7 Things We Learned About the Boston Celtics from Their First Game

There are many questions marks for teams when the NBA season starts, and this year's Boston Celtics aren't any different.

Actually, the Celtics are different this year.  They lost a lot of their toughness last year via trades, and in the offseason they lost bench scoring from not only Glen Davis but also thanks to the unfortunate medical condition of Jeff Green.

But the Celtics are a old-school team in this new era of basketball, and, quite simply, they refuse to go away. 

Even with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Miami Heat getting better, don't be surprised to see this gritty group making another deep run in the playoffs.

Here are seven things we learned about this year's team after their Christmas Day opening loss to the New York Knicks 104-106.

Brandon Bass May Be Better Than Initially Thought

There's always an acquisition or two that makes fans scratch their heads, and Brandon Bass is no different. 

The Celtics in the past few years have become accustomed to the play of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

The bench has never been a slouch as scorers like Glen Davis, Nate Robinson, Delonte West and Von Wafer have more than kept Boston in games and with comfortable leads.

There's not much to brag about with the bench this year but after watching him on Sunday, Brandon Bass was a pleasant surprise. 

Bass played close to 30 minutes and had 20 points with 11 rebounds.  He looked solid on offense and defense and should fill in well on the front line when he has to check in.

Kevin Garnett Still Won't Back Down

Not only did Kevin Garnett hit a few step-back 20-foot jumpers in crunch time, he let it be known at the game's end that no matter how old he is, he's still not to be messed with.

Same look, same cuss words and same intensity.

Not to mention, he contributed 15 points and eight rebounds like always.  KG held down the post like he has over the course of his career. 

Garnett actually looked younger and refreshed, which is scary.  Let's see how those knees hold up this year in a short season.

If Rondo Can Hit Jumpers, They'll Be Fine

It's known that Rajon Rondo isn't the first option to score for the Celtics.

But after losing by two points without Paul Pierce in the lineup, the scoring load had to be taken on by somebody, and Rondo looked like he worked on his jumper during the lockout.

Rondo shined dishing out assists on the defensive end of the floor.  He had 13 assists to go along with five steals.

The 31 points he scored wasn't a typical outing for the wiry point guard, but if Rondo can knock down 15- to 20-foot jumpers with consistency, then the whole league should keep this group of old guys in the back of their minds. 

Rondo's quickness will always allow him to get to the rim for easy layups, but hitting the open jumper will be a valued addition to the Celtics' scoring that will open up so much more for the offense.

66-Game Season Might Help Them

Not having to play a full schedule of 82 games might assist this group that is, in all honesty, older than the rest of the NBA's elite teams.

The mantra in Boston seems to be: Get to the playoffs and make it happen.

Not having much depth and not as many games will help the Celtics come playoff time.

KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rondo know how to make it count down the stretch when everything is on the line and the chips are down.  Get this group in a seven-game series and there's no telling what can happen regardless of how great the rest of the East supposedly is. 

This group exudes confidence. 

They Need Depth Up Front

No team will just come down and get easy layups or dunks on the Celtics—not with KG on the floor. 

And Jermaine O'Neal, in the latter part of his career, has followed suit with Garnett down in the paint.  Nothing is coming easy down low, and you better have some of those pads on because you might be hitting the floor with these two.

The reality is that they both had five fouls on Christmas and without anybody to come in and keep the defensive intensity up, it's going to be hard for the Celtics to close out games if one, or both, of their bigs is sitting.

Danny Ainge is still kicking himself for letting Kendrick Perkins go in favor of Shaq. 

Paul Pierce Is Key

Paul Pierce sat on Christmas with a heel injury, and the Knicks were a KG jumper away from going into overtime with the old guys.

Pierce has one of the NBA's sweetest mid-range jumpers and an arsenal of slower, but calculated, methodical moves.  Not to mention, he can talk trash with the best of the best and between him and KG, they'll take you out of your game mentally.

When Pierce is playing, this team is deadly.  He can put up 40 on any given night and when he's on, he's really on. 

The Celtics Are Still the Celtics

The Celtics are a proud group.  Cocky, boastful and arrogant—all necessary boosts for a group that is counted out for no apparent reason other than being older.

They aren't slow and boring like the San Antonio Spurs.  They are a smart and brash team that will fight until the very end because they never feel like they're out even when the odds are stacked heavily against them. 

They have an answer for everything. 

They have probably the best three-point shooter of all time in Ray Allen, one of the game's best scorers from all over the court in Paul Pierce, a traditional point guard that is quick out the gate and would steal the basketball from his mom if he could in Rondo and one of the game's all-time greats in personality, scoring and defense in Mr. 20-10-5, Kevin Garnett.

Boston is too knowledgeable and cohesive as a unit to ever really be counted out.