Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Before the start of the current NBA season, I must admit to concerns about exactly how the Celtics would approach their title defense: Would they exhibit the same maniacal intensity that carried them wire-to-wire during the ’07-’08 championship run? Or would they shift to cruise control, believing they could turn it on and off when the need arose.

That last theory seems kind of silly now, doesn’t it? A franchise best 22-2 start, coupled with the current 14-game winning streak, shows the Green haven’t taken the pedal off the medal. In fact, they might be an even better regular season team this time around. Ray Allen is obviously healthy. Kevin Garnett is still Kevin Garnett. And Paul Pierce is playing with the unquestioned “go-to guy” confidence one displays when validating his career with not only a ring, but also with the Finals MVP trophy that belongs almost exclusively to the game’s legends (check out the list of past winners…in many ways, more impressive than the league MVP winners list).

And why exactly are the C’s a better regular season team this time around? The answer is simple: the increased confidence that comes with knowing you’re the best and Rajon Rondo.

I might have been off-base in my worries about how Boston would respond to the challenge of repeating, but I’ve been dead-on in my assessment of Rondo’s development. As a rookie, I thought this kid could turn into Tony Parker, only with a disruptive defensive presence. While the jumper is still a ways off from Parker’s outside reliability, the 3rd year point guard out of Kentucky can single-handedly destroy an opposing team’s offense. He’s also blossomed into a very good playmaker, whose quickness and creativity are tough for rival defenders to counter.

And he’s only going to get better folks. In this humble scribe’s book, he’s already a borderline All-Star. Perhaps he won’t make it this February, but that’ll be mostly because his reputation won’t have caught up to his level of play. By next year, at the latest, you’re looking at a perennial Eastern Conference All-Star.

Now then, you may have noticed I twice referred to the Celts as a better “regular season” team this year instead of simply a better team. The reason? I still think the loss of James Posey will hurt come the post-season, unless I’m seriously underselling Tony Allen. Hopefully, those concerns will be as unfounded as the “loss of intensity” worries I had.

But if that’s not enough to concern you, take a peek at what the Cavaliers (20-3) are doing and realize they have about $20-million in expiring contracts that can be used to acquire 2-3 pieces that might just be enough to finally help LeBron James fulfill his destiny. Perhaps the Cavs front office will fall asleep at the wheel again, just like they always seem to do. However, knowing full well free agency awaits King James in two years, I’m guessing they’ll do everything in their power to convince “The Franchise” his best shot at an NBA title rests in Cleveland.

Unless, of course, he wants to jump to the Celtics when Ray Allen’s deal expires at the same time!

One-quarter of the way into the NBA season, what do you think? I won't bother asking if the Celtics CAN repeat. We know they CAN. But, WILL they repeat? Which team presents the strongest challenge?