A duo needing to be more dependable
Tony Allen is the Celtics most explosive player off the bench. He has the basketball instincts to do some marvelous things. He’s quick, he can jump, and he gets to the rim. He’s not a great shooter, but he doesn’t have to be since he can get by his defender and draw a foul in doing so.

Allen is a superb athlete who excels in the open court, but his production is not consistent enough. It’s never known when the switch is on with him. On some nights he can stink up the arena. If Rivers can get Allen to understand how to play more consistently and more productively, the shooting guard would give Boston a big pop off the bench.

House is the team’s most dependable reserve, but he’s basically a gunslinger. He’s either making shot after shot or missing shot after shot. No question he can shoot, but he’s streaky. House has come up big in some games but the regular season is so drastically different than the playoffs that he may or may not give the Celtics what they need come the postseason.

Defense can’t do it all
The Celtics rank No. 1 in the key defensive categories. They have played outstanding defense and deserve much credit for that. Their thought is if we defend, we can win, we can beat anybody. But here’s a bulletin to Boston: they can’t beat any team on defense alone come the playoffs. They need offense to go with defense and if they are not getting that offense from their Big Three it will be time to cue the bench and hope for the best.

The playoffs expose excellent defensive teams because under the weight of the postseason grind these teams are unable to maintain top level defensive intensity and a defense-first attitude for an entire game if they are not scoring the ball. If Boston goes through a stretch in a game where its shots are not falling, its vaunted defense can go out the window.

Detroit has the best chance to come out of the Eastern Conference because not only do the Pistons have the most balanced attack, they are using their bench the best and getting the most out of it. Detroit has gotten more from its reserves than has Boston and that’s something that has to change if the Celtics are going to do big things in the postseason.

MORE FROM NBA

NBA Section Front

Hornets snap Hawks’ 7-game winning streak LeBron, Cavs put 76ers in lockdown late Nets drop to 0-13 with loss to Knicks   Vote: Will Nets set mark for worst start to season? Jennings scores 26, leads Bucks to 3rd straight win Marv Albert denies altercation with 50 Cent Clips’ broadcasters booted after Iran comments Winderman: With strong class, point guard is back Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is the league’s MVP Fan ranker: Who will be MVP of the NBA? NBA Section Front   Add NBA headlines to your news reader: