” Maybe playing Matt Bonner, wink wink, was exactly the challenge Boston needed. Maybe Sasha Pavlovic offered a pregame prayer, or Troy Murphy killed a sacrificial chicken (a la Pedro Cerrano), or Kevin Garnett ran around naked making “Yo Momma” jokes to lighten the mood. The truth is, I don’t know why they showed up tonight after boycotting the past 12 games. I just know it was nice to see the Celtics finally resemble the Celtics.

A dominant second half allowed the Celtics to coast to a win, but the increased effort began in the first half. Contested shots. Rotating defenders. Box outs. Hard cuts, like the game meant something, like the Celtics finally decided to cut the bullshit and play like a real team. I took offense when Tony Parker drove unmolested to the hoop time after time, but the Celtics made adjustments. I took offense when George Hill hit Paul Pierce to the floor and nobody got in his face, lamenting the Celtics’ suddenly soft play. But they played hard, and they kept fighting, and by the end of the day they had a swagger about them that hasn’t been evident lately.

Rondo led the way, and he played an almost-perfect game. Doc Rivers called his shooting “coach’s porn,” and I would like to add that it was also “blogger’s porn.” People always wonder how tough Rondo would be if he could consistently hit jumpers, and he showed why tonight. If the Spurs went under a screen, Rondo rose without hesitation. If he was open in transition, he pulled up smoothly. At one point Kevin McHale said Rondo’s jumper “looks beautiful,” and after thinking to myself, “I bet that’s the first time anyone ever said that without a double dose of sarcasm,” I thought, “Hell yeah, it does.”

But the shooting wasn’t the whole story. Hell, it was barely half the story. Rondo played 41 minutes, most of those with the ball in his hands, and turned the ball over zero times while dishing 14 assists. He made the right decision almost every time down the court. He chased down loose balls, and he chased down rebounds. He played downhill, attacked off screens, and hit KG and Glen Davis for wide open jumper after wide open jumper. I guess one night off was all he needed to get his head back on straight, or his body right, or to fix whatever the hell it was that was bothering him.

Paul Pierce was great, too, in a far more understated way. So were Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis and, for a brief stretch when Matt Bonner defended him, Jeff Green (the lesson, as always: if Rondo making jumpers is “coach’s porn,” being defended by Matt Bonner is “player’s porn”). Jermaine O’Neals return was a success, too. He didn’t have a huge statistical impact, but he competed and looked more advanced in his recovery than I expected. He’s another big body down the stretch, someone who can defend players who are able to shoot right over Davis (like Duncan did tonight).

Ray Allen wasn’t great, missing eight of his eleven shots, but–I swear—his movement off screens opened his teammates all game long. And Delonte West’s stat line won’t wow anyone, but he simply makes winning plays. Like the time he stripped Duncan down low. Or when he made a hard foul on Dajuan Blair to force him to make free throws. Or when he curled around a screen, penetrated into the paint and hit Allen for a dagger three.

Only one thing went truly wrong tonight: Nenad Krstic went down with what might be a torn ACL. The Celtics will find out more about Krstic’s injury Saturday, when he undergoes an MRI. For now, they should celebrate a win, and more importantly the return of Ubuntu. Maybe the Celtics will turn the switch off again tomorrow night. Maybe this type of performance was fleeting, rather than permanent. But the Celtics still have that 100-MPH fastball when they need it. And it was oh so beautiful to see.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Paul Flannery, WEEI – “Earlier in the game [Rondo] came to the conclusion that the Spurs were going to do whatever they could to take Paul Pierce out of the offense. That meant he could direct the flow of the offense toward Ray Allen. Rivers noticed it too. Rondo looked at Rivers. Rivers nodded and said, ‘Keep it simple.’ So they ran the same pindown, over and over again, and Allen made 13-of-16 shots and scored 31 points. When Rondo is being Rondo, the Celtics are not only a great basketball team, they are also a joy to behold. ‘I still don’t think he’s near 100 percent, but Rondo’s a warrior,” Marquis Daniels said. “He’s going to fight through whatever it is. He always wants to play regardless of the situation. You got to tip your hat to a guy like that who comes out every night and puts his work hat on.’”

Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe – “There was little reason to rip Jesus Shuttlesworth on this night, until the finish. For most of the night, Allen looked like he was throwing apples into an oil drum. Then came the curious two misses from the line at the end. ‘That just about never happens with Ray,’ said Danny Ainge. ‘I remember Kevin McHale did it at the end of that Laker game in the ’84 Finals. Right before Gerald Henderson stole the ball. We were laughing the next day because when we watched the film you could see Kevin’s knees shaking before the second free throw.’ ‘I will shoot 100 free throws tomorrow,’ pledged Allen.”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “It was one of those can’t-miss nights for Ray Allen. He was 13 of 16 from the floor, and when he sprung free for a 3-pointer from in front of the Spurs’ bench with 1:37 remaining last night, he seemed to all but bury the team with the best record in the NBA. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sat amazed — if also aggravated — by Allen’s accuracy. ‘If it was practice and you did pindowns and you came off that, I don’t know if anyone in the league would hit 13 of 16,’ Popovich said.”

Mike Petraglia, WEEI – “Paul Pierce blocked Manu Ginobili‘s jumper as time expired to preserve a 105-103 win over the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night at TD Garden. ‘We didn’t want to give up a three, that was kind of the only thing that could beat us, we sort of overplayed on the three point line,’ Pierce said. ‘They made a two-pointer and I had to go out, or it would go into overtime, but that was the main thing just to take away the three point shot.’ Rajon Rondo made team history with 22 assists as part of a triple-double, as the Celtics held off the Spurs in a match-up of teams with the two best records in the NBA. Rondo – who also finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds – became the first player in Celtics history with at least 19 assists in three games in a season. He fell just two shy of his season high of 24 on Oct. 29 vs. the Knicks. ‘He did it all, he rebounded, assisted, Doc’s kind of been on him about taking that shot there and he steps up when he needs to and knocks down those shots confidently,’ Pierce said.”

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston – “Point guard Rajon Rondo thrives on his ability to see things before they happen. The 22 assists he handed out as part of his latest eyebrow-raising triple-double Wednesday night in the Boston Celtics’ 105-103 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs are evidence of that. But Rondo’s power of clairvoyance began long before he stepped onto the TD Garden court for a 43-minute shift. Rondo had fully anticipated another night of working against a sagging defense, players gleefully running under screens to prevent him from doing any damage by driving to the basket. So following the Celtics’ morning walkthrough, Rondo spent extra time working on his mid-range jumper, spraying shots over invisible Manu Ginoblis. ‘We watched film today while working out, but I was upstairs and I watched Rondo take shot after shot after shot after shot,’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ‘You could see himself mentally getting ready for what he thought was going to happen, and it did. They went under [screens on the pick-and-roll] and he stepped up and made shots.’ … ‘We wanted him to take shots; that’s the next step for him,’ Rivers said after Monday’s game. ‘He can make those shots. That’s what’s so frustrating to our guys: [Rondo] passed up at least six of them today, maybe seven. Rondo can make those shots. We just have to get him to take them after a miss. Because the way [the Timberwolves] guarded him tonight is the way they’re going to guard him in the playoffs. I see him every day in practice make that shot. Two years ago, I didn’t say that. He’s an elbow shooter. He can make them all day. He will make them all day. We’ve just got to make him keep shooting.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “‘Maybe it was telling of a back-to-back that we caught them in,’ Pierce said of San Antonio’s loss in New York Tuesday night. ‘We are one of the best offensive teams in the league when we run our stuff and make our shots. When we get the ball in Rondo’s hands, we’re a great team offensively.’”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “After Paul Pierce swatted Manu Ginobili’s 3-point attempt away, Rondo gathered the loose ball and threw it in the air as time ran out. ‘It wasn’t like it was 0.0 on the clock,’ Rondo said. ‘But it’s a rebound, right?’ The play gave him his sixth career triple-double in the regular season, and he wasn’t arguing. ‘I didn’t expect a blocked shot, but I just tried to recover the ball,’ Rondo said. ‘I don’t know if it was a block or a steal for me, I just tried to recover the ball.’”

