The Injury Bug bites the C's hard; New faces on the way?

The injury bug is a mother fucker. And for the second year in a row it has sunk its teeth in to the heart of the Boston Celtics starting five. Last year it was Kevin Garnett who missed the stretch run and the entire postseason. This year it's Paul Pierce who has been hit the hardest. Pierce has missed the last two weeks with fluid in his knee. Not to mention the return of KG's knee problem, and nagging injuries to Marquis Daniels, and Glen Davis. And to no one's surprise the Celtics have suffered, losing three of their last five.

When I posted the story of Pierce's injury, I wrote that the Celtics would have serious problems scoring the ball without Pierce--the C's only pure scorer. And they have. The C's have averaged an abysmal 95.2 points per game after scoring 100.5 ppg with Pierce in the lineup.

It's no secret that this Celtics team is on the verge of geriatric, it's one of their biggest flaws. We knew that it's going be difficult to win missing one of the Big 3 for the playoffs. And Danny Ainge and company have done a decent job or surrounding them with a strong supporting cast of role and bench players.

But these past two weeks have revealed a huge hole in their game: the lack of a secondary scorer. Yes. Ray Allen still has that deathly smooth stroke that we all have come to know and love, but it's rare that he can create his own shot without some sort of screen to free him up. Rondo has flashes of offensive brilliance, but too often does he defer his open shot for something else. And KG's offensive game that made him a force in Minnesota, has slowly deteriorated like the cartilage in his knees.

The Celtics need a viable scoring option off the bench. And I have two possible players that may be able to do that job. The soap opera that developed in Houston between the Rockets and star player Tracy McGrady begs the question, will he be traded to Boston? On paper the deal seems nearly perfect. The Rockets drop their $22 million problem-child, McGrady goes to a winner, and he doesn't have to be the man. In fact, he would be a glorified role player. At an athletic 6-foot-8 McGrady, finally healthy after microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2009, would be a match up nightmare in the East. T-Mac is a combo guard who has evolved into a dangerous wingman and would be favored against most of his opposing forwards.

You can bet that T-Mac wouldn't dare open his prima-dona mouth with the likes of Pierce and Garnett on that team. He would have to know and accept his role if he wants to ever sniff the second round of the playoffs. The lone and major downside would be his enormous contract--tops in the league. While the Celtics do have the expiring contracts Eddie House, Tony Allen, J.R. Giddens and the "Big Scab" Brian Scalabrine to offer in a trade, that would not be enough. The Celtics--well over the salary cap--would have to offer either Pierce, Allen, or Garnett in the trade just to make the money work. That, obviously, is not in our best interest to do so. It seems like a long-shot, but it no deal is ever fully dead--look at how the Celtics lured in KG.

Like an easy girl, that's why I always carry a Plan B with me. Meet Knicks guard Nate Robinson. Yes the same guy who blocked a shot against Rajon Rondo, celebrated while the ball was still in bounds, and turned just in time to see Marquis Daniels lay-in the easy basket. That Nate Robinson. On December 20th Robinson requested to be traded from the Knicks. He has veto power on any team and requested that he be moved to Atlantic Division rivals, the Boston Celtics. Now hear me out before you write me off as crazy. The Celtics need a scoring force to come off the bench, and Robinson is a high-energy player who can create his own shot (he's gone for 40+ points three times this year). And the C's are lacking a back-up ball carrier because Eddie House cannot be trusted with the ball in his hands and is usually forced in to traps. In fact, when House is in the game Coach Doc Rivers usually has Pierce or Daniels bring the ball up, allowing House to run off screens for a spot-up three/jumper. Robinson can provide that spark off the bench while either Rondo or Pierce rest up.

While he does come with his fair share of baggage, I believe if you put him on a winning organization with a team-oriented attitude Robinson will follow suit. Much like McGrady wouldn't talk down to Pierce or Garnett, neither would Nate Rob. It's not too often that disgruntled players have the chance to play for a legitimate title contender, I would like to believe that would supersede a player's personal accolades. But then again, this is the NBA we're talking about.

As a Patriots fan, I am a true believer in a disgruntled player turning model citizen once apart of a disciplined, winning team. Don't buy it? Go ask Randy Moss how much the change of scenery had to do with his turnaround in New England. Or look up interviews of the former malcontent Corey Dillon of how much he loved being a Patriot. And believe it or not, but bad boy Rodney Harrison wasn't fined nearly as much in New England than his time in San Diego. I've witnessed the transformation with my very own eyes, I know it can happen.

But whether Celtics travel down this path or go somewhere completely different, one thing is imperative: they need a viable scoring option from the bench and they need one soon.