The time is now for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are like your smart, sensible friend, the one who proudly says after winning the lottery, “I’m investing all of it.”

 
Sure, the Patriots make a splash every once in a while--Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth among them--but even those things are done on the cheap.

 
Doing things “the Patriot Way” isn’t good enough anymore. Not after the Super Bowl, where the Giants were clearly the more talented team, built through the draft and--wait for it--big free-agent signings like Antrel Rolle, Michael Boley and Chris Canty.

 
Not when Tom Brady, who’s still playing at an MVP level, turns 35 before next season starts. Not when Julian Edelman is playing cornerback.

 
The Patriots can still spend smart, but they have to spend big.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, New England is projected to have about $27 million of cap room thanks to the new CBA, which allows teams to carry over cap surpluses from one year to the next.

The only 2011 playoff teams who have more cap space are Cincinnati ($58.9 million), Denver ($48.5 million) and San Francisco ($35.9 million).

As for what the Patriots should do with the money, let's start with Wes Welker. It's not a matter of whether Brady's recent vacation buddy will be back, it's a matter of how. 

Putting the franchise tag on Welker will cost the Patriots about $9.5 million, then they can use some money to go get a receiver who can actually play on the outside, especially considering the team's record with drafting wideouts. 

Does the name Chad Jackson ring a bell? Where's Taylor Price these days?

Signing a guy like Mike Wallace or Brandon Lloyd would give New England the inside-outside offense that it needs to continue to compete for the next few years. On defense, ends Mario Williams and Robert Mathis are two players who could be the pass rusher the Pats have been coveting for years.

The other place the Patriots need to gamble a little bit is the draft. Their offense, especially Bill Belichick, is very fond of trading down in April and acquiring picks for later in the draft and for future years.

That has to stop. You can have as much depth as you want, but this team needs playmakers, especially on defense. 

New England has two first-round picks (27th and 31st) and two second-round picks (48th and 63rd). Instead of trading down, the team has to use those two picks on guys who can play now and play well.

Dontari Poe, the defensive tackle from Memphis, is in the Vince Wilfork mold. He's big (346 pounds) and athletic (ran a 4.98 40-yard dash at the combine). Chandler Jones out of Syracuse is an athletic defensive end who could add quickness and a pass rush.

The Patriots could also trade up in the first round and get a guy like defensive end/linebacker Courtney Upshaw of Alabama, someone who could improve the youth and playmaking ability of the front seven right away.

So much of what New England has done over the past decade has been predicated on noticing what other teams don't (late-round picks and undrafted free agents) and doing what other teams won't (putting wide receivers on defense and tight ends in the backfield).

It's time that the Patriots acted a little more normal. Spend big money on proven players. Move up or stand pat in the draft instead of trading down.

Those kinds of moves can do wonders for New England because they have the kind of people in the organization who can make smart decisions. They're the smart, sensible ones who could stand to take a few risks this offseason.

Boston-area schools in the NCAA tourney

Boston is a pro sports town. I get it, but what about the college sports?

Lost in the Red Sox spring training adventures and the Celtics' troubles are the efforts of the local college basketball teams trying to make the NCAA tournament. Last season, Boston University was the only team to make the men's bracket after dramatically winning the America East tournament. This season, more than one team has a chance to make it. Let's evaluate the local teams' chances from best to worst.

Harvard (23-3, first in Ivy League)- It's possible that the Crimson could get an at-large bid, even if they don't win the Ivy League tournament. Harvard has an RPI of 25 and non-conference wins against Florida State and Vermont. Unless they have another breakdown like they did against Princeton a couple weeks ago, the Crimson should be in easily.

UMass (19-8, third in Atlantic 10)- The Minutemen are three games back of Xavier in the A-10 with three games to go. Joe Lunardi of ESPN.com has UMass just outside of the tournament field, but a strong finish (including a win at Temple next Wednesday) and a strong conference tourney could be the key to a NCAA bid.

