2014 Preseason schedule

The Celtics this afternoon have announced their 2014 preseason schedule.

The C's will play eight preseason games starting on October 6 at TD Garden against the Philadelphia 76ers. The preseason culminates on October 22 back where it started, at TD Garden, but against the Brooklyn Nets.

Boston will only face off against their Atlantic Division foes.

Here's the entire schedule:

• October 6: Philadelphia 76ers, TD Garden, 7:30 pm
• October 8: New York Knicks, XL Center (Hartford, CT), 7:30 pm
• October 10: Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre, 7:00 pm
• October 11: New York Knicks, Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT), 7:30 pm
• October 15: Toronto Raptors, Cross Insurance Arena (Portland, ME), 7:30 pm
• October 16: Philadelphia 76ers, Wells Fargo Center, 7:00 pm
• October 19: Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, 3:00 pm
• October 22, Brooklyn Nets, TD Garden, 7:30 pm

Report: C's sign Turner

The Celtics have signed free agent forward Evan Turner, according to the Boston Herald.

The Herald is also reporting that he will receive a portion of their mid-level exception.

Turner, 25, averaged 17.4 points for the Philadelphia 76ers last season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers.

Turner was drafted second overall in 2010. In his four year career, Turner has averaged 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

C's debut new alternate logo

Via USA Today

Along with a new road uniform, the Celtics are adding an alternate logo.

The logo, shown above, pays homage to a 1960s illustration created by Zang Auerbach, the brother of late Celtics' patriarch Red Auerbach. Zang was an editorial sports artist in Washington.

The logo will first be used on Adidas team apparel and merchandise on sale through the team's online store beginning this month.

Celtics season ticket-holders and corporate partners can also buy apparel featuring the new alternate logo two days before products are released to the general public.

Keith Sliney, the team's creative director and designer of the logo, said the logo will not replace the current logo and will not be placed on the team's uniforms.

C's to tweak road uniforms

The Celtics will be making a slight change to their road jerseys this season, according to reports.

Conrad Burry, a renowned graphic designer who has done rebranding work for NBA teams in the past, tweeted today that the Celtics road jerseys will now read "Boston" across the front instead of "Celtics."

Burry cited the 2015 Adidas NBA merchandise catalog, as the jersey was listed under the "On-Court Collection."

Below is a picture of the change.

Celtics send Humphries to Washington

Via Getty Images

It seems that things can change in the blink of an eye.

A day after telling WEEI's Rob Bradford at the MLB All Star Game in his hometown of Minnesota that he "could definitely see a return to the Celtics," free agent Kris Humphries is headed out of town.

The Celtics and Washington Wizards are finalizing a sign-and-trade for the 6'10'' center, according to Yahoo Sports.

Humphries will sign a three-year, $13 million deal with the Wizards.

The Celtics will get a partial trade exception from Washington, which the Wizards acquired as part of the sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Rockets for Trevor Ariza.

Humphries, 29, averaged 8.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 20 minutes per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. He played 60 games this past season for the Celtics.

Celtics acquire Zeller, Thornton

In a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics have acquired Tyler Zeller from Cleveland, Marcus Thornton from Brooklyn and a top-ten protected 2016 first-round pick from Cleveland, according to multiple reports.

Cleveland sent Jarret Jack and Sergey Karasev to Brooklyn, and the Celtics will send a future second-round pick to Cleveland to complete the deal.

The deal cannot be officially announced until July 10, when the league's moratorium period ends.

The deal was primarily made by Cleveland in an effort to clear cap space to acquire free agent LeBron James.

The Celtics used their $10.3 million trade exception that they acquired in the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett deal last summer. The exception would have expired on Saturday.

Zeller, 24, averaged 5.7 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes per game last season. He gives the Celtics a rim protector and a promising young big man.

Thornton, 27, played for the Sacramento Kings and Nets last season and averaged 9.8 points per game.

Zeller and Thornton come relatively cheap. Zeller is scheduled to make $1.7 million this season, and the Celtics hold a $2.6 million option for him next season. Thornton will make $8.575 million. His deal expires after this season.

This deal now gives the Celtics a better package to put together in an attempt to acquire Kevin Love.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been relentless in his pursuit of Love, according to Yahoo Sports.

A league source told the Boston Globe on Monday that Ainge is attempting to acquire assets to get Love, and this deal accomplishes that.

However, Ainge may not be done. CSNNE.com is reporting that the Celtics are "far from done" making deals this summer.

If Ainge is unable to acquire Love via trade, he has now put the Celtics in a nice position to sign him as a free agent next summer. Following this season, the Celtics will have approximately $33 million coming off the books and will have plenty of money to go after Love.

Celtics re-sign Bradley

The Celtics have re-signed Avery Bradley to a three-year, $32 million deal.

Bradley, 23, was a restricted free agent.

Bradley maintained a desire to stay in Boston throughout the process, and Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge expressed the same sentiment.

"I think Avery can be a very key player in us winning the championship,” Ainge said. “He does things that other players can’t do. His shooting continues to improve, we all have all seen his terrific defensive abilities...But we also love that he's a great player, someone we hope to keep around here for many years to come."

The Celtics extended a $3.58 million qualifying offer to Bradley, and the $8 million annual salary certainly trumps that offer.

Bradley had a breakout season in 2013-2014, averaging 14.9 points (a career-high) while shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from the three-point line.

Report: Celtics may shop Rondo

The Celtics appear to be going all in, or all out.

If the Celtics are unable to land Kevin Love, they will look to trade Rajon Rondo, a league source told the Boston Herald last night.

If they are unable to attain a superstar, the Celtics will opt for a more methodical, prolonged rebuild and start from scratch.

Rondo's current deal expires following this season.

The Celtics have been among the top teams in the Kevin Love sweepstakes, but it appears the Golden State Warriors have emerged as the front-runner.

Another source said the Celtics have a taker for Jeff Green should they choose to deal him.

With the NBA Draft fast approaching, the rumor hill will only get hotter. Stay tuned throughout the week.

Updates on Love, Embiid

Kevin Love may be on the move fairly soon, and that may not be good news for the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are not in the top three when it comes to offers for the Minnesota power forward, a league source told the Boston Globe.

Minnesota wants to win now, and they want NBA players as well as draft picks in return for Love, according to reports. Flip Saunders, president and now head coach of the Wolves, feels the Celtics cannot offer the kind of NBA-ready talent they're looking for right now.

Multiple sources have reported this afternoon that the Golden State Warriors have emerged as the front-runners for Love after they made guard Klay Thompson available in trade talks.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the two sides are discussing a deal that would send Love and Kevin Martin to Golden State for Thompson, David Lee and the 13th overall pick in this year's draft.

We'll see how this situation plays out.

* Joel Embiid, who was projected to be the number one overall pick in next week's draft, will have surgery tomorrow to repair a stress fracture in his right foot.

He will no longer participate in any more pre-draft workouts, and he will not travel to New York to attend the NBA Draft.

An anonymous NBA general manager told the Sporting News, "You cannot use a top five pick on Embiid."

Apparently, none of that matters to the Celtics.

