#DORK 45: Daredevil Season 2

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Keefe Wins 98 Mile III

Rich Keefe was named the 98 Mile III winner this morning.  Unfortunately we can not post the audio of the raps here due to copyright issues.  (But you can enjoy the picture, above.)

1st Round - Keefe (54%) defeated Tony Mazz

Semifinals - Keefe (77%) defeated James Stewart

Finals - Team Keefe (57%) defeated Team Toucher

Celtics vs. Wizards Tonight

Check out the Celtics at the Wizards tonight on 100.7 WZLX.  Pre game at 6:30pm, tip off at 7:00pm. 

Sean Grande and Rich Keefe on the call.  

Not sure if it's a good sign or a scary one, but the C's are staying just blocks away from the Exorcist stairs.  

Olympic Minute 2-10-14

Here is the link to Monday night's "Olympic Minute," on 98.5 The Sports Hub.  

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/02/11/rich-keefes-olympic-minute-gold-medals-arent-really-gold-live-coverage-isnt-really-live/

Keefestradamas Picks

Every Friday on the Adam Jones Show, Jones makes 4 picks for the weekend in a little ditty called Jonestradamas. 

Well with me filling in we busted out Keefestradamas. Here are my picks for this weekend. 

Miami Heat -15.5 over Celtics

Alabama -13.5 over LSU

Phil Kessel WILL get a POINT vs. the Bruins

Dan Henderson over Vitor Belfort

There ya go. Fingers crossed. Only my sterling reputation on the line. No big deal. 

Keefe Hosting Friday and Monday Night

Rich Keefe will be hosting Friday and Monday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub. 

He will be on pre, halftime, and post Celtics-Magic on both nights. 

2013-14 NBA Season Predictions

The NBA season tips off tonight.  For the first time in 7 years the Celtics are not title contenders.  They're probably not playoff contenders, but here is how I think the whole thing shakes out.

Eastern Conference:
1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Brooklyn Nets
4. Indiana Pacers
5. New York Knicks
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Detroit Pistons
---
9. Washington Wizards
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Toronto Raptors
12. Boston Celtics
13. Charlotte Bobcats
14. Orlando Magic
15. Philadelphia 76ers

Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
---
9. Denver Nuggets
10. Los Angeles Lakers
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. New Orleans Pelicans
13. Utah Jazz
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Phoenix Suns

EAST: Heat over Nets

WEST: Thunder over Grizzlies

FINALS: Heat over Thunder

MVP: LeBron James, Miami Heat

Rookie of the Year: Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings

Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Most Improved: Worst Award Ever.

6th Man of the Year: Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

All-NBA 1st Team:
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

All-NBA 2nd Team:
James Harden, Houston Rockets
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

All-NBA 3rd Team:
Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls


All-Rookie 1st Team:
Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons
Cody Zeller, Charlotte Bobcats

All-Rookie 2nd Team:
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers
Anthony Bennett, Cleveland Cavaliers
Vitor Faverani, Boston Celtics
Glen Rice Jr., Washington Wizards
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder


All-Defensive 1st Team:
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

All-Defensive 2nd Team:
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets


Eastern Conference All-Stars:
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
Paul Pierce, Brooklyn Nets

Western Conference All-Stars:
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

James Harden, Houston Rockets
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Anything else?

Keefe Hosting Tuesday and Wednesday Nights

Tune in TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY night from 7pm-12am on 98.5 The Sports Hub as Rich Keefe fills in on The Adam Jones Show.

Give a listen as we discuss the World Series, Patriots down Vollmer, but 6-2 and face the Steelers on Sunday, Bruins vs. Penguins, and the Celtics regular season opener against the Raptors.  It's all good.  And you can interact with the program as well.

Call: (617) 779-0985

Text: 69985

Twitter: @Keefe21

Listen: 98.5 FM, CBSBostonSports.com

Best Ways To Settle A Score, Squash A Beef, Or Prove You're Better

So last night on "Keefer Madness" we talked about some very high profile beefs that boiled over into intense competition.  Former NFL players and current 98.5 The Sports Hub hosts Scott Zolak and Jermaine Wiggins had been talking smack on twitter for some time, and ultimately they settled it the only way they knew how... rap battle.

BarstoolSports Chicago lead writer/ manhunter Big Cat has had a long going war with ESPN Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell.  These two warriors took to the court and played 1-on-1, well Big Cat was actually the only one playing anything that you would consider basketball, but still a competition technically took place and a winner crowned.

On the show we discussed these two rivalries and also came up with our own dream scenarios of challenging anyone to anything.