Boston University (15-15, third in America East)- Going into the final regular season game against Hartford, BU's chances of making the tourney are non-existent as an at-large. The team would have to win the America East Tournament again, which is possible. The Terriers beat the conference's top team, Stony Brook, earlier this season and came within a point of beating the second-place team, Vermont, in their last meeting.

Northeastern (13-15, seventh in CAA)- Possible, but not likely. The Huskies are 4-6 in their last 10 games, and teams like Drexel, VCU and George Mason will be too strong in the conference tournament.

Boston College (8-19, 10th in ACC)- Not anytime soon. The Eagles have lost 10 of their last 11, with the one win being an upset at home against Florida State. The gauntlet that is the ACC tournament is too big a challenge for Boston College.

Five reasons the Braves will rebound better than the Red Sox

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has a lot to smile about this spring. (AP)

Though it may be difficult for New England baseball fans to imagine, two major leagues teams suffered catastrophic collapses to end last season, and no, the Red Sox didn't do it twice.

The Atlanta Braves gave up a 10.5-game lead with 30 games to play last fall, and the team they let in, the St. Louis Cardinals, ended up winning the World Series. The great Jayson Stark wrote a great piece yesterday highlighting the differences in how the Braves and Red Sox handled their collapses.

You could argue that the Red Sox needed to make sweeping changes to change the culture of the team, and you could also say that management gave in to the pressure-cooker that is the Boston sports scene. The Braves did neither of those things, partly because Atlanta's not that kind of pro sports town.

Elder statesman Chipper Jones said as much in Stark's article:

"You've got a franchise here that's not going to buckle to pressure from the fan base or pressure from the media," said Chipper Jones, a man starting his 22nd spring training with this franchise. "I'm by no means comparing the two -- the fan base or the media, because I know it's multiplied by 50 up there. And I don't know what it's like up there on a daily basis. But I do appreciate that here, we don't go out and make a move just to make a move."

The other main reason the Braves didn't do much this season--aside from trading Derek Lowe and cutting Alex Gonzalez--is because they believe that they have the pieces to again be one of the best teams in the National League. Atlanta went 80-55 before September, and it has the players to be even more effective in 2012, even more so than the Red Sox. Here are five reasons why.

- Duh, the AL East is a monster. The American League East is baseball's version of the SEC West, with the Red Sox and Yankees playing the roles of LSU and Alabama. The Rays are Arkansas, considered the third-best team, but clearly they're capable of beating the Sox and Yanks, as they've shown in recent years. The Orioles and Blue Jays are Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and it doesn't matter which. Both are a little irrelevant. The point is three of these teams are capable of making the playoffs every year, which makes each season a gauntlet.

- The NL East is more interesting this season, but not necessarily more difficult. There's a lot of hand wringing among Braves fans concerning what other teams did in the offseason, but it's not necessary. Yes, the Phillies added Jonathan Papelbon. True, the Nationals added pitchers like Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Brad Lidge to go along with Stephen Strasburg's return and possibly Bryce Harper's debut. Indeed, the Marlins got Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buerhle. To all that, I say this: the Phillies are a year away from their window closing, and the Marlins and Nats have to prove on the field that they're actually better.

  

- The bullpen can get better. Throughout last season, the Braves' trio of Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel and Eric O'Flaherty were arguably the best group in the league at closing out games. The problem was they were used too often, and it caught up with them in September. Atlanta played in 55 one-run games last season, tied with the Giants for the most by any NL team that finished with a winning record. The Braves also played in  26 extra-inning games, the most by any team since the 1992 Cardinals. A better offense will help spell a terrific young bullpen.

- Jason Heyward and Dan Uggla will be better. It's hard to believe that Heyward will have a worse year than he did in 2011. Injuries and inconsistent play contributed to drops in all major categories, including batting average (.277 to .227), OPS (.849 to .708) and walks (91 to 51). A team-record 33-game hitting streak helped Uggla get above the Mendoza line, but he hit .223, not very good for a guy with a $60 million contract. Both Heyward and Uggla should be more consistent this season.