According to CSNNE.com, the Celtics will give serious thought to taking Embiid, even if that means moving up in the draft.

The Celtics "are keeping all options open," according to a league source.

The Celtics have had a history of drafting players with injury concerns over the past few years. They took Jared Sullinger in 2012 after he slipped due to concerns over his back. They also drafted Avery Bradley after he slipped to the 19th slot in 2010 due to his ankle woes.

Report: Celtics trying "hard" to trade for Love

Don't go burying those Kevin Love to Boston rumors just yet.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Celtics' may have the best trade offer for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love.

Ford writes that the Celtics are "trying real hard" to use this year's 6th and 17th overall picks, future first-round draft picks and young players such as Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk in a package to bring Love to Boston.

This report comes after ESPN Boston's Jackie MacMullan wrote on June 5 that Minnesota was "less than enamored" with Boston's proposal.

The Love rumors have cooled a bit since Timberwolves team president Flip Saunders named himself head coach. Many believe Saunders named himself coach in part to make a better effort to keep Love with the franchise.

However, Ford writes, "One source close to the Wolves said that while Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he's going to get."

No deal is expected to take place until the NBA Draft, which is June 26.

Celtics work out six players

The pre-draft workouts continue for the Celtics.

Yesterday the team welcomed Haverhill native and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Noah Vonleh, and today's workout included three All-Americans in Doug McDermott, C.J. Fair and Aaron Gordon.

The three were joined by Syracuse's Jerami Grant, Louisville's Luke Hancock and Memphis's Geron Johnson.

Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge was impressed with all six, but it was Gordon who caught his eye.

"I think Aaron’s biggest strength is his versatility," Ainge said. "I think he’ll be able to guard almost every position on the court, and that’s really his strength. He’s a great defender and he handles the ball pretty well for his size. And he’s going to have to continue his shooting, but he’s a worker and I think he will."

Today was Gordon's fourth pre-draft workout. He has worked out for the Lakers, Jazz, Kings and now Celtics. He has one more planned with the Magic.

The Celtics will host another star-studded workout tomorrow, which will include Kentucky's Julius Randle, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, UCLA's Zac LaVine and Michigan's Nik Stauskas

Love spotted in Boston

Via Dirty Water News

It appears that Kevin Love doesn't mind being the center of attention.

All eyes are now on Love after he was spotted in Boston last night, according to Dirty Water News.

He spent last night with a few friends at The Greatest Bar in Boston, and said he was in Boston to "check out the city and see what it's like."

Love's name has been involved in trade rumors with the Celtics.

Move on up

Via NESN.com

So now what?

After the ping pong balls failed to bounce the Celtics' way, Danny Ainge and company are left with a few options: keep the pick, trade the pick for a veteran star (cough cough Kevin Love), or even trade up into the top two or three spots.

Celtics principal owner Wyc Grousbeck told 98.5 The Sports Hub this afternoon that there are "six guys in this draft that Danny [Ainge] loves." He also told the Boston Globe last night that Ainge "will like the guy they get."

If the Celtics decide to stay put, they are going to get a good player. Whether that player is Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle or someone else, the Celtics will certainly be a better team with whoever they pick.

But only slightly better.

And this is exactly why the Celtics should try to move up to one of the top three spots. Drafting from one of those spots can make your team a lot better.

As far fetched and unlikely as it may be, this is the path the Celtics should take.

Free agents are not walking through that door. They never have and they most certainly never will. The Celtics got lucky in 2007 in trading for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, but those kinds of trades don't happen every year.

Draft classes like these don't come around every year.

Joel Embiid is drawing rave reviews, and many feel he can develop into a special big man that a team can build around. Jabari Parker is widely regarded as the most polished player in the draft, and everyone knows the hype surrounding the explosive Andrew Wiggins.

Ainge should do all he can to move up. The three aforementioned players are instant game-changers. They are the type of players a franchise can build their team around. The Celtics need one of those guys.

Now there will be people who will bring up the idea of building around Rajon Rondo. How many teams in the NBA have constructed their teams with the point guard being the focal point? With the exception of the Chicago Bulls -- Derrick Rose is their superstar, but they have still been a playoff team without him -- no one.

Would the Oklahoma City Thunder be as good with only Russell Westbrook and no Kevin Durant? How about the Clippers with Chris Paul? There's no question that having a good point guard is an important part to a successful team, but it's not the end all be all.

And speaking of Rondo, trading up will make the mercurial point guard more apt to stay on with the team beyond this season. The 28-year-old is entering the final year of his deal, and the Celtics have to show Rondo that they are doing all they can to put the best team possible around him. Trading up in the draft demonstrates this effort.

Why would Rondo stay with a team that is in rebuilding mode when he has the chance to sign a max contract and play for a contender?

We've seen with star-laden teams can do in the NBA: win championships (i.e. the Miami Heat). Pairing up stars is the new NBA trend, and it has deemed successful. Just look at the Celtics, the Heat, the Spurs. What all these teams have in common is that they each have a core of star players. Not just one star. Multiple. The more star players on your team, the better you are. I would hope that goes without saying.

Pairing Rondo with a Wiggins, Parker or Embiid would make for a lethal combination. Add in Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley and another piece or two and you are right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.

Everyone thought trading for Garnett would be a long shot, but Ainge pulled that off.

Celtics fans better hope Ainge has some more magic in him.

Celtics get sixth pick

Once again, the luck of the Irish was not on the Celtics' side.

They will have the sixth pick in the upcoming draft.

The last time the C's were in the lottery, they got the fifth pick.

The C's still have never had a number one overall pick.

Breaking down the NBA Lottery

Via AP

The first domino of the offseason falls tonight.

As you all may know by now, the Celtics have a 10.3% chance to win tonight's NBA Draft Lottery and a 33.4% chance to land a top-three pick.

Where the Celtics land will have a lot to do with how Danny Ainge operates going forward.

If Boston lands outside the top five, they will most likely keep the pick and draft a player.

If the C's earn a top-three pick, then they're in business.

They could either pick a player from that spot or use the pick as a trade chip. The three players projected to go in the first three picks are Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid. Many believe these three are cornerstones that franchises can build around.

The Celtics could even trade this pick -- cough, Kevin Love, cough -- for a superstar like they did so famously back in 2007.

A lot could happen between now and June 26, which is when the NBA Draft takes place.

But it all starts tonight.

Report: Celtics willing to offer first rounder for Love

With the NBA Draft Lottery just two days away, the rumor mill is beginning to churn.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Celtics are one of four teams willing to trade a 2014 first round draft pick in a deal for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love.

Love has made it clear to the Timberwolves that he intends on becoming an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season by utilizing his Early Termination Option (ETO). He also has no interest in signing a contract extension.

ESPN.com is reporting that the Golden State Warriors and the Chicago Bulls are likely the front-runners to make a deal for Love.

Boston certainly has the assets to acquire Love, but signing him is another story. Love is almost certainly going to demand a max-contract in the 5-year, $100 million dollar neighborhood. 

Boston can certainly make that happen, as they only have five players under contract beyond this season, with Jeff Green holding a player option and both Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk with team options. 

