Twenty-two games remain on their regular season schedule. The next three are all on the road against teams trying to either stave off or jump over Boston in the playoff standings: Atlanta on Monday (2 1/2 games up on Boston); Milwaukee on Thursday (three games behind Boston); and Philadelphia on Friday (1 1/2 games up on Boston).

By the end of that three-game stretch, the C's, seventh in the conference at 23-21 heading into Monday night's game, could be as low as eighth or as high as fourth in the standings.

That fluidity is a testament to just how inconsistent this team has been all year — from an impressive five-game winning streak at the beginning of March to Friday night's "good old-fashioned butt-whipping" at the hands of the 16-29 Sacramento Kings (as captain Paul Pierce put it).

So what's got to give in this three-game stand?

Atlanta (26-19)
This is the first of three games against the Hawks over the next month and a half. Atlanta has been shorthanded without Marvin Williams and Willie Green, among others, but the Hawks have won two in a row despite it. The man to watch will be Josh Smith, who can help exploit one of Boston's bigger weaknesses: rebounding.

Milwaukee (20-24)
Boston draws the Bucks twice down the home stretch after beating them in February 102-96 at TD Garden. Rajon Rondo was the difference in that one, dropping a triple-double on Brandon Jennings, who by contrast went 2-for-11 from the field. Still, Milwaukee has won five straight and can score in bunches – reference the Bucks' 120-point performance Friday against Golden State.

Philadelphia (25-20)
The 76ers have been reeling of late, losing three in a row and six of their last 10. But they were coming off a similar losing streak when they handled Boston two weeks ago in Philly, 103-71. They rank first in the league in points allowed (87.8), which proves tough for a Celtics team that's 26th in points scored. Add in the fact that Philadelphia crashes the glass (sixth in the league in rebounds), and you're looking at a matchup problem for Boston, especially given that they'll be coming to Philly after a game the night before in Milwaukee.

A sweep of the next three games, in other words, is highly unlikely. But taking two of them would put the C's in good position for a late-season run at the fourth seed.

Those games, as it happens, also fall in the middle of team president Danny Ainge's vital search for a backup big man. The waiver deadline for playoff eligibility is Friday, and it's no secret the Celts are scrambling to find anyone — and I mean anyone.

"It's always a risk [to pick up someone who's been bought out by his former team], but in our case, it wouldn't be much of a risk if the guy was over [6-foot-6]. He would still be tall," coach Doc Rivers said about the search for a big.

Ronny Turiaf and Chris Johnson are names being bandied about. Neither is very appealing, but both are likely better than hoping Jermaine O'Neal's wrist and knees can hold up long enough to make a playoff push.

In the meantime, the Celtics will need to buckle down — and hope playoff seeding can keep their dimming chances of a second- or third-round playoff appearance alive.

No, not nearly. But rookie guard E’Twaun Moore is at least proving himself deserving of some extra playing time.

After starting the season a miserable 9-of-37 from the floor, the Purdue alum ripped off a breakout performance Thursday night in Orlando, drilling four of four 3-pointers to lead Boston to a 27-point comeback — the signature moment thus far of the Celtics’ lackluster season. 

“One thing I told him was to come up with a routine and stick to it,” Ray Allen said after the game.

It’s working. Since then, the 6-foot-4 guard has been résumé-building, averaging eight points on 60 percent shooting in Boston’s last three outings. He crashes the boards, takes care of the ball (two turnovers in those three games) and has the quickness to get into the paint and make plays. 

And unlike many rookies, the Indiana native is already 22 years old. Moore plays like he belongs on an NBA floor.

“He’s a cocky little kid — in a good way,” coach Doc Rivers said after Moore’s outing against Orlando. “And that’s good. He has great confidence. He took some big shots. I thought the biggest play for him was, in transition, he didn’t wait. He took it off the dribble and went to the basket. You don’t see that from a young guy. Usually they play cautious, and he didn’t. That was huge.”

That development, along with the growth of second-year guard Avery Bradley, has boosted a second unit that’s needed to come up big in the absence of Rajon Rondo (wrist) and Ray Allen, who missed three games with an ankle injury. Bradley’s offensive output is anemic (37 percent shooting), but he has proven a pest on defense — perhaps he is even a top-tier perimeter defender in the making. And Moore, while not as disciplined on defense as Bradley, has consistently shown a willingness to hustle and get into the passing lanes.

Neither of them is elite. And they’re certainly not enough to make Boston a title contender again. (That would take a breakthrough in the science of age reversal for Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.) But they have been a large part of the team’s recent 4-1 run and will undoubtedly help ensure a spot in the postseason.

Moore, for his part, is hoping Rivers keeps coming back to him.

“I’m always confident. As long as I go in the gym and work on my game, I’m confident in what I can do on the court,” he said. “So even if things are not going for me, I always stay positive and keep working.”

Perhaps it was simply the time it took to get over the Celtics' loss of teammate and close friend Kendrick Perkins.

Or could it be something much more simple? Like more hard work and growing maturity.

Whatever it is, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has reached new heights.

Statistically, he's more freakish than ever before. The 25-year-old, who raised eyebrows last season with consistent double-double performances, is somehow managing to score and rebound more — all while playing fewer minutes. Through six games, Rondo is averaging 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. He's already posted one triple-double (Sunday against Washington) after coming close earlier this season against Miami.

His defense, as it always was, has been superb, and perhaps his greatest gifts — basketball I.Q. and court vision — have only strengthened.

Rondo's greatest weakness, meanwhile — his jump shot — is proving less and less of a liability. Shaquille O'Neal posits in his new book that the president ruined the point guard's confidence, and thus his jump shot, by telling Ray Allen during a meet-and-greet that he should "teach this kid how to shoot." Rondo was embarrassingly bad the remainder of the season, finishing at 57 percent from the free-throw line.

It could've also had something to do with losing his buddy Perk or, more likely, his awful form. But the Obama angle is far more Oliver Stone-esque.

Either way, the sixth-year star reportedly spent his extended offseason in Kentucky working tirelessly on a new technique. He brought the shooting elbow closer into his body and created a more fluid follow-through with less movement. It's paying off. He's shooting an insane 54 percent from the field (his best mark yet) and has improved to 65 percent from the charity stripe — a full eight percentage points better than last year's rate.

Those results couldn't have come at a better time.

Truth is, the Celtics are not, in current form, a championship-caliber team. Paul Pierce is at about 70 percent, while Jermaine O'Neal is operating at even less than that. Rookie Greg Stiemsma is the only true center on the depth chart behind O'Neal. The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls both look better than last year. And neither Keyon Dooling nor Avery Bradley, despite their verve, is an elite No. 2 point guard behind Rondo.

The Celtics' historically league-leading defense is now ranked 20th. Their offense? 13th. It's no coincidence that Boston is 3-3 with exactly zero impressive wins.

Within that harsh new reality, Rondo brings hope.

His new-found ability to shoot the ball outside of the paint has instantly changed the look and range of Boston's offense. No longer can opponents slack off Rondo and clog up the paint or double-up Pierce. It'll give Allen, who continues to astound with a 61 percent mark from the 3-point line so far this season, greater opportunity to roam and find open spots on the floor. Kevin Garnett and J.O. should have more space in the post.

Sure, Boston might not be considered title contenders at this point in the season, but Rondo's hard work in the offseason could be the team's gain. If nothing else, it'll help propel them past .500 and into the playoffs.

Leon Powe

Take Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

Most Celtics fans remember that as the night Powe emerged on the national stage with a dominant 21-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had played less than 15 minutes.

Phil Jackson was so flabbergasted that he purposely mispronounced the then-24-year-old’s name in his postgame comments.

Less than a year later, when Kevin Garnett left a fateful game in March with a knee strain, Powe scored 30 points in his stead.

The Oakland native, who at one point in his life was homeless, then tore his ACL in the first round of the playoffs that season — and played on it for three minutes before Doc Rivers pulled him out.

He’s got insane drive and heart and, when healthy, is a top-tier offensive rebounder who plays tireless defense and can score when needed.

Exactly the kind of guy the Celtics need this offseason.

Think about the pros:

1. He’ll be incredibly cheap. We’re talking less than $1 million — a big plus given Boston is already over the luxury tax threshold with just six guys currently under contract. Powe has already said he wants to come back to Beantown.

2. He knows the system. Remember how long it took newbies like Semih Erden, Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, etc. to learn Boston’s complex defense? Powe already thrived in it for three seasons.

3. He’s a locker room guy. The C’s could use a little team-building after losing Kendrick Perkins last season, and they’ll likely have some new faces when the season begins. Powe is universally loved by the Big Four and Doc. Don’t tell me chemistry’s not important for championship runs. A man of Powe’s integrity and likability could be a glue guy during a title run.

4. Boston needs big men on the bench. Right now, Jermaine O’Neal is all the C’s have. Word is, Danny Ainge is making a move on Glen Davis, but he’ll need at least two additional 4′s or 5′s.

How about the cons? Balky knees and a sorely lacking outside game on offense. 

I’d say, given the low bid price on Powe, that’s low-risk, high-reward.

A moment of great opportunity. Or one of great concern.

The Hall of Fame threesome — plus Rajon Rondo — is still intact. Veteran center Jermaine O'Neal and second-year guard Avery Bradley are players Nos. 5 and 6 on the roster, and team president Danny Ainge will likely tie the knot with JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore soon after Dec. 9, when free agency is set to begin.

Beyond that, the walls are blank.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Jeff Green, Delonte West — they're all free agents in some capacity. The rest of the guys from the 2010-11 lineup (Sasha Pavlovic, Nenad Krstic, Carlos Arroyo, Von Wafer and Troy Murphy) have either jetted overseas or probably aren't worth re-signing ahead of what'll likely be Boston's final shot at a title with this core.

So, what to do? And how does the new CBA hamstring or help Ainge with each decision?

Let's deal first with the 6-foot-9, 290-pound elephant in the room.

Glen Davis: Sign him
Yes, I know he fell apart in the 2011 playoffs, but that was an anomaly in an otherwise career season. Baby topped personal bests in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and free throws — and, despite his sometimes perplexing antics, proved he's tough by taking 46 charges.

Problem is, all the above means Davis will be highly coveted. In this case, the new CBA works both for and against Boston.

The tentative agreement restricts teams over the luxury tax threshold (Celtics included in that group) to a $3 million mid-level exception, while all others can use up to $5 million. That means Ainge would have to use "real" cash to keep Davis.

The CBA does, however, retain so-called Larry Bird rights, allowing the Celtics to offer Baby a larger, longer-lasting contract than any other team.

In other words, Ainge and the Boston brass would likely have to dish somewhere in the $5 million to $6 million range to keep the power forward. Given the 2012-13 season will bring a major restructuring (Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will no longer be under contract), that's a small price to pay for a seasoned, still-young power forward who can be a 15-and-10 guy every night.

If nothing else, signing Davis allows Ainge to engineer a sign-and-trade. If the Celtics simply let him go to the highest bidder, they get nothing in return.

Jeff Green: Sign him
As with Davis, plenty of Celtics fans have their reservations about this kid. He's the face of the Kendrick Perkins trade, after all, which many feel cost Boston its shot at the 2011 championship. It didn't help that the forward under-performed, struggling to find his rhythm in the Celtics' more plodding offensive system.

But with enough minutes and a lot more confidence, Green's a central piece in the Celtics' plans for the future. He can take the ball to the hoop. He can shoot from outside (36 percent from the 3-point arc over his last three seasons). He's a solid defender with great wingspan and lateral speed. He's precisely the kind of guy Boston will need to compete with LeBron James and the Heat in the coming years. 

Under the new CBA, qualifying offers remain essentially the same. Ainge already put a one-year, $6 million proposal on the table for Green, and will be able to match anything pricier that comes down the line.

Delonte West: Sign him
Because of his injury-riddled past and mental-health concerns, Delonte will be available for far less than he's worth. We're talking probably less than $1 million for a guy who at times looked better than Rondo down the stretch of the 2010-11 campaign. Mind you, Rondo was suffering from plantar fasciitis and then a spaghetti elbow, but still.

What's more, the new CBA will allow Boston to pick up additional reserve guards on the super-cheap. That should relieve any concerns that West could get injured and leave Rondo without a viable backup.

If Johnson and Moore don't begin the season in the D-League, the above signings would leave the C's with three open roster spots. Given he's already in luxury-tax land, Ainge will likely fill those spots with the mid-level exception (the bi-annual exception can only be used by non-taxpayers, so that's no longer an option) and a couple of veterans looking for a final title shot.

Mid-level exception: Jason Richardson
The 30-year-old has said he's willing to take a pay cut to compete for a title. Does that mean he'd take $3 million to be a sixth or seventh man in Boston? Maybe not. But if it does, the Celtics would suddenly have a second-unit backcourt of Richardson and West. Can you say "offense"?

If that fails, take a swing at Michael Redd or Anthony Parker. They're both free agents looking to add a ring before retirement.

Veteran deal: Kwame Brown
Don't look at me that way. Brown is coming off one of his better NBA seasons, averaging eight points and seven rebounds in just 26 minutes of play. The Celtics desperately need a legitimate center behind the oft-ailing O'Neal, who won't start all 66 games of the regular season. Sure, the 29-year-old's not a great defender and doesn't score much from outside the paint, but he's likely the best option for the price.