- The young pitching is on the way. Atlanta has one of the better starting rotations in the NL with Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson (slated for a May return), Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor. Youngsters Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado are competing with Minor for the No. 5 slot. The Braves also get back Kris Medlen, who was 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 starts in 2010 before blowing out his elbow. Medlen, 26, will be in the bullpen along with Atlanta's top overall prospect, righty Arodys Viscaino. Needless to say, a franchise known for pitching is as stocked with live arms than it's ever been.

Celtics Report Card: Few make the grade

Nobody likes report card day. No, not even the smart kids, especially in the age of "tiger moms." So much stress, so much anxiety.

You're not only concerned about how you did in your classes; you're also worried about taking your report card home to your parents. Basketball players aren't nearly as concerned with report cards as grade-school children (millions of dollars have something to do with that), but considering some of the grades I gave to the Celtics, they should consider staying after school.

(in descending order)

Rajon Rondo- Grade: B+. Rondo has missed almost of a third of the Celtics' games this season, but he's having the best season of his career offensively. He's averaging career highs in points (15.2), field goal attempts (12) and free throw attempts (5.1). Rondo's also third among point guards this season in total rebound rate. 

Paul Pierce- Grade: B. Pierce's age is really beginning to show. His averages in points, field goal percentage, free throw attempts and minutes are all the lowest they've been in the past six seasons. The Captain's 5.5 assists per game are a career high, though. Most of his stats show that Pierce is still a top-five small forward in the league, but those same stats also signify a decline in his play compared to his own standards.

Brandon Bass- Grade: B. Bass is getting the most playing time of his career and making good use of it. He has career highs in points (11.6) and rebounds (6.1) per game. Bass not only gives the Celtics an inside presence off the bench. He is also the third-best shooter from 16-23 feet among power forwards this season (51 percent).

Ray Allen- Grade: B-. Nobody is shooting the three better than Allen. His 48.3 percentage from deep is the best in the league and the best in his illustrious career, but his points per game (14.3) are the lowest since his rookie year. Allen's free throw percentage is also tops in the league among players who play at least 30 minutes a game. Problem is he's only getting to the line 2.3 times per contest, the lowest of his career.

Kevin Garnett- Grade: C+. KG is no longer The Big Ticket, and he hasn't been for years. He's still very important to the Celtics, as his absence in Wednesday's loss to the Pistons showed. Garnett still leads the team in rebounds, but his total rebound rate is middling among power forwards, right between defensive juggernauts David Lee and Amare Stoudemire. He's also in the bottom half of power forwards when it comes to defensive plays per game.

Jermaine O'Neal- Grade: C+. O'Neal's almost played in more games than he played all of last season, and he's been more productive. He's not nearly the scorer he once was, but he's making contributions on the defensive end. He leads centers in charges taken per game, and he's seventh among centers in defensive plays per game (2.77), all while playing fewer minutes than the players ahead of him.

Mickael Pietrus- Grade: C+. Pietrus is giving the C's valuable minutes off the bench. He's arguably the team's second-best three-point shooter, and he's averaging the most attempts from long range (4.8) of his career.

Avery Bradley- Grade: C. Bradley's playing time has tripled from his rookie year (5.6 minutes to 16.7), and he's gotten the chance to start eight games. Though his offensive game needs work, he can finish at the rim, and he's one of the better on-the-ball defenders the Celtics have. Plenty of room for improvement.

E'Twaun Moore- Grade: C. Moore's only getting about 10 minutes of playing time per game as a rookie, and he hasn't been bad (3.1 ppg).

Sasha Pavlovic- Grade: C. Since his second year in the league (2008-09 with Cleveland), Pavlovic hasn't averaged more than 4.6 points per game in a season. He isn't a spark off the bench, but he isn't glued to it either.

JaJuan Johnson- Grade: C. The rookie's only played in 15 games, but he's had some standout games, most recently a 12-point, four-rebound performance against Chicago last Sunday.

