Finally we reach the top of the heap in the Atlantic Division where the Boston Celtics sit at 8-2 and have beaten the much-hyped Miami Heat twice already. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett have performed well thus far and Rajon Rondo is simply on a tear. Shaq even scored eighteen points the other night!

Here we go….

1. BOSTON CELTICS: 8-2

Points per game: 101.1 (14th)

Opponents points per game: 95.8 (8th)

Offensive rating: 107.4 (12th)

Defensive rating: 101.7 (6th)

TEAM LEADERS: Scoring – Paul Pierce (21.0), Rebounding – Kevin Garnett (10.4), Assists – Rajon Rondo (15.1), Steals – Rajon Rondo – (2.7), Blocks – Jermaine O’Neal (1.4)

Analysis:

Where to begin with these guys? I’ll try not to be TOTALLY biased here – I’m a New England lifer and have been following the Celtics religiously since the Dee Brown, Sherman Douglas days.

While there have certainly been moments where I’ve wondered if Boston had fallen off from the elite – beating Miami in the season opener didn’t win a title, people! – after watching the first ten games it appears it would take a catastrophic drop-off for the Celtics to lose this division.

You probably already knew that, though.

I never used to really pay attention to a defense’s structure – the ebb and flow of a smoothly operating unit – until the 2007-08 Celtics. I watch now with great appreciation of what they accomplish together, knowing it won’t last beyond the next two seasons. I’m not sure they can keep this defensive efficiency up ALL season but it will be interesting to find out.

Offensively, as they proved in game two versus the Heat, when Boston is operating within their potential on offense too, look out. They control the game with a relatively slow pace but score with great efficiency and limit transition buckets. There are certainly stretches where Boston has difficulty scoring like other squads, but unlike most everyone else the C’s defense keeps them in the game.

Rajon Rondo is playing out of his freakin’ mind right now, averaging more than fourteen assists and five boards per game so far. If not for his horrific free-throw shooting (.462) and not-so-reliable jumper we might have to consider him unstoppable. It’s not just the stats, either – watch the man run the point and you realize he understands where EVERYONE is supposed to be at any time, where everyone’s sweet-spot on the court is, and how to throw the post-entry pass perfectly nearly every possession. His defense is also suffocating and he is elite at picking pockets at any angle. He would be a joy to watch even if I didn’t follow the Celtics.

Ok, enough love for Rondo – the other three stars of this team have definitely been doing their part.

Kevin Garnett looks spry and he’s back to defending the pick-and-roll like a maniac. While his statistics don’t jump out at you (15 points, 10 boards, 2 assists) it’s impossible to quantify what he means to Boston’s defense when he’s healthy. Good to see you back!

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have continued to fill their scoring roles perfectly and Ray Allen continues to be the most unbelievable three-point threat off screens I have ever seen. His form never changes, folks! Also, even at their advancing ages they have maintained above-average defense – Ray Allen played Dwayne Wade tough all night. Allen and Pierce are playing quite a few more minutes right now than Doc would like, I’m sure, and eventually those will drop off as we near February and March.

Even Shaq has been looking more comfortable out there, although his pick-and-roll defense leaves SO much to be desired. I remember thinking that back in 2004 and now it’s three times as bad. Thank goodness we have players to cover for him down there.

Glen Davis has been a welcome surprise too, cracking double-digits in scoring so far on very efficient percentages and displaying that unbelievable energy we all love. He can be frustrating because at times he lets a bad call or mistake affect the very next possession but the positives outweigh the negatives, for sure. You’ve come a long way, “Big Baby”!

Finally, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels have rounded out what is easily our best bench since we acquired Allen and Garnett in 2007. That’s one scary thought if you reside in the Atlantic.

My Celtics’ “MIA” player? That would be Jermaine O’Neal, folks. Not because he hasn’t played - oh, he has - but because I can’t believe that he was once one of the NBA elite. I know he’s been through surgery and I feel sympathy in that regard, but it pains me to see that his skills have diminished in such a way that he deserves just eighteen minutes per game at 31 years of age. Sad, really.

So far that’s really been the only sad part of our season.

It’s a great time to be a Celtics’ fan, for sure.

Predicted record after 25 games: 20-5

Coming up next: The Central Division