Boston Celtics: 10 Areas Celtics Must Improve to Contend for NBA Title

With NBA trade deadline looming and the second half of the season underway, the Boston Celtics have decisions to make an improvements to make sooner than later.

As Rajon Rondo and the Celtics steadily improve as the season begins to hit its final stride, there is no doubt that this team's championship ability is now in question.

These are the 10 areas the Celtics must improve in to compete for an NBA championship.

Grab Rebounds Defensively

Kevin Garnett has stepped it up. Who will be next to join him?

The Boston Celtics are the No. 30 team in the league in rebounding for a reason, and it may well be costing the team their season.

The Celtics are a team that may defend fairly well on a consistent basis, yet also fail to clean up the rebounds. In turn, it has cost this team wins and has made it all the more difficult to stay healthy and rested this season.

Making the extra effort in the rebounding department will lead to a more rested team. Second-chance opportunities for opposing teams will be significantly more costly than will putting forth more attention to grabbing boards.

Sticking to What They Do Best...Defense

This Celtics team has been as tough a defensive team as the NBA has seen in the last five seasons, constantly boasting top-five numbers in points allowed per game.

This season, the team ranks No. 3 in the league allowing 89.8 points per game.

As much as this Celtics offense must improve heading into the postseason, there is no question that getting it done defensively is the key for this team. With Garnett anchoring the troops on the defensive end, there is no question this is a team built to play with any team in the league defensively.

Develop the Bench

It may cost the team some wins in the second half of the season, yet there is no question that the Celtics will need to develop the bench prior to the start of the postseason.

Talents like forward Brandon Bass, center JaJuan Johnson, shooting guard E'Twaun Moore and point guard Avery Bradley will all need major minutes as the season progresses in order to be better prepared for the postseason.

Head coach Doc Rivers knows this as well as any coach in the game, as he is known for his tendency to play the bench even more so heading towards the NBA playoffs. Expect Rajon Rondo the Big Three to get more rest in the final month of the regular season.

The development of the bench may cost the team a couple of wins, yet in the long run it will pay dividends for this team.

More Bench Scoring

Improved bench production is a must if these Celtics expect to win an NBA championship in 2012.

The Celtics currently rank No. 27 in the league in bench points scored per game, averaging just 25 points per contest. That is to say that between Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics are expected to consistently combine for 65-85 points per game.

Considering the Big Three are not in the primes of their career, this is a significant amount for this unit to handle.

If players like E'Twaun Moore and Brandon Bass can step up the scoring load, this Celtics team will be significantly more rested and see immediate improvements offensively.

Let Ray Ray Shoot the 3-Ball

Ray Allen is arguably the most talented three-point shooter in NBA history, and has proven throughout his tenure in Boston that this team wins games when he hits the three-ball.

Late in fourth quarter situations, the team will need Allen's three-point shooting ability to help push them over teams like the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic.

It will be essential for Allen to help break open games with this shot he has perfected throughout the course of his career.

Keep Rajon Rondo in Boston with Upcoming Trade Deadline

Rajon Rondo has been one of the players taking over the trade deadline headlines, yet if the Boston Celtics know what's best for them, Rondo will stay put in Beantown.

Since the rumors began to take over, Rondo has seemed to be on a mission to step up his game. This season, he boasts three triple-doubles—one of which was the most impressive triple-double since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968—and is second in the league behind Steve Nash in assists per game.

Dealing Rondo would also hurt the team's chemistry going forward, as the players have bought into his leadership on the floor.

Ask Paul Piece, ask Kevin Garnett and ask Ray Allen—Rondo is the PG that this team needs to win an NBA championship.

Have KG Stay Physical

As you can see, Kevin Garnett now has the fire in his eyes.

For the better part of this NBA season, Garnett's game was significantly more stagnant and less fluid on both ends, settling for tough jump shots and failing to contest shots consistently on defense.

Yet in his last five games, Garnett has found an answer. He has recorded 48 rebounds and two 20-point performances in the last five outings for the Celtics.

As a result, the Celtics have gone 4-1 in the stretch. If KG can attack the basket offensively and clear the glass defensively, this is a significantly better team overall.

Sustained Offensive Production from Paul Pierce

Team leader Paul Pierce might be 34 years of age, yet even still he is arguably the most clutch scorer the game of basketball has to offer.

When Pierce scores, this Celtics team wins basketball games.

This season when Pierce scores at least 20 points, the team is 11-4 this season. If Pierce scores less than 20, the team is just 9-14. With at least 30 points scored by "the Truth," these Celtics are 4-0.

The numbers don't lie, the Truth's offense is essential to this team's success.

Stay Healthy

All-Star snub Kevin Garnett and his Celtics have been fighting to stay in the playoff race in 2012.

Meanwhile, this has become all the more difficult as Rondo and Big Three have been struggling to stay healthy.

Of the 38 games played this season, team captain Paul Pierce has missed the first three games, Garnett has also missed three games, Allen has missed five and Rondo has missed 10 games.

Keeping veterans like Garnett, Allen and Pierce to fewer minutes to close out the season will be beneficial for this Celtics team in the long run. A couple of losses to end the year will be well worthwhile if it means rest for these three heading into the NBA playoffs.

Stay Rested

If there's one thing that head coach Doc Rivers and his Boston Celtics team must do to contend for a title, it's to stay rested prior to the postseason.

Although it seems like the more obvious argument, it undoubtedly merits a spot on the list.

After winning five straight games following the All-Star break, two of which were back-to-back overtime wins, the Celtics were blown out against the Philadelphia 76ers by 32 points. The loss was the worst of the Big Three era.

If the Celtics come into the playoffs playing the veterans on the ball club major minutes, it will hurt the team when it's all said and done. Rest won't only serve as a help, but it could ultimately decide this team's fate.