Chris Wilcox- Grade: C-. Wilcox was brought in to provide a tough inside presence off the bench, and after some early injury troubles, he's been close to that. He's given the Celtics about five points and four rebounds  in 15 minutes per game. (Side note: The 2002 draft was pretty bad, but this is interesting: Wilcox got drafted eighth overall--between Nene and Amare Stoudemire.)

Greg Stiemsma- Grade: C-. He's a D-League guy on the end of the bench, getting eight minutes a game. Low expectations and low returns. He's also no Scalabrine.

Marquis Daniels- Grade: D. Daniels is having the least relevant year of his career. He has career lows in points and minutes. He's missed a lot of time the past couple of seasons, and when he's played, he's been ineffective.

Keyon Dooling- Grade: D. After playing in 80 games for Milwaukee last season, Dooling has only appeared in 13 games for the Celtics this season. He had a season-high 18 points in the second game of the season and hasn't scored more than 10 in any game since.

Bulldogs at the Combine

The NFL's version of American Idol is about to begin. The NFL Combine starts on Wednesday in Indianapolis, as most of college football's best players will have their first off-field auditions for pro scouts. They'll lift, run, measure up and interview, and for some reason, it'll be televised on the NFL Network (for those lucky few who have the time).

For the top players, the combine is a place to show up and be seen. Most quarterbacks don't even throw until pro day. For the rest, the combine is an opportunity to stand out among the best at your position in a neutral setting and possibly raise your draft status.

Eight Georgia players were invited to the combine. Here are their biggest issues going into Indianapolis:

(in alphabetical order)

Justin Anderson, OL- Athleticism- Anderson played both guard and tackle solidly, but not spectacularly. Anderson was the most-penalized member of the offensive line the last couple of seasons. He can improve his draft stock with good tangible numbers (40 time, bench press, shuttle run, etc).

Brandon Boykin, CB- Speed- Boykin was one of the team's most reliable performers throughout his Bulldog career, both in coverage and the return game. He projects as a second- or third-round pick now, but fast numbers in the 40-yard dash combined with his game tape could get him taken higher.

Drew Butler, P- Not much- The 2009 Ray Guy Award winner is the top-ranked punter in the class, which means he's probably a late-round pick. He'll go through lifting and drills, but kickers' main auditions are usually during pro days. Butler could wow some scouts with his interview, though. He graduated cum laude with a telecommunications degree from UGA.

Orson Charles, TE- Strength/size - Charles is the most athletic tight end in the draft, but that's not the only thing that matters in the NFL. Tight ends have to hold up their blocks. If Charles can put together some strong bench press numbers and show he's put on some weight to combine with his speed, he may put himself into the first round.

Cordy Glenn, OL- Athleticism/weight- Glenn is roundly viewed as a first-round pick. He's the second-ranked guard in the draft class according to ESPN, and he showed versatility by playing left tackle at UGA as well. At the combine, Glenn has to show in drills that he can move fluidly at 345 pounds. He also can't show up overweight and out of shape. Hard to imagine an athlete doing that, but it happens every year.

Ben Jones, OL- Tangibles- Jones was one of the emotional leaders of the team and gave the O-line consistent play from the center position. If he can separate himself from the other centers in his group, he could raise his stock to perhaps the third round.

DeAngelo Tyson, DL- Durability/athleticism- Tyson has to show he's recovered from the ankle injury that ended his season. He came to Athens as a defensive tackle and left as a 3-4 defensive end. He should signify through his drill performance that he can play both on the next level.

Blair Walsh, PK- Intangibles- Same as Butler, except Walsh had a miserable season by his own standards. He has to be able to look scouts in the eye and say what happened during the season is behind him. Kickers have a good time getting drafted as-is, especially those who miss double-digit field goals in their senior season.

Luckily, these players won't have Randy Jackson or Steven Tyler to deal with. Unfortunately, Bill Belichick will be there.

Handicapping next year's top NFL teams (according to Vegas)

It stinks, doesn't it? The Super Bowl--and football season-- has been over for five days, and fans are in mourning. No more football for seven months.

