Celtics hit Rocky Mountain Low

Last night we saw what will happen to the Boston Celtics down the stretch if Kevin Garnett doesn't get healthy in a hurry.
The Denver Nuggets exposed Boston's defensive deficiencies to the tune of a 124-118 beating in the Rockies, the first game of a five-game Celtics' Western road swing that might have more image value than actual impact on the standings.
Garnett's return from a nine-game absence due to Boston's most talked about abdominal strain of the 21st century didn't exactly go as planned. KG scored just four points in 21 minutes and, more importantly, didn't seem to have the intensity and fire in the paint on the defensive end that has anchored the Celtics' resurgence to the NBA's best record. Boston led the league in points allowed going into Tuesday night's game, but if you were watching the Celtics play for the first time this season you never would have been able to believe that statistic. Denver's offensive weapons are among the most potent in the league and the Nuggets' aggressive tactics resulted in 49 free throws taken.
The concerning thing for the Celtics is that their depth issues are starting to come into focus and Danny Ainge has no chips left to trade. He went all-in while acquiring Garnett and Ray Allen, stripping his bench of the quality often found on championship-caliber teams. Glen Davis is hurt. Kendrick Perkins is hurt. Boston fans wish it was Scott Pollard who was hurt, because he's an absolute stiff. Brian Scalabrine is hurt and nobody seems to notice -- that says enough.
Most of the talk in Boston has centered around trying to acquire a back-up point guard to Rajon Rondo, a veteran presence who can play 15-20 minutes per game and quarterback the Celtics' second unit. Gary Payton has tossed his name into the ring, but I think we've seen enough from The Glove during his first time in Boston. The last thing he wants is to be played off the floor by Chauncey Billups like he was during the 2004 Finals with the Lakers. Sam Cassell is not walking through that door either. The Celtics don't have the pieces to make a trade to the Clippers for Cassell and they're not about to buy out his contract and make him a free agent.
Boston is stuck with the cast that it has right now, unfortunate because other teams in the league have found ways to improve. The Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol makes them a top-3 team in the Western Conference. Phoenix has revamped its playing style by gambling on Shaquille O'Neal, a risky trade that the Suns see as a potential answer to being manhandled in the postseason. And Dallas has made a big splash by finally completing the stuttering trade for Jason Kidd, returning one of the league's best point guards to his original team. There's no Toni Braxton to fight over this time and destroy the Mavericks' chemistry like there was during Kidd's first tour in Dallas. He'll help Dirk Diggler and the rest of the Mavericks' sharpshooters find their rhythm.
So get well, Kevin. You're the closest thing to a deadline acquisition that Boston can make.