LISTEN TO WEDNESDAY'S KEEFER MADNESS BY CLICKING HERE.


You heard what we came up with, and after the show I really started thinking of the best Mano-a-Mano battles that can settle any score, squash any beef, and most importantly embarrass the loser.  Cause there is always a loser.

Challenge someone to one of the following to show how much better you are than them.

• Football Throwing (distance)
• Baseball Throwing (distance)
• 1-on-1 Basketball 
• Beer Chug
• 40 yard dash
• Bench Press
• Push Ups (to fatigue)
• Punch for Punch (not in the face, we're not animals)
• Video Games (Sports or Fighting)
• Chess (losing in chess is beyond frustrating, and if you can bench more, run faster, AND win at chess, then you are far more valuable to the human race than your rival.)

That's just 10 ways to prove you are better than someone.  And, really, you only need one.  Good luck.

NBA All-Stars, Little College Hoops Experience

The NBA All-Star weekend is just a couple of days away.  For no reason at all I looked at the rosters and wondered how much college basketball they played combined.  Here are the results.

Eastern Conference:

Rajon Rondo (Kentucky - 2 years)
Dwyane Wade (Marquette - 2 years)
LeBron James (0 years)
Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse - 1 year)
Kevin Garnett (0 years)

Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech - 1 year)
Jrue Holiday (UCLA - 1 year)
Paul George (Fresno St. - 2 years)
Luol Deng (Duke - 1 year)
Joakim Noah (Florida - 3 years)
Tyson Chandler (0 years)
Kyrie Irving (Duke - 1 year)
Brook Lopez (Stanford - 2 years)

Total = 16 seasons

Western Conference:

Chris Paul (Wake Forest - 2 years)
Kobe Bryant (0 years)
Kevin Durant (Texas - 1 year)
Blake Griffin (Oklahoma - 2 years)
Dwight Howard (0 years)

Tim Duncan (Wake Forest - 4 years)
Tony Parker (0 years)
James Harden (Arizona St. - 2 years)
David Lee (Florida - 4 years)
Russell Westbrook (UCLA - 2 years)
Zach Randolph (Michigan St. - 1 year)
LaMarcus Aldridge (Texas - 2 years)

Total = 20 seasons

25 players with 36 seasons of college basketball.

If you take away Duncan & Lee and you have 23 All-Stars with 28 seasons of college hoops.

Bring this up at the water cooler.  And tell your friends The Sports Brief is back!  For now, we'll see.

Keefe

Bellator MMA, Tournaments!

Bellator MMA is back for another season and this time it's on Spike TV.  I have always been a huge fan of the tournament style, from early UFC to Pride to DREAM, and now Bellator.  The Light Heavyweight bracket looks like this, and starts tomorrow night...

I would love to see a Babalu vs. King Mo final with the winner taking on the champ Christian M'Pumbu.

Bowl Season!

There are now 124 Division 1 (BCS) College Football teams.  And yes that includes UMass.  There are 35 Bowl Games.  And yes that includes the "Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl."  Quick math says that over 56% of teams will play in a Bowl Game.  Quite an achievement for those clubs.

If you are 6-6, you are going to a bowl game, if you are 6-7 like Georgia Tech, but lost in the Conference Championship game, you are still invited.  The Yellow Jackets could very well finish the season 6-8, but they played in a Bowl!

Every year we talk about the ridiculous Bowls that seemingly pop out of no where.  These are all real Bowl Games:

Belk Bowl
GoDaddy.com Bowl 
Pinstripe Bowl 
Potato Bowl 
Beef O'Brady's Bowl 
Little Caesar's Bowl
Military Bowl
Russell Athletic Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Armed Forces Bowl
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Compass Bowl

Even all the good Bowl games have crazy sponsors now that muddle up the name.  I know College Football is all about money (have you seen the conferences lately?), but what an absolute joke and embarrassment these once proud Bowl games have become.

The "good" Bowl games suck this year too for the most part.  With Louisville winning the Big East and Wisconsin winning the Big 10, combined with Northern Illinois somehow getting to play this year's Boise State, Utah, or TCU, the BCS games are crap, outside of Oregon vs. Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl and of course Alabama vs. Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship game.

At least the playoff is next season... Wait, not next season?  Ok the following year.  Great.

-Keefe

5 Questions With John Wall

"5 Questions" is back.  I talked with the #1 pick of the 2010 Draft, Washington PG John Wall, prior to the Celtics-Wizards game on Wednesday night.  He is currently sitting out with a knee injury, but in 2 seasons he is averaging 16.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 4 rebounds per game.