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston – “‘At halftime, I decided to go small, which I thought helped us,’ said Rivers. ‘I thought, obviously, Ray [Allen] and Paul and [Rajon] Rondo were phenomenal. But I thought Jermaine O’Neal, honestly, was just absolutely huge for us. We left him out there, he defended Tim [Duncan] one-on-one for the most part and he got blocks, he gave us defensive energy. He was absolutely sensational.’ So why go small? ‘Because Bonner was killing us,’ said Rivers. ‘And I thought the way they were guarding Paul in the first half, with the overplays and using the other big, I thought if we put another small on the floor, especially a shooting small like Nate [Robinson], then they could no longer overplay Paul. And then, defensively, we could match up with Bonner and take his shots away. So that’s why we did it.’”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “‘[Glen Davis has] given us a big spark filling in for Kevin, especially,’ said Pierce. ‘The things he does coming off the bench being a great sixth man — probably the best sixth man in basketball right now if you ask me. ‘He’s doing a lovely job at that. I mean, we’re asking him to do so many things that Kevin does.’ Davis was good rolling to the hoop, and he also found the mid-range jumper to be quite available. ‘I just shot the ball,’ he said. ‘They were kind of like playing off me. I kind of was shocked. I was like, “Oh my gosh, they don’t want to check me.’ They just want to let me shoot. So I just kept shooting and got into a rhythm. I hit some good shots.’ Davis admitted he thinks about his financial future at times, ‘but you try to still stay within yourself and the team,’ he said. ‘You’ve just got to keep pushing and don’t worry about it.’”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “‘I’m always surprised whenever I get open,’ Allen said. ‘Especially from three.’ One of the reasons he has such freedom offensively is because of his tireless running from one side of the court to the other, usually bouncing off a screen set by a teammate. ‘One thing I learned about basketball a long time ago,’ Allen said. ‘If I can be in better shape than the guy guarding me, then the team will have problems.’ It also helps that Allen is on the floor with a number of high-powered scorers, such as Paul Pierce. ‘It really is pick your poison for teams when they play us,’ Daniels said. ‘Who you gonna help off of? Paul? You do that, we go to Ray. You help off Ray, we go to Paul. Either way you go, you’re going to have your hands full.’”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “Those who spend time around the Spurs invariably walk away talking about how coach Gregg Popovich is able to get on Duncan and the ancillary benefits that has down the roster. ‘Well, he certainly makes it easy on me,’ Popovich said before his team lost a 105-103 decision to the Celtics last night. ‘I think it’s just a logical thought that if the star of your team can handle criticism and is willing to be coached that that’s good for the whole group. You don’t have to be a genius to figure that out, and I’m fortunate that I’ve got a guy like that. There are times when I get on him pretty good.’ Celts coach Doc Rivers said it’s the same with him regarding Paul Pierce [stats], Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. ‘I remember when we were losing and I was talking to Pop one time,’ Rivers said. ‘One of the first things he said is, ‘First of all, if your best player is really good, that helps. But if your best player is really good and he allows you to coach him, it allows you to coach the team.’ I really believe that’s the key. Then obviously you hope what you’re doing is right. But the fact that the guy will follow, it allows you to coach the team and it allows everyone else — they almost have to fall into place. And the ones who don’t kind of stand out. Hey, listen,’ Rivers went on, ‘Kevin and Paul and Ray, when they got together, they clearly allowed me to coach them. They all changed what they were doing offensively. Paul and Ray really dedicated themselves defensively, and it made it easier to coach some of the young guys.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “The Celtics had until last night to waive guards Von Wafer and Delonte West, and instead let the deadline pass, guaranteeing the minimum contracts of both players for the rest of the season. Wafer, unaware that he had just dodged a major bullet, was understandably thrilled. ‘That’s definitely a relief,’ said Wafer, a skilled shooter who has won a job on this team thanks to his defense as well as his scoring. ‘I’m really happy, man, just blessed.’”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

An impossible pair of free throw misses by Ray Allen left tonight’s Celtics-Spurs chess match in the hands of a balding, left-handed, Argentinian wizard. A late, nine-point Celtics lead had dwindled to two, and it was Ginobili’s opportunity to flip a certain defeat upside down.

But the Celtics, even if their 61.3% shooting percentage for the night could easily fool you, still pride themselves on defensive execution. Marquis Daniels shadowed Ginobili over two Antonio McDyess screens, and Paul Pierce joined Daniels in swarming the Spurs’ magician. Rather than swing a pass to his less-contested teammates, Ginobili let fly with an ill-advised jump shot, his toe on the three-point arc. Pierce’s arm reached up and knocked the shot away, Rajon Rondo picked up the loose ball, and the Celtics escaped with a 105-103 win against the team with the NBA’s best record.

