The Celtics have muscled their way back into the top 10 in the latest ESPN.com NBA Power Rankings, hopping up one spot this week (Sunday's win over the Bulls preventing a possible dip after consecutive losses to the Lakers and Raptors). Writes curator Marc Stein, "Here's why no one likes playing 'em no matter how old they are: Despite its rebounding issues, Boston has held its past 25 opponents under 100 -- good for the seventh-longest streak in the shot-clock era -- and came within a point Sunday against Chicago of keeping a record 12 in a row to 90 points or fewer." The Celtics sit fifth among Eastern Conference teams, ranked behind Miami (1), Chicago (3), Philadelphia (6), and Indiana (7).
Elsewhere, the Celtics are at No. 13 in John Hollinger's computerized power rankings. Their playoff odds are at 80.9 percent, an encouraging sign despite currently sitting with the seventh seed in the East.