Celtics’ performance doesn’t meet great expectations thus far

Twelve games into the Celtics’ title defense and the Celtics are 10-2; a record that, when looked at from afar, seems spectacular. With an .833 winning percentage, and one of the toughest stretches of basketball (7 games in 11 nights) of the season behind it, Team Green should be riding high.Once a closer look is taken at the Celtics, it is clear that all is not well. The Celtics have turned into a notoriously slow-starting team, often falling behind by double digits early in the ballgame. While comeback victories certainly provide for an exciting finish, they do not translate into postseason success – especially when the legs bringing the Celtics back from the edge of defeat are on the wrong side of 30 and being forced to log heavy minutes this early on in the season. When the Celtics elected not to offer James Posey a fourth year, they knew that they could not possibly be as deep of a team as they were last year. Thus far, the plan to enhance Tony Allen’s role and diminish the impact of the departed Posey has been met with mixed reviews. There are flashes of brilliance, and offensive outbursts, but more often than not there are mental errors, fluctuating confidence, and poor decision-making. These are not qualities that a championship-contending team is looking for out of its sixth man.One chip the Celtics still have in their back pocket is 39-year-old veteran Sam Cassell. For Boston fans that only know Cassell as the Celtics’ backup point guard who often disrupted game tempo and took poor shots, the promise of “Sam I Am” is not an encouraging one. Cassell, however, prior to being traded to the Celtics, was still considered a an above-average starting point guard in the NBA, averaging nearly 14 points and 6 assists with the Clippers. With the aid of a full training camp, and increased familiarity with the Green, Cassell is sure he can help the Celtics repeat, telling the media he would be ready “?soon, very soon. I’m 38 years old. I’m just trying not to wear myself out. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I’m here for the postseason, Doc (Celtics coach Doc Rivers) is getting me ready; he’ll give me enough time, and then activate me. I’m in good shape. I’m in better shape than last year, and when my number is called, I’ll be ready.”Whether it is Cassell, or another player not currently on the Celtics roster, it is clear that for the Celtics to repeat, they simply have to play better basketball. It is funny, after winning a championship, a 10-2 record (despite the ugly brand of basketball) isn’t good enough. My! How far we’ve come!