Veteran deal: Grant Hill
Tell me this guy doesn't fit into the Celtics philosophy. He's old, it's true. Thirty-nine, to be exact. But he started 80 games in Phoenix last year and didn't show many signs of wear, averaging 13.2 points and 4.3 boards. At 6-foot-8, he's become almost a better defender with age, forcing opponents to a 37.6 percent field-goal mark against him, according to Synergy Stats. He also played under Doc Rivers while both were in Orlando.

Those deals would give the Celtics one of the best second units (West, Richardson, Green, Davis and Brown) in the conference and leave the balance sheet mostly clean for the 2012-13 campaign.

Have your cake and eat it, too. One more title with the Big Three, and hope beyond their departure.

We're four months into this mess, and the NBA and its players seem to only be growing farther apart.

After there was talk last week for the umpteenth time that a deal was "within striking distance," the owners and union are back to end-of-days language and attacking each other through the media.

Players Association chief Billy Hunter wrote in a letter to members Tuesday, "They have given us 'take it or leave it' ultimatums, threatened to end the season prematurely, reached out to players in an attempt to divide us, misled the press, and pre-conditioned further talks on our acceptance of significant concessions."

On Friday, commissioner David Stern nonchalantly announced he's cancelling all games through November, then issued a threat to players.

"We're going to have to recalculate how bad the damage is," Stern said of the cancellations. "The next offer will reflect the extraordinary losses that are piling up."

(That's an interesting argument to make, considering Stern and the owners have insisted they lose money during the season. But we'll return to that later.)

What's most bizarre about the ongoing battle between the two sides is how little they're fighting over: $100 million. That's it. The players want 52.5 percent of total league revenue; the owners want a 50-50 split.

Otherwise, multiple outlets are reporting the two sides have agreed in principle to most of the rest of the terms: a stiffer luxury tax, shorter contract lengths, smaller annual raises and an "amnesty clause" for bad contracts, among other changes.

It would seem, then, that we could be close to a complete deal.

That would ignore a very real concern: All the above changes constitute concessions from the players, and they might not be willing to give more.

Under the previous collective bargaining agreement:

• Players were guaranteed 57 percent of basketball-related income (BRI). They've come down to 52.5.
• Players with "Bird" rights could sign six-year contracts. They've agreed to reduce that to five.
• Players were eligible for annual raises of up to 10.5 percent. Now it'd be 5 percent, under this yet-to-be signed deal.
• Players could make $5.8 million under the mid-level exception. Drop that to $5 million.
• Players were paid on-time and in-full if a team waived them. Now owners would be allowed to stretch out their payments to waived over a number of years.

That's a lot of give and not much take from the perspective of the players — which will make it all the more difficult for the owners to convince the union to concede that last $100 million.

Why the almost completely one-sided concessions so far? Two reasons: First, some owners really were losing money, which makes their demands for a greater share of the pie more reasonable; and secondly, the owners are already far wealthier than most of the players, they own the leverage.

If the players are serious about holding their ground over that $100 million, they could grab some of that leverage by forming their own league.

It’s not a new idea. New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire posed the possibility in October, noting the players had already discussed it.

No doubt, it's a down-the-line, incredibly complex option. You'd need the support of certain superstars, like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who are owed tens of millions of dollars in the coming years. You'd need investors, venues, TV deals, advertisers. It could take years to become profitable.

But it's not completely unthinkable. Nike's recent "Basketball Never Stops" campaign would suggest there's enough interest out there from big-name advertisers who still need a way to sell their products. As the recent charity games have demonstrated, smaller venues, like college arenas, would be pretty easy to line up. And I have to imagine the networks would be tripping over themselves to air those players-owned games.

If nothing else, it's a bargaining chip if the owners continue to stand firm at 50-50. With all the nastiness flying back and forth between the two sides, after all, the only leverage the players really possess is their talent.

And almost nobody cared.

More than 10 million people were too busy watching the Bears and Lions go at it on Monday Night Football. They wanted to talk about Calvin Johnson a.k.a. Megatron's catch or Jay Cutler's dual personality — not the NBA lockout. Even when commissioner David Stern announced just before halftime that he's cancelling the first two weeks of the season, only a slight tremor rumbled through the sports world.

Ho-hum. We all saw it coming, anyway.

It wasn't always that way, of course. The 2010-11 season, after all, was one of the more successful in league history. The free agent frenzy last summer, "The Decision," the Heat-Celtics series, the Finals — they all added up to sizable gains in TV ratings, merchandising and attendance at games.

So when talk of a lockout first began in the midst of all that, concern and discussion from fans poured in. How far apart are the two sides? Will this hurt veteran teams like the Celtics and Lakers or help them? Will Brian Scalabrine bring his talents to Italy?

It seemed difficult to imagine no season after one filled with such drama.

Then Americans, especially American sports fans, did what we always do. We grew numb to it, found something else to occupy our time. The same way we do with news. When was the last time you heard anything about earthquake relief in Japan or Haiti? Or Casey Anthony?

We are living in a truly ephemeral, feed-me-now age. And if one source of entertainment fails us or begins to bore us, there are countless others waiting.

When basketball's not on come Nov. 1, in other words, too bad. We've got football, or the World Series, or hockey or college hoops to fill that void.

The NFL and its players understood that. Like their NBA counterparts, they were coming off an incredibly successful season — $9 billion in revenue, more than any other sports league — and were desperate to maintain that momentum. Sure, they weren't quite as far apart on the numbers as are the NBA and its union, but they were fully aware that a break in the action could leave fans looking elsewhere for their sports fix. 

So they got something done. Both sides gave a little on revenue demands, the season started on time, and commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement to fans apologizing for "the frustration we put them through the last six months."

All signs are that the NFL, partly because it got its act together in time and guaranteed the fans 10 years without another contract dispute, will be more popular this year than ever before.

Stern? In making his cancellation announcement Monday night, he seemed like he always does — entitled, arrogant and out-of-touch with fans. And he offered little hope of any progress in the near future, saying "the gap is so significant we just can't bridge it at this time."

That gap he's referring to is $120 million. Sounds like a lot, but it's a mere three percent of the league's $4 billion in annual revenue. That equates to millionaires fighting with multi-millionaires/billionaires over relative pennies.

We as fans can't relate to that. And because that battle is being waged so publicly, when the season does finally start — we'll be so out-of-touch and disillusioned with the product that we won't care to turn it on. Exactly the way it happened after the 1998 lockout. People stopped showing up to the games, didn't even want to watch them on TV.

"And I think it will take us even longer to recover this time around," union head Billy Hunter acknowledged Monday after Stern’s announcement. That means the owners and players could be looking at a loss far greater than the $120 million at the center of their discord.

Add in the fact that the NFL, hockey, college football and college basketball are all more popular now than they were in 1998 — and the NBA is looking squarely at a reap-what-you-sow situation.

Rajon Rondo

That’s a discussion prompted recently by Ball Don’t Lie writer Eric Freeman, who mused that “Rondo’s game is predicated on creating angles where there are none, so he’d be a natural for changing the momentum of a point mid-rally.”

That’s not to mention Rondo’s quickness, which rivals, if not surpasses, that of Rafael Nadal.

But there’s the not-so-slight problem of skill. Tennis, like golf, revolves more technique than pure athleticism (and to avoid the angry emails, please let me note: I’m not saying those sports don’t require athleticism — just that it’s very difficult to take them up on a whim). Rondo’s physical ability is no doubt ample. His level of familiarity with the sport might not be.

So it got us thinking, in purely hypothetical terms: If this lockout were to drag on into infinity, and if the overseas option weren’t available, which sport would each of the Celtics’ starters be most able to play? As always, feel free to enter your own suggestions below.

It makes the most sense to begin this debate with the guy who instigated it.

Rondo: Cornerback
The Kentucky native played quarterback for his high school club in Louisville and was apparently quite prolific. That history and his play-calling role as a point guard make it tempting to place him back under center. Problem is, Rondo’s a bit short for an NFL QB (6-foot-1); he has admitted, in fact, that he quit football for basketball because he didn’t think he was big enough to play in the pros.

But his size and raw athleticism are ideal for defensive back. Remember his physical defense on LeBron James back in February? His freakishly long arms, competitive drive, toughness and intelligence all add up to a corner who could both stick with his man and come off the edge in a hurry on run plays.

I’d also like to see him take his vision, foot speed and play-making ability to the soccer field or hockey rink.

Paul Pierce: First baseman
Pierce is one of the rare athletes whose skills might not translate well to many other sports. He doesn’t have the raw speed to play in the NFL and likely can’t skate well enough to do the NHL thing (though I can see him using his size to fill a Zdeno Chara-type role on defense).

But Pierce’s trademark silky-smoothness and swagger would translate well to the batter’s box. He’s also used incredible hand-eye coordination and deceptive strength to help him out-duel faster, quicker opponents throughout his NBA career. Those skills would be very useful at the plate. Indeed, the Inglewood, Calif., native played baseball in high school, and his brother Steve was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the late 1980s — so baseball runs in the family.

I can see Pierce as a Joe Carter, with less bat speed.

Ray Allen: Outfielder
The story goes that 8-year-old Ray, playing in a baseball league on a military base in England, could consistently hit home runs off his coaches and was pushed hard by Little League parents to train as a baseball player. It makes sense: The now 36-year-old is obsessive about form, repetition and nutrition, all incredibly important attributes for hitters. His size, speed and coordination, moreover, would make him capable of tracking down a lot of fly balls in the outfield.

What about Ray as a receiver? His 6-foot-5 frame and attention to fitness make it tempting, but I’m not sold on his vertical speed.

Kevin Garnett: Soccer defenseman
The Big Ticket, believe it or not, was a sterling soccer player in high school. He can cover a lot of ground quickly with that 6-foot-11 frame, possesses uncanny foot speed for his height and understands how to exploit angles to keep opponents from getting a clear look at the basket/goal.

His never-ending supply of energy would also serve him well on the soccer pitch.

For those who were hoping for tight end or receiver, the 35-year-old is simply not thick enough. The thought alone of Troy Polamalu steaming into those balky knees is enough to make me cringe.

Glen Davis: Running back
Because I can’t imagine Boston’s starting center Jermaine O’Neal playing any other sport (I considered football, but let’s face it: He’d be injured within two plays), I’m substituting Big Baby, fully aware the unrestricted free agent might not be back with the squad next season. Imagine this guy pounding the ball up the middle — 6-foot-9, 290 pounds and incredibly light feet for his size.

No, he’s not fast enough to beat linebackers to the edge. And yes, I worry about his fragile psyche being able to withstand the rigors, mentally and physically, of an NFL season. But keep in mind: This is the guy who led the league in charges taken this past season. Under the right circumstances, he’s willing to sell his body for the team, and I’m hard-pressed to believe many defenses would be able to bring him down on first impact.

Indeed, the 25-year-old was a highly recruited defensive end and tailback at University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, La., and has said he’d like to give football another try in the future.

“When I become an All-Star in the NBA, when I become a great player in the NBA, then I’ll try football,” he told ESPN back in 2009. “One of my dreams has always been to play football.”

Here’s some video of Baby playing tailback in high school. You be the judge.

Delonte West was one of them.

The reserve guard proved efficient and consistently productive, averaging 16 points and a steal per 36 minutes of play. His shooting percentages were among the best on the team: 53 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3-point range. By midway through the series, many Boston fans were clamoring for West to start over the injured Rajon Rondo.

Leaving the debate about the wisdom of that opinion aside, Boston needs a legitimate backup guard who can help lead a second unit that's bound to be filled with newcomers. Avery Bradley, entering his second season in the league, is the only reserve currently under contract, and he isn't quite ready to fill that void.

Delonte, given legal and injury concerns, should come cheap. The 28-year-old cost Boston just $850,000 in 2010-11, and (depending on what the new collective bargaining agreement looks like) should be willing to sign for the veteran minimum. West's agent, after all, has repeatedly said the Washington, D.C., native wants to be back in green.

Consider the alternatives:

J.R. Smith: Can't play the point, can't play defense and would likely command Boston's entire mid-level exception.

Earl Watson: Who? He's a veteran ball-handler but doesn't score and is entering the twilight years at 32.

T.J. Ford: Again, likely too pricey and poses the same injury risk as West.

A bunch of other candidates are either restricted free agents or too expensive — or both.

Meanwhile, under the watchful eyes of Doc Rivers and the Big Three, West has behaved himself as a Celtic — and, when healthy, mounted a productive regular season. Per 36 minutes of play, West averaged 10.7 points, five assists, three boards and close to two steals — some of those career highs.

He can play both the point- and 2-guard, spreads the floor on offense, can keep his counterpart in check on defense and knows Doc's system better than any outsider the Celtics could pursue.

Yes, there are concerns about his proclivity for injury (he played just 24 regular-season games in 2010-11), but that's why West is available at a discount. Perhaps more important, he has continually proven he's willing to put in the rehab work. Heck, the guy came back from a broken wrist in less than two months.

With likely just one shot left at a title before a major rebuilding project, the Celtics need a veteran behind Rondo. Delonte made his case in May against Miami — and it's one the Boston brass should strongly consider.

As a unit, the Celtics bench was highly inconsistent in 2010-11, especially during the postseason, alternating between pick-me-up performances by Delonte West and see-me-not outings from Glen Davis and Jeff Green.

If Boston wants to make another run in 2011-12 (if the season ever begins), something's gotta give. Here's what each of the reserves, assuming they remain with the organization, needs to work on during the lockout.