The first domino that should fall is Rajon Rondo. Rondo has one year remaining on his deal, and Rondo has expressed interest in staying with the Celtics. 

However, Rondo will want to get paid. His last contract was a very team friendly five-year, $55 million dollar deal before the 2010-2011 season. 

The following point guards made more money in 2013-2014 than Rondo: Chris Paul ($21.4 million), Deron Williams ($19.7 million), Derrick Rose ($18.8 million), Russell Westbrook ($15.7 million), Tony Parker ($12.5 million), and Ty Lawson ($12 million). 

Rondo certainly deserves to be paid among the upper echelon of point guards. He also knows that if he wants to remain with the Celtics and have a chance to win a championship, he cannot afford to sign a max deal. He knows he needs help.

Game 75 Preview: Celtics at Wizards

Via Getty Images

The final month of the regular season starts tonight, and for the Celtics, that means a month closer to the NBA Draft Lottery.

The Celtics (23-51) travel to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Wizards (38-36).

The C's have lost five straight. They've lost 10 of their last 11 games. To say they are in dire need of a win is an understatement.

Avery Bradley hopes to play tonight after leaving Monday's game with a sore Achilles.

The Wizards have won two of their last three games, including a win against the second-seeded Indiana Pacers.

The Wizards will not have their starting center, Nene, who is dealing with a left knee sprain.

This is the third of four meetings between these two teams. They have split the first two games.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Wizards:
John Wall
Bradley Beal
Trevor Ariza
Trevor Booker
Marcin Gortat

Keys to the game:

1. Second chances: The Celtics have been very good on the offensive glass all year long. They have taken advantage of all the second chances they've gotten on the offensive end. That needs to continue tonight in order for them to get off the schneid.

2. Rondo vs. Wall: For the first time this season, the Rajon Rondo-John Wall matchup will take place. This should be quite the show. Rondo usually steps his game up against superior opponents. I expect a big game from Rondo tonight.

Game 72 Preview: Celtics at Raptors

Via the Canadian Press

The Celtics (23-48) have a chance to player spoiler tonight.

With their victory Wednesday night in Boston, the Raptors (40-31) have a clinch to clinch a playoff berth tonight.

The C's will look to hold off any celebrations for their divisional foe for at least a few days.

Toronto snapped an 11-game losing streak in Boston on Wednesday. 

Boston will look to split the season series with the Raptors tonight.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Raptors:
Kyle Lowry
DeMar DeRozan
Terrence Ross
Amir Johnson
Jonas Valanciunas

Keys to the game:

1. Contain the starting five: As I highlighted in Wednesday's game recap, Toronto's starting lineup scored 92 of their 99 points. Toronto's starting five ranks seventh in the league in scoring. Boston cannot let three of Toronto's starters to score over 20 points like they did on Wednesday.

2. One chance, and one chance only: It's easy for a team whose starting center is only 6'9'' to give up a lot of rebounds, points in the paint and second chance points. That's why the Celtics need all hands on deck to make life difficult for Toronto on the glass. The Raptors doubled up the Celtics on points in the paint, 14-7, on Wednesday and out-rebounded the C's, 40-28. Toronto cannot get whatever they want. The C's must put a little pressure down low on the Raptors.

Final: Raptors 99, Celtics 90

The Celtics (23-48) dropped their second straight game tonight as they fell to the Raptors (40-31), 99-90.

The C's trailed virtually all night long, and they trailed by as many as 15 points.

Toronto was led by their starting five, which combined for 92 of the team's 99 points.

Boston barely shot 40% from the floor, and they were unable to find a rhythm on offense all night.

The good:

* He scored only 7 points in the first three quarters, but Jared Sullinger sure did finish strong. Sullinger finished with a game-high 26 points on the night to go along with 8 rebounds off the bench. Once not known for his shooting, Sullinger hit four of his six three-point attempts, including three in a row in the fourth quarter.

* Boston's bench was solid tonight. From Phil Pressey's 12 points to Kelly Olynyk's 7 point, 5 rebound effort, the bench kept the C's in the game.

* Boston had a season-low 9 turnovers tonight.

The bad:

* While Boston's bench performed well, the starters didn't hold up their end of the bargain. They shot 36% from the floor.


Boston concludes its home-and-home with Toronto on Friday night at the Air Canada Centre. Tipoff is 7 pm.

Game 71 Preview: Raptors at Celtics

Via Boston Herald

The Celtics (23-47) begin the first of a home-and-home with the Toronto Raptors (39-31) tonight at the TD Garden.

The Raptors, who lead the Atlantic Division by a game and a half over the Brooklyn Nets, have been a pleasant surprise in the Eastern Conference. They sit a half game behind the Chicago Bulls for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto has dropped four of its last six, including a tough loss last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers by the final of 102-100.

The Celtics are back in action for the first time since they fell to the Nets last Friday, 114-98.

Projected lineups:

Raptors:
Kyle Lowry
DeMar DeRozan
Terrence Ross
Amir Johnson
Jonas Valanciunas

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Keys to the game:

1. Lowry vs. Rondo: Rajon Rondo needs to own this matchup with Kyle Lowry. Lowry is having a terrific season. He is averaging 17.6 points, 7.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 70 games this season. Rondo is continuing to regain his explosiveness, and he is going to need every ounce of it to stop Lowry tonight.

2. The three: Nearly a quarter of Toronto's offense comes from three-point land. The Celtics have been very good all season at defending the three, boasting the fourth best three-point defense in the NBA. They're going to need to step up defensively and limit Toronto's effectiveness from long distance.

Game 66 Preview: Suns at Celtics

Via Getty Images

Their last matchup in Phoenix was quite entertaining, but the luck wasn't with the Irish that night.

Tonight, the Celtics (22-43) look to extract revenge from the Suns (36-28).

The Suns have lost four of their last five games and have fallen out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

They received good news on Wednesday night when guard Eric Bledsoe returned to action after a 10-week absence while rehabbing from right knee surgery.

The Celtics may get Avery Bradley back tonight. He is a game-time decision.

Projected lineups:

Suns:
Goran Dragic
Eric Bledsoe
Channing Frye
Marcus Morris
Miles Plumlee

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Jerryd Bayless
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Keys to the game:

1. Capitalize on the poor defense: Over their last ten games, the Suns' defense has been nothing short of pathetic. They've given up 112 points per game, with the lowest amount given up being 104. With Rajon Rondo expected back, the C's need to be on the prowl and ready to attack an unstable Phoenix defense.

2. Keep feeding Hump: Kris Humphries has been on a tear of late. He's averaging 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. He's been a catalyst on both the offensive and defensive ends. His highlight-reel block on a Tim Hardaway layup on Wednesday was a testament to how he's played: hard. Hump needs to bring that energy again to give the C's a chance to win.

Game 64 Preview: Celtics at Pacers

Via Getty Images

Kris Humphries and company need all hands on deck to battle Indy's bigs.

In my last game preview, the Pacers (46-17) visited the Celtics (22-41).

Tonight, the C's visit the Eastern Conference's best team.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these two teams. The Pacers have gone 3-0 thus far.