1. How is the recovery (knee) process going?

Wall: It’s cool.  Same stuff I’ve been doing since I’ve been injured.  Just taking my time and trying to get healthy.

2. I know you haven’t been able to play, but have you noticed a difference between this year and last with some of the new veteran additions to the team?

Wall: I just think with the coaching staff, and the pieces we added to the coaching staff.  We added players that are going to contribute a lot.  I think we are very deep team.  We got a lot of veteran guys, and a lot of young guys that grew up and understand what it takes to win and lose in this game and how hard you got to compete every night.  We’ve been competing the first two games we just got in a deep hole in the beginning but we’ve been giving ourselves a chance to win.

3. You and [rookie] Bradley Beal are clearly the future of this team.  What do you think of how he played in the preseason and in the first two games?

Wall: In preseason he played pretty good.  So far, he started off good in Cleveland, but he’s been kind of struggling, but that’s a part of the game.  Just keep his motivation and keep taking shots, just be more aggressive.

4. Have you set any individual goals for yourself when you do come back?

Wall: Yeah I keep them to myself though.  I don’t like to tell my goals, I like to keep them to myself.

5. Do you have a target date to return?

Wall: No, no target at all.  No.

-Keefe

They Were In That?: Horror Edition

A lot of big time actors appeared in Horror Movies earlier in their careers.  Some, I'd say, would have to be more proud of their work than others.  I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, but these are pretty good.

Jennifer Aniston - Leprechaun (1993)

Kevin Bacon - Friday the 13th (1980)

Ben Affleck - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Paul Rudd - Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Johnny Depp - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Renee Zellweger - Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

Matthew McConaughey - Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

Patricia Arquette - A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Jack Black - I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

Dana Carvey - Halloween II (1981)

Josh Hartnett - Halloween: H20 (1998)

Eva Mendes - Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998)

Ving Rhames - The People Under The Stairs (1991)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Troll (1986)

Brook Shields - Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)

Rainn Wilson - House of 1,000 Corpses (2003)

Michelle Williams - Species (1995)

Naomi Watts - Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996)


Lots of great work right there.  I actually like a bunch of those movies, probably more than the actor/actress in it.

Happy Halloween

-Keefe

2012-13 NBA Season Preview

Picks you can rip. It’s that time of year again, here are my on the record for picks for everything this season. Playoff teams, the champion, and all the individual awards you can handle. Hopefully this helps you kill time before tonight’s Celtics-Heat game.


WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Los Angeles Lakers

3. Los Angeles Clippers

4. San Antonio Spurs

5. Memphis Grizzlies

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Houston Rockets

8. Minnesota Timberwolves


EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

1. Miami Heat

2. Boston Celtics

3. Indiana Pacers

4. Chicago Bulls

5. Philadelphia 76ers

6. Brooklyn Nets

7. New York Knicks

8. Atlanta Hawks


WCF: Lakers over Thunder

ECF: Heat over Celtics

Finals: Heat over Lakers


Western All-Stars:

Chris Paul, Clippers

Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Kevin Durant, Thunder

Blake Griffin, Clippers

Dwight Howard, Lakers



Russell Westbrook, Thunder

Kevin Love, Timberwolves

Zach Randolph, Grizzlies

Tony Parker, Spurs

Steve Nash, Lakers

James Harden, Rockets

DeMarcus Cousins, Kings


Eastern All-Stars:

Deron Williams, Nets

Dwyane Wade, Heat

LeBron James, Heat

Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

Andrew Bynum, 76ers


Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Kevin Garnett, Celtics

Paul Pierce, Celtics

Chris Bosh, Heat

Monta Ellis, Bucks

Al Horford, Hawks

Joe Johnson, Nets


Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis, Hornets

All-Rookie 1st Team

Anthony Davis, Hornets

Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers

Bradley Beal, Wizards

Terrence Jones, Rockets

Harrison Barnes, Warriors

All-Rookie 2nd Team

Jared Sullinger, Celtics

Perry Jones III, Thunder

Andrew Nicholson, Magic

Alexey Shved, Timberwolves

Kendall Marshall, Suns

6th Man of the Year: Jason Terry, Celtics

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Lakers

All-Defense 1st Team

Chris Paul, Clippers

Tony Allen, Grizzlies

LeBron James, Heat

Kevin Garnett, Celtics

Dwight Howard, Lakers

All-Defense 2nd Team

Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Andre Iguodala, Nuggets

Josh Smith, Hawks

Tyson Chandler, Knicks

Coach of the Year: Rick Adelman, Timberwolves

MVP: LeBron James, Heat

All-NBA 1st Team

Chris Paul, Clippers

Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Kevin Durant, Thunder

LeBron James, Heat

Dwight Howard, Lakers

All-NBA 2nd Team

Russell Westbrook, Thunder

Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Blake Griffin, Clippers

Kevin Love, Timberwolves

Andrew Bynum, 76ers

All-NBA 3rd Team

Deron Williams, Nets

James Harden, Rockets

Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

Zach Randolph, Grizzlies

Al Horford, Hawks

  -Keefe

NFL Week 1 Thoughts

Week 1 is over and Week 2 is just two nights away.  (Not sure if I love the idea of Thursday night NFL games, EVERY week, but I'm sure I'll get used to it).  Anyway, what did we learn from the first weekend?