Really, the win shouldn’t have been so difficult. The Celtics’ defense (wait, what defense?) was porous in the first half, and the Spurs got whatever shots they wanted. Yet Boston began getting stops in the second, utilizing a small unit that can best be described as “Paul Pierce played power forward.” Against certain teams, that lineup wouldn’t work. Against San Antonio, with DeJuan Blair firmly secure on Gregg Popovich’s shit list for below-average defense, the Celtics could get away with a smaller five. Matt Bonner, though a few inches taller than Paul Pierce, doesn’t exactly cause a mismatch.

Forgive me for looking ahead, but the small lineup was a good example why the Celtics will be so tough to beat come playoff time. They possess the depth and personnel to force other teams to match up with them. Oh, you guys are going to play Matt Bonner? Then we’ll go small and abuse him. Oh, nobody on your team can chase Ray Allen around screens? We’ll run your players ragged all day, and feed the beast. Oh, you don’t have anyone to slow down Rajon Rondo? Don’t worry, no other teams do either.

The late near-collapse almost overshadowed what had been spectacular late-game execution. There was the one play when Glen Davis switched onto Tony Parker, and somehow — by the grace of God, or at least the grace of Red Auerbach (RIP) — stayed in front of Parker. Davis forced Parker to pass to the corner, where Richard Jefferson caught the ball looking to make a move. He swept through to the baseline, where he expected daylight. What Jefferson failed to realize was that Glen Davis, Mr. Charge himself, was in the vicinity. Two seconds after miraculously hounding Parker into a harmless pass, Davis shuffled his feet to the baseline and took a charge. I half expected Tommy Heinsohn to offer Davis the season’s Tommy Award on the spot.

That play wasn’t the only example of solid late-game execution. There was the pretty Rondo floater, the beautiful Rondo-to-Davis-to-Daniels passing sequence, and (corny joke alert) Ray’s learning Oliver Twist’s “Got to pick a pocket or two.” The Celtics buckled down in the fourth quarter, and should have won handily had it not been for a near-choke job at the end.

Paul Pierce dribbled into a double team and got ripped. Nate Robinson threw a lazy, left-handed pass in traffic, and it was (obviously) picked off. Within the next few days, I hope Nate will have his head surgically removed from his ass. Somewhere in that span of nonsense, the C’s nine-point lead was cut to two and Ray ended at the line ready to seal it — err, I mean to brick two shots and give Ginobili one last chance.

The Celtics still badly miss Kevin Garnett, the only Boston big man dedicated to grabbing rebounds. While the Celtics only lost the rebounding battle by one, their three centers (Davis and the O’Neal brothers) played a combined 76 minutes. They grabbed a combined eight rebounds. And no, that’s not good.

The Spurs tried to isolate Shaq’s pick-and-roll defense early and often, but, barring a short span in the second quarter where Tony Parker made moves, Shaq wasn’t half bad. Glen Davis shot the basketball 18 times, which seems like a lot, but he made ten of them and very few were forced. Actually, I don’t remember a single force. I could be wrong.

The Harangody-Bonner matchup was one I live for, I liked Von Wafer’s contributions despite a line that showed mostly zeros (his defense on Ginobili was actually quite rugged), and at one point I actually thought Ray forgot how to miss. Then he stepped to the line and showed me he still remembered. Paul Pierce shot 7-10, including two free throw line isolations that were vintage Pierce. The methodical killer. Also, when I described the Haranody-Bonner matchup in my notes, I wrote, “The Harangody-Scal matchup is one to die for.” I suppose I just don’t want to let go.

At one point, according to the Comcast broadcast, Doc Rivers asked his team, “What are we running on offense? What are we running on offense?” Raise your hand if you’re surprised Nate Robinson was point guard at that time. (*Nobody raises hand.*) There was also a three-second violation called on Nate, which made me wonder A) what, exactly, Nate was doing in the lane for so long, and B) how Doc Rivers felt about the play of his backup “point guard.”

And no, I have not done Rajon Rondo his justice. Nor will I do Rondo his justice, mostly because it’s impossible for a write of my average-at-best caliber to do a “12 points, 22 assists, 10 rebounds, six steals” line justice. The point guard Rondo played tonight wasn’t minced liver, either. It was Tony freaking Parker. But Rondo just does his thing, holds such control over every game he plays, and continues to amaze me even on nights I expect to be amazed. Rondo even showed confidence in his jumper, a confidence that seemingly grows by the day.