Glen Davis
His head. Big Baby has openly admitted that he struggled mentally this past postseason, and nothing could be more obvious. He went from a line of 7.3 points, five boards and 48 percent shooting in the 2010 playoffs to 5-4-39 in 2011. Even more bizarre? That was after mounting the best regular-season campaign of his career.

The 25-year-old also has to remember he's not Kevin Garnett. While we're all glad he's spent so much time developing it, a 20-foot jumpshot should not be Davis' go-to offensive play. Use that trademark girth to create some space in the paint, and use the outside range as a threat, instead of a promise.

If Davis, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, elects to sign with the Celtics, he needs to rediscover the bull-in-a-china shop attitude that made him a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

Jeff Green
Confidence. After coming to Boston in February, this kid put together a solid regular season, averaging 15 points per 36 minutes of play with a 48.5 percent mark from the field.

But when the playoffs came, Green looked like a deer in headlights. His field-goal rate dropped to 43 percent, and he began turning the ball over on key possessions. The man who Danny Ainge thought would help lead Boston to banner No. 18 disappeared. He could've been any other reserve.

During this lockout, Green, who's a restricted free agent, needs to spend as much time as possible around his teammates. Get more comfortable around them. Be more vocal. The 24-year-old has far too much talent to waste on a lack of confidence.

Delonte West
Keep on keeping on. Minus spending too much time around the injury bug, West's return to the Celtics in 2010-11 was a triumphant one. Per 36 minutes, he averaged 10.7 points, 1.6 steals, five assists and three boards. He shot more efficiently than he has (46 percent) since 2005-06, notched his best mark ever from the charity stripe (87 percent) and got serious about defense, posting a career-best 101 defensive rating.

In the playoffs, he was even better. In fact, you could say he was the only Celtic to show up against Miami in the second round, shooting 53 percent from the field and a ridiculous 47 percent from beyond the arc.

If anything, the 28-year-old should get more aggressive on offense. West attempted just 9.5 shots per 36 minutes in 2010-11, well off his career average. If Ainge and the Celtics manage to convince him to return as the backup point guard (he might fetch more money in the open market), he could help solidify a one-two-three offensive punch of West-Davis-Green off the bench.

Avery Bradley
Jump shot. If West is re-signed, there's little chance second-year point guard will see significant action in 2011-12. He played just 162 minutes this past season, and the only obvious concern is his ability to score from the outside. The 20-year-old shot 34 percent from the field in 30 appearances, and missed the five 3-pointers he attempted.

If I were him, I'd be in the gym every day to rework my shot. The kid's form is eerily reminiscent of Rondo's, and that doesn't bode well.

Believe it or not, that's it for the backups. Bradley is the only reserve under contract; Nenad Krstic is on his way to Russia; Von Wafer’s Greece-bound; and we'll let rookies JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore see some NBA action before we pick them apart.

One thing's certain. With the Big Three’s ability to dominate games diminishing, Boston's bench needs to become more cohesive, consistent and productive.

What should the Celtics — who stand to gain from a shortened season, and lose miserably in the event of no season — be doing to prepare for the prospect of a 2011-12 season? Head coach Doc Rivers isn’t allowed to organize practices. Danny Ainge can’t buy up another big man or resign Jeff Green and Glen Davis (if he wants to).

But the players are allowed to meet at non-team facilities to practice on their own, and there’s word Ray Allen might organize such events at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater.

In the meantime, I’m gonna completely overstep my bounds and offer some advice to the starters on how they should spend the lockout. When life gives you lemons, after all, you should make things with lemons.

1. Rajon Rondo
Free throws and jump shots are too obvious to list here. We all already know you’ve spent the past five seasons working tirelessly on that aspect of your game, and it’s slowly paying off. Your true shooting percentage (49.5 in 2010-11), effective field goal rating (48.2 percent) and offensive rating (104) have all improved dramatically since your rookie campaign in 2006-07. You somehow managed to get worse at free throws this past season (56.8 percent), but let’s chalk that up to over-thinking it.

What I want to focus on here are (1) Your health, and (2) Defensive consistency. There were more than a couple of games this year when you hobbled around the court with that bad case of plantar fascitis. It affected that trademark quickness and at times made you seem human against the likes of Derrick Rose and Deron Williams. Stay off your feet plenty this summer and fall.

No one can doubt you’re a defensive phenom. Heck, between the freak athleticism and long arms, you’re capable of guarding LeBron James pretty effectively, as you proved in February. But you’re also in love with letting an opponent by you, then trying to poke the ball out from behind. It works sometimes, but nowhere near enough to justify its constant use. Exploit your quickness to stay in front of your man.

2. Ray Allen
Get better at shooting. Sure, you broke the Celtics’ single-season record for 3-point percentage (44.1), but that means you still missed more than half. Sheesh.

Outside of that, your offseason is going to revolve around keeping those legs in tip-top shape. You’re approaching 36 years old, and we all know your line-drive jump shot relies on an incredibly high release point. Keep up whatever you’ve been doing to stay so fresh.

3. Paul Pierce
It’s hard to find much to complain about. Statistically, you just logged one of the best seasons of your career — 50 percent from the field, 86 percent from the charity stripe, 5.4 rebounds and 19 points. Every one of those categories represents an improvement over your 2009-10 numbers.

So where can you improve? Take-over-the-game mentality. During the 2007-08 championship run, the Celtics were your team. Yes, Ray and Kevin Garnett were your equals, but when Boston needed a couple of big baskets in the closing minutes, you took charge. Not to say that you shirked that responsibility in 2010-11, but you became one-dimensional: jump shot, from the elbow. In 2008, you might’ve taken that shot, or you might’ve taken it to the hole to draw a foul.

The evidence lies in your free-throw attempts per game, which have dipped for three straight seasons, from 6.8 in 2008-09 to 5.6 this past year. Use your strength and length to help take over games at the crucial moments — in more ways than one.

Also, get back from La La Land as soon as possible. I know you live in Los Angeles, and there’ll be plenty of temptation to stay out there as the lockout drags on. But the rookies and second-year guys need the captain back in Beantown even before the lockout ends.

4. Kevin Garnett
Again, as with Paul and Ray, your numbers belie your age. Despite turning 35 years old just ahead of the playoffs, your 2010-11 season was statistically better than the year before. Part of that is explained by the improved condition of your knee, but still, 53 percent shooting, nine boards and 1.3 steals have Boston convinced the Celtics’ window isn’t closed quite yet.

Defensively, you were as superb as always, ranked No. 1 in the league against the pick-and-roll (according to Synergy Sports) and finishing the campaign with a defensive rating of 95, the third best mark of your sterling 16-year career.

But on offense, you’ve become a spot-up shooter, and little else. You draw few fouls and score infrequently from inside. Get back into the paint more often in 2011-12. The shots are higher-percentage, and teams will get into foul trouble more quickly.

5. Jermaine O’Neal
Asking you to stay healthy, like asking Rondo to shoot better, is too obvious. You played just 24 regular-season games this past season for Boston, so I know asking you to go injury-free in 2011-12 is unreasonable.

But while you are on the court, be more assertive offensively. The Celtics have a lot of weapons, I understand, but your field goal percentage went from 53 percent in 2009-10 with Miami to 46 percent in 2010-11 with Boston. Perhaps concerned about suffering another injury, you spent much of your time on offense outside the paint, lofting up jump shots. It helps explain why your offensive rating and offensive rebounds per 36 minutes also dipped.

You’re 6-foot-11, 255 pounds. Act like it.

The bench players, whichever ones end up on the Boston roster this year, could also make some adjustments. We’ll take a crack at those next week.

Fans argue he rides the Big Three's coattails. Sports writers harp on the 25-year-old's lack of outside shooting. Heck, Tony Parker called him the most overrated point guard in the league back in 2009.

But here's the thing: Everyone knows that Rondo plays with the Big Three and struggles to score from outside the paint — meaning if he is worth less than his market value ($10 million a year), it's not for lack of taking those facts into account.

In other words, we all admit the kid has flaws. Question is: Do his pros outweigh his cons enough to place him amongst the top five point guards in the league?

Yes, and here's why.

1. Vision
Outside of Steve Nash, no one in the NBA sees the floor as well as Rondo. Even as the Big Three aged, the Kentucky native's assist numbers have improved every year. Rondo was a big reason why both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, no longer the prolific scorers they once were, posted career highs in field-goal percentage last season. Allen, the all-time leader in 3-pointers made, even posted a career high in 3-point field-goal percentage. Plus, for the past two years, he's finished in the top four in the league in assists.

2. Basketball IQ
Two-time NBA Coach of the Year Doc Rivers has called Rondo the "smartest player" he's ever coached. Each of the Big Three has echoed that sentiment, noting their floor general's ability to call plays and improvise as necessary.

3. Quickness
Derrick Rose alone rivals Rondo's athleticism at the point position. Coupled with the above qualities and Stretch Armstrong-length arms and hands, this guy can get just about anywhere on the floor against just about any defense. Forget shooting from outside. Rondo has developed the ability to penetrate and score in the paint (especially in transition), sometimes at a prolific rate. Take his 30-point performance in Game 2 against the Knicks as an example. His shooting percentage in 2010-11? 48.5 percent.

4. Leadership/toughness
"Elbow" is all I should have to say to prove this point. That was Rondo's competitive grit defying nature. Think back to his performance against the Bulls in the first round of the 2009 playoffs. With Kevin Garnett out and the chance of another Finals appearance slim at best, Rondo pulled off one of the more remarkable series a Celtic has ever played — 20 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals. It's a refuse-to-lose quality that few possess.

5. Defense
He gambles too often on this end of the floor, but his intelligence and speed combine to make Rondo a steals machine. For the past three seasons, he's finished in the top five in the league in that category (including first in 2009-10). And when he's assigned to lockdown one-on-one defense, he is superb. Ask LeBron James, who was hounded by the 6-foot-1 guard for a key stretch of a Celtics-Heat game in February and struggled to score. Boston, bolstered by a big run during the LeBron-Rondo showdown, went on to win that game.

Is all this to say that Rondo is the best point guard in the league? No. I put Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Rose ahead of him — mostly because they're more versatile scorers and can more effectively spread the defense.

But few would argue that he's No. 1. Rondo gets paid less than Williams and Paul (and will undoubtedly soon earn less than Rose), doesn't get consideration as an MVP and isn't a starter in the All-Star Game. He's right where he should be — a top-five point guard with the potential to be a two- or three-time champion.

It's hard to make the case that a player of that caliber is overrated.

1. No Kendrick Perkins.
2. Lack of defense and rebounding in the low post (Shaquille O'Neal was injured, Nenad Krstic doesn't speak defense, and Glen Davis was a Big Baby).
3. Age.

With just six players currently under contract for the 2011-12 season, Danny Ainge can tackle all three, and the problems begin in the low post.

Good move or not, the Celtics were undeniably worse after trading Perkins, Semih Erden and Nate Robinson midseason. No one could have predicted that Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal would sit out large portions of the season with injuries, and it effectively doomed the C's against the Heat. They were out-rebounded 202-174, outscored in the paint and out-blocked. Anything involving big men, the Celtics were on the losing end of the equation.

Yes, Ainge has already added power forward/center JaJuan Johnson in the draft, but it's going to take more than a skinny rookie to shore up the paint. Below are some options.

Glen Davis
Pros: Big Baby is a career Celtic whose numbers have improved steadily every year in the league, including regular-season bests in 2010-11 of 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and one steal. He already knows Doc Rivers' complex defensive system and has proven himself willing to sacrifice for the team — leading the NBA in charges drawn, at one point taking 16 of them in 10 games.

Cons: Big Baby is an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can go wherever he wants. That could pose a problem for Boston, which is already on the hook for $64.2 million, well over the projected salary cap for 2011-12 — and that's if they don't sign Jeff Green. Depending on how the new collective bargaining agreement shakes out, the Celtics should still own Bird rights over Davis, allowing them to spend what they want to keep him. But just how deep into their pockets will Wyc Grousbeck and friends be willing to dig for a guy who sputtered so obviously in the 2011 postseason?

If Davis' asking price is much higher than the $3 million he earned in 2010-11, Boston's front office will have a very tricky decision on their hands.

Alexis Ajinca
Pros: The 23-year-old Frenchman is a true 7-foot-2 center who has the young legs needed to fill in for the aging and injury-prone O'Neal. And unlike J.O., and most big men for that matter, Ajinca can shoot from deep. He took at least one a game this past season with Toronto, and hit a third of them. Boston has been on the hunt for more 3-point-shooting to help spread the floor.

Cons: Ajinca's affinity for the 3-pointer betrays a related dislike for banging in the paint. That doesn't exactly mesh with the Boston way.

Kwame Brown
Pros: The former No. 1 overall pick has shown upside in recent years, logging one of his best years yet in 2010-11 in Charlotte — 7.9 points on 52 percent shooting and 6.8 boards. And the Celtics could use that 270-pound frame to throw around in the paint.

Cons: Like Shaq, Brown is a shaky pick-and-roll defender, and it might be asking too much of Kevin Garnett this year to keep bailing him out on bad rotations. After a solid year with the Bobcats, the 29-year-old's asking price might also be a bit too high, especially given that all the the Celtics likely have to offer him is the veteran minimum.

Kurt Thomas
Pros: Tough guy with a lot of playoff experience who would undoubtedly jive with the Celtics' defensive style. Thomas' rebounding prowess (he pulled in 22 percent of available defensive rebounds for the Bulls this past season, according to Basketball-Reference.com) would shore up one of Boston's major weaknesses, and given his age, the 15-season journeyman might be willing to sign the veteran minimum.

