The Celtics are currently 29-15 while being the third seed in the Eastern Conference. As we reach the All-Star break, the team needs to realize that there is a significant amount of room for improvement. The defense has been fine, even without Kevin Garnett, but the Celtics are struggling guarding athletic wing players. Earlier in the week, I wrote an article in which I broke down five possible trades  that the Celtics could make to address this issue.  

The season is halfway over and it is time to give out awards for the good and bad performers.

Most Improved Player: Kendrick Perkins

Some could argue that Perkins has been playing at an All-Star level. If it weren't for his teammates that were taking his shine, he may have had a better chance. 

Take a look at his stats: 

11.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2 BPG (Stats provided by ESPN.com ) 

The one stat that was not mentioned is his field goal percentage which leads the league and is a ridiculous 63 percent. His consistency has gone unnoticed and unappreciated by many Celtics fans. People should not take Perkins for granted since a solid NBA center is hard to come by in this day in age. 

 

Best Coach on Staff: Clifford Ray

The person to thank for the rise of Kendrick Perkins would have to be assistant coach Clifford Ray. His knowledge of the art of post defense is uncanny. He's worked with the Celtics and Dwight Howard in the center. It is surprising that Patrick Ewing gets all of the recognition as a great big man coach when Ray may be the best in the league.

Remember when Glen Davis was injured and Shelden Williams stepped in his place? Williams was prepared by Ray to take the place of Davis and he did a great job. All of this goes unnoticed while Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau get all of the attention.

 

Best Defensive Player: Rajon Rondo

Even though he cannot stop Jamal Crawford (not many can stop him this season), Rondo has been a special defensive presence for the Celtics this season. He's leading the league in steals, stopping penetration, and crashing the defensive boards with ferocity. It's hard to argue that he's not in conversation for First All-Defensive team. 

One point of concern: His defense is great for most of the time, but he can get lazy out there on occasion. He rarely stays in a stance when playing. Imagine if he gave the type of effort Kevin Garnett did every game. Should Garnett's demeanor rub off on Rondo, he would have the potential to be the best defender in the league in a few years. 

 

Best Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player: Paul Pierce

It is not a coincidence that the Celtics went 2-5 while Pierce was injured. He's been the heart and soul of this team for the entire decade and continues to pump out great games with excellent shooting. 

Surprising fact: Pierce has been shooting over 10 percent better than Ray Allen from beyond-the-arc. This just shows that Pierce has dominated offensively. Not only has his work been great on offense, but he is holding opposing small forwards to 12.3 PER (Player Efficiency Rating). Should Pierce keep up this great play, the Celtics could go deep in the playoffs this spring. 

 

Biggest Disappointment: Glen Davis

Glen "Big Baby," or "Uno-Uno" Davis, has been terrible this season. The big question to whether the Celtics would re-sign him this past summer was about his maturity. Right after signing his contract, Davis started off the season with a bang. He broke his finger by punching one of his own friends. Once he came back, he was completely out of shape and put on a couple of pounds. How does a professional athlete gain weight when they had a finger injury? One word: laziness. 

 

Most Likely to Breakout After All-Star Break: Eddie House and Marquis Daniels

Eddie House has missed Daniels while being a shooting slump for most of the winter. Daniels is supposed to return before the All-Star break. The Celtics will need his style of play in the second unit to control the game when things get out of hand.

Two facts that will make these players breakout:

  1. When Daniels gets playing time, he produces.
  2. When House does not take the ball up, he can shoot. 

They seemed to have good chemistry while on the court together; hopefully this could help push the Celtics to a high seed as the season goes on. 

 

Overall, the Celtics need to get healthy and control games with a sense of urgency. They are capable of being the best team in the league with the combination of offensive and defensive threats along with veterans and youth that they possess.