Hoops Habit
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NBA Power Rankings: HoopsHabit Holiday Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 23, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) attempts a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) attempts a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (8) in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (8) in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 105-87. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Boston Celtics

Record: 10-16

Last Week: 2-2

Previous Rank: No. 23

The Boston Celtics made a clear commitment to the future by trading franchise player Rajon Rondo. The return wasn’t much in terms of personnel, which implies that Boston is officially in rebuild mode.

Optimism is welcome, but it’s not very realistic.

Despite Danny Ainge’s pre-draft statements that there weren’t any stars in the 2014 NBA Draft, he traded Rondo in favor of developing rookie Marcus Smart. Even if that wasn’t his direct intention, it’s the the result.

Smart is an excellent talent, but the Celtics lack the necessary firepower to contend.

For as true as that may be, Boston is only 1.5 games out of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. That’s no achievement at 10-16, but it goes to display how quickly Boston can develop its core.

Celtics fans are welcome to dispute this if they’d like, but when a below .500 team trades its best player, its ranking won’t improve by much.

Next: How The Mighty Have Fallen