Ready or Not, the Playoffs Are Here for the Boston Celtics

The playoffs are coming and the Celtics are not prepared to handle the rigors of a championship run.

The Celtics have been waffling all season and the postseason run they envisioned may never materialize because of it.

It really isn't alll that bad for a team to struggle to find its identity—at the beginning of the season! 

They have devolved into something even the most loyal fans have a hard time with.

There are no easy answers to what really ails the Celtics. They have no significant injuries and the core players have been together for three years.

Sometimes it is easy to point the finger at individual players, other times it may be they are tuning the coach out.

Doc Rivers is not a coach that yells at his players and he is not a task master.

So why are the players tuning him out?

They are tuning him out because he doesn't believe in grooming his bench during the season. 

The Celtics had a once in a lifetime season during their championship run. They found two veterans who were willing to buy into the team concept of 'ubuntu'. The same cannot be said this year.

Rasheed Wallace used the regular season as his own personal training camp and, at one point, was seen having a heated exchange with Doc Rivers after receivng a technical foul.

Marquis Daniels the supposed multi-positional player has not accepted Tony Allen's challenge to step up his game.

Micheal Finley may possibly be that consistent three point threat off the bench and  Nate Robinson is showing signs of becoming a real basketball player.

Sheldon Williams plays well in his limited time on the floor, yet he was not rewarded with more playing time until till now.

Glen Davis continues to have illusions of being an all-star player and at times takes himself out of the team offense.

The bench must be able to produce in the pressured environment of the playoff therefore Doc Rivers must bring stability to an already fragile team. 

The end of the season is not the time to be experimenting with the bench while your starters have not played well.

There may still be hope for Boston because the second season provides a necessary ingredient for a veteran team. 

The playoffs provide rest and rest is something that can give Boston relief from those young teams nipping at their heels.