Peyton Manning looks good.  Real good.  I thought that 4 neck surgeries might slow down the 36 year old.  Guess not.  He lit up the Steelers on Sunday night, and now we must all consider the Broncos to be a contender... still not a favorite by any means, it's just Week 1, but still a contender for sure.

Joe Flacco might almost be as good as he thinks he is.  Ok, that can't happen.  By the sounds of that guy he thinks he's better than Montana.  Either way, Flacco went for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns in Baltimore's easy win over the Bengals last night.  The no-huddle offense may work, let's see them play a better defense first.  (Yes I know Cincinnati made the playoffs last year, how'd they look last night?)

Adrian Peterson is good to go.  84 yards and 2 touchdowns for AP after all the talk that he might have to really ease into the season coming off knee surgery.  He looked good... real good in fact for a "game-time decision."

Brandon Lloyd, despite missing a deep 1st half connection with Brady, already looks way more comfortable in the Patriots offense than Chad Ochocinco ever did.  In fact the new #85 is only 10 catches shy of tying the old #85's reception total from all of last year.

What's up with Wes Welker?  122 catches last year, and just 3 little dink passes in Week 1.  A message by the team or just an off week.  I'm not sure.

Stevan Ridley could be a monster for the Pats.  One of the best passing teams in the NFL may have themselves a 1,200+ yard back.  The 2nd year RB from LSU ripped off 125 yards vs. the Titans on Sunday.

The Jets looked great, the Bills looked like crap.  Great debate all preseason about which team would finish 2nd in the AFC East.  Well the two choices (Miami will be a distant 4th), faced off Week 1 and it was all New York.  Mark Sanchez was a stud, Bills D was weak, and Fred Jackson got hurt, again.  Yikes.

Rookie QBs:  Robert Griffin III was AWESOME.  The Skins beat the Saints in New Orleans, and it was all about the Heisman winner.  RG3 made it look easy, the rest of the rookie starters.... not so much.

Russell Wilson of the Seahawks almost pulled out a victory, although he wasn't very good... but how about these piles of crap.

Andrew Luck - Ryan Tannehill - Brandon Weedon = 1 TD & 10 INTs, (0-3 record).

49ers are a complete team.  The defense is the best in the league.  Frank Gore is solid, Alex Smith is good enough and now they have receivers.

Randy Moss!  Back in the league and back in the end zone.  His 154th career TD reception breaks the tie with Terrell Owens and moves him into 2nd place behind only Jerry Rice.

Packers and Steelers are the best teams that should have the most concerns.

Matt Ryan had an eagle of a day.  With Julio Jones (2 TDs), Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and Michael Turner, the Falcons should be a VERY high scoring team.

But with any reactions you hear, it was still just 1 week.  Looking forward to Week 2, although I need to get used to this quick turnaround.  Packers vs. Bears on Thursday.


-Keefe

The Greatest Olympic Story Ever Told

Here is the legendary race walk story as heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub, CLICK HERE.

Keefe

2012-13 Boston Celtics

The Heat and Thunder play Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight.  The series has been entertaining and compelling, but it's never too early to talk about the future of the Boston Celtics.  This off season will be the most important for the C's since the summer of 2007.  Allow me to introduce my blueprint aka wish list for the upcoming season.

STARTERS:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kris Humphries (unrestricted free agent)
C: Kevin Garnett (unrestricted free agent)

BENCH:

O.J. Mayo (restricted free agent)
Mickael Pietrus (unrestricted free agent)
Jeff Green (unrestricted free agent)
Brandon Bass (unrestricted free agent)
Chris Wilcox (unrestricted free agent)
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Royce White (draft with pick #21)
Greg Stiemsma (own restricted free agent)
Open Roster Spot to sign buyout player midseason

I also want to see the Celtics traded pick #22 for a future first round pick, they would be better of with just 1 rookie with this club.

