by Randall Walker

Created on: January 30, 2009   Last Updated: January 31, 2009

Well the Celtics are certainly having another great season, with the current best record in the NBA (38-9). But do not give them another title just yet.

Competition is much stronger this season, especially in the eastern conference. First lets talk about those Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard is having an outstanding year, which I'm sure most of us expected. But he is getting a whole lot of support from his teammates. With Jameer Nelson and Rashad Lewis shooting over forty percent from beyond the arc, the Magic have been able to attack with a much more rounded offense. I would count on them being in the mix playoff time. But the biggest challenge for Celtics may very well be those Cleveland

Cavaliers. With an NBA record of 35-9, including an undefeated home record, the Calves have clearly grown as a team since last seasons loss in the eastern conference finals. Defense has been the key for this team, forcing more than fifteen turnovers a game, and allowing six points less per game than they did last season. Lebron James, who is averaging more than twenty seven points per game, has the ability to make everyone around him better. But lets face it, this year, everyone around him is better. The Calves' offense is putting up one hundred points a game, and if they can get their big men healthy, they are going to be a much harder team to beat four times this year.

So what happens if the Celtics survive the east? Well a likely case might be a Lakers/Celtics rematch. And if so, would it be a similar outcome? Actually far from it. The Celtics not only would be seeing a different Lakers team, but they would be seeing a very much improved Lakers team. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have led the Lakers offense with twenty-six and seventeen points per game respectively. But a healthy and more experienced Andrew Bynum has this team a much needed dominance from the center position. Bynum is averaging just under fourteen points with eight rebounds per game. And I think he will continue to improve as the season progresses. Derek Fisher also adds experience to the line up and has proved that he can hit big shots when they are needed. The Lakers are averaging well over a hundred points per game in including forty-seven percent shooting from the field. You can count on this team making another run for the title.

The Boston Celtics have improved this season as well. Rajon Rondo, who is putting up fourteen points per game and an amazing eight assist, its very clear that this team is much more than just a power trio. This team has depth. Rondo also has over one hundred steals this season, and with a combined one hundred and thirty blocks coming from Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, defense is clearly not an issue. But it sure doesn't hurt having Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen combining for more than fifty points per game. The Celtic have proved that they are an extremely talented team whith character and heart, which is exactly what its going to take to get the job done this season.

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