One interesting analysis of the Celtics plight is that they were able to play in the regular season without a point guard because the opposing teams are not pressing and ball-hawking as much during the regular season as they are during the playoffs. That sure was what it looked like at the end of game #1, when the Celtics balhandlers never knew what had hit them.
The Celtics have their first ten players under contract for next year, so with the return/additions of Rondo, Sullinger, and Fab Melo, they will surely make the playoffs again, but with the lead horses, Pierce and Garnett, being one more year over the hill. People who say "blow the team up" are often oblivious to the fact that doing so doesn't get you a new, younger, better team. It means that after one 25 to 30 win season, you get to draft in the top half a dozen or so and maybe get one good player, but then your second round pick will be #35 or so, and that player is either a bench player or goes to Europe.
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