Though the NFL has transformed itself into a year-round entity through the combine, draft and OTAs, all football fans have right now are memories and hypotheticals. Take, for instance, the fact that next year's Super Bowl odds have already been posted by the MGM Grand's sports book. According to those odds, nine teams (four from the AFC, five from the NFC) have better than a 18-to-1 chance to make it to New Orleans.

Looking at these teams, they all have reasons to be optimistic.

New England Patriots, 5-1: The Patriots were a couple misfires away from winning the Super Bowl, but they were also a couple plays away (Lee Evans, anyone? Billy Cundiff in the house?) from not being in the game at all. New England goes into the offseason with almost the same needs it had going into the end of last year. The Patriots need a wide receiver and a pass rusher, and both will be available through the draft. Their secondary should be better with 2011 pick Ras-I Dowling back in the fold. If they can be more balanced, they have the best chance of winning it all next year.

Green Bay Packers, 11-2: How soon we forget that the Packers were 15-1 this season? They got caught in the buzzsaw that was the New York Giants, but they should have another strong year in 2012. Green Bay's defense was the issue, giving up too many yards and points. They'll have plenty of competition in the NFC North with Detroit and Chicago, but as long as Aaron Rodgers is still behind center, the Packers should be title contenders.

Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-1: This is a tough situation. All the headlines are about the offense (Todd Haley's now the offensive coordinator), but it's the defense that needs work. Ben Roethlisberger is still fairly young, but the leaders of the defense are getting old. Baltimore is in the same boat, but Cincinnati (30-to-1) is a team of youth that could give the Steelers real problems. The defense needs youth, and if Pittsburgh finds it, the Steelers will be as good as any team in the league.

Philadelphia Eagles, 6-1: After a year of playing together, the Eagles could be the class of the NFC with all the talent they have. If they let DeSean Jackson go in free agency, however, it'll be hard to get past the Giants and Cowboys in the NFC East.

New York Giants, 8-1: Hard to believe the Super Bowl champions could be this low. The Giants struggled through injuries and inconsistent play during the season, but they have as much balance as any NFC team. A playmaker at linebacker would make them even better.

New Orleans Saints, 10-1: The Saints run as efficient an offense as there is in the NFL, but their defense, however talented, was just bad this season. A new system may help, but if New Orleans can't force turnovers (which it did in abundance during its Super Bowl run), they won't get far in the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers, 10-1: The anti-Saints, the Niners got to the NFC Championship with defense, running the ball and not turning it over. It's definitely a formula that can continue to work, but San Francisco could use a upgrade at receiver (Alshon Jeffery wouldn't hurt) to make their offense more explosive.

San Diego Chargers, 12-1: Maybe if Philip Rivers turns it around, they'll contend, but what's going to put the Chargers back in the hunt? I'm not sure. San Diego hasn't won a playoff game in three years, and the team has lost more talent than it's added. In my opinion, they should be lower.

Houston Texans, 12-1: The Texans won a playoff game for the first time in their history, but how much better would they have been with Matt Schaub and Mario Williams? Especially in the weak AFC South, Houston has a bright future with a strong defense and the offense, with better options at receiver after Andre Johnson, can give them the best balance in the AFC.

Other interesting bets: Detroit Lions (18-1), Baltimore Ravens (20-1), Cincinnati Bengals (30-1), Denver Broncos (50-1)

The All-Star reserves: some Celtics and who else?

It seems like just yesterday that the Celtics tipped off their season in Madison Square Garden. Actually, yesterday isn't that far off. The NBA has been back less than two months, and All-Star voting is already over. The NBA All-Star Game is happening, whether it makes sense or not.

