Quietly Simmering

While the sports world is dealing with Tiger's "Accident", AI's "retirement", and the end of Charlie Weis' "tenure", the Boston Celtics have quietly been on a bit of a hot-streak. With Sunday's 92-85 win over the Heat, the Celtics have been on a bit of a tear, winning 4 straight to improve their record to 13-4, one-half game behind Orlando for the top seed in the East. However, with the way the Celtics have started off their seasons lately (including 27-3 last season), no one really seems to be taking notice. Even as the most avid Celtics fan in the state of Arizona, I've even been less than inspired at times to watch them this season. Why you ask? For me it's simple - I have had a bad feeling about this team since training camp. While it is not the most popular stance to take, it's the stance I am taking. Maybe it's the "sort-of-the-same-thing" idea that this team and the team the Lakers put together with Karl Malone and Gary Payton (a super fantasy basketball squad, but not a real-life championship squad) are all too similar. Yes, the Lakers made the Finals, but promptly got punked out of them by the Pistons and their stout defense. Which brings me to this - maybe it's the fact that I am less than impressed with the Celtics' defense over the past 3 or so weeks. If the Celtics are to do anything this season, it begins and ends on the defensive end of the floor. And right now, I'm just not seeing it. The top of the food chain is much more populated than it was two years ago, and they're a far cry from what they were in 2008. And they need to be at least that good in 2010 for a shot at #18. For a team that preached being the best defensive team in NBA history during training camp, I expect more.The season is only 20% gone (or, for the optimists, 80% to go), their defense must improve for them to realistically be considered a contender for a 'chip. While they still lead the league in point differential (+8.6), and are 3rd in points against (91.3), giving up 113 points to Indiana, and 110 to Philly isn't going to bode well come May. I'm sure the team is well aware of this. And if Sunday's showing against the Heat is any indication, they've already taken a step forward.