In stats-obsessed league, Celtics put team first

If you were to choose an MVP for the Boston Celtics, owners of the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, who would it be?

Paul Pierce, on whom most defenses seem to key?

Ray Allen, who continues to be one of the best shooters in the game and on whom the Celtics can count whenever Pierce's game is off?

Or Kevin Garnett, whose presence in the middle was quite obviously missed last season, his absence a large reason the Celtics did not return to the NBA Finals?

None of the above, says Allen.

"I would say (Rajon) Rondo right now," Allen said. "He has been rebounding, assists, he's got scoring. He has grown up a lot."

On a team full of talent, Rondo is fourth on the team in scoring at 13.2 points a game. But has also averages 9.6 assists, and his 2.65 steals a game are first in the league, a large reason the Celtics have one of the best defenses in the NBA.

This is the problem with a team like the Celtics. On most other championship-caliber teams, you can clearly identify who the best player is. Most of those players are on the list at the bottom of this story.

But there is nobody listed for the Celtics -- which, they say, is fine.

"I think in our situation, I don't think anybody has really been concerned with the MVP," Allen said. "The three of us has always understood that being here is a greater good and we were going to take lesser of a role in order to win a championship. We did that in '08. We are at the point in our careers where everybody is content.

"Nobody is going to say based on our numbers that we have potential MVP numbers. At the same time, we are content that we have guys who can help us win games. If you look in that locker room and are scoring 40 a night but you are like, 'Man, I need some help,' and you are asking the organization to bring in some guys or asking for a trade or all the antics we have all pulled being a bad team, we don't have to worry about having that conversation. So we don't."

I have to admit, I thought after the Celtics won their first title that ego would take over and that at least someone in the Big Three would feel the need to advance his own agenda. For a new contract. Or endorsements. Or recognition.

But Allen said they all realize there is another byproduct of their union: Longer careers.

"We go hard when we go hard," Allen said. "I remember the one year in Seattle (under Nate McMillan), I had maybe five days off the whole year. I've had five days off this year in one month. Five days. Easy. Even if you lose a game, we get a day off. If we have a back-to-back, day off. Regardless. Get off your feet, take care of your body. So it does, it adds years to your career. We all appreciate it.

"The young guys, we tell them, 'You all are lucky. You don't know what you have here. If you go to another team, it is going to be hell on you.'"

When he was negotiating his contract earlier this year, there were reports that his teammates did not like Rondo. It was reported that he, like most young players, was more concerned with his own well-being rather than the good of the team.

Allen said that is not true. He said they all get along. But he also said that there is a significant age difference between Rondo and his more experienced teammates -- part of the reason they are not envious of his ascension.

"There is a huge (age) gap," Allen said. "He is 23 and we are 33. Ten-year gap. The one thing we do is let him do his thing, then try and nurture him and guide him along the way."

1. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (26-8)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
34	38.3	28.9	7.1	7.8	1.5	0.8	.501	.363	.781

Last Week's Rank - 1
Nothing like ringing in a new decade -- as well as his 25th birthday -- with a six-game win streak and a 48-point, 10-rebound game. Frighteningly, the next decade is likely only going to get better for James, who technically still is learning how to play the game at this level and whose outside shot is still suspect. Even when James has an off night scoring, as he did against Atlanta in the first game of a home-and-home, when he had only 14 points, he still contributes 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals -- the reason he is at the top of this list.

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (25-6)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
31	38.5	30.4	5.7	4.5	2.1	0.2	.485	.295	.854

Last Week's Rank - 2
His recent string of high-scoring games, including a 44-pointer against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, has catapulted Kobe into becoming the league's leading scorer. It hasn't hurt that Carmelo and the Nuggets have struggled of late, but Bryant is still at the pinnacle of his game, a playmaker who defends equally well. The Lakers have three more home games, than they endure a stretch of 12 of 15 on the road, catching up on road games with the rest of the league. That should tell a lot about Bryant's stamina.

3. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (23-8)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
31	34.5	17.4	13.3	1.5	1.1	2.5	.625	.000	.600

Last Week's Rank - 3
It's been a slow week for Howard, playing only one game since The Race last looked at the top players. But in that game, a win over Milwaukee, Howard had yet another double-double, his 23rd of the year. Howard remains first in the league in rebounds (13.3), as well as blocked shots (2.52), which means he is in good position for another Defensive Player of the Year award. He is fourth in the league in All-Star voting, as it should be.

4. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (21-12)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
33	33.4	18.4	2.9	11.2	0.4	0.2	.539	.433	.942

Last Week's Rank - 8
Incredibly, Nash is statistically the same this year as he was in the back-to-back years he won the MVP award. There are a few guys who have matured into incredible players who take away some of the shine from Nash. That does not mean Nash's game has deteriorated. He can score when he wants. He can distribute when he wants. Suns coach Alvin Gentry said last week that he never needs to speak to Nash because the wily veteran knows when it is his time to put forth.

5. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers (21-13)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
33	38.7	22.9	4.7	5.0	0.9	0.1	.465	.351	.790

Last Week's Rank - 4
The fact that Tracy McGrady is ahead of this guy in All-Star voting is a joke. In fact, only Kobe and perhaps Nash should be ahead of Roy, whose game inexplicably continues to improve just when you thought he had maxed out. It is said in Portland that Roy is the biggest reason that owner Paul Allen decided not to sell. Rose City denizens should thank him with a few more All-Star votes.

6. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder (18-14)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
32	39.8	28.5	6.9	3.1	1.5	0.8	.474	.316	.862

Last Week's Rank - 10
Can you believe that Durant has the Thunder on a four-game win streak? It's not only the most successful stretch of Durant's career, it's the best win streak the Thunder-Sonics franchise has enjoyed since 2000. Durant has been incredible, averaging 35 and 7 over the past three games. Even better, he is shooting lights out. He has made 27 of his last 41 shots.

7. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (22-10)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
31	37.6	25.0	8.0	2.6	1.1	1.4	.480	.400	.881

Last Week's Rank - 6
The Race hates to see anybody put up a clunker the night before the ballot is submitted. But we must admit that Nowitzki's 11-point, 3-for-12 shooting night on New Year's Eve did not impress. Nowitzki has a head-to-head game with Kobe on Sunday night, a chance to atone.

8. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (16-14)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
30	37.0	26.3	5.0	6.1	1.7	1.2	.439	.255	.759

Last Week's Rank - 5
Wade is getting beat up as defenses focus more of their energy on stopping him. However, he continues to plow ahead, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds. The Heat is not great, but Wade is, well-deserving of every accolade he gets.

9. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (20-12)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
32	37.6	30.0	6.4	3.3	1.2	0.3	.470	.355	.861

Last Week's Rank - 6
The Nuggets are in a freefall, having lost five of the last six, as is Anthony's shooting percentage. He is 39 for his last 96 from the field, including a 15-for-35 debacle in a loss to Sacramento on Monday. The ensuing fallout is that Kobe Bryant has overtaken him for the scoring title and the Nuggets are fourth in the West, a half game ahead of San Antonio.

10. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (19-11)

G	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	3P%	FT%
28	31.7	19.9	10.3	3.1	0.6	1.9	.556	.000	.785

Last Week's Rank - n/a
Duncan slides into this spot because rookie Tyreke Evans has missed a handful of games due to an ankle injury. Even when he was playing, Evans was less than stellar, the reason he has dropped out of contention. Duncan, meanwhile, remains Mr. Steady, and San Antonio has won three straight and six of seven. Duncan never goes crazy, but even at 33 he is averaging a double-double.