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Christmas vs. Smith For The 15th Roster Spot

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA;   Boston Celtics guard Dionte Christmas (50) takes the ball down court during the game against the Chicago Bulls at the Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE
July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boston Celtics guard Dionte Christmas (50) takes the ball down court during the game against the Chicago Bulls at the Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

We have a long way to go before training camp, but it is never too early to start looking at how to cut down the roster to 15. (Ok, I know Jeff Green isn't officially signed yet - and no, I don't have any updates, sorry). Joseph seemed to have a solid summer league and was drafted so he's probably got the upper hand on the non-guaranteed guys.

So it probably comes down to Dionte Christmas vs. Jamar Smith. Who ya got? Forsberg and friends broke down the competition on ESPN.

Summer Forecast: The 15th man? - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

My prediction? Christmas has the inside track after an eyebrow-raising summer in which he showed a lot of versatility. He wasn't even supposed to stay with the Celtics for the Las Vegas portion of the 10-game summer slate, but he stuck around knowing a camp invite could be on the horizon and now he'll get his first real chance to make an NBA roster. Smith's shooting is enticing when those 3-pointers are falling, but Christmas displayed a well-rounded game and has some additional size that could make him the more attractive option. Smith really has to kick down the door at camp in order to wrestle away a spot, while even Christmas still has a little something to prove in order to encourage the Celtics to carry a 15th body.

Hard to argue with Christmas and honestly, why would you want to? That's the kind of name that gives me the gift of creative headlines all year long.

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