Although they have already clinched a playoff berth, the Pacers are slumping. They've lost four straight games by an average of 15.3 points.

Help is on the way for the struggling Pacers. Andrew Bynum, who signed with Indy on February 1, will make his Pacer debut tonight. It was a strategic move to have Bynum sit out in order to strengthen his knees and get in better shape.

On the other side, the Celtics have won two in a row, with their latest victory coming Sunday night over the Detroit Pistons.

Tonight marks the first of a back-to-back for the Celtics, and head coach Brad Stevens has already ruled Rajon Rondo out for tomorrow's game.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Jerryd Bayless
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Pacers:
George Hill
Lance Stephenson
Paul George
David West
Roy Hibbert

Keys to the game:

1. Attack: Boston is playing an Indiana team that's in a funk right now. They've given up 108.7 points on 49.4% shooting over their last three games. The Celtics need to maintain their offensive rhythm they've had over their last three games, a stretch in which they've shot 47% from the floor.

2. Take someone away: Indy has four guys in their starting five averaging more than 6.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics have one. The C's need to limit Indy's effectiveness on the glass by taking away one of their gargantuan players. Whether it be David West, Lance Stephenson or Roy Hibbert -- watch out for Bynum, too -- not everyone can get what they want on the block.

Celtics unveil new St. Patrick's Day unis

Via celticsstore.com

The Celtics revealed their brand new 2014 St. Patrick's Day jersey Monday.

The team will sport the jerseys three times next week: March 14 vs. the Phoenix Suns, March 16 vs. the New Orleans Pelicans and March 17 vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

The color scheme remains the same as the old St. Patrick's day jersey, with the solid green jersey with gold lettering. The only difference being these jerseys have sleeves.

The jerseys are an homage to the 1947-1947 Celtics, who wore sleeved jerseys in their inaugural season.

Below is a picture of that team

Via celticslife.com

Celtics re-sign Babb

The Celtics have signed guard Chris Babb to a second ten-day contract.

The 24-year-old rookie has appeared in four games with the C's, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in about 13 minutes.

The move will keep Babb with the team for at least the next six games.

Game 59 Preview: Pacers at Celtics

Via AP Photos

Paul George and the Pacers will sure give the Celtics all they can handle.

The Celtics (20-39) snapped their five-game losing streak Wednesday night and will look to start a winning streak tonight against the Indiana Pacers (44-13).

This is the third meeting this season between these two teams. Indiana has won the first two by an average of 21 points.

Indiana has won three in a row, with their most recent victory coming Thursday night over the NBA's worst team, the Milwaukee Bucks.

Indiana owns the best record in the NBA and the best defense. They're holding opponents to a league-low 91.1 points and 41.4% from the field.

They will be without starting point guard George Hill, as he is nursing a bruised left shoulder.

The Celtics hope to get Jared Sullinger back from a concussion. Kelly Olynyk (toe) is likely to play as well. Avery Bradley remains out with an ankle injury.

Projected lineups:

Pacers:
C.J. Watson
Lance Stephenson
Paul George
David West
Roy Hibbert

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Jerryd Bayless
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Get out and run: Indiana is usually very good at defending the fast break. However, they've hit a bit of a rough patch. They're allowing 15.1 fast break points per game over their last three games. With Indiana big down low, the Celtics need to capitalize on every opportunity in transition.

2. Big game from Rondo: If the C's want to win tonight, Rajon Rondo needs to play well. I mean, really well. With George Hill out, it's imperative for Rondo to take advantage of C.J. Watson and the Pacer backcourt.

Wallace out for year

Celtics forward Gerald Wallace will miss the rest of the season after tearing his meniscus in his knee.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told reporters at today's practice that Wallace will need surgery.

"Listen, a lot of teams go through injury and we're going through our share right now and that's just part of it," Ainge said. "It's been very refreshing to have Gerald. He brings great energy to the game and great passion and intensity that I think our players and our fans feel. He will be missed."

Wallace had also been dealing with bone spurs in his ankle all season long. He was going to need surgery for those as well.

Wallace, 31, has two years and $20 million remaining on his contract.

In 58 games, Wallace averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24.4 minutes. He shot 50.4% from the field.

Wallace's injury is just one of many that Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens talked about after today's practice.

As far as the others are concerned...

* Avery Bradley (sprained right ankle) will be reevaluated next week. Bradley has missed 13 of the last 16 games.

* Kelly Olynyk, who re-aggravated a left big toe injury on the team's West coast trip, is doubtful for tomorrow night's game against the Pacers.

* Jared Sullinger is questionable for tomorrow's game. Sullinger has missed the last three games after suffering a concussion in last Friday's loss against the Lakers.

* Vitor Faverani may need minor surgery on his left knee, but Stevens and Ainge did not rule him a return for Faverani by the end of the season.

And finally, birthday-gate.

Ainge told reporters that the air is clear with him and Rajon Rondo.

Rondo skipped the team's game in Sacramento to stay in Los Angeles for his birthday, according to numerous reports.

Rondo was not scheduled to play in the game anyway.

"It was between Rondo and I and I learned some things that I didn't know and we had a lot conversation about it and I'm satisfied with it," Ainge said. "He learned from it, too. Let's move on."

Game 58 Preview: Hawks at Celtics

Via Getty Images

Jeff Green and the Celtics will look to end a five-game losing streak.

With their West coast swing behind them, the Celtics (19-39) hope to kick their five-game losing streak as they return home. They will take on the Atlanta Hawks (26-30). 

This is the third of four meetings between the two teams. The two have split the first two matchups.

Atlanta has had a rough month of February. They're 1-9 in the month.

They will also be without All-Star forward Paul Millsap for tonight's game. He has a right knee contusion.

For the Celtics, Avery Bradley (ankle) and Vitor Faverani (knee) are out. Jared Sullinger, who suffered a concussion in Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, is a game-time decision.

Projected lineups:

Hawks:
Jeff Teague
Kyle Korver
Shelvin Mack
DeMarre Carrol
Elton Brand

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Kris Humphries

Keys to the game:

1. Stop the three: Atlanta is shooting 37% from three-point range, good for sixth in the league. They have six players shooting better than 36% from three. 28% of their points come off three-pointers, the best mark in the league. So what do the Celtics have to do? Stop their three-point attack. Kyle Korver leads Atlanta's attack. Korver has hit a three-pointer in 125 consecutive games, the longest streak in league history.

2. Third quarter woes: Atlanta is averaging 26 third-quarter points, good for fifth in the league. The third quarter has been the Celtics' kryptonite this season. They're giving up nearly 25 points in the third and scoring only 22.6 points, the second-worst mark in the league. Someway somehow, the C's need to come out of the locker room strong and prevent another third-quarter let up.

Final: Lakers 101, Celtics 92

Back and forth they went, but once again the Celtics (19-37) fell short. They lost their third straight game tonight, falling to the Lakers (19-36), 101-92.

The C's outscored L.A. in the first and third quarter, 28-19, then scored only 18 points in both the second and fourth quarter.

Inconsistency at its finest.

