Really Celtics? Really?

Before their championship run a season ago, the Boston Celtics reloaded their roster with All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to go along with Paul Pierce. When they ran roughshod throughout the league during the first part of 2007-08, they decided to attempt to self-destruct their team with the acquisition of Sam "I peaked about three teams ago" Cassell. He didn't kill their team and the C's, in spite of him, captured the NBA Championship.

This season, with Boston doing the same thing, they're upping the degree of difficulty on players they don't need.

The New York Knicks are about to buyout Stephon Marbury's contract, which will lead to his signing with the Celtics.

I suppose one headcase worked well enough, but Starbury takes it up a notch. He has been involved in feuds since playing for his first team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the last few seasons with the Knicks, disagreements with Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas have helped fuel Marbury's desire to get out of the Big Apple. He's a me-first player who might mesh well because of the personalities already in Boston, but if he doesn't, could be a poison that derails the Celtics march toward back-to-back titles.

He has experience playing with KG and the talent to be a great player in Boston, but from a Celtics perspective, if it ain't broke, why fix it? Rajon Rondo is becoming one of the best point guards in the league. Veteran Paul Pierce recently said something along the lines of "As Rajon goes, we go." And even in the absence of Garnett, Rondo is leading Boston's charge through some of the Western Conference's elite. He had 32 and 10 against a resurgent Suns team and followed that last night with 14-8-8 in a 38-point rout of the Denver Nuggets.

The Celtics were better than they were a year ago, but by acquiring Marbury, anything could happen. Marbury has never reached the second round of the playoffs ... just saying.