Watching Rondo is like the first time I watched Good Will Hunting. I was late to watching the movie, so I knew Good Will Hunting would be incredible. Everybody and their mothers told me it was incredible, and so I expected nothing short of the best movie I’d ever seen. My expectations were that high, and STILL that movie blew me away. I bowed down to Gus Van Sant, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck that night, just as I now bow down to Rajon Rondo. When expectations are THAT high and you still find ways to raise the bar, that’s when you know you’re special.

And I’ll be damned if I finished this recap without mentioning how Rondo blocked George Hill. George, you’ve been served.

I’m a different type of dude.

Most people would call a dunk basketball’s most exciting play. Me? I’m a sucker for a bounce pass. Especially a bounce pass to a trailer, in transition. There’s nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a perfect dish, not even the latest Blake Griffin air-bound adventure.

Some people enjoy crossovers, and I can see why. They’re fun, and cool. But give me a nice backdoor cut any day. Or a well-executed box out. Or a Kevin Love outlet pass. Or a seamless defensive rotation. Or even a crisp, extra swing pass to the corner for an open three-pointer.

I told you, I’m different. That’s why I’m so fascinated by the San Antonio Spurs.

I don’t need a team to possess three new stars, joined together in free agency to collectively attempt what they couldn’t accomplish alone. I don’t need a winning-crazed superstar with five rings, who hogs the ball and verbally spars with his coach and may or may not be the greatest winner in sports today. I don’t need a rookie freak of nature who won’t stop dunking, or a spindly Durantula of a man who can score for days, or a Rose who can jump over or through any opponent yet can’t find his way to the free throw line. I don’t need a black semi-Jew who’s rebuilding Madison Square Garden as a rocking basketball venue, and I don’t need a white rebound vacuum.

All I need is five players, listening to their coach and functioning as a single unit with tremendous teamwork and principles. That’s why I love this Celtics team, and that’s why I so appreciate the Spurs. It doesn’t hurt if that unit has Manu Ginobili, a magician who Bob Ryan compared to Paul Pierce, one of the oddest, greatest cross-racial player comparisons I’ve seen in years; Tony Parker, and his blazing speed, atrocious teammate skills (read: Brent Barry’s wife), and teardrop floater from heaven; Tim Duncan, all his fundamental wonders, that pretty bank shot off the glass, and his unwillingness to do anything but win; Richard Jefferson, and his “throw my pride out the window” mentality, which resulted in a summer spent by Gregg Popovich’s side; and DeJuan Blair, the beastliest man with no ACL who just happened to ruin Ronny Turiaf’s yesterday night.

How are you not fascinated by this compelling cast of characters, who play basketball the right way and succeed by putting the team first (and, not to mention, only)? How are you not captivated by Gregg Popovich, the Bill Belichick of NBA coaches? See cog, sign cog to contract, fit cog into system. That’s Popovich’s motto, or at least the motto I just created for him. No matter who plays in San Antonio, whether it be Stephen Jackson or Matt Bonner, Pop fits him into the system, and the system keeps running flawlessly.

Yesterday night, down ten points with three minutes remaining in the game and Tony Parker at the line for two free throws, Pop subbed his big guns out of the game. He made an excuse that the Spurs had another game tonight, and he wanted to keep his players’ legs fresh. And I’m sure that was part of Pop’s plot.

But Sebastian Pruiti of NBA Playbook noticed something else — on the three possessions prior to Pop’s substitutions, the Spurs’ defense was somewhere between “Toronto Raptors 2009-2010″ and “Rasheed Wallace 2009-2010.”

If you don’t believe Pop saw that as an opportunity to teach a lesson, you don’t recognize Pop’s brilliance. Every moment — up 35 with two minutes left, or tied with three seconds left — is a teaching moment. His teams take those lessons and learn from them, and become machines of habit.

