Boston Celtics: What We Can Learn From Delonte West's Return

When he stepped onto the court to play his first game after sitting out a 10-game suspension for a guns charge, Delonte West had to know he was back home.

The guard was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2004, but was traded along with Wally Szczerbiak and Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen and Glen 'Big Baby' Davis.

After a few tumultuous seasons, including the last one with the Cleveland Cavaliers, West has returned in full capacity to Boston.

Against the Washington Wizards, West scored 12 points as well as one block, one steal, five rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.

In all, a very impressive game for a player who must have been stewing at the sidelines for the last few weeks watching his team gel without him.

While he will not become a starter (unless Rondo and Ray Allen are injured), he should form an integral part of what has been dubbed the "Boston Bench Mob."

West joins Shaq, Big Baby, Nate Robinson and Jermaine O'Neal to form arguably the deepest and most experienced bench in the NBA today.

The addition of West will free up Nate Robinson, who has been substituting for Rondo playing point guard, but thrives playing off the ball.

West will mean Rondo will have a solid option of the bench when he needs to rest.

Before the game coach Doc Rivers, told the media he was planning to "throw him (West) out there and see what he can give us and just judge him by how the game goes." West has certainly earned a return appearance. 

However, West's value cannot be measured by the game against the Wizards due to several factors. The first being the fact it was a blow-out and the second being that the Wizards' were missing two of their best players due to injury.

It is much easier for a player like West to put up impressive statistics when the rest of the team is firing as well, he becomes more of an option when the team is being heavily rotated, as well. 

The Wizards' first draft pick, John Wall, was out with an ankle injury as was Wizards' forward Yi Jianlian. When too many critical players are out with an injury, it is difficult to gauge the performance of any of the players on the opposing team. Without the first-class players on the opposing team, they are allowed to run riot.

The Celtics took a gamble with West, though it is way to soon to declare picking him up as a triumph, particularly under these circumstances. It will take a solid and consistent season for West to prove his real worth to the Celtics.