The newest Lakers, Kent Bazemore and Marshon Brooks, led L.A. to victory down the stretch. They combined to score 29 points off the bench in the second half, propelling L.A. to its 19th victory.

The good:

* Brandon Bass and Jeff Green were the best Celtics tonight. The two combined to score 41 points on 16-of-32 shooting and grab 11 rebounds.

The bad:

* The C's bench shot 9-of-25.

* Tonight was not Rajon Rondo's finest night. Although he had 6 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds, Rondo shot only 2-of-12 in 34 minutes.


Boston has another crack to get in the win column tomorrow night against the Sacramento Kings. Tipoff is 10:30 pm.

Game 56 Preview: Celtics at Lakers

Via Getty Images

Rajon Rondo will look to get the Celtics off the schneid.

The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Celtics remain intact.

Now, on to more important matters, like the actual games.

The C's (19-36) travel to Hollywood to take on the Lakers (18-36) for the final time this season.

The Lakers are losers of four straight. Their latest loss came Wednesday night against old friend Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets, who embarrassed the Lakers at the Staples Center, 134-108.

The Lakers traded Steve Blake yesterday to the Golden State Warriors for former Celtic Marshon Brooks and Kent Bazemore.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol is questionable for tonight's game. Gasol, whose averaging 17.1 points and 10.2 rebounds this season, has missed the last seven games with a groin injury.

Also for L.A., Steve Nash is expected to miss tonight's game with nerve root irritation in his right leg. The leg has caused problems for Nash over the course of the last two seasons. 

The Celtics continue on without Avery Bradley (ankle) and Vitor Faverani (knee).

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Lakers:
Kendall Marshall
Jodie Meeks
Wesley Johnson
Ryan Kelly
Chris Kaman


Keys to the game:

1. Score in the paint: The Lakers are the worst team in the NBA at defending the paint, as they give up a league-worst 48.1 points in the paint per game. The C's don't score in the paint all that often, but they need to tonight. With the Lakers' front line decimated by injuries, the Celtics have to get into the paint early and often. In their last meeting, the C's outscored the Lakers in the paint, 54-38.

2. Take advantage: This is a very bad team the Celtics are going up against. Injuries have derailed this team. If Pau Gasol plays, the C's may have some issues. If he doesn't, they need to take care of business. This is a team that almost had to play with four players two weeks ago against the Cleveland Cavaliers!

No deals at the deadline

Contrary to popular belief, the Celtics were very quiet at this year's trade deadline.

The 3:00 deadline has come and gone, and the Celtics are the same as they were before the top of the hour.

GM Danny Ainge spoke on the Toucher and Rich program on 98.5 The Sports Hub this morning and said there was "nothing going on." It seems Ainge is a man of his word.

There were many rumblings around Rajon Rondo, whose name is always dangled in trade rumors around this time of year.

According to ESPN.com, the Houston Rockets were very interested in the All-Star point guard. However, the Rockets were unwilling to give up forward Chandler Parsons.

Other than that, there was nothing. Nadda. Zip. Squat.

Final: Suns 100, Celtics 94

From a general standpoint, this was a very entertaining basketball game.

Back and forth these two went, but in the end, the greater team prevailed.

The Celtics (19-36) dropped their second straight game after losing to the Suns (32-21), 100-94.

Both teams held double-digit leads. Both teams played solid defense, as neither team broke the 30-point mark in any quarter. Both teams shot under 44% from the floor.

The Celtics even got very good production from their starting five.

So what went wrong?

Untimely turnovers, missed opportunities on the offensive end and too many three-point chances for the Suns.


The good:

* If this was Brandon Bass' last game as a Celtic, he went out on a high note. Bass scored 18 points and secured 8 rebounds in 33 minutes.

* Rajon Rondo looks better in each game he plays. Rondo finished with another near triple-double of 18 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists.

The bad:

* I highlighted before the game the importance of stopping the Suns from three-point range. The Suns converted on 11-of-28 from long distance. The killer was the third quarter, where Suns shot 57.1% from downtown, making 4-of-7.

* Phoenix scored 25 points off 14 Celtic turnovers.

* The Suns outscored the C's on the fast break, 30-8.


The Celtics will take on the Lakers on Friday night at the Staples Center. Tipoff is set for 10:30 pm.

Game 55 Preview: Celtics at Suns

Via USA Today

Former Celtic Gerald Green has been one of the many

surprised with the Phoenix Suns.

The unofficial second half of the NBA season begins tonight. For the Celtics (19-35), that means the start of a West Coast road trip. Tonight is the first stop on that trip, and it's in Phoenix against the surging Suns (31-21).

The Suns have been the biggest surprise in the NBA thus far. They are coming off a 112-107 overtime victory last night over the Denver Nuggets, a game in which former Celtic Gerald Green scored a career-high 36 points for Phoenix.

For the Celtics, they will be without Avery Bradley (ankle) and Vitor Faverani (knee) on the West Coast.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Suns:
Goran Dragic
Gerald Green
Channing Frye
P.J. Tucker
Miles Plumlee

Keys to the game:

1. Stop the guards: Phoenix has the fifth-highest scoring backcourt in the league. Without Bradley, Boston is going to have a tough time stopping Phoenix's offensive attack. They need all hands on deck to stop the likes of Goran Dragic and former Celtics Gerald Green and Leandro Barbosa.

2. Stop the three: Phoenix scores 28.3 points per game from three-pointers. That's the best mark in the league. The Celtics need to do all they can to prevent the long-range shooting from the Suns.

Five predictions for the second half

The Celtics begin their unofficial second half of the season on Wednesday night. The very next day is the trade deadline. In all likelihood, Wednesday night could potentially be the last time this whole group plays together.

So what's in store for the second half?

Here are five predictions:

1. Jeff Green and Brandon Bass will be traded: Where there's smoke, there's fire, and there sure is a lot of smoke around Green and Bass. Both have a lot of value, and the Celtics could get a decent return. Look for Danny Ainge to try his best to get rid of these two.

2. Kelly Olynyk will be named to the All-Rookie second team: The NBA rookie class is pretty weak. Aside from Trey Burke and Michael Carter-Williams, there are no standouts. The Celtics will more than likely be sellers at the deadline, and Olynyk will have more of an opportunity to make an impact in the second half. The C's will be sniffing the finish line, and Olynyk will get a real shot to show what he's got. But to be safe, I'll put Olynyk on the second team.

3. The Celtics will finish with the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference: There's no way the Celtics will catch the Milwaukee Bucks (9-43) or the Philadelphia 76ers (15-39) for the worst record in the East. Both teams are in full tank mode. The Celtics aren't quite there yet. They'll still be bad, but they won't be that bad.

4. Brad Stevens will finish in the top three in the Coach of the Year voting: If the Celtics were vying for a playoff spot, I could see Stevens as the front-runner for Coach of the Year. Nonetheless, Stevens has done a great job in his first season as an NBA head coach. His poise and basketball knowledge have been off the charts. This team takes their cue from Stevens, and he's done a nice job of remaining even-keel throughout this rough season. Atlanta Hawks' head coach Mike Budenholzer and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts should be the front-runners, but Stevens should be right there with them.