Cons: He's 85 years old, and the Celtics are trying to get younger and more athletic. At 6-foot-9, moreover, Thomas isn't exactly a defensive stopper.

DeAndre Jordan
Pros: The Los Angeles Clipper is a freak athlete who would immediately add rebounding and defense to the Boston post — and that's where Jordan lives. He shot a ridiculous 69 percent from the field in 2010-11, because largely every shot he took was a dunk. It led to career highs in points (7.1), rebounds (7.2) and blocks (1.8) and had a lot of scouts licking their chops at the 22-year-old.

Cons: There's a reason the guy dunks so often: He can't shoot. The Texas A&M alum is just 41 percent from the free throw line on his career. And it'd take quite the chase for the Celtics to land Jordan. L.A. has already extended a qualifying offer to keep him restricted, and Boston would likely have to use its mid-level exception (assuming that remains in the new CBA). Even that might not be enough.

Samuel Dalembert
Pros: The Haitian is certainly the most talented of these options. He's a rangy offensive weapon who can also serve as a shot-stopper in the paint. Like Thomas, he's a rebounding machine, grabbing 27 percent of available defensive rebounds for the Sacramento Kings in 2010-11.

Cons: After a payday of $13.4 million this past season, the mid-level exception might not be rich enough for the 30-year-old's taste.

The Boston Celtics. And everybody else.

Indeed, since Boston's acquisitions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the summer of 2007, the C's have won the Atlantic each season by an average of 17 games. Toronto came the closest in 2009-10, when Boston won just 50 games — and the Raptors were still 10 back.

That average could take a hit in 2011-12.

There is, for one, the well-documented and overly analyzed age factor; i.e., Boston's Big Three are getting older. Head coach Doc Rivers, as he's done in each of the past two seasons, will essentially forfeit seeding for health. Back-to-backs will become walk-throughs for the veterans, and even the whiff of an injury will result in increased bench-time.

Perhaps more important: Much of the rest of the division is improving.

Philadelphia, now with a promising young center in Nikola Vucevic, should again secure 40-some wins. New Jersey has added college scoring phenom Marshon Brooks to an already electric one-two combo of Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Toronto will still be terrible.

Then there are the Knicks, a team that has already shown promise after its blockbuster trade last winter. Outgoing general manager Donnie Walsh's pick of Iman Shumpert at No. 17 aside (I'll never understand why New York's front office thought giving the reins to a disgruntled general manager was a good idea), this club's ceiling is high.

Likely starting five in 2011-12:

PG: Chauncey Billups
SG: Landry Fields
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Amare Stoudemire
C: Ronny Turiaf

Sure, Ronny Turiaf's not ideal at center, and New York's bench is miserable, but that starting five gave the Celtics a test in the first round of the playoffs, losing Games 1 and 2 on clutch last-minute shots from Allen and KG, respectively.

Keep in mind, that was without Chauncey Billups (strained leg) and with a hobbled Amare Stoudemire (back).

Those injuries floored a unit that had been together just a couple of months. Give Chauncey the summer (and perhaps part of the fall, as well, depending on what happens with the lockout) to build some chemistry, and head coach Mike D'Antoni time to fully teach his offensive system, and New York begins to look like a team capable of taking two or three games off the Celtics in a seven-game set.

Landry Fields, a steal in the second round of the 2010 draft, averaged 10 points on 50 percent shooting, including 40 percent from deep, and 6.4 boards in his rookie campaign. With more minutes coming his way in 2011-12, the heady Stanford guard should be a consistent 15-and-8.

Carmelo Anthony and Amare, moreover, have time to figure out how to more effectively co-exist. 'Melo, for his part, fluctuated between brilliant and pitiful against Boston — scoring 15, 42, 15 and 32 in the four-game series. When Stoudemire asserted himself, Anthony didn't quite know how to complement him. His answer was often to jack up forced jump shots. He did that in Denver, too, but it was more obvious with Amare calling for the ball underneath.

Another 82 games together (again, depending on the labor situation) should clear up some of that confusion.

Even Shumpert, a 6-foot-5 combo guard who can't shoot well, will add some defense to a team that ranked 28th in that category a year ago.

The Knicks, to put this all in perspective, won't overtake Boston in the division. The holes in the bench will cost them too many games over a long season, and there's no guarantee that Billups, who's been plagued by injury of late, will always be available.

But the C's won't be taking their customary cruise through the Atlantic. They'll at last have an opponent worthy of those four guaranteed regular-season matchups. And rest assured, all NBA eyes will be trained on those contests — wondering if the Knicks, perennial failures, can build on a blockbuster deal and finally emerge from the basement.

Superb athleticism, nice stroke. But the 24-year-old, who is inconsistent, even indifferent at times, struggled to pick up Boston's complex defensive system and hasn't learned to take initiative on offense.

Given what the C's expended to land him (Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson — and what many feel was a legitimate shot at the 2011 title), Danny Ainge and Co. are staying on this message: Give him a full training camp and more minutes, and this kid will become a franchise player.

Yet, with the NBA lockout looming, the Boston brass aren't rushing to work out a long-term deal. Ainge has said he'll extend a qualifying offer — one year at $5.9 million — to maintain Green's status as a restricted free agent. Once the NBA offseason officially begins (which is whenever the lockout ends), the C's will be able to match any offer from another team.

If no other clubs enter the Green sweepstakes, the C's can either proactively sign the Georgetown alum to a multi-year contract or have him for the qualifying offer, with this caveat: The combo-forward would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

What should Boston do? Wait another year to see if Green is worth big money, or take him off the table long term before someone else does a year from now?

Green, to be sure, was unimpressive in the postseason, averaging just seven points in 19 minutes over Boston's two series. More broadly, he was the featured package of a bench unit that woefully under-performed against the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals. He didn't rebound much. Didn't pass much. And turned the ball over too often (1.3 times a game).

It seemed, in short, like Green was walking on broken glass, unsure of both his role on offense and assignments on defense. His face was both perplexed and almost apologetic: Sorry, Boston. You traded away Kendrick Perkins for me, and maybe I'm not worth it.

But in the regular season, there were flashes of brilliance. Twenty-one points against Golden State on March 4, 19 on Indiana a couple of weeks later. Indeed, statistically speaking, the much talked about "drop-off" in Green's play when he came to Boston is simply a matter of playing time. Per 48 minutes, the Maryland native actually averaged more points (20 to 19.7), more steals, more blocks and a similar number of rebounds as a Celtic. His field-goal percentage? Improved from 43.7 percent with the Oklahoma City Thunder to 48.5 percent with the Celtics.

It lends credence to Boston's assertion that the kid just needs more time — both with his new teammates and on the floor.

Still, there are legitimate concerns that Green might not be the top prospect Ainge believed him to be. Head coach Doc Rivers, who's hitched his star to defense, signed a five-year contract extension — and despite a couple of gutsy performances against LeBron James, Green hasn't yet proven he's the kind of night in-night out defender that Doc demands.

Boston, moreover, is currently on the hook for just two contracts next offseason: Paul Pierce at $16.8 million, and Rajon Rondo at $11 million. Depending on salary cap rules within the new collective bargaining agreement, that should leave the C's with somewhere between $20 million and $30 million to land two superstars (Dwight Howard, anybody?) for the 2012-13 campaign.

Sign Green to a multi-year deal, and that salary cap space will shrink considerably — enough so that the Celtics would likely have enough room to pursue just one big name.

Which means, in essence, that Boston must decide if Green is a superstar-in-the-making. Given his career to this point (impressive but not yet top-tier), it makes more sense to play the game of wait and see: Wait another year, and see then if Green is worthy of breaking the bank.

12:08 a.m.: Danny Ainge and the Celtics took care of some needs, landing a big man (JaJuan Johnson) and guard (E'Twaun Moore), both from Purdue. Despite Doc Rivers' infamous refusal to play rookies, Johnson should be court-ready from Day 1. He's long and can shoot well from about 20 feet and in.

Moore is a project, but he's a well-balanced offensive and defensive player who can provide valuable minutes. I'd compare him to a Von Wafer, only shorter.

12:06 a.m.: Mr. Irrelevant is Isaiah Thomas — 60th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings. He's a 5-10 guard from Washington who's super-quick. Kind of a Derek Fisher-type.

The Spurs took Hungarian guard Adam Hanga at No. 59. He'll be staying overseas for a couple of years.

11:54 p.m.: And another African guy — Ater Majok from the Sudan is going 58th to the Lakers.

11:50 p.m.: Lakers, with the No. 56 pick, take Nigerian power forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum (good luck saying his name at the water fountain tomorrow), and Minnesota (through Dallas) takes Tanguy Ngombo, a forward from Qatar's pro league. Four guys from Africa. Record?

11:40 p.m.: The Celtics select guard E'Twaun Moore (another Purdue grad) with the No. 55 pick. 

It'll be nice to give JaJuan Johnson a familiar face, and there's no doubt that Moore is at times a sensational scorer, if inconsistent, but I would've liked another big man.

The 6-foot-4 guard will be behind both Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley on the depth chart.

Cavs take Milan Macvan, a forward from Serbia, with pick No. 54.

11:36 p.m.: Orlando's first pick (No. 53) is DeAndrew Liggins, a guard out of Kentucky (how many draftees can John Calipari spit out? Sheesh). Love his size (6-6) and speed, but he'll have to relegate himself to a defensive specialist in the NBA. Zero stroke on offense.

11:34 p.m.: The Pistons take Vernon Macklin, a 6-foot-9 forward from Florida at No. 52. Got serious ups. Reminds me, ironically enough, of Jason Maxiell.

11:30 p.m.: 76ers get Temple power forward Lavoy Allen at 50, Blazers nab Ohio State 3-point specialist Jon Diebler at 51. I watched the latter a lot this year, and he can legitimately hit triples from everywhere on the floor, with a super-quick release. And at 6-foot-7, he's tall enough to put 'em up over most shooting guards. J.J. Redick-type guy.

11:24 p.m.: Surprised to see Kansas guard Josh Selby fall this far — 49th pick to Memphis. I see the 6-foot-3 guard being able to help the Grizzlies immediately behind Mike Conley.

11:21 p.m.: Swear word. I was hoping Oakland center Keith Benson would fall to Boston at No. 55 (first player ever to be drafted from Oakland). He's a 6-11 center who can score from anywhere on the floor. Sure, he needs to bulk up, but he would've been a perfect project under KG.

Hawks got him at No. 48

11:20 p.m.: Georgia guard Travis Leslie, No. 47 to the Clippers, is expected to compete with Blake Griffin in the dunk contest. Only if he gets on the floor. 

11:16 p.m.: Lakers, with their second pick, take Andrew Goudelock from the College of Charleston. He's a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who some have said is the second best pure shooter (behind Jimmer) in the draft.

11:15 p.m.: Cavs trade that Justin Harper (No. 32) pick to Orlando for future draft picks.

11:14 p.m.: Per Avery Johnson's interview with ESPN, the Nets look good — at least relative to what they've been. Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Marshon Brooks. No depth past that, but that's a good 1-2-3.

11:11 p.m.: Knicks (through Hornets) take Kentucky center Josh Harrellson at 45. Gotta like the grit we saw from him in the NCAA tournament, and he's got good hands, great big-man passing skills. He'll eventually be an energy guy off the bench for someone in this league.

11:06 p.m.: UCLA's Malcom Lee goes 43rd to Chicago, and Hofstra's Charles Jenkins 44th to Golden State. Minus their acquisition of Jeremy Tyler, Golden State has stuck to the small, quick, shoot-happy guards in this draft. Hasn't worked out too well for them in the past.

11:04 p.m.: No. 42 is Latvia's Davis Bertans to the Pacers (though he's likely going to San Antonio through a trade). He's a 6-10, 210-pound forward with a silky-smooth jump shot. But he's only 18 and needs to put on about 300 pounds, so don't expect to see him for three years, maybe more.

11:02 p.m.: This makes more sense: Charlotte, which was otherwise stockpiling big men, will trade Tyler to the Warriors. Golden State needs the size — good call.

11:00 p.m.: Los Angeles Lakers use the 41st pick (and their first of this draft) to get Michigan guard Darius Morris. He's basically Shannon Brown — but less athletic.

10:58 p.m.: Milwaukee lands Wisconsin F/C Jon Leuer at No. 40. He's only the second Big 10 player taken in this draft. 

10:56 p.m.: Worth mentioning: With that crazy three-team trade between Charlotte, Minnesota and Sacramento, the Bobcats have landed both Biyombo and Tyler. Twin towers? Plans for Kwame Brown and Joel Przybilla? Questions for Mike.

10:52 p.m.: Center Jeremy Tyler ain't gonna fall to Boston at No. 55. The Bobcats get him at 39. This is the guy who dropped out of high school to play pro ball overseason, then failed miserably. But his talent is undeniable — 6-foot-11, 260 pounds and can score all over the court. If Tyler can get his head screwed on straight, the 'Cats might have a solution for their Kwame Brown problem.

10:48 p.m.: Houston nabs Chandler Parsons at No. 38, a steal. He's a 6-foot-10 SMALL FORWARD from Florida who can shoot the lights out and passes well. I see him as a household name in a couple of years, especially in Houston — which can use him right away.

10:45 p.m.: The Clippers, with their first pick of the draft, take forward Trey Thompkins from Georgia. Yet again, Ainge had his eyes on this guy. 6-10 and 240 pounds would've been helpful in the low post for the C's. 