The Eastern Conference's starters--picked by the fans--are Chicago's Derrick Rose, Miami's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, Orlando's (for the time being) Dwight Howard and New York's Carmelo Anthony. The seven reserves, selected by coaches, will be announced Thursday, and some Celtics should be included. Here are my picks for the Eastern Conference reserves:

Guards:
Rajon Rondo, BOS- Yes, Rondo missed eight of the team's 24 games, but he's been a force when healthy. Rondo leads the conference in assists per 40 minutes (10.6), and his free throw attempts (4.9 per game) are the highest of his career.

Joe Johnson, ATL- The Hawks looked dead in the water when Al Horford tore his pectoral muscle Jan. 11, but Johnson's 21.5 points per game since the injury helped Atlanta go 9-2 in that span. The Hawks are 11-1 when Johnson scores at least 20 points, and he's fifth in the conference among guards from beyond the arc (38.3 percent).

Forwards:
Paul Pierce, BOS- When it comes to small forwards in the NBA, Pierce is in the class of James and Anthony. He is third among small forwards in the East in points per 40 minutes (22.2) and free throw attempts (7.3). Pierce is also dishing the ball as good as anyone at his position. His 6.6 assists per 40 minutes is second in the league behind James.

Chris Bosh, MIA- Bosh has been the constant for the Heat this season when both Wade and James missed time. During Wade's nine-game absence, Bosh helped lead the team to an 8-1 record. He has scored 20 points or more 11 times, including four games of at least 30. His 21.6 points per 40 minutes are tops among Eastern Conference power forwards.

Center
Roy Hibbert, IND- He has career highs in points (13.8), rebounds (9.8) and blocks (1.9) per game, and his shooting percentage from 3-9 feet (53.5 percent) is the best among East centers. Hibbert's been a big reason the Pacers are fourth in the conference standings.

Wild Cards
Kyrie Irving, CLE- This year's top draft pick has been the best player (18 ppg, 5.1 apg) on a Cleveland squad that's a half game out of a playoff spot. Irving's efficiency rating is second to Rose in terms of East point guards. Per 40 minutes, Irving's true shooting percentage (57.7) is behind only Mario Chalmers and Steve Nash for tops among all NBA point guards.


Andre Iguodala, PHI- The 76ers have been one of the big surprises in the league this year, and they're only two games out of first place in the East. If anyone on the team deserves an All-Star spot, it's Iguodala. His offensive numbers (13.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.0 apg) are pedestrian, but they're balanced. He makes his mark on the defensive end. His 2.68 defensive plays per game (blocks, steals and charges) are second to James among East small forwards, and his 1.76 steals per game are the most among East swingmen.

If we'd had a normal half-season to evaluate, this list may have been completely different, but this is the season we have. On Thursday, the All-Star teams will be rounded out with players, whether they deserve it or not.

A look at Georgia's recruiting class

Anyone who tells you recruiting doesn't matter in college football doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyone who tells you National Signing Day doesn't matter is about half right. Getting a player to sign on the dotted line is half the battle; what they do once they're enrolled is the more important part.

The University of Georgia had another big haul this winter, bringing in the fifth-best class in the nation, according to ESPN.com. Coming off a 10-4 season in which the Bulldogs were one half away from playing in a BCS bowl, it was important that they replenish a team that will lose key players such as tight end Orson Charles, cornerback Brandon Boykin and offensive linemen Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson.

Here are some observations about UGA coming out of the recruiting season:

- Two words: Keith Marshall. The No. 2 running back in the 2012 class is already enrolled in Athens and will practice this spring for the Bulldogs. Not only does Marshall provide game-breaking speed, he graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and should provide sophomore Isaiah Crowell some strong competition for playing time next season. While Crowell is extremely talented (850 yards, five touchdowns), he spent a lot of 2011 nursing injuries and was suspended a game for reported marijuana use.
As football goes these days, you can never have too many running backs. Crowell, Ken Malcome and Richard Samuel combined with Marshall and Todd Gurley joining up this season should give Georgia plenty of weapons out of the backfield.

