Well Duh!

Get used to the feeling that people around the country are slowly grasping what we've known for a while now. People are waking up. Warm up your best "I told you so" speaches.

CBS.SportsLine.com - NBA Ten things we learned in the NBA this week:

"4. Item: Gary Payton showed up on time for the Celtics, and suddenly it's starting to look like an interesting team. Rookie Delonte West is already turning some heads, center Mark Blount is happy and motivated, veterans Tom Gugliotta and Raef LaFrentz are splitting time at power forward, and yes, Paul Pierce is relieved help has arrived.

What it really means: Not only are the Celtics the sleeper team to win the Atlantic Division (presuming all these veterans stay healthy), but people have stopped scratching their heads trying to figure out what Danny Ainge is doing. Adding five talented first-round draft choices the past two seasons around a core of veterans, the Celtics suddenly have a nice blend for today and tomorrow. What will happen this spring remains to be seen, but it's now becoming apparent there is a plan and Doc Rivers should be the right coach to carry it out. "