If he plays this season, L.A. is gonna need Thompkins to play some center and spell Blake Griffin at power forward.

10:44 p.m.: Annnd another potential second-rounder for Boston is gone — Maryland center Jordan Williams is headed for New Jersey at the 36 spot. This guy is a rebounder, pure and simple. 

At 6-foot-9 and with Brook Lopez at center, Williams is gonna have to move to the 4 — but he'll be a valuable bench player for the thin Nets at that position.

10:40 p.m.: UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt goes to Sacremento at 35. I really like this guy. Saw him play against Michigan State. Length, good jump shot and great court vision.

10:38 p.m.: Butler guard Shelvin Mack is off the board at No. 34 to Washington. At only 6-foot-2 and underwhelming athleticism, I'm skeptical he's an NBA player.

BUT — guy has heart and strength, and Washington needs both.

10:36 p.m.: Duke's Kyle Singler goes 33rd to Detroit. Keith Van Horn anyone? If he can develop more range on his jump shot, that's a fair comparison.

And at 6-9, you gotta like his NBA-ability at the small forward position.

10:34 p.m.: Another guy the Celtics were considering in the second round is off the board. Cleveland takes Richmond forward Justin Harper at No. 32.

And for a 6-foot-8 big man, this guy can shoot from just about anywhere on the floor. Reminds me mildly of an Al Horford.

10:28 p.m.: Miami picks Bojan Bogdanovic (for New Jersey) with the first pick of the second round. 

The Nets need guards, and this guy's a pure shooter from Bosnia. At 6-foot-7 and 22 years old, he'll be a reliable swingman for them.

Remember, in return, the Heat get Norris Cole (the 28th pick), an upside point guard from Cleveland State.

10:22 p.m.: End of the first round. Pick No. 30 goes to Chicago with Marquette forward Jimmy Butler, who had been on Boston's radar at the No. 25 slot. He's a slasher with NBA-type size (6-8) and athleticism who can play 2, 3 or 4. Not a shooter, but tons of versatility and a solid defender.

10:17 p.m.: San Antonio takes Texas' Cory Joseph at No. 29. Who? Don't worry. This dude was not listed as a bubble first-rounder. He's a 6-foot-3, 20-year-old guard who's a suspect shooter (42 percent in 2010-11).

10:14 p.m.: Bulls pick Cleveland State point guard Norris Cole for Minnesota at pick No. 28, which is then sending him to the Heat. It's Miami's first pick-up of the draft, and lands them depth at that position.

10:12 p.m.: Mavs are trading that Jordan Hamilton pick to Portland in exchange for shooting guard Rudy Fernandez. Big win for the Mavs. Fernandez is a perfect fit on that team.

10:06 p.m.: Boston gets Purdue power forward JaJuan Johnson with the 27th pick (through New Jersey). The trade is a swap of Johnson and a 2014 second-rounder for Brooks (selected by Boston at 25). Works out well for both teams. The Nets need a scorer. The Celtics need (at least) one big man.

Johnson is 6-foot-10 with a defensive pedigree. He needs to gain some bulk to bang in the NBA paint, but this guy can help Boston right away. And unlike some of the Celtics' recent big men, Johnson can shoot from outside.

10:04 p.m.: Quick break from the Marshon Brooks buzz to point out that Dallas has selected Texas' Jordan Hamilton with the 26th pick.

This is a steal for the Mavericks. I expected him to go top 20. Pure scorer who will fit into Dallas' shooting frenzy.

10:02 p.m.: Word from multiple sources is that Boston has traded Brooks to New Jersey in return for the 27th pick and a future second-round pick (2014).

10:00 p.m.: The Boston Celtics take Providence guard Marshon Brooks with the 25th overall pick, but the word is the New Jersey Nets have acquired his rights.

If not, Danny Ainge ignored the need for a big man (Shaq, Nenad Krstic and potentially Glen Davis gone), going with the hometown kid who's been compared to Kobe Bryant (that won't play well in Boston). But you gotta love his size (6-foot-6) with a lot of length and incredible shot-creation abilities. He can slash, step back, jack up a triple. He's a pure, pure scorer.

9:52 p.m.: One pick away from Boston's No. 25 slot. At 24, the Oklahoma City Thunder nab Boston College's Reggie Jackson. I'm not sure about his size (6-foot-3), but he fits into the Thunder's shoot-happy system.

9:48 p.m.: At No. 23, Houston takes Montenegro's Nikola Mirotic, who (according to ESPN) won't be available for four years because he's under contract in Europe. Given that he's 20 years old, I'm skeptical.

But remember — Mirotic is part of that proposed trade between Houston and Minnesota (see below), and the Wolves are shipping the pick (Mirotic) to Chicago. Not sure he fits into the Tom Thibodeau defense-first mindset, but perhaps he'll be more NBA-ready in that respect when he's 24.

9:42 p.m.: Denver takes Morehead State's Kenneth Faried at the No. 22 spot. The Celtics had their eye on this guy — little offensive ability, but a motor reminiscent of Leon Powe's. At 6-foot-7, he can play the 3 or 4 and will be a lockdown defender in the NBA. If he can add some strength without putting on too much weight, Ben Wallace-like? It's a stretch, I know, but this guy is a great pick-up for Denver at 22 — especially given the Nuggets' general lack of heart.

9:40 p.m.: Multiple sources report that Andre Miller (Portland) is being traded to Denver in return for Raymond Felton. Wash?

9:38 p.m.: Trail Blazers, with their first pick, take Duke guard Nolan Smith. Any player with that kind of basketball IQ is worth a 21st pick. He's undersized (6-fooot-3) for a shooting guard and not super-athletic, but Portland is expected to trade Andre Miller, and they'll need more depth at the point. Smith could play a bit at that position — especially given how stacked the Blazers are at shooting guard.

9:36 p.m.: ESPN is reporting Houston gets Motiejunas and Jonny Flynn for Brad Miller, 23rd pick and future first. Good gahd, what is Minnesota thinking?

9:34 p.m.: Looks like Motiejunas will be traded to Houston. Makes sense with the uncertainty surrounding Yao Ming's foot. It's not yet clear what Minnesota will get in return.

9:30 p.m.: Another Lithuanian – Donatas Motiejunas goes to Minnesota at No. 20. I imagine they're not gonna keep him there — Wolves now have Derrick Williams, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph and small forward Michael Beasley.

That said, Motiejunas is a good trade chip — 7 feet with a knock-down outside jumper. Reminds me vaguely of Pau Gasol.

9:28 p.m.: Surprising that Texas' Jordan Hamilton is still on the board.

9:24 p.m.: Milwaukee lands Tennessee forward Tobias Harris with pick No. 19 (through Charlotte). This is where we start to see a drop-off in pure athleticism. Harris, 18 years old, is smooth but slow. Picture Tayshaun Prince, only shorter and with less shooting ability. The Bucks (35-47) are thin at small forward, and Harris could help plug some holes.

9:18 p.m.: At No. 18, the Wizards (who took Vesely in the Lottery) get a guy who could've gone top 10 in Florida State forward Chris Singleton. Washington needs a small forward, and Singleton (despite his limitations as an outside shooter) can fit that bill. 

Like a lot of players in this draft, Singleton, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will rely heavily on athleticism.

9:15 p.m.: To land Shumpert, by the way, the Knicks passed on Providence's Marshon Brooks and Florida State's Chris Singleton. Unlike Shumpert, those guys are sure-fire scoring threats. But unlike those guys, Shumpert plays defense first.

Heck, the Knicks need at least one player of that ilk.

9:12 p.m.: New York Knicks take Iman Shumpert with the 17th pick. Fans in New Jersey react with a mix of boos and cheers. He's a combo-guard (6-foot-5) from Georgia Tech who's reputed as a terrific defender, a la Avery Bradley.

Given D'Antoni's bevy of scorers and his complete lack of defenders, Shumpert's a safe pick here.

9:08 p.m.: Word is the Pacers are trading the 16th pick Leonard to San Antonio for combo-guard George Hill.

9:07 p.m.: The Philadelphia 76ers get a steal at No. 16 in USC center Nicola Vucevic. He's a tall 6-foot-11 who has fantastic paint moves and great range as a shooter. Alongside Elton Brand or Marreese Speights, he could present a dangerous 1-2. I thought he was the best center on the board behind Kanter.

9:02 p.m.: Indiana (37-45) is a piece or two from being a contender in the East, and they might've got it in Kawhi Leonard, a small forward from San Diego State. Most experts had this kid (16 ppg last year) going in the top 7 — based simply on his athleticism and heart. He ain't gonna post big numbers on the offensive end, but he has the potential to be a Defensive Player of the Year. Behind Danny Granger, he'll be a fantastic spark-plug off the bench.

The 19-year-old's gotta work on the jump shot, though. It's ugly.

8:54 p.m.: The Houston Rockets (now coached by Kevin McHale) take Kansas power forward Marcus Morris with the 14th and final Lottery pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Houston got the better of the two twins, as Marcus (who's a bit shorter) has more consistency/range as a shooter. He'll be able to score inside and out, and — according to most scouts — is more disciplined and driven than his older twin brother.

I don't think either of these guys is a game-changer, but Houston needs a man at both the 3 and 4 positions, and Marcus can fill those roles.

8:52 p.m.: Quote of the night: Marcus Morris, emotional after his twin brother was just picked up by Phoenix, says he'll send him some flowers or fruit.

8:46 p.m.: The Phoenix Suns (40-42), like the Pistons, have a horde of needs (shooting guard, center and power forward). They fill one with Kansas power forward Markieff Morris (who surprisingly went before his twin brother Marcus). Never gonna be a primetime scoring option, but his positioning in the paint is fantastic, and Phoenix needs rebounding.

More important, he should be able to keep up in coach Alvin Gentry's up-tempo system.

8:41 p.m.: Utah, which won just 39 games this season, needs a guard (word is they wanted Jimmer) and landed one at No. 12 with Colorado's Alec Burks. Like Thompson, you gotta like his size (6-foot-6) at guard.

What I don't like is his lack of shooting ability. He can slash and get coast-to-coast in a flash, but he's not gonna spread a defense the way Deron Williams could.

8:38 p.m.: Klay might have to sit on his hands a bit in Golden State. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are very similar players.

8:32 p.m.: The Warriors take Washington State guard Klay Thompson at No. 11, the first shooting guard to go in this draft. At 6-foot-7, he might be the most NBA-ready of the guards drafted thus far. Great ability to finish at the rim and deep range as a 3-point shooter. Thompson reminds me a lot of Philadelphia's Evan Turner (drafted last year).

8:30 p.m.: The wait's over. Jimmer lands at No. 10 with Sacramento (through that Sacramento-Charlotte-Milwaukee trade). This is a great place for him to land. The Kings, like the Knicks, run a very liberal offense that'll allow Jimmer to jack 'em up. Alongside Tyreke Evans, he should give Sacramento a spark-plug backcourt.

8:25 p.m.: Charlotte picks up national champion Kemba Walker at No. 9. That gives the 'Cats a big man in Biyombo and a point guard in Walker. Lots of people knock his size and athleticism, but Kemba's a solid shooter with ridiculous strength in the paint — and serious mental toughness.

8:24 p.m.: For Celtics fans out there, we're on pace to see pick No. 25 at about 9:40.

8:18 p.m.: The Detroit Pistons have about 35 needs. They take a combo guard, Kentucky's Brandon Knight at No. 8. Most analysts had this guy going in the top 5, so he's a steal for a team that simply hasn't gotten enough from Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey.

Good shooter, decent passer and a lot of upside at 6-foot-4 and 19 years old.

8:15 p.m.: To land Biyombo at No. 7, Michael Jordan and the 'Cats had to give up Stephen Jackson and Shaun Livingston.

8:12 p.m.: The Charlotte Bobcats traded up to land Sacramento's No. 7 pick, then selected Bismack Biyombo, a center from the Congo who was PO'd that the NBA didn't initially invite him as part of the 15 invited to the "green room."

I've watched a lot of video of this guy. Freak athlete who can board, block and get up and down the court in a hurry. He's only 6-foot-9 but has great wingspan.

The major knock on the 18-year-old is that he can't shoot. I mean, we say some people can't shoot. This guy really can't shoot. 

8:07 p.m.: The European coup is on. The Washington Wizards take the Czech Republic's Jan Vesely at No. 6. Dude is tall (6-foot-11) and a serious athlete who can likely dunk from the free-throw line. My concern about him are his seriously suspect hands and (as always with players from Europe) a lack of experience against NBA-caliber talent.

But with plenty of time to play on a terrible Wizards team, I can see this guy as an Andrei Kirilenko-type guy within a couple of years.

8:04 p.m.: Raptors take Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas at No. 5. The 6-foot-11 center is gonna have to sit a bit beside Andrea Bargnani (if he indeed can get out of his Europe contract and play this year), which will allow him to add some bulk to his 240-pound frame.

But he's quick, he can shoot — and soon, he'll be able to speak English.

7:58 p.m.: Plenty of talk that the Cavs might shop Thompson for more picks or players. I'll keep ya posted on what I hear.

7:56 p.m.: Cavs took Irving at No. 1, Texas' Tristan Thompson at No. 4. Big and small makes sense, though most weren't expecting the Big 12 Freshman of the Year to go this high. Like Williams, I worry about his height — 6-foot-8 — at the power forward position.

But his shooting leaves a lot to be desired. I think of him as a Leon Powe-type guy, with a bit more length and a bit less toughness.

