We've had a nice stretch, mostly at home, against some pretty-bad teams. And we won all those games. So far, so good. Now the hard part starts, one of several the team will face this season. Coming up, we've got: Indiana, Dallas, Chicago, @Indiana, and Oklahoma City. No easy games there, and the one in Indiana is the 2nd of a back-to-back. The schedule gets much worse later on, but this is the first real challenge for this team since the Miami game.

Are the Celtics ready?

Our bench has some bright spots, but lacks cohesion. Ok, let's just say it: it lacks a point guard. If Rondo were out there with the 2nd team, it would make a world of difference. But he can't always be. So who's going to step up? (Not Dooling, folks. He's just not up to the PG task on a contending team.)

Also MIA is Marquis Daniels. I really do not know what's wrong with that guy. After a good start, he's fallen very hard and fast. Can't hit 1-footers anymore. WTH?

Starters are all doing fine, and if not quite fine, then certainly improving steadily. But beyond that, we reliably have only Bass and Stiemsma (so far, anyway). We need a couple more guys to step up. Will it be Daniels and Pietrus? How about Bradley? Is he going to be ready for prime time sometime this season? Will Wilcox help out? What about the kid Johnson? He looks good on paper.... but where's the beef, young man?

A lot of questions left, and very little time left to find answers.

Well.... ok, not quite. We REALLY have till May to figure it all out. Because I don't really care which seed the Cs get. I figure that, health permitting, this team's gonna hit the playoffs HARD. Healthy, I see them quite capable of going to the Conference Finals, and possibly beyond, regardless of where they land in the seeding order.

I.e., if ever there was a year when the 09-10 strategy of "to hell with home court, just stay healthy" should apply, this is that year.