5. Rajon Rondo will not be traded: We've been hearing Rondo's name in trade rumors for four years now. And yet, he's still here. Rondo was recently named team captain, and Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub that the team has engaged in preliminary contract extension talks with Rondo. Ainge and company have stood behind Rondo and have said all the right things. This team will be built around Rondo.

What's next?

Courtesy of AP/Corbis Images

Tonight marks the 63rd edition of the NBA All-Star Game.

For the past six years, Celtics fans have been accustomed to seeing at least one Celtic playing in the exhibition game. This year, that's not the case.

The Celtics don't have an All-Star this year. If Rajon Rondo were healthy from the beginning of the season, he may have very well been suiting up for the Eastern Conference tonight.

But the bigger point is that this team is not loaded with All-Stars. Hell, they may not even be loaded with good players.

Herein lies the cue for the “I told you so” remarks.

Through 54 games, the Celtics are right where most thought they would be. The team sits fourth in the Atlantic Division and owns the sixth-worst record in the NBA.

"I told you so!"

The Celtics have experienced plenty of ups – leading the Atlantic Division for nearly two months – as well as downs – losing 18 of 25 games since the start of the New Year – throughout the first half of the season.

What lies ahead in the second half falls on the shoulders of team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

Ainge’s Celtics are expected to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline, which falls on February 20. The Celtics could look a lot different once that deadline passes.

Aside from the trade deadline, there are some things for Celtics fans to look forward to. Rajon Rondo, who was named the 15th captain in team history on January 17, has not had any setbacks in his return from a torn ACL. Jared Sullinger is quickly becoming a star in the making with his improved play. Rondo and Sullinger appear to be two of the players the Celtics would like to build around going forward.

While many have already given up on the Celtics, the team feels they still have a shot to make the playoffs. The Celtics sit four-and-a-half games behind the Charlotte Bobcats for the eighth and final playoff spot.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the C's. I'm willing to bet if you asked Ainge right now what he plans on doing with this team come Thursday afternoon, even he will admit that he isn't exactly sure.

The only certain thing about the Celtics going forward is no matter whose wearing green after February 20, head coach Brad Stevens and company will not give in.

Final: Spurs 104, Celtics 92

Even with three-fifths of their starting lineup out, the Spurs (38-15) still had enough to beat the Celtics (19-35) tonight, 104-92.

Tim Duncan came alive in the second half and finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 from the floor with 9 rebounds and 2 assists. The Spurs also got good performances from Marco Belinelli and Boris Diaw.

The Celtics hung with the defending Western Conference champs for three quarters, but the Spurs were just too much for the young C's, even without most of their stars.


The good:

* Rajon Rondo was one of the few Celtics that came ready to play. Rondo finished with 16 points on 6-of-7 from the floor (including 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point line) to go along with 4 assists, 4 steals and 2 rebounds. Including tonight's game, Rondo is shooting 38% from three-point range.

* For the second straight game, Kelly Olynyk compiled a double-double. Olynyk finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds


The bad:

* Excluding Rondo, the starting five shot 15-of-43, which translates to 34.9%. That's not gonna get it done.

* Once again, Jeff Green disappoints. Green finished with 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting and 4 turnovers.

* The Celtics let the Spurs get whatever they wanted in the paint. San Antonio outscored Boston in the paint, 46-32.


The Celtics now head into the All-Star break. Their next game comes one week from today in Phoenix against the Suns.

Game 54 Preview: Spurs at Celtics

Avery Bradley and Tony Parker will not suit up for tonight's matchup.

To begin, let's give a birthday shout-out to Bill Russell, who turns 80-years-old today.

Now, onto tonight's tilt between the Celtics (19-34) and the San Antonio Spurs (37-15).

This is the final matchup for this season between the two teams, and the C's final game before the All-Star break.

The Spurs will be without their All-Star point guard Tony Parker, starting center Tiago Splitter, starting small forward Kawhi Leonard and sixth man Manu Ginobili due to various injuries.

For the Celtics, they will be without Avery Bradley, who continues to battle a lingering ankle sprain.


Projected lineups:

Spurs:
Nando de Colo
Danny Green
Marco Belinelli
Aron Baynes
Tim Duncan

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Keep it going: The C's have won four of five, and a win heading into the All-Star break would do this team a lot of good.

2. Sully vs. Duncan: This one's gonna be fun. Both Duncan, widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time, and Sullinger, one of the game's emerging stars, are playing at a very high level.

Final: Celtics 102, Bucks 86

The Celtics (19-34) avenged last night's loss by edging the Bucks (9-42), 102-86.

After getting off to a sluggish start, the Celtics turned up the intensity in the second half. Boston shot 39.6% in the first half, but the C's shot 50% in the third and outscored the Bucks in the fourth quarter, 32-18, en route to their fourth win in five games.

The C's were led by Jeff Green's 29 points. Yes, Jeff definitely heard the trade rumors.


The good:

* As an NBA rookie, life can be very up-and-down. Tonight, Kelly Olynyk experienced the "up." The rookie turned in his first career double-double, compiling 14 points and 10 rebounds.

* Speaking of double-doubles, Jared Sullinger turned in his sixth consecutive double-double tonight, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

* Boston's bench was superb. They filled in nicely with both Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley out. They were a plus-63.

* The Celtics got 32 points off Milwaukee's 21 turnovers.

The bad:

* The C's let the Bucks get to the line way too easily tonight.

* The Bucks scored 9 fast break points in the first quarter and shot 50% in the quarter. Boston needs to get off to better starts on the defensive end.


Boston's final game before the All-Star break is Wednesday when they welcome the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff is 7:30 pm.

Game 53 Preview: Celtics at Bucks

It's all hands on deck for Gerald Wallace and the Celtics
tonight against Gary Neal and the Bucks.

There's no better way to bounce back from a bad loss than to play the worst team in the NBA.

The Celtics (18-34) have the opportunity to do just that tonight against the NBA's worst team, Milwaukee Bucks (9-41).

Since the start of the new year, Milwaukee is 2-17. They rank in the bottom third of the league in points scored, points allowed and rebounds.

However, this one may not be as easy as one would think. Rajon Rondo will sit out tonight's game, as the team continues to bring him along slowly in his return from a torn ACL. The Celtics are 3-10 on the second night of a back-to-back, and 2-8 when the second game is on the road. Put all that together, and that does not necessarily make for an easy night.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these two teams this season. Boston is 1-2 against Milwaukee thus far.


Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Phil Pressey
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Bucks:
Nate Wolters
Brandon Knight
Khris Middleton
John Henson
Larry Sanders

Keys to the game:

1. SCORE!: After last night's putrid performance, there's no where to go but up for the Celtics' offense. They need to be more efficient. They need to drive to the hoop. They cannot settle for jumpers. They need to get into the paint. They need to get to the free throw line. It won't be easy with tired legs, but the Celtics cannot afford to be embarrassed again offensively, especially against one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

2. Get Chris Johnson involved: Head coach Brad Stevens admitted himself that he thought he should have put Johnson in last night's game a lot sooner than the fourth quarter. Johnson played 5 minutes and 34 seconds of the first quarter, did not play in the second and third quarters, then played 9 minutes and 23 seconds of the fourth quarter. When he played, he made an immediate impact. Johnson did all of his damage in the fourth, scoring all 14 of his points -- he connected on all 4 of his three-point attempts -- in the frame. With Rajon Rondo out and Avery Bradley not looking like his normal self, Johnson needs to be apart of the action early and often.