Mayo is the most unlikely addition followed by Humphries, the rest are all very realistic, but not as important (not counting KG obviously).  They need rebounding and bench scoring, Humphries and Mayo solve those problems and then some.

NBA Draft is coming up a week from Thursday.  Looking forward to the whole thing.  I'll try to get a full draft podcast up before it happens.  Thanks for stopping by the Brief.

-Keefe

Keefe Talks Celtics

Rich Keefe joined Adam Kaufman from 98.5 The Sports Hub and CBSBostonSports.com to talk all things Celtics.

The Injury Bonanza of 2012 and How The Celtics Stack Up

NBA players are dropping like flies in the playoffs.  Perhaps a victim of the 66-game lockout shorten season or in some cases because of self mutilation (see: Amar'e Stoudemire punching glass), big names and small names alike are missing the most important games of the year. 

2011 MVP Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL, Knicks rookie guard Iman Shumpert the same.  Baron Davis just went down with a nasty knee injury himself.  Dwight Howard will not play in the playoffs, Al Horford just returned after sitting out nearly the entire season, his backup Zaza Pachulia is still out.  The flash in the pan known as Jeremy Lin has been sidelined for the first 4 games of the Knicks-Heat series.  Memphis stud Zach Randolph worked his way back into the lineup the final couple weeks of the regular season.  The T-Wolves' chances of making the post season went out the window when rookie PG Ricky Rubio blew his ACL, the Clippers lost their leader Chauncey Billups, and many more.  And then you have the "old" Celtics.

The C's are up 3-1 in their 1st round series with the Hawks.  Boston managed to win the Atlantic Division title despite numerous injuries throughout the season, which began with the news that Jeff Green would miss the year and need heart surgery.  Chris Wilcox was forced to the sidelines in an eerily similar fashion.  And Jermaine O'Neal... whatever.  The veteran group fought through the multiple back-to-backs and the ridiculously thrown together season (little to no practice time and crazy travel schedule) to win the division (for the 5th straight year) and enter the playoffs as the #4 seed.  They still did not have home court advantage.

Where do the Green stand health wise?

Ray Allen missed the last 9 games of the year with an ankle injury and Games 1 and 2 against the Hawks.  Allen surprised himself coming back for Game 3, saying that he had told KG he would probably miss the entire series.  It's hopeful that he will be on the court the rest of the way, but it's no sure thing.  Allen will undergo surgery when the C's are done.

Paul Pierce, who was extremely durable this season, hurt his knee in shootaround prior to Game 4, and Doc left the morning get-together thinking the Captain would miss the game.  He played, 24 points in 17 minutes, and said on his twitter that he was glad he only played limited minutes to he could rest his knee.

Mickael Pietrus played in 42 of the 66 games this year.  He missed time with a concussion and left Game 4 in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury.

Avery Bradley re-injured his left shoulder in Game 3.  He was a game-time decision in Game 4 (he played), but will be a concern through the rest of the playoffs.  He apparently popped out his shoulder 2-3 times during the season, but Doc Rivers said it was like a "LEGO" and would just pop back in, but in Game 3 it did not do that.  Gross.

Greg Stiemsma (feet) sat out of nearly every single practice the Celtics had this season.  He should be able to go the rest of the playoffs for as much time as the team needs him, but it should be pointed out that he's been playing banged up all year.

Is it possible that Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are the healthiest players on the team?   

The lasting image of the 2011 playoffs for the Celtics was Rajon Rondo playing against the Heat with one arm.  After Dwyane Wade tackled him to the floor, Rondo got up and tried like hell to play through the pain.  The 2009 playoffs were essentially a lost cause because of the knee injury that kept Kevin Garnett from suiting up with the team.  Now in 2012, Rondo and KG are the healthiest, and without question the two pieces most important to knocking of the Heat in a potential Eastern Conference Finals match-up.

Few would have predicted the type of season KG had.  At 35 years old and with well over 1,200 career games played, Garnett averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists per game (playing in 60/66, sitting out a couple for personal reasons and for rest).  I believe he will be All-Defensive 2nd Team and All-NBA 3rd Team, at center, where he really flourished in the 2nd half of the season.

Health has already derailed the top seeded Bulls and the Orlando Magic.  If the Celtics are going to make a deep run they are going to continue to walk the injury tight rope.  KG and Rondo will have to defy the odds and Pierce (knee), Allen (ankle), Bradley (shoulder), Pietrus (hamstring, head), and Stiemsma (feet) will have to be "healthy enough." 

Believe it or not I said Heat-Celtics in the East Finals in my pre-season predictions.  There is no reason to change that now. 

-Keefe