Boston Celtics Roster: How the Lockout Affects Every One of the Boston Celtics

The wait is officially over for the Boston Celtics, as Paul Pierce and the team now look forward to a NBA season that is set to tip off Dec. 25.

After roughly 150 days of a NBA lockout, the league has just announced that there is now a tentative deal that has been agreed upon by both the players and owners.

Yet, now the question is just how has the break from basketball impacted each player on the roster?

This is how the lockout has affected each of the six players currently signed to the Celtics roster.

*This does not include the seven unrestricted free agents nor Jeff Green, who is currently a restricted free agent.

Jermaine O'Neal

Jermaine O'Neal has made it clear that this will be his last season playing basketball. The Celtics veteran center hopes to make his impact felt this season.

The time off from the game more than likely helps a guy like O'Neal, who undoubtedly feels the fatigue of an 82-game season more than anyone on the team's roster. He is a dynamic shot-blocker and solid rebounder.

Make no mistake about it that time off for the big guy can only help. As the wear and tear of a full season is not, by any means a positive thing for a player like O'Neal at this stage in his career.

Avery Bradley

Over the offseason Avery Bradley expressed interest in playing both overseas and in a "lockout league" along with teammate Jermaine O'Neal. It is evident Bradley has put in the time this offseason to work on his game.

Yet, ultimately a lockout hurts Bradley in the sense that he is a talent who still hasn't gotten a chance to prove himself as a player in the league. It is those players like Bradley, entering their second and third years without a chance to prove themselves and who need a NBA season to show their stuff.

Head Coach Doc Rivers is aware of Bradley's scoring ability and consistent, tough defense. Now, Bradley will have all the more pressure to perform come the start of this season. Expect Doc Rivers to look his way this season because he is one of just eight players guaranteed to be a member of the Celtics this season.

Rajon Rondo

Celtics starting point guard Rajon Rondo has been practicing plenty lately. He has been regularly playing basketball during the offseason. Yet at the same rate, Rondo has now been given much less time to work on his mechanics, particularly his shot and free-throw shooting.

Last season Rondo shot 56.8 percent from the free-throw line. Easily a career-low in free-throw percentage. This is a figure that Rondo knows he needs to take the time to work on. The fact that there was no training camp has been no help to the elite point guard.

Now with the NBA season to be played, Rondo saves a year in his prime. He is out to prove that he can become a more efficient scorer and more consistent jump-shooter.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett

Despite the rest which Celtics leaders Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett received during the NBA lockout, make no mistake about it, Pierce and Garnett are both losers in this one.

Pierce is the type of player that needs to warm up to his game. He has to make early season adjustments to improve as a player. Now Pierce is faced with a shorter, more jam-packed season that is surely to feature multiple sets of back-to-back games with little time to rest.

Garnett, much like Pierce, is a player that gets better as a season progresses. There is a reason the Celtics were able to maintain the No. 1 defense slot in the league in spite of the departure of Kendrick Perkins. The reason, without question, was the play of their anchor on the defensive end, Kevin Garnett.

To go into a shorter, more frantic season will hurt Garnett in the long run. The fatigue will hit quickly and early in the season. Expect both Pierce and Garnett to play well, yet the lockout will play against them going forward.

Ray Allen

Ray Allen is as valuable a player as any for the Celtics, and he has benefited significantly from the time off.

A player like Allen wins big from a lockout because he is a finesse player who can use the rest to his advantage. He is easily the best shooter on the roster and arguably in the league. Allen will come into the season with rested arms and will be effective from the start.

Last season, Allen shot a career-best 44.4 percent from three-point range and 49.1 percent from the floor. As he continues to get better with his jump shot, that time off could only help his accuracy and game overall going forward.

The Rookies: JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore

JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore were both drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 2011 NBA Draft. Yet as rookies in the league, entering the season without a proper training camp and the typical offseason schedule, undoubtedly negatively affects these two.

Going through the routine of training camp and summer league play is ultimately what helps rookies get better situated in a team's system and develop chemistry with teammates.

There is no question both have put in their respective work this offseason. Moore had signed a contract to play overseas basketball, and is continuing to make  adjustments and improve his game. Meanwhile, JaJuan Johnson has been spending a plethora of hours putting in work to improve his game this offseason as well, despite not wishing to take his game overseas.

It is integral that a rookie experience, what it is to go through a full-length NBA season, as both Moore and Johnson missed out on it with the 149-day NBA lockout taking place.