Celtics New Year's Resolutions

With the Celtics recent struggles on their west coast road trip, I thought it was time to step in and help the team with their New Year's Resolutions so that they can win the 18th NBA championship for the franchise. Ray Allen needs to take more shots. Allen is playing at a high level well into his 30's, which is a rarity in the NBA. The Celtics need to fins more creative ways to get him the ball and Allen needs to pull the trigger more often when he is open. Tony Allen has to suck up his pride, approach Doc Rivers, and tell the coach that he is overwhelmed playing on such a great team and is comfortable watching from one of the best seats in the house on a nightly basis. Marquis Daniels' resolution is to stay healthy. His versatility on both ends of the floor allows Rivers to provide much needed rest for Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Glen Davis must focus on rebounding and defense so that Rivers can justify keeping the young forward on the floor for more minutes. "Big Baby" is a gifted offensive player but in competing with Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Rasheed Wallace for minutes, he has to contribute on both ends of the floor. Kevin Garnett has to remember that he is no longer the player who could dominate a game with his athleticism and desire alone and instead, use his experience to gain an edge on opposing forwards. KG is still capable of leading the C's to a title but he needs to play within himself and not try and play like he is still 25. J.R. Giddens needs to follow Ray Allen and Pierce around like a puppy, learning the habits and tricks that have kept the two stars so effective even as they move closer towards the end of their careers. Giddens has the physical tools to be a good player, he just needs to work harder to achieve success. Eddie House has to come early and stay late every day at practice, working on his ball handling. Eddie's job is to shoot but he also can not afford to be a liability against defenses that press the Celtics. Lester Hudson needs to learn how to play NBA-caliber defense. Hudson obviously has the ability to score but his lack of defense prevents him from getting a chance. Kendrick Perkins has to learn how to take deep breaths and avoid senseless altercations with referees. Perk has emerged as one of the best centers in the league this season but his temper is not going to help him get any close calls from the officials. Paul Pierce has to focus on staying healthy. The Celtics captain is suffering from an infection in his knee and his absence has been a major cause of the teams troubles on their latest raod trip. Rajon Rondo needs to hire Mark Price as a private shooting instructor. Rondo has an amazing game - he can pass, penetrate, rebound, and defend as well as any player in the NBA but until he comes up with a reliable mid-range jumper and becomes a better free throw shooter, he will not join the likes of Chris Paul as an elite point guard. Brian Scalabrine needs to come up with an injury if he hopes to stay with the Celtics through the end of the season. Scal has a reasonable contract and with the C's possibly looking to add one more piece to the roster in anticipation of a run at the championship, he could be trade bait. Bill Walker is in the same boat as J.R. Giddens. Follow Ray Allen and Paul Pierce everywhere, take good notes, and try and do as they do. Rasheed Wallace has to find at least an hour each day and get on the treadmill. The Celtics can not win the title without contributions from Wallace but by taking a quick glance at 'Sheed, it is obvious that he has found a meal between brunch and lunch. Shelden Williams needs to make sure that his young daughter - and any future children - play more like mommy than daddy. Shelden could also take my advice for Giddens and Walker and apply it to himself by copying his wife's game. At 23-8, the Celtics are off to a good start but currently find themselves in third place in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers and Magic. Being the oldest of the three top teams in the East, home court advantage will be a key in the success of the Celtics in May and June. Hopefully they will all follow my advice so that they can knock off the Magic, Cavaliers, and Lakers to add another championship flag to the Garden rafters.