I watch Pop’s teams play, and I recognize the beauty. I wish everyone else would, too.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “The teams with the best records in their respective conferences will meet tonight and, in a stunning blow to those who manufacture bright lights and hype, neither LeBron James nor Kobe Bryant will be in the building. You’ll just have to settle for good basketball. Please accept the apologies of the prime-time gods. The Celtics still aren’t near full capacity because of injury (two of their starters and a key reserve remain out), but their group approach to problem solving has landed them at 26-7. The Spurs rolled into New York last night with a best-in-league 29-4 record. ‘Four or five years ago, Danny (Ainge) and I sat down and said we wanted to be them as much as we can,’ Rivers said. ‘I think (Spurs general manager) R.C. Buford and Danny — I don’t know if anybody does a better job than those two guys. They do it every year. They find the right guys for their team.’”

Bob Ryan, Boston Globe – “Are the Celtics the Spurs North? Or are the Spurs the Celtics South? Each should be flattered by the comparison. Root for a Lakers-Heat NBA Finals if you must. That would put you firmly in the majority of NBA fans worldwide. And it would be appealing, no doubt. That’s not the Finals I want. I want the Finals featuring the Big Fundamental vs. the Big Ticket. I want the Finals with a point guard battle between the elegant Frenchman vs. the Next Great Thing. I want the Finals spiced by a confrontation between the two cagiest combination games of the ’50s and the 21st century, one belonging to an Argentine and the other to a guy from Inglewood who now plays with an Old Celtics soul.”

Peter May, ESPN Boston – “The teams have a combined 12 losses — and it’s the first week of January. (Twenty-three teams already have 12 losses apiece.) San Antonio has blown away the competition in the Western Conference in the first 30-plus games to the point where Gregg Popovich has been the only winner of the conference’s coach of the month honors this season. The Spurs are on a ridiculous pace that even Popovich doesn’t expect to last, but he’s enjoying it while it does. ‘You know us. We never talk about what our record is,” Popovich said before the Spurs lost to the Knicks 128-115 on Tuesday night in New York. “It is whatever it is. But we know full well that this won’t continue for 82 games. We’re not the Chicago Bulls [who won 72 games in 1995-96]. That’s not us. We’ll come back to the center eventually, but our hope is that we’re still a good team when it matters most.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “West has been around the team during home games and has remained optimistic throughout the recovery. With the Celtics battered by injuries in the backcourt — Rajon Rondo’s ankle, Nate Robinson’s sore feet — West’s versatility will be sorely needed for the stretch run. ‘It feels great [to have the cast off],’ said West. ‘Also, I got a chance to wash it today, so the smell of Cheetos is gone. It’s big for my morale, to look down and not see that cast. Actually, I almost put my jersey on today. I had my shorts on and everything and got a workout in. The day will be here before you know it and I will be back out there on the floor.’ If Von Wafer is on the Celtics roster tonight, his contract will be guaranteed for the rest of the season. That doesn’t mean they can’t waive him after today, but if they do, he will be paid for the entire season. Players such as Rodney Carney (Golden State), John Lucas III (Chicago), and Sundiata Gaines (Minnesota) were waived yesterday before the deadline. Celtics president Danny Ainge indicated that a decision would not be made until today, but Wafer’s season-best 10-point, 6-rebound effort in Monday’s win over the Timberwolves may have helped his cause. West also has a nonguaranteed deal, but all indications are the Celtics plan to keep him for the rest of the season.”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “Prior to suffering a broken right wrist injury in November, guard Delonte West showed up at the Celtics practice facility with the goal of getting in some quality gym time with no one around. The Celtics had just returned from a long road trip, and had the day off. ‘I was in here, 9:30, 10 o’clock,’ West recalled. ‘Shaquille O’Neal was on the table getting treatment. Jermaine O’Neal was in here, Paul Pierce was out here getting shots up. Ray Allen in the weight room, KG in the weight room. No more needs to be said about that. That speaks volumes, and that’s not just one day; that’s consistent.’”

Jessica Camerato, CSNNE – [Nate Robinson, on the Spurs:] “They’re rolling. They’re playing well. I’ve watched a couple of their games and they’ve got everybody clicking on all cylinders. They’re just a team that’s been together for a long time, and then they’ve got a couple new pieces – [Gary] Neal knocking down the shot – you’ve got the Red Rocket [Matt Bonner] over there, he’s knocking down shots, playing the way they’ve been playing. The team chemistry is awesome. So a team like that coming in, we’ve just got to match their intensity and just play our game and we’ll be fine.”

