We’re already getting a good feel for how this abbreviated season will go for the Celtics.
There will be plenty of times when this team looks “old and tired” (Doc Rivers’ words, not mine) and the results will take the form of 3-4 game losing streaks.
Of course a couple days will pass and this team will once again resemble the 2007-08 C’s.
The negative was already well-documented last week following the road losses to New York, Miami and New Orleans. So for now, let’s focus on three positives.
1. Laugh-in
There was a scene on the TD Garden JumboTron Friday night against the Pistons that simply reeked of 2008. So much so that you half-expected Scot Pollard to be checked into the game for the Green in the midst of yet another blowout win.
Yup, the band was certainly back together as the returned Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were yucking it up on the bench halfway through the fourth quarter.
While Geno didn’t show up on the screen, the Big 3’s laugh party was a happy sign for a team that looked like it may actually think about tanking the season just two nights prior.
2. Different guys on different nights
Jermaine O’Neal looked 10 years younger in the home opener against the Pistons and Rajon Rondo provided a triple-double against Washington Sunday night.
In the losses, there were positive bench contributions from Brandon Bass and Greg Stiemsma.
This go-to-guy by committee approach is one that the Celtics must implement due to the state of the current roster. But it definitely can work.
3. Welcome back Rondo
Sunday night against Washington was the first time Rondo truly looked like Rondo this season (18 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds).
Yes, he had 31 points against the Knicks on Christmas Day and 22 against Miami last Tuesday. But Boston was a loser in both games.
The Celtics are truly at their best when Rondo is flirting with a triple-double and it proved to be enough for Boston’s first road win Sunday night.
Matt Burke is Sports Editor at Metro Boston. Follow him on Twitter @BurkeMetroBos and/or contact him at matthew.burke@metro.us