7:54 p.m.: That Kanter selection opens the door for Jimmer to the Jazz at No. 12, by the way. Here's the thing: He's much better off in Mike D'Antoni's system in New York. He'll shoot maybe 7-10 times a night with Utah — not enough at all to use his skills.

7:50 p.m.: Utah takes Turkish center Enes Kanter at No. 3. It'll be interesting to see how the Jazz utilize the 7-footer alongside Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap. But I think this guy might be the biggest impact player of the draft — huge, 5 percent body fat (if you believe that) and a great outside shot.

7:45 p.m.: Arizona's power forward Derrick Williams goes No. 2 to Minnesota, as expected. Question is, how will they use him? They've already got Kevin Love and Anthony Randolph at that spot.

But hey, they won 17 games this year, so Williams' 20 points/game, versatility and shooting range are gonna help.

My worry is that he's only 6-foot-8. That'll hurt him at the pro level, but with a bit more bulk, he could become a Carlos Boozer-type player.

7:40 p.m.: No surprise here — Kyrie Irving goes No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Have they landed another LeBron James-caliber player with the top pick or a risky proposition in a guy who barely played this past year because of a foot injury?

Somewhere in between, I s'pose. Dude is definitely an athletic dynamo with a reliable jump shot (46 percent from 3-point range) and coast-to-coast ability. Believe it or not, he's only the second Duke player ever to be drafted No. 1.

Either way, it means Derrick Williams will go No. 2 to Minnesota. 

7:30 p.m.: The only reason people compare Kyrie Irving to Chris Paul is that he looks EXACTLY like him. And plays a lot like him, too.

6:52 p.m.: By the way, I saw Oakland center Keith Benson (who's being considered by the C's at either 25 or 55) play a number of times, including against Michigan State. He's the real deal. Tall (6-11), strong, can score inside and out and shows great confidence/heart. I think he's a steal in the second round, and a solid pick in the first.

6:50 p.m.: ESPN's Andy Katz is reporting that both Chicago and Miami are in talks with Danny Ainge and the C's about their No. 25 pick. Both clubs want Boston College guard Reggie Jackson and fear they can't wait for him at No. 28 (Bulls) or No. 31 (Miami).

No word on what those teams are offering Boston as compensation. Chicago could deal their No. 30 pick, but that alone won't be enough to move the C's off the 25 spot.

8 a.m.: We (think we) know who's going 1-2 in Thursday night's NBA Draft.

Kyrie Irving to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Derrick Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves. (If I were Cavs GM Chris Grant, I'd take Williams No. 1, Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker at the No. 4 spot — Irving's too much an unknown).

The rest of the draft has repeatedly been called one of the worst classes in years. After all, Bismack Biyombo, who is 0-for-10,000 lifetime in jump shots, is expected to be a lottery pick.

But that's not to say there there's no drama or intrigue in this draft. Where will the love-him-or-hate-him Jimmer Fredette land (and will he be any good at the next level)? Is  Walker or Knight the better pick at No. 4? Can Jan Vesely, who hasn't caught a tough pass since middle school (seriously, his hands are terrible), go as high as No. 5?

For those of us in Boston, all eyes will be on picks No. 25 and 55, unless Danny Ainge orchestrates a trade. Given the Celtics' desperate need for big men, the names bouncing around for that first-round pick are Tokyo Apache's Jeremy Tyler; Morehead State's Kenneth Faried; Purdue's JaJuan Johnson; Marquette's Jimmy Butler; Georgia's Trey Thompkins; and Richmond's Justin Harper, among others — all big men with good athleticism.

At No. 55, Fresno State's Greg Smith, Oakland's Keith Benson and Florida's Chandler Parsons are trending. If you don't recognize those names, don't worry — we've got you covered at NESN.com with a live blog of the both rounds of the NBA Draft. Check back here at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Twenty-four hours for LeBron James to go from the NBA’s darling to perhaps the most-hated player in the league.

That one fateful day, back in July of 2010, included “The Decision,” a letter from shunned Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and the flamboyant welcome party in South Beach. It all seemed to confirm some long-brewing suspicions that LeBron was more of a prince than a king, coddled for too long by his adoring fans and — perhaps more ruinously — by NBA commissioner David Stern.

Overnight, LeBron became “LeBaby,” “LePrincess” and “LeBenedict.”

Fans delighted in the Heat’s 9-8 start to the season. Now, after a Game 6 ousting on Sunday night from the NBA Finals, fans and analysts alike are reveling in LeBron’s failure.

To be clear, he deserves the criticisms aimed at his play. Time and again, the 26-year-old shrank from the moment, averaging just three points over six fourth quarters. When Jason Terry called him out after Game 3, LeBron responded with an eight-point Game 4. Same deal in Game 5, after DeShawn Stevenson called him out again.

It began to feel like LeBron was wholly responsible for every Heat loss.

Here’s the thing: Despite every claim from him to the contrary, it affected his play. Indeed, LeBron played poorly precisely because of all that hatred. We wanted him to fail, and we succeeded in making it so.

Sure, Michael Jordan wallowed in such criticism. But who else is Mike?

And let’s not forget that life is different in the world of LeBron James. Throughout entire career, James has been the Boy King. The world marveled at his superhuman athleticism in high school. When he single-handedly charged a Cleveland team full of misfits to the 2007 Finals, we rooted for him to beat a San Antonio Spurs team that had advanced to the championship round largely because of a dirty play by Robert Horry.

LeBron basked in the love and basketball fans wanted to see the Cavs place some meaningful chips around him. After all James had done for the city and the league, he deserved it.

The Ohio native, in other words, took a shortcut from hero to villain. In the biggest moments of his career, when he normally would have had the support of the NBA world, he found that almost everyone wanted him to fail. The result was a head-shakingly bizarre choke job.

James, for his part, will tell you the haters had nothing to do with his performance.

“Absolutely not,” he said after Game 6. “All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up [Monday] and have the same life that they had before they woke up [Sunday]. They have the same personal problems they had [Sunday]. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that.”

But his play and his demeanor throughout these Finals would suggest otherwise. He seemed hesitant to bang in the paint. His jump shot had a hitch in it. He short-armed floaters through the paint. And his eyes were perhaps most telling — they almost seemed to plead for a break from the pressure.

“Too bad,” some will say. LeBron made his bed when he abandoned Cleveland. Now he can lie in it.

While there is no doubt “The Decision” was over the top, it’s difficult to fault the decision itself. Gilbert, for all his showmanship after James’ departure, did virtually nothing to show his franchise player that he was prepared to build a legitimate title contender. Antawn Jamison and an over-the-hill Shaquille O’Neal? Not exactly the Big Three being offered to James in South Beach.

And lest we forget, James gave up an estimated $14 million (over the life of his deal) to make room for Dwyane Wade‘s and Chris Bosh‘s contracts at Miami. The NBA world wanted LeBron to prove he’d do anything to win a title. He expected that passing up $14 million would be enough.

It almost was. James, people will ignore, was sterling in the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 26 points, eight boards, seven assists, two steals and two blocks in an insane 45 minutes of play. In the big moments of that series, he was the go-to guy, knocking down clutch shot after clutch shot against a Bulls team that very nearly won three of those five games.

It’s why I can’t help but question the logic of our collective hatred for LeBron (although trust me, I’ve felt it, too). D-Wade was atrocious in the Bulls series. Perhaps worse than James was in the Finals, shooting 41 percent from the field while turning the ball over four times per game, double his assists count. Only a whisper of criticism flew his way.

In most other measures of likability (at least in Boston), Wade ranks lower. The cheap shots on Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo in the semifinals. His showboating after what appeared to be a dagger 3-pointer in Game 2 (Miami, mostly because they let their guard down, went on to blow that 15-point lead and lose the game). His almost-constant jawing at referees who don’t call fouls every time he touches the ball. His inexcusable mocking of Dirk Nowitzki‘s illness.

And despite fantastic performances throughout most of the Finals, Wade, too, faltered in the big moments. He missed a number of key shots down the stretch of Game 2, including the potential game-winner at the buzzer. In Game 4, he botched the tying free throw with 30 seconds left, then fumbled away a pass on the final possession of the game.

LeBron, though, took the heat. Partly because he did turn in a subpar performance in the Finals, and partly because he’s the one who abandoned his home town for South Beach. But it’s also at least partly due to our fascination with hating him. We’ve created a feedback loop.

We hate him. He hates being hated and loses because of it. So we hate him even more.

At the end of the day, it’ll be up to LeBron to break the cycle.

End of game, Dallas wins 112-103: The talk after this one will be that LeBron James shrank yet again in the big moment. And he did. Not a single fourth-quarter point until 0:29 left — when the game was already out of reach.

But the real story is Dallas' incredible depth. For the second game in a row, they had five guys in double-digits (Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd) and shot a sterling 57 percent from the field.

It helped, of course, that Dwyane Wade played just 34 minutes after injuring his left hip in the first quarter. Still, Miami has only itself to blame after missing three free throws in the fourth quarter and bricking the big-moment shots in the closing minutes.

They can also blame themselves for allowing Dallas to go a ri-Dirk-ulous 13-of-19 from 3-point land. Something's gotta change back in South Beach, or LeBron's gonna be dealing with the questions for at least anoter 365 days.

Fourth quarter, 0:33, Dallas 108-101: Awful offense leads to …. a Jason Terry 3-pointer. Haslem played fantastic denial on Dirk, leading to an expiring shot clock. Terry hit his second triple of the quarter, third of the game.

Fourth quarter, 0:56, Dallas 105-101: Wade's trying to take over but finding it difficult with a bum hip. He turned it over once, then got blocked on the next possession. Here's the killer for Dallas — they had a layup attempt to make the lead seven, but Marion missed it with LeBron in his face.

Fourth quarter, 1:26, Dallas 105-100: 3's, 3's, 3's. Two of 'em in the last two minutes give Dallas the five-point edge.

LeBron, meanwhile, is choking again. Two misses in the last 2 minutes and an offensive foul. He's yet to score in the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter, 2:40, Dallas 102-100: It'd be great if folks could question Terry's clutchness every couple of games. He knocked down a triple, followed by a driving layup from Dirk.

Fourth quarter, 5:00, Miami 99-95: An ice-cold triple from the injured Wade. He continues to leave little doubt that he's this team's leader. Also, I feel like Udonis Haslem is fouling Dirk on every possession.

Fourth quarter, 5:16, Miami 96-95: Dallas' defense has betrayed them. Three straight layups lead to a 6-0 run for the Heat. They've gotta get back in transition.

LeBron, by the way, now has the truple-double — 15 points, 10 boards, 10 assists.

Fourth quarter, 6:30, Dallas 95-92: LeBron dishes for an easy Haslem layup, pushing him within one assist of a triple-double.

Fourth quarter, 6:48, Dallas 95-90: Unlike in Game 4, Dirk is getting the benefit of the calls in this one. And he's taking advantage, going 8-for-8 from the line to this point.

LeBron has now taken a shot in the fourth. It was a 3. He missed it.

Fourth quarter, 8:08, Dallas 93-88: Barea with a triple again (17 points), this time when the Heat were threatening to tie the game. It was maybe a milimeter above Chalmers' middle finger.

Fourth quarter, 9:35, Dallas 90-86: Wow, D-Wade, hobbled by an injured left hip, is still somehow trying to will his team to a win. Three points and a big block on Dirk in the first 2:30 of the final quarter. LeBron? He hasn't taken a shot since 3:26 left in the third but does have two boards over that span.

Fourth quarter, 10:47, Dallas 88-81: LeBron is covering Dirk. Could be interesting.

Fourth quarter, 11:42, Dallas 85-79: How is that not a flagrant foul on Juwan Howard. Just me, or has he become more of a punk in his 85th year in the league?

End of third quarter, Dallas 84-79: LeBron got going (a bit) in that third period, scoring six points with Wade mostly on the bench, but so did the entire Mavericks team. Four triples for Dallas and inspired play from J.J. Barea (8 points in the quarter) and Terry charged the home club to at one point a nine-point advantage.

But for a second quarter of this game, the Mavs gave ground at period's end, allowing an injured D-Wade and a far-too-confident Mario Chalmers (15 points) to close the gap. It sets up what promises to be another classic fourth quarter.

Third quarter, 2:33, Dallas 80-73: Scary development for the Mavs — LeBron is starting to feel the jump shot. He's got three of 'em this period.

Third quarter, 3:46, Dallas 80-71: As in Game 4, all the X-factors for Dallas are coming through — Kidd (8 points), Barea (11), Marion (8), Chandler (11) and Terry (9) have all been superb — defensively and offensively. That should allow Dirk (21) to get open looks in the fourth.

The Mavs, by the way, are now 9-of-13 from 3-point range, including four in this third period.

The Heat? Not too shabby, either — 7-of-15.

Third quarter, 5:00, Dallas 75-71: Wade's re-emerging from the Miami locker room. The Mavs probably could've used a bigger lead with that emotional lift coming the Heat's way.

Third quarter, 5:45, Dallas 75-69: How about Barea's throwback to the Western Conference Finals? He's scored eight in the third period alone. Placing him in a starting role in Game 4 and tonight might've been Rick Carlisle's best decision of this Finals.

Third quarter, 6:07, Dallas 73-69: LeBron and Dirk (with J.J. Barea squeezed in between) are trading buckets with Wade still unheard from in the Miami locker room. James, btw, is beginning to flirt with a triple-double (13 points, six boards, six dimes). Not a dominant performance, by any stretch, but certainly an improvement over Game 4's LeProcalypse.

