CELTICS SNAP 6 GAME SLUMP; Lose RONDO FOR THE YEAR

Well it was a bitter sweet day at the TD Garden against the Heat Sunday afternoon for the Celtics.  Boston recorded its first win of the season against the defending NBA champs in Ray Allen's first game back in the TD Garden as a member of the Heat. The Celtics were classy in Allen's return, even playing a video of Ray's time with Boston which was met with cheers by the Boston faithful.   Paul Pierce, who had been in one of the worst slumps of his career, finally broke through with a triple double as well as hitting the game winning shot in double overtime. Pierce, KG, Bradley and the rest the Celtics are going to have to step up, as Boston was dealt a tough blow before the game started involving their All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo.

Despite the Boston Celtics recent struggles; Rajon Rondo had been having one of his best seasons so far. Rondo for the second straight year was one pace to win the assists title as he was leading the league with 11.1 assists per game. He was also tops in the league with 5 triple doubles this season, and was voted in by the fans to start the NBA All-Star game for the first time in his career. All that came to an end Sunday as it was announced the Rajon Rondo suffered a torn ACL Fridays loss to the Hawks. Rondo had discomfort in his knee before shot around on Sunday before the game against the Heat. During halftime of the ABC broadcast of the Celtics vs. Heat game, news broke the Rondo indeed had a torn ACL which would keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.

The Celtics were already in trouble, barely clinging to the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Names like J.J. Redick and Demarcus Cousins had been rumored to be coming to the Celtic's via trade. However, perhaps making a panic trade just to keep the Celtics in the bottom of the playoff picture is the wrong move at this point. Kevin Garnett decided to take a pay cut and finish his career with the Celtics, and Paul Pierce has been a Celtic for his entire career, I believe it would be disrespectful to the hall of fame bodies of work to trade them at this point. The Celtic's know they have a young core to build around for the future including:  Rondo, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger. If Boston misses the playoffs, then lucks into drafting a game changer (like the Spurs did with Duncan in 1998), then the Celtics may be on the fast track to rebuilding this ancient team. However, if they mortgage their future by trading Bradley or Sullinger just to keep false hope alive this season, then the Boston Celtic's may degenerate into a bottom feeder faster than you can say Rick Pitino.

- Joe "Spelling Bee" Passarelli

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