Consistency a goal for Celtics as playoffs approach

Reporting on the Boston Celtics on some way, shape or form has been a part of this writer’s job description for the better part of the last decade. It is for that reason that I am totally embarrassed to tell you that if you are looking for playoff insight, this may not be the column for you. The fact remains that by this time next week the NBA’s 82 game regular season will be over. Chances are, your 17-time World Champions will have won more than 50 games, they will have earned the right to home court advantage through at least the first round, and they will roll out the same starting lineup that won them banner 17 just two years ago. Outside of those few certainties, nothing for the Green is set in stone.One would think that Sunday’s win over the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers would have provided more answers than it did questions; unfortunately that was not the case. For three quarters the Green looked like a team poised to make a long playoff run. It was, however, the fourth quarter that once again saw the Boston Celtics surrender a double-digit fourth-quarter lead. In the end the Celtics outlasted the Cavaliers, yet still no questions were answered, and the feeling in the locker room was far from celebratory. “We are happy with the win,” said Paul Pierce, “but not happy with the way that we played in the fourth quarter. If we are to advance in the playoffs, then we have to learn a lesson from this and be aggressive when we have a team down 14 or 15 points; that is the time to put them away.”In addition to the Celtics’ inability to maintain a consistent level of play, it seems Doc Rivers is still struggling to find his playoff rotation. Suddenly Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels have found themselves in Doc’s doghouse while Tony Allen has earned himself a spot in the playoff rotation.With just a week remaining in the regular season most contenders have an idea of who they are, most contenders protect home court, and most contenders have a set playoff rotation. Yes, plenty of questions continue to surround the Green, but if this writer has learned anything over the last decade, “Anything is Possible!” Just ask Kevin Garnett.