Third quarter, 7:04, Dallas 70-65: You know Dirk's feeling it when he throws up a rainbow-triple at the shot-clock buzzer and gets it to go through while touching perhaps one thread of the net. He's quickly up to 21 points.

Third quarter, 10:15, Dallas 65-63: OK, Dallas, time to start defending the perimeter. The Heat have now hit seven 3's after two-straight from Mike Miller in the first 2 minutes of the second half.

Third quarter, 11:30, Tied 60-60: Wade's not on the floor to start the second half. Still in the locker room having that bad left hip checked out. No report yet from Miami as to whether he'll be back (again).

End of first half, Dallas 60-57: After a start reminiscent of his sub-par play in Game 4, Dirk got going late, scoring 10 in the second period to partner with Tyson Chandler's 11.

Mario Chalmers (four triples for 13 points) and Chris Bosh (13) lead the way for Miami, which lost Wade for portions of the first and second quarters with a left-hip contusion.

LeBron Watch — not bad. Nine points on 4-of-10 shooting, six rebounds and four assists. He still has zero confidence in his jump shot, but his defense has been aggressive.

Overall, both teams were lights-out offensively — 51 percent from the field for the Heat, 66 percent for the Mavs. It's in stark contrast to the defensive battles that defined the first four games of this series.

Second quarter, 1:48, Dallas 56-54: More ri-Dirk-ulous offense from Nowitzki helps the Mavs regain the lead. He's now got 14 after a slow start.

Second quarter, 2:17, Miami 54-52: Bad swing for Dallas. Refs don't call an obvious double-dribble on LeBron, call Shawn Marion for a foul shortly afterwards, then T him up for complaining about the no-call on the double-dribble. Classic Bill Kennedy. He and the two Crawfords (Danny and Joey) have gotta be the worst in the league. Feel free to add candidates below.

Second quarter, 3:18, Miami 52-50: Dirk is beginning to exert himself, now with 10 points on just seven shots. They've almost all come on Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony. Justice has been done.

Second quarter, 3:36, Miami 52-48: After 3 minutes of play, 0-for-2 from 3-point land and an offensive foul away from the ball — Eddie House has checked out of the game.

Second quarter, 4:34, Miami 50-46: Jason Terry has continued his tear from Game 4, putting up seven points and two assists in 12 minutes. Bosh leads all scorers with 13.

Second quarter, 6:17, Miami 48-44: Dallas has seven rebounds total in the first half. That at least partly explains the field-goal attempt disparity — 31-25 in favor of the Heat.

Second quarter, 6:41, Miami 47-44: Wade's first shot back into the game is a fallaway jumper kissed of the backboard. Hip looks good. Chalmers, meanwhile, has knocked down his third triple of the first half. Why on Earth is Dallas giving him open looks?

Second quarter, 8:25, Miami 42-39: Dallas' backup big man Ian Mahinmi is getting schooled by Bosh, who now has five points in the quarter. Rick Carlisle will summon Tyson Chandler back into the game soon.

Second quarter, 8:52, Miami 40-39: Wade has checked back into the game but is clearly hobbled by the left-hip contusion. You'd be insane to think that'd keep this guy outta Game 5 of the Finals.

Second quarter, 8:52, Miami 40-38: LeBron's beginning to make headway in the paint, scoring four quick points in the second period. This might be the most offensive game we've seen so far this series — Heat are shooting 58 percent, Mavs 64 percent.

Second quarter, 10:01, Miami 36-35: Heat list Wade as questionable to return with a left hip contusion.

End of first quarter, Miami 31-30: Are you kidding me? A Mario Chalmers buzzer-beating triple at the end of the first gives the Heat the lead after trailing by seven points for much of the period. In fact, Chalmers (6 points) and 85-year-old Juwan Howard (4 points) kept Miami close after Dwyane Wade went to the locker room with an apparent hip injury (no update on his status yet).

LeBron Watch — two points, three assists, four rebounds.

Dallas, meanwhile, deserted the fast break after it charged them to an early lead. They've gotta close out on Miami's 3-point shooters (Heat are 3-of-4 from that range).

First quarter, 1:05, Dallas 28-24: Wade's in the locker room, and LeBron's still deferring to his teammates. Sure, Mario Chalmers hit a 3, but this is hero-time for James, and he's disappearing.

First quarter, 2:58, Dallas 23-19: Wade is heading to the locker room with some sort of hip injury. Unclear how serious it is, but he fell on the court in pain at the timeout.

First quarter, 2:58, Dallas 23-19: A triple from Mike Miller, and a deuce by Mike Bibby quickly close a gap that has been seven points for much of the first. D-Wade's the game's leading scorer (again) at eight. Dirk's taking his traditional first-quarter rest.

First quarter, 3:48, Dallas 21-14: Every fan in South Beach just threw up their hands when Brian Cardinal hit a triple.

First quarter, 4:09, Dallas 18-12: For those expecting a LeBron eruption in Game 5 — not yet. He's 1-of-4 for four points, three boards, one assist and one block. Great on defense. Still deferential on offense.

First quarter, 5:00, Dallas 15-10: A big block by LeBron on a Shawn Marion layup attempt could get him and the Heat going. They play — maybe more than any other team I can remember — on emotion.

First quarter, 5:36, Dallas 13-8: Chris Bosh has been Miami's best player to this point, scoring four points with two boards. The Heat as a whole are 3-for-10 from the field to start.

First quarter, 7:12, Dallas 13-6: 9-2 run for the Mavs, as Dirk gets going with two straight jumpers. It's clear that Dallas (as it did at the beginning of Game 4) is emphasizing fast-break offense. Nine of their 13 points have come in transition, and Miami has already committed three turnovers.

LeBron Watch? He's got two points on 1-of-3 shooting with an assist and a turnover.

First quarter, 10:00, Tied 2-2: LeBron's first shot is an airball, and Dirk's shooting woes continue (0-for-2 to start). That pretty much sums up the first 2 minutes.

8:27 p.m.: Forty minutes before tip-off of Game 5 in Dallas. Most of the talk heading into this one has been LeBron James' unfortunate play in Game 4 — eight points, including none in the fourth quarter.

Some say James melted under the pressure of Jason Terry's trash-talking before Tuesday night's tilt. So how will he respond to DeShawn Stevenson's comment that the King "checked out" in the final period?

With more fodder for the critics who say he doesn't possess that "it" factor? Or with an explosion reminiscent of his bounce-back performance against the Chicago Bulls in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals?

LeBron today called it the "biggest game of my life." And he's probably right. Check back here at 9 p.m. for a full live-blog.

8:30 a.m.:  Minus a few moments, Dirk Nowitzki had an awful Tuesday night. A sinus infection that spiked his temperature to 101. Pesky defense from a platoon of Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony. And a shooting funk (6-of-19 from the field) the likes of which he hadn't seen since the regular season.

Fortunately for him and the Mavs, those few shining moments came in the fourth quarter — in the biggest game of Dirk's 12-year career.

In that last and desperate period, the German — who's quickly shirking his reputation as a choke — dropped 10 of his 21 points, including the eventual game-winner with 14 ticks left. The Mavericks coolly sank their free throws the rest of the way, securing an 86-83 win and a 2-2 series tie.

That scoop layup from Dirk capped off another furious comeback for a team that seems almost more comfortable playing from behind. Take Games 2, 3 and 4 as examples (the Mavericks lost Game 3 but only after rallying from a 14-point deficit).

And right on cue, Dirk got some much-needed relief from his supporting cast. Jason Terry awoke from his slump to score 17 points with three steals, while center Tyson Chandler posted an impressive double-double of 16 boards and 13 points. As a unit, they played stifling defense, holding Miami to 43 percent shooting.

The Heat, on the other hand, got another lackluster performance from LeBron James. After being called out by Terry before Game 4, the King seemed to shrink from the pressure, scoring just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. It was reminiscent of his Game 5 performance against Boston in the 2010 semifinals. Same deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. Same excessive deference to his teammates.

"I've got to do a better job of being more assertive offensively," James admitted after the game. "I'm confident in my ability. It's just about going out there and knocking them down."

Dwyane Wade, for his part, scored a game-high 32 points and was yet again a man among boys — until the final moments. The 2006 Finals MVP missed the tying free throw with 30 seconds left, then fumbled the inbounds pass on Miami's final attempt to force overtime.

Still, Game 4, just like Games 2 and 3, came down to the last shot. Question is, would you rather have Dirk or Wade/LeBron/Chris Bosh taking it?

Answer that, and you might have your Game 5 winner. Tip-off in Dallas is at 9 p.m. Check back here for full coverage.

End of game, Dallas wins 86-83: Two big mistakes by Dwyane Wade down the stretch — a missed free throw and a fumble of the ball on the final possession — helped cap another great comeback by Dallas.

MVP of the Mavs has gotta go to Tyson Chandler, who time and again came up with a board in the big moments, finishing the night with 16 rebounds and 13 points.

Dirk? He was finally human (on account of a 102-degree fever), going 6-of-19 from the field. But he delivered again in the clutch, squeezing by Udonis Haslem in the final minute for the game-winning layup.

Game 5 is Thursday at 9 p.m. Check back in for NESN.com's live blog.

Fourth quarter, 0:7, Dallas 86-83: Clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch by the Mavericks — two by Dirk, two by Terry. Who's gonna take the 3 for Miami at game's end? Gott be Wade, in my opinion.

Fourth quarter, 0:14, Dallas 84-81: Despite all his struggles, Dirk comes through in the clutch, driving by Haslem for a scoop layup. He went too early, but I think he both felt the double team coming and saw a seam.

Fourth quarter, 0:30, Dallas 82-81: Dallas can't settle for two DeShawn Stevenson 3-point attempts when they had a two-point lead. That's not good enough. But they get a break, as Wade misses one of his free throws at the other end. For someone who's been such a hero in this game (31 points, four offensive rebounds), that was a big miss.

Fourth quarter, 2:16, Dallas 82-78: Dallas gets the benefit of the early bonus, as Dirk cooly sinks two.

Fourth quarter, 3:13, Dallas 80-78: Dirk looks as sick as 102 degrees sounds. He's now 5-of-17, inlcuding a couple of wide-open looks down the stretch.

Fourth quarter, 5:05, Dallas 79-78: Another comeback for the Comeback Kids — this one powered by a mix of Dirk, Terry and Chandler, who's quietly had a big night (13 points, 12 rebounds).

Fourth quarter, 7:20, Miami 78-73: Wade really has been reminiscent of 2006, stuffing a Tyson Chandler dunk attempt at one end, followed by a fast-break layup at the other.

Fourth quarter, 9:22, Miami 74-69: Mini 4-0 run for Dallas, all scored by Terry — who's decided he's gonna return to being clutch. Dirk's still struggling (hasn't scored since a free throw with 3:51 left in the third.

Fourth quarter, 10:30, Miami 72-65: That Mike Miller foul on Kidd was absolutely a clear-path foul. Mavs should've had the points. Instead, a miss, followed by a 3 for Miller. Poetic injustice?

End of third quarter, Miami 69-65: Dirk, fighting the flu, misses another big shot at the buzzer — this one at the close of the third. Dallas needs to get back in transition in the fourth and stop turning the ball over, or this'll suddenly look like a short series.

Third quarter, 2:00, Miami 67-64: This has generally been the time this postseason when the Heat take over. And it looks that way right now — a 6-1 run on a string of turnovers by Dallas and fast-break points from Wade and Miami.

Third quarter, 4:33, Dallas 63-61: Shawn Marion is embarrassing LeBron — 10 points in the third quarter alone (16 total on 7-of-11 shooting).

Third quarter, 5:49, Miami 60-59: It's been the Wade and Bosh show for Miami — 20 and 22 points, respectively. On the other end, Dirk continues to struggle, now 4-of-11 from the floor for 10 points, and Jason Kidd is doing his best disappearing act (0 points, four turnovers).

Third quarter, 8:05, Dallas 55-53: Dallas has been trading heroes tonight (good sign) — It's been Shawn Marion this half, who's now got 12 on the game and is Dallas' leading scorer.

Third quarter, 9:24, Dallas 51-49: Developing foul trouble for Miami – LeBron picks up his third foul (Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem also have three).

End of first half, Miami 47-45: So Dirk has a fever of 101 degrees. That might explain the eight points he scored in the first half.

End of first half, Miami 47-45: Dominant play from Chris Bosh (16 points on 8-of-12 shooting) and a mistake-ridden performance from Dallas tell the tale of the score. Fortunately for the Mavs, Dirk (8), DeShawn Stevenson (11) and Jason Terry (9) shared scoring runs to keep it close.

Second quarter, 1:00, Miami 45-43: Bosh continues to dominate, now with 16 points in the first half.

Second quarter, 2:04, Dallas 42-40: Dallas follows great defense with terrible defense, allowing easy buckets for Joel Anthony and Wade.

Second quarter, 4:04, Dallas 38-34: Seems like whichever team wins the hustle competition goes on a run — nine unanswered points for Dallas on stifling defense that led to three quick turnovers by Miami.

Second quarter, 6:14, Miami 34-32: DeShawn Stevenson should maybe come off the bench every night. Three triples and lock-down defense.

Second quarter, 6:50, Miami 34-29: Gotta say it: The refs aren't giving Dirk any of the star-protection that LeBron and Wade get. He was hammered on two straight trips up the floor — nothing.