Sullinger earns POW honors

Celtics forward Jared Sullinger was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

In three games this past week, Sullinger averaged 20.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting 50%.

Sullinger recorded double-doubles in all three games.

Sullinger is the second Celtic to win the award. Jordan Crawford earned the honor back in early December.

Report: Ainge shopping Green "hard"

The NBA trade deadline is only ten days away. You know what that means?

It's rumor time!

According to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, the Celtics are trying to trade Jeff Green. Lawrence reports that the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as the frontrunners for Green, and that the Hawks would have to give up starting small forward DeMarre Carroll.

Carroll, 27, is averaging 10.4 points on 47% shooting and 5.6 rebounds in 31 minutes. The fourth-year forward has started every game he's played for the Hawks this season.

The Hawks sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, and adding Green would be an upgrade.

According to other sources, Celtics GM Danny Ainge is shopping Green "hard."

Green, 27, is averaging 16.3 points and 5 rebounds on 42% shooting. Green's inconsistent play has been a topic of conversation of late.

Green has two years (the last being a player option) and $18.8 million remaining on his deal.

Final: Mavericks 102, Celtics 91

The final score does not indicate how badly the Celtics actually played. This one, especially the third quarter, was uuuuuuuugly.

The Celtics (18-34) three-game winning streak came to an end tonight, as they fell to the Dallas Mavericks (31-21), 102-91.

Boston trailed by only one after the first quarter and only six at the half, but then Dallas decided to show up.

Dallas was led by Dirk Nowitzki's 20 points. The Mavericks had six players in double-figures.


The good:

* Rajon Rondo tallied 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting with 12 assists and 8 rebounds. Rondo was the only Celtic starter to shoot 50% or higher.

* Chris Johnson played a very efficient game off the bench. He made some big three-pointers in the closing minutes during the Celtics' late comeback attempt. In 15 minutes, Johnson scored 15 points on 4-of-7 from the field (including 4-of-4 from beyond the three-point line) with 3 rebounds, a steal, an assist and a block. He brought a tremendous spark.

* Although it wasn't the case in the third quarter, the Celtics limited Dallas' effectiveness in the paint. Dallas only scored 30 points in the paint, well below their season average of 44.

The bad:

* The Celtics' offense was off all night. They took a lot of jumpers and did not drive to the basket. They had no rhythm, no flow, no nothing.

* The Celtics' defense was porous. Again, the numbers don't necessarily back it up, but Dallas got a lot of easy buckets, especially in the second half.

* Through the first three quarters, the Celtics shot 29% from the floor. That's bad.

* Here's some numbers on the Celtics' horrific third quarter: the C's were outscored, 28-18. They were outrebounded, 17-6, and 7-0 on the offensive glass. Dallas scored 9 second-chance points to Boston's 0. Lastly, Dallas scored 12 points in the paint to Boston's 4.


Boston gets right back at it tomorrow night when they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks. Tipoff is 8:00 pm.

Game 52 Preview: Mavericks at Celtics

Will Rajon Rondo play?

According to John Hollinger, ESPN numbers guru, the Celtics (18-33) have a 6% chance of making the playoffs, and a 6.4% chance of winning the lottery.

Head coach Brad Stevens and his squad hope the odds of the former increase, but they will only do so by defeating the Dallas Mavericks (30-21) tonight.

Dallas has won four straight, and tonight's game is the first of a four-game road trip for the Mavs. Shooting guard Monta Ellis is a game-time decision with a right hamstring strain.

For the C's, Rajon Rondo (general soreness) and Avery Bradley (right ankle sprain) are both game-time decisions. Neither played Friday night.


Projected lineups:

Mavericks: 
Jose Calderon
Monta Ellis
Shawn Marion
Dirk Nowitzki
Samuel Dalembert

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger


Keys to the game:

1. Dominate the paint: Over the last five games, Dallas leads the league in points in the paint with 57. Overall, they're fifth in the league in that category. Boston's bigs need to play stellar defense to keep Dallas' guards out of the paint and to force Dallas to take tough shots.

2. Sully be Sully: Jared Sullinger needs to be, well, Jared Sullinger. Look for Sully to get force fed tonight, especially with Samuel Dalembert covering him. The C's are 14-14 when Sully scores at least 12 points, compared to 4-17 when he doesn't.

Final: Celtics 99, Kings 89

The Celtics (18-33) won their third straight game last night, topping the Sacramento Kings (17-33), 99-89.

Without Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, the Celtics relied heavily on Jared Sullinger, and he came through. Sullinger finished with a team-high 31 points.

Boston held one of the best offenses in the league to only 89 points on a mere 35% from the floor.

The C's got a collective effort from all 10 of their players tonight, and it was a total team win.

The good:

* I have to start with Sullinger. The big guy turned in his 16th double-double of the season with 31 points and 16 rebounds. It was also his fourth straight double-double. Sullinger battled with DeMarcus Cousins all night, who mirrored Sullinger's performance (31 points and 16 rebounds), but it was Sullinger and the C's who got the better of Cousins and the Kings. Over his last four games, Sullinger is averaging 23.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 52%.

* With both their starting point and shooting guards out, Boston's backcourt needed to step it, and boy did it ever. In their place, starters Phil Pressey and Gerald Wallace combined for 12 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Jerryd Bayless chipped in with 19 points off the bench.

* Although Sacramento's top two scorers (Isaiah Thomas and Cousins) combined for 55 points, the C's did a nice job of shutting down everyone else. Besides those two, the Kings shot just 24%.

The bad:

* On a night where Rudy Gay did not play, one would have thought that Jeff Green would go off. But once again, Green disappointed. He shot 6-for-20 and was a -11. We expected too much after his 36-point outburst on Wednesday.


Boston will try and make it four in a row tomorrow night when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff if set for 6:00 pm.

Game 51 Preview: Kings at Celtics

The Celtics (17-33) will look to make it three wins in a row tonight when they welcome the Sacramento Kings (17-32).

The Kings are also looking for their third straight win. They are coming off a 109-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Head coach Brad Stevens told "Gresh & Zolak" on 98.5 The Sports Hub this afternoon that Rajon Rondo is unlikely to play. He sat out yesterday's practice after experiencing general soreness after Wendeaday's win over the Sixers.

Stevens also said there's a better chance Avery Bradley will play tonight, but said the chances of him playing are "50-50." However, he will not play.

The Kings will be without Marcus Thornton and Rudy Gay.