Paul Flannery, WEEI – “Pierce, ever so subtly, has taken it up a notch this season. On first glance, his numbers aren’t all that different from the levels he’s established with Garnett and Allen as teammates – 19 points, five rebounds and about four assists per game. But dig a little deeper and you’ll begin to see some of the improvements this season. He’s shooting over 50 percent from the field and 87 percent at the free throw-line, both career highs. He’s also making 3-pointers at a 39 percent clip, which have raised his True Shooting percentage (combining 2’s, 3’s and free throws) to .616, the highest mark of his career. In a sign of good health, Pierce is taking the ball to the basket and finishing at a rate (72 percent) comparable with Kevin Durant and LeBron James. (See how Pierce’s numbers break down at Hoop Data). Pierce has also hit the defensive glass, where his rebounding percentage is at its highest-level since the 2006-07 season, part of the team-wide commitment to defensive rebounding that they feel lost them the championship last season. Additionally, Pierce’s net plus-minus is +15 according to Basketball Value, which ranks fifth in the NBA and underscores his importance. This isn’t an overnight transformation. Pierce’s numbers since Allen and Garnett arrived have remained remarkably consistent over the last three and a half seasons, which is an achievement in its own right. Pierce made the adjustments in his game in 2007-08 and has gradually improved them to this point.”

Ronald Tillery, Memphis Commercial Appeal – “Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo were involved in a physical altercation Monday afternoon over a gambling debt during the Grizzlies’ flight home from Los Angeles. Team officials insisted that Mayo’s absence Tuesday night for the Grizzlies’ 110-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder was due to bronchitis and not the fight. But the incident was described as a one-sided scrap in which Allen clearly got the best of Mayo. Neither player was disciplined after meeting with coach Lionel Hollins once the team arrived in Memphis. According to a source, Mayo and Allen were involved in a card game that left Mayo owing Allen between $1,000 and $1,500. Mayo refused to pay and repeatedly insulted Allen. Allen then went to the restroom and returned to Mayo, who was acting more belligerent about losing. Allen then struck Mayo and the two had to be separated by teammates. Allen later apologized to the team and general manager Chris Wallace. A team insider contends the situation will not linger and cited Mayo’s encouraging text messages to Allen during and after the Grizzlies’ win over the Thunder.”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Don't let Garnett get ahold of Blinebury. Please.

When a team misses a championship ring by six minutes, then significantly improves its depth (not to mention its insanity), NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury decides it isn’t a true contender.

Yet even in these earliest days there are the teams — Lakers, Heat, Magic, Mavericks, Spurs — that certainly will be contending in the championship mix and others — Timberwolves, Pistons, Raptors, Warriors — that just as surely will have representatives in Secaucus, N.J. for the 2011 Draft Lottery.

He just forgot the Boston Celtics, right? He couldn’t possibly think the Mavericks — the Mavericks! — are a contender but the Celtics aren’t. Nope, Blinebury didn’t forget. He considers the Celtics to be one of the “tightrope teams” — teams that will either be “performing breathtaking feats at a high level or going splat.”

Boston Celtics

How does a team that made a stirring playoff run last spring and won the Eastern Conference title get onto this list? Simply by growing a year older and then adding a 38-year-old center in Shaquille O’Neal. Age was the great leveler of the court for the Celtics all through the 2009-10 regular season as Kevin Garnett struggled to get back to full strength and without his defensive edge Boston lost its spark. With Miami’s significant upgrade and Orlando’s abundance of talent, can the aging Celtics afford to give up too much ground over the regular season and then turn on the playoff fireworks again? And with underappreciated Kendrick Perkins likely missing the first half of the season, there’s going to be a great deal of pressure on the aging Shaq. Can Ray Allen and Paul Pierce stay healthy? Can Rajon Rondo keep taking his game to new heights? We know the Celtics’ Big Three Plus One can cause havoc in the playoffs. But can they get there in one piece?

So let me get this straight: a team that made a stirring playoff run last spring and won the Eastern Conference title earned a spot on the “tightrope” list by growing a year older, but the Spurs — a team that didn’t make a stirring playoff run last spring, gets injured more often than Evel Knievel in his prime, and also added one year of age — made the contender list. Ah, that makes perfect sense.

Nothing to see here, folks. Just another NBA writer outdoing himself with sheer genius.