- JHC joins Grantham's defense. It's always a good thing when you can add the top-rated outside linebacker in the country. Josh Harvey-Clemons of Valdosta is another cog in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense, which was one of the best in college football last season. Nine starters are returning. At outside linebacker, All-American Jarvis Jones and senior Cornelius Washington will start and sophomore Ray Drew will command playing time. Harvey-Clemons may end up redshirting because of the depth of the position, but that's a good problem for Grantham to have.

- Building in the trenches. Especially in the SEC, line play is important, and Georgia makes a point each year of getting as many talented lineman as possible. Nine of the 19 new Bulldogs play in the trenches, led by OT John Theus, DT Jonathan Taylor, DE Jordan Jenkins and DT John Atkins. Georgia brought in several offensive linemen last year, and building depth on the defensive side of the ball will be key going into the next couple of seasons.

- Special teams, special teams. Bulldog fans saw how important special teams were last season. Kicker Blair Walsh and punter Drew Butler were supposed to lead one of the best units in the country, but Walsh was inexplicably inconsistent in 2011. With Walsh graduated, Georgia brought in two kickers, Marshall Morgan and Collin Barber, the fifth- and ninth-rated kickers in the 2012 class. For the most part, UGA has had a great track record with kickers in the Mark Richt era, and the Bulldog faithful are hoping one of the incoming freshmen can keep it going.

Celtics progress report: C's need consistency

Before this lockout-shortened season began, the Celtics were expected to be one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. After 20 of 66 games, Boston is 10-10 and would be the No. 7 seed if the playoffs started today. That's not what anyone was expecting. A 10-10 record is barely cutting it in the East and wouldn't cut it in the West (the eighth-place team in the East, Houston, has a 12-9 record).

Let's take a look at the good, the bad and whether Boston's prospects will improve:

The Good
- Bass off the bench - The Celtics brought in Brandon Bass to give them a spark off the bench, and he may be giving them even more than they imagined. In just over 29 minutes per game (the most of his career), he's getting 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Bass is producing inside and outside. According to Hoopdata, Bass is the third-ranked power forward in the league when it comes to field goal percentage at the rim (49 percent) and second behind the Spurs' Matt Bonner when shooting from 16 to 23 feet from the basket.
Not to mention the Celtics are only paying about $4 million for him this season.

- A better look at Avery Bradley - The Rondo injury has forced the Celtics to play both Bradley and E'Twaun Moore. Bradley has already played more than twice the minutes than he played all of last season. Though his offense needs a lot of work (3.8 ppg, 38 percent from the field), he can score at the rim (64 percent) and he's fit in with Boston defensively. Bradley's defense against Jameer Nelson set the tone in last Monday's drubbing of Orlando.

The Bad
- Oh, the injuries - Any evaluation of the Celtics thus far has to take injuries into account. Only Kevin Garnett and Bass have played in all 20 games this season, and Rajon Rondo has missed the last seven games with a wrist injury. Whatever fans thought of Jeff Green last season, not having him at all this season has hurt Boston. Neither Chris Wilcox nor Keyon Dooling have been nearly as available as the Celtics hoped going into the season. Not good for a team that had depth as a major issue going into the season.

- Inconsistent play - Throughout this season, the Celtics haven't played with the kind of veteran focus fans are accustomed to seeing out of them. Nowhere was that more apparent as it was in the recent home-and-home with Cleveland. Boston gave up an 11-point lead in the final four minutes against the Cavaliers on Sunday and nearly let a 22-point advantage slip away Tuesday night in Cleveland. The Celtics are also 3-6 against teams with winning records so far this season.

What's next?
The Celtics are 4.5 games behind the surprising 76ers for first place in the Atlantic Division, and they may be able to gain some ground in their next few games. They could win at least four of their next six games (Toronto, New York, Memphis, Charlotte, LA Lakers and at Toronto), especially if Rondo returns to the lineup as coach Doc Rivers hinted at on Tuesday.

There are a lot of games left in the season, and the Celtics have veteran players who know how to win. A worthwhile goal at this team is to get back into the Eastern Conference's top four and earn a home playoff series. Boston will have to play with more consistency if it's going to live up to expectations.