Marbury could hold solutions for Celtics’ problems

BOSTON – As the calendar turns to March, the Boston Celtics find themselves in the last full month of the NBA regular season. And it’s starting to take a brutal toll on them.Following an uncharacteristic home loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Celtics are struggling to find health and depth, two crucial components to defending their NBA title. Beyond the glaring hole left by the ailing Kevin Garnett, the Celtics also feel the effects of Tony Allen’s season-ending injury (although he could be back for the playoffs) and the more troubling loss of Brian Scalabrine.Scal is out indefinitely after suffering his third concussion this month. Coach Doc Rivers is clearly troubled.”I’m very concerned,” he said. “That’s not anything you can joke around with. I mean, we kid him all the time about it, but it’s serious. I just don’t know anything about this stuff.”The whole concussion thing is tough,” Rivers said. “And it’s tough because he wants to play so bad. He was playing so well for us before he got hurt.”Captain Paul Pierce made it clear the Celtics are in desperate need of depth.”We’ve got issues everywhere with our depth, especially at the wing, with Tony being out and with Scal being out,” Pierce said. “We’re definitely thin at the 2-3 position.”You got me, Ray (Allen) and now we’re asking Eddie (House) to guard bigger guys, Stephon Marbury to guard bigger guys. So it definitely, definitely puts us in a bind.”In a clear effort to help with both health and depth, Danny Ainge has added both Mikki Moore and Marbury for the stretch run. In Moore, the Celtics get a true 7-footer who is an active rebounder and shot blocker.Moore may not be a star, but he should fit into the Celtics’ system nicely. Picking up one of the NBA’s largest enigmas in Marbury could either make or break the Celtics’ season. He is a career 20-ppg scorer, a two-time all-star, and a former Olympian. However, what he’s most known for is being a first-class jerk, and a cancer to whomever he plays for.The Celtics are banking on the fact that Marbury needs them more than they need him, and the initial reactions – both on and off the court – have been positive. Marbury admits he’s never been around a team like the Celtics.”Adjusting to these guys is difficult because they play at a high level,” he said. “It’s not a level that I’m used to. I haven’t played at this level. I’ve never played at a championship level before, so, for me, I’m adjusting my style of play, adjusting how I prepare.”Pierce, Ainge, and Rivers are banking on a wild card, and if things go well, both the questions of health and depth may have been answered with one word: “Starbury.”