Projected lineups:

Kings:

Isaiah Thomas

Ben McLemore

John Salmons

Jason Thompson

DeMarcus Cousins

Celtics:

Phil Pressey

Gerald Wallace

Jeff Green

Brandon Bass

Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Pick your poison: The Kings have three players averaging at least 20 points. If you're the Celtics, you cannot let all three of them beat you. You have to pick your poison. It might want to be DeMarcus Cousins, whose averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds over his last two games.

2. Keep them under 100: In the 18 games the Kings have been held under the century mark, they're 2-16. Limiting their offensive effectiveness is vital.

Celtics sign Johnson for remainder of season

After two impressive stints on ten-day contracts, Chris Johnson did enough to latch on for the rest of the season.

The Celtics signed the swing man to a deal that will keep him with the C's for the remainder of the year. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.

In his time with the C's, Johnson has averaged 7.6 points in 21 minutes per game while shooting 40% from three-point range.

Final: Celtics 114, Sixers 108

After losing 19 of their previous 22 games, the Celtics (17-35) have now won two straight. They beat the Sixers (15-35) tonight, 114-108.

Boston was led by its starters for the second consecutive game, as they scored 95 of the team's 114 points.

From start to finish, Boston held a lead, and they were in control of this ball game from the jump. Their lead shrunk to as little as four, but Boston never let up.

Here's a recap:

The good:

* Two Wednesdays ago, Jeff Green had his best game of the year. Last Wednesday, Green was subpar. Tonight, he was on point. Green finished with 36 points on 11-of-18 shooting (including hitting his first five three pointers) to go along with 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks. 

* For the second straight game, Rajon Rondo was very effective. Rondo finished with a near triple-double of 8 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Celtics' play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman said during the third quarter that the Celtics are "night and day" when Rondo is off the court, and the numbers backed that up tonight. He finished with a team best plus +16.

* Jared Sullinger brought his A-game tonight. The big fella finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. As if those numbers weren't enough, Sully also tallied 5 assists and 4 blocks. He played a complete game tonight. 

The bad:

* Boston is lucky that Philly's 28 fast break points did not come back to bite them. 

*Another negative from this game was Avery Bradley's injury. Bradley did not play in the second half as he suffered another ankle injury. His status in unknown.

The Celtics get back to work Sunday night when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff is 6:00 pm.

Game 50 Preview: Celtics at Sixers

Kris Humphries and the Celtics look to extract revenge from last week's
heart-breaker vs. the Sixers.

The Celtics (16-33) won their first game on Sunday with Rajon Rondo in the lineup.

Tonight, they will try to start their first winning streak with Rondo, and they will do so against the Philadelphia 76ers (15-34).

Since their last-second win in Boston, the Sixers have lost three straight and have re-gained last place in the Atlantic Division.

Tonight's game marks the second of the three this week against teams with a combined winning percentage of .300.


Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Sixers:
Michael Carter-Williams
James Anderson
Evan Turner
Thaddeus Young
Spencer Hawes


Keys to the game:

1. Keep them out of the paint: Last Wednesday in Boston, the Sixers scored 58 points in the paint. On the year, the Sixers are second in the league in points in the paint (51.6). Boston made it easy for Philly to get to the paint all night, as Philly's guards were able to blow by the Celtics' front line all night long. Lest we forget, Evan Turner's game-winning shot came on a floater in the paint. Defending the paint is going to be crucial tonight.

2. Avery Bradley: Bradley's return on Sunday gave the Celtics a much-needed lift. Now that he's back, look for him to get a heavy dose of shots, especially tonight. In their wins, Bradley has averaged 15.4 points and is shooting 50% from the field and 43.2% from three-point range. In their losses, his numbers dip to 14.1, 41.3% and 33.3%. Bradley's success is a direct effect on the team's success.

Playoffs?!

If the Celtics are to make the playoffs, it
will be mainly because of Brad Stevens
and Rajon Rondo.

Brad Stevens isn't used to this.

He's used to leading teams with championship aspirations.

Hell, even playoff aspirations.

But in his first season as an NBA head coach, Stevens has nearly as many losses (33) through 49 games as he did during his six-year, 215-game tenure as the head coach at Butler University (49).

This is uncharted territory for Stevens, and it appears the ship is sinking.

Or is it?

As ridiculous as it sounds -- and much to the chagrin of those who are rooting hard for the Celtics to tank -- the fact of the matter is that the Celtics are still in it.

Stevens did admit that "everybody is mathematically alive when you have 40 games left." He also called it "pretty ridiculous" that the Celtics still have a chance to make the playoffs with a 16-33 record.

But the fact is they do, and they know it, too. The C's have talked themselves into the possibility that they can seriously make a run at the playoffs.

"[Rondo] lets us know that anything is possible," Avery Bradley said after yesterday's practice. "If we come out strong [in the second half of the season], we have a chance to break off a run and win eight games straight if we play harder than everybody else."

Is this true, Rajon?

"We have an easy month [of February] as far as scheduling wise," Rondo said. "I think we only play 11 games this month of February. A lot of winnable games, so I don't think we could use the excuse of beating ourselves anymore. I think we need to come out and execute and try to get some wins. We're not too far out of the playoffs. Keep hope alive."

Here are the facts: the Celtics are 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, and they're five games behind the Charlotte Bobcats for the eighth and final playoff spot.

To follow up on Rondo's comment about the team's schedule in February, the C's play six of their 11 games at TD Garden. Six of the 11 games also come against sub-.500 teams

16 of their remaining 33 games come against teams with winning records. The C's have 17 home games remaining. They only have seven back-to-backs left, and only three of the 14 teams they will play in those back-to-backs have winning records.

In his updated playoff odds, ESPN's John Hollinger gave the Celtics a 6% chance of reaching the postseason.

With Rajon Rondo coming off his best game since his return from a torn ACL and Avery Bradley returning to action after missing five games with a sprained ankle, the time is now for this team to get hot.

Hey, KG said it best. Anything is possible.

Game 49 Preview: Magic at Celtics

Avery Bradley returns to the lineup today against the Orlando Magic.

After two days of practice, the Celtics (15-33) are back at it today against another lowly Eastern Conference foe in the Orlando Magic (13-35).

Orlando has lost three of their last four games. Their last game was Friday night, which was a 113-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks

This is the fourth and final matchup of the season between these two teams. Boston won the first two, but Orlando got the better of Boston in their latest meeting back on January 9, edging the C's 93-91.

The C's will get Rajon Rondo (rest) and Avery Bradley (ankle) back this afternoon.

Orlando will be without Jameer Nelson, who is hampered by a knee injury.

Projected lineups:

Magic:
E'Twaun Moore
Victor Oladipo
Arron Afflalo
Glen Davis
Nikola Vucevic

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Avery Bradley
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger


Keys to the game:

1. Afflalo vs. Green: I feel I mention Green in my pre-game keys more than any other player, but it's usually because Green is matched up against the other team's best player. Green needs to bring his A-game defensively against a very good scorer in Arron Afflalo. In their three games against the C's, Afflalo is averaging 20.6 points on 49% shooting.

2. Get back on track: The Magic are the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference. They've also lost 10 straight on the road. With both Rondo and Bradley back, this is a great opportunity to get back on track. The C's desperately need a win, and today would be a great chance to get one.