With the number of injuries the Celtics have suffered this season and the inconsistency they have shown, the first half of the season hasn’t always been pretty.
After losing Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger and Leandro Barbosa all to season-ending injuries within three weeks of each other, the Celtics were forced to regroup and show that they can still find ways to win — and so far they have. Instead of crumbling under the pressure, the Celts have showed their mental and physical toughness.
Without their star point guard, unlikely players have been stepping up and getting the job done. Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley are making the most of their extra playing time and filling the holes in Boston’s depleted roster. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have been doing their jobs as veterans and leading this team through the adversity they have faced in the first half.
It was easy to count the Celtics out after their shaky start and it was even easier to count them out when Rondo went down, but with eight wins in their last nine games, they are proving they aren’t going down without a fight. The All-Star break couldn’t come at a more opportune time as they are in desperate need of rest, but if they can keep the hot streak alive in the second half, these underdogs could be playing in the postseason.
This team has played through it all so far, so how would you grade the first half of the Celtics’ season?
