Ball Don't Lie has 3 main writers and all three give their take on each team. Obviously Rajon Rondo is a central figure and it was interesting to read each author's take on him.

As we've been saying all along, Jeff Green is a huge X factor for the Celtics. The folks from The Point Forward take it a step further and pin him as one of the biggest X factors in the Eastern Conference.

SI.com puts the Celtics ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Division. I get that the Atlantic isn't as shallow as it once was, but I find it hard to believe that the Celtics are now ranked behind both the Knicks and Nets.

ESPN The Magazine's preview takes a look at the "conventional wisdom" vs. "actual wisdom." Gotta agree with Abbott's take here.