Boston Celtics: What We've Learned Since the All-Star Break

The Boston Celtics have the third-best record in the NBA since the All-Star break and, with a win last night, took over first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time this season.

Specifically, in this recent four-game winning streak, the Celtics have played some of their best basketball of the season, and it is a welcome sign coming into the most daunting stretch of the season, where the Celtics will face the Heat, Spurs, Bulls, Pacers, 76ers, Heat and Hawks in the span of 10 days.

If they can keep up this level of play and reinforce what they have shown us in the past couple of weeks, then the Celtics should be able to survive this stretch. 

Paul Pierce Can Still Score at a High Rate

Paul Pierce has been looking like the Captain lately with his play.

It seems that whenever the Celtics have really needed a basket he has delivered. He is in a nice groove and is scoring more easily by picking and choosing his spots on offense and getting to the free-throw line.

Since the All-Star break, he is averaging 21 points per game, including a trio of 30-point games (34 points to lead the Celtics past the Knicks in a close game, 30 points the following night to help the Celtics eek past the Rockets, and most recently, 36 points to push the Celts past the Bobcats.)

In this current four-game winning streak, he is averaging 24.5 points per game. Pierce will need to keep up his great play during this upcoming 10-day stretch, and even more importantly, going into the playoffs. If he does, the Celtics have a good chance of making a big run.

Avery Bradley Is Developing into a Good All-Around Player

If you've read much of what I've written, you know that I am a huge fan of Avery Bradley.

I always knew that he had great potential on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. And so far this season he has proven me right, first by his play on the defensive end, and now by his recent play on the offensive end.

Over the past four games as a starter, he has averaged 15 points a game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the line. Part of his scoring is coming from more consistency in his jump shot, but the majority is coming from his movement without the ball. He is always cutting to the hoop and teammates are finding him for easy points in the paint.

His great play has made the absence of Ray Allen almost unnoticeable. 

Kevin Garnett Is Thriving at the Center Position

After a lackluster first half of the season, Kevin Garnett has flipped the script and proven some of his critics that said he was too old wrong.

Since the All-Star break, he has eight double-doubles and has scored at least 20 points nine times. As always, he remains the team's emotional leader, and he is thriving in that role. He also is playing shutdown defense on the opposing team's center, including holding a red-hot Kevin Love to just 22 points on 5-for-18 shooting last night. Love had been averaging 37 points per game in his four games prior to last night.

It is no coincidence that Garnett's best basketball is coming since he was moved to the center position. 

Rajon Rondo Is One of the Best Passing Point Guards Ever

Everyone knows that Rajon Rondo is one of the best passing point guards in the game today, but with his play lately, he should be entered into the conversation with the best passing point guards ever.

In his past 12 games, he has recorded over 10 assists in each game, and he is scrapping at the heels of Steve Nash for the regular-season assist lead.

Part of his recent passing success is due to teammates hitting more shots, but it also can't be ignored that Rondo is making some incredibly crafty passes lately, including this one to Brandon Bass the other night. The offense is thriving and that is largely because of Rondo's great passing. 

No Jermaine O'Neal, No Chris Wilcox, No Problem

Although the Celtics are by no means a good rebounding team without Jermaine O'Neal or Chris Wilcox, they aren't much worse without the duo.

Even with the rebounding troubles that have not been fixed, the team seems to be playing better without O'Neal and Wilcox. The offense is scoring much easier with Garnett at center and Bass in the starting lineup.

Greg Stiemsma is also making use of his increased playing time and is improving quickly. It seems that the loss of O'Neal and Wilcox is not as bad as everyone thought it would be.

If you would like to submit a question to the Celtics Mailbag, post them to my bulletin board.