Second quarter, 10:50, Miami 28-21: 7-0 Heat run to begin the quarter, including a foreboding triple from Mike Miller. Barea, for one, needs to stop missing layups (two in the last 5 minutes of play). Put the ball in Dirk's hands. He's barely touched it since a 3-3 start in the first 2 minutes of the game.

Second quarter, 11:05, Miami 25-21: Brendan Haywood is simply not healthy enough to keep up with Bosh, who now has four straight points to begin the second period.

End of first quarter, Tied 21-21: Dirk started strong for Dallas (six straight points), followed by a run for Jason Terry (seven points), but those efforts were canceled by errors. Despite holding the Heat to 29 percent shooting, the Mavs committed five turnovers and conceded nine offensive boards. Thus the tie game.

First quarter, 0:20, Miami 21-19: Refs are starting to impose their will. LeBron commits an obvious flop, ref calls it a foul, then T's up Rick Carlisle for complaining about it. It's a three-point swing (and probably more, because the shot clock was about to expire on LeBron before the flop).

First quarter, 1:42, Dallas 19-16: Terry's the game's leading scorer (7).

First quarter, 2:28, Dallas 17-16: Jason Terry has responded to the criticism thus far, scoring five (2-of-2 shooting) with an assist in just 4 minutes of play.

First quarter, 3:47, Dallas 14-12: Offensive rebound count for Miami is now nine. They're on pace for 48 of 'em, and it's costing the Mavericks what should be a big lead.

First quarter, 5:51, Tied 8-8: Another offensive rebound leads to a lay-up for Dwyane Wade. Otherwise, Bosh has scored all of Miami's points. Dallas has now given up seven offensive boards and three turnovers in the first 6 minutes.

First quarter, 8:00, Dallas 6-4: Back to the stupid mistakes for the Mavericks — they've given up four offensive rebounds and two turnovers. Even Dirk's not good enough to overcome that type of play.

First quarter, 11:02, Dallas 6-0: Dirk hits three straight fallaway jumpers, and Jason Kidd blocks Chris Bosh — that's a good start.

9:04 p.m.: If you're wondering why J.J. Barea is starting in place of DeShawn Stevenson, Dallas' coaches think it'll help him to get going (he's shooting just 22 percent from the field for the series).

8:30 p.m.: Thirty minutes 'til tip-off. Completely premature food for thought in the meantime: If the Heat go on to win this series, should Dirk Nowitzki still take the MVP Award?

9 a.m.: If Game 4 of the NBA Finals goes anything like the prior two, chances are it'll come down to a final shot.

"It's a possession series," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday night after his club's 88-86 win in Game 3. "So many different things could happen during the course of the game. Make here, a miss here, a rebound here, a loose ball there, that can change the complexion of it."

In Game 3, Dirk Nowitzki, who had nearly single-handedly willed his Dallas Mavericks to within striking distance (scoring the team's final 12 points), caromed a last-second attempt to tie the game off the back of the rim.

Three nights before that, Dwyane Wade missed his final shot, capping off an incredible comeback by the Mavs.

Yes, it's been a series of runs, and Dallas, behind 2-1, is desperate for one Tuesday night. They'll need to limit the turnovers (32 in the last two games) and get Jason Terry back on track. With the larger LeBron James covering him, the former Sixth Man of the Year disappeared down the stretch Sunday, finishing the night a miserable 5-of-13 from the floor (0-for-4 in the fourth quarter), prompting even Nowitzki to call out his teammate.

"Jet hasn't really been a crunch-time, clutch player for us the way we need him to," the German said after the game.

Terry, for his part, has suggested he doesn't think LeBron can stay with him for seven games, noting, "If I get those same shots in Game 4, I bet I make them."

He and the Mavericks better hope so, or they'll find themselves where Boston and Chicago did — down 3-1.

Tip-off is 9 p.m. Tuesday. Check back here for the live blog.

End of game, Heat 85-75: Miami rides a strong performance from LeBron James (29 points, including nine in the fourth) and inspirational play by Udonis Haslem (13 points, three offensive rebounds) to a 10-point victory in a defensive game that was much closer than the score indicates.

Where'd it fall apart for the Bulls? Thirty-four percent shooting from the field (D-Rose was 7-of-23) and — believe it or not — terrible second-half rebounding. After jumping out to a sizeable edge on the boards in the first quarter, Chicago finished with just 41 rebounds to Miami's 45.

Not a good sign for a team that will need to rely on its low-post play to overcome Miami's offensive dynamism. For now, the series is 1-1, with Game 4 slated for Sunday night, 8:30 in South Beach.

Fourth quarter, 1:11, Heat 84-75: LeBron goes off again, now with nine points in the last three minutes. And just like against Boston, Miami's defense has clamped down late in the fourth. Chicago has just two points over the last seven minutes.

Fourth quarter, 2:06, Heat 80-75: D-Wade hits two free throws to lengthen the lead back to five. If Chicago loses, it can blame poor free-throw shooting — 16-of-26 from the charity stripe.

Fourth quarter, 3:14, Heat 78-73: LeBron again, this time a 12-foot jumper to extend Miami's lead. Both teams have been stone-cold in the fourth quarter (Bulls have eight points, Heat just seven).

If Miami can pull out another close fourth quarter, you'd have to say they're officially over the late-game troubles (if they weren't already).

Fourth quarter, 4:10, Heat 76-73: LeBron hits another clutch 3. He's now shooting 44 percent from deep in the last five games.

Fourth quarter, 4:36, Tied 73-73: It's now officially a hard-nosed, defensive, classic-type Eastern Conference Finals game — Omer Asik and Dwyane Wade are both bleeding after a rough collision under the basket. Miami, by the way, hasn't hit a shot in 5 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 6:37, Tied 73-73: Joel Anthony, who's been on the bench since Easter, looks like a kid in timeout. Haslem, meanwhile, who's generally been a beast in the second half, looks drained and has become a liability over the last couple of minutes. Two good examples of poor coaching.

Fourth quarter, 7:53, Heat 73-71: The Bulls have been at their best (all season long) when Rose gets into the paint. He's started doing so in the second half, and it's paying off. Four free throws in the last minute — though he only hit two of 'em.

Fourth quarter, 9:29, Heat 73-69: Get this — Haslem and Taj Gibson are trading baskets.

End of third quarter, Heat 71-65: The Heat lengthen their halftime lead by four, mostly on the back of the unlikeliest hero — Udonis Haslem, who now has 11 points, three offensive rebounds and a block in just 17 minutes.

Third quarter, 1:50, Heat 69-64: 8-2 run for the Bulls on the back of some inspired play by Rose, who's scored four and become more active on the defensive end.

Third quarter, 3:58, Heat 65-56: Defense powers a 13-6 run for Miami, who have held Chicago to just 10 third-quarter points thus far. For the game, the Bulls are a meager 35 percent from the field.

And for the first time in the series, Miami looks like they want it more, beating Chicago to loose balls and rebounds.

Third quarter, 4:43, Heat 60-56: Oh, I forgot about Udonis Haslem. 

Third quarter, 5:47, Heat 57-54: A potentially disastrous development for Miami (at least in the context of this game): Joel Anthony's out with four fouls. He's +6 in plus-minus and been the only answer for Chicago's length in the post.

Third quarter, 6:22, Heat 57-52: D-Rose looks reminiscent of his Game 1 performance against the Hawks in the semis: 5-of-15 for 11 points.

Third quarter, 8:07, Heat 54-50: Why does TNT insist on painting Spoelstra as a great coach? Including going so far as to splice his pre-game comments with Miami highlights. We all know he'll be the first person to go if the Heat don't survive this series.

Third quarter, 8:07, Heat 54-50: Miami gives the Bulls a taste of their own medicine, picking up four quick second-chance points. Chicago's rebound advantage has closed to plus-1 (26 to 25).

Third quarter, 9:10, Tied 50-50: Joakim Noah picks up his third foul. Problematic in that he might be the Bulls' biggest matchup advantage on the floor, aside from Rose.

Third quarter, 10:28, Tied 48-48: Rose finally gets one of the long jumpers he's been taking tonight. Doesn't mean he should keep taking 'em. Just 5-of-12 from the field tonight.

End of second quarter, Heat 48-46: Storylines: (1) D-Rose is just 4-of-11 from the field; (2) D-Wade and LeBron have a combined 31 points; (3) Chicago posted nine offensive boards in an ongoing problem for Miami; and Brian Scalabrine has dropped 20 (kidding).

Second quarter, 2:09, Bulls 43-42: Thank gahd, Reggie Miller finally said it: "That's the third or fourth bad call from Jason Phillips." I'd say it's more like five, and the majority have favored Miami.

Celtics fans can relate.

Second quarter, 3:00, Bulls 43-42: No coincidence that Joel Anthony checks into the game for Miami, and they use two straight offensive rebounds to get back within one.

Second quarter, 4:37, Bulls 41-36: More on Korver — he's shooting 48 percent from 3-point land this postseason.

Second quarter, 4:46, Bulls 41-36: Kyle Korver seems to have a knack for hitting big 3's, and that was one of 'em.

(Turnover update: Heat have committed nine, including three from the King.)

Second quarter, 6:18, Tied 34-34: D-Wade and LeBron doing the same thing they did against Boston — trading runs to keep Miami in the game. They've both got 11.

Second quarter, 7:00, Tied 32-32: Feels like the Bulls should be ahead by 10, but they've missed 19 of 30 shots and four of 12 free throws.

Second quarter, 9:44, Bulls 28-24: LeBron's got five quick points in the second quarter to lead a mini 5-2 run. His line thus far: 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Second quarter, 11:14, Bulls 26-19: Referees starting to let their whistles dictate the action. Three fouls on Chicago in the first 40 seconds of the second quarter. All of them were questionable.

End of first quarter, Bulls 26-19: Luol Deng just hit a buzzer beater from three-quarters length to finish off a nine-point first quarter for the small forward.

To this point, Chicago's length and depth have been the differences.

First quarter, 1:04, Bulls 21-15: Heat, after a 5-8 start from the field, are now 6-14 with six turnovers and just seven rebounds to Chicago's 13.

First quarter, 2:46, Bulls 17-15: Early exit for Derrick Rose, who's picked up two quick fouls (both questionable). Bulls are now 6-20 from the field — and yet have the lead.

First quarter, 4:42, Heat 14-11: Bulls continue their trend of monster dunks on Miami's lack of a low post. This time it's Luol Deng.

First quarter, 5:27, Heat 12-9: Heat overcoming turnovers and poor defensive rebounding with a 5-of-8 mark from the field. LeBron James, nursing a head cold, has got four of those points.

First quarter, 6:36, Tied 8-8: Make that seven offensive rebounds now for Chicago. They're on pace for 56 of them. Of course, it's easier to get offensive boards when you're shooting 2-14.

First quarter, 7:47, Tied 8-8: Mistakes from the Heat (turnovers) and offensive rebounding for the Bulls (five already) get Chicago back to even, despite a 1-10 mark from the field.

First quarter, 9:35, Heat 6-3: Two offensive rebounds already for Chicago. They killed Miami in that category Sunday, pulling down 19 of 'em.

First quarter, 10:42, Heat 2-0: Pick-and-roll for a Chris Bosh dunk opens the night offensively. Bosh was one of the only bright spots for Miami on Sunday, dropping 30.

8:30 p.m.: Words of wisdom from Erik Spoelstra: "It's gotta be 48 minutes." And he really emphasized 48. Dwyane Wade looked mesmerized. #sarcasm

8:08 p.m.: Dennis Rodman is in the house for tonight's Game 2. It's the most normal he's looked in decades.

8:02 p.m.: Taj Gibson says he received so many phone calls/texts after posterizing Dwyane Wade with a monster dunk Sunday that he turned his phone off (Here's the dunk).

7:20 p.m.: LeBron James today says he's been suffering from a "head cold" over the last three days and that he's "taking everything you can get from 7-Eleven."

He expects to start Game 2. Not sure that I've ever heard a player announcing a head cold. Just saying.

8 a.m.: Bulls point guard Derrick Rose apologized after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"Careless turnovers," he said after committing three of them in the first five minutes of play Sunday night. "You can't do that against [the Heat]. When they get into the open court, they're too dangerous."

The funny thing is, the Bulls won. Big — 103-82, in fact, after a surge in the third and fourth quarters left Miami wondering what had hit 'em.

Rose's apology, in light of that, is precisely what has this Chicago team riding high. They're accountable, tough and — despite the ever-growing stardom of league MVP Rose — team-centered.

"We're not worried about the praise," said Bulls rebounding fiend Joakim Noah after the Game 1 victory. "We're not worried about the criticism. We're just focused on what we need to do, and we believe in each other."

The Heat, meanwhile, said all the right things after the embarrassing loss. LeBron James pointed out Chicago's 19 offensive rebounds, Chris Bosh noted that the Heat have to distribute the ball better and head coach Erik Spoelstra gave the Bulls their due credit, saying simply, "We took it on the chin tonight."

So far this postseason, Miami has managed to bounce back after tough losses, though the sample size is small — a Game 4 loss to Philadelphia and a Game 3 loss to Boston.

That begs the question: Can the Heat do so against a team that's now 4-0 against them this season? Or will Chicago's post presence and rebounding — an advantage that went to the Heat in the Celtics series — continue to neutralize Miami's Big Three?

I can tell you this much: The Heat better hope Derrick Rose is apologizing Wednesday night for more than a couple of turnovers. Check back here at 8:30 p.m. for full coverage.