May 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Jeff Green (8) reacts after a play against he New York Knicks in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The New York Knicks defeated the Celtics 88-80. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Dear Jeff,

Its been a long time coming. I remember when you first joined the Celtics–I wondered why? What could you bring to the table that was more essential than what Kendrick Perkins was already bringing? An inside presence, a  defensive force, great team chemistry. When you came, we were all in shock. We had no clue that the Celtics were even eyeing you.

Now, today, when I look back on that trade, I think we won. We got the best player out of the deal at a discounted price. Instead of paying Perkins to sit in the middle, we have you to slash the paint up.

What you bring to the table is essential in today’s NBA. Everyone needs a small ball four and a slashing three. Your awareness of the floor is immaculate–the way that you use the spacing is special. In this league that is essential.

I  know you started off slowly, but you stuck with us and we stuck with you. That slow start turned into a relative comfort and that comfort turned into an unquestionable feeling for the game. Your efficiency near the end of the season knew no bounds. It was like we got a completely different Jeff Green than we extended in the offseason.

I don’t know what happened with your performances at the beginning of the season and I also don’t care. I know what we got at the end of the season was a stamp to include you in the future plans of the organization.

Now if we can bring the same style and pace of basketball to the floor next season with Rajon Rondo on the floor, I’m sure the Celtics will be a force to be reckoned with in the break.

You are the athlete that we’ve been looking for. That change of pace from old and methodical to youthful, fast and chaotic.

Yes, that means that you have a lot of learning to do but we have three years left to watch you grow and mature. Hopefully we see that left hand develop and that corner three ball keep constant improvement.

We should see you learn how to guard the power forward position while attacking crossmatches consistently on the other end.

I have a lot of hope for you, Jeff. You were the best player in the playoff series against the New York Knicks. Your end-of-season splits are phenomenal–they let us know that someone is home.

We’re extremely proud of you for going through that surgery and returning to play. We will wish you the best in the future no matter what it holds. This season put you in the hearts and minds of Celtics’ fans–hopefully you keep yourself there.

Getty Images

Today the NBA announced the All-Defensive first and second teams this afternoon. The All-Defensive first team had two centers on it and six players in total. The second team has the traditional five.

Avery Bradley finished the season with 9.2 points per game, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals. He also averaged 2.6 fouls per game in 28.7 minutes of play. The Celtics defense was a +1.3 on the defensive end. The Celtics allow 104.6 points per 100 possessions without Bradley on the floor and 103.3 with him on the court.

Joining Bradley on the second team is Paul George, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tim Duncan. The first team consists of LeBron James, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Serge Ibaka, Tony Allen and Chris Paul.

This is the second year in a row that the All-Defensive first team did not have the defensive player of the year on it. Marc Gasol lands on the second team behind Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler.

Bradley only played in 50 games this season after coming off of a shoulder surgery to treat a dislocated should from last season’s playoffs.

Jan 24, 2013; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at TD Banknorth Garden. The New York Knicks won 89-86. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Dear Rajon,

How we miss you so. It seems like just yesterday we were all preparing for you to take over the lead for this team. We were ready for the future–ready for Rajon to lead us to the promised land.

Then, on that day, that awful, dreadfully cold January day we found out that we lost you. January 27th is now regarded as the day that uncertainty took over. We thought you were fine–we thought it was just the hamstring.

When we found out it was more, we were left heartbroken. We lost our map and were left with no direction. There was no North, South, East or West–only forward. That’s all we could do.

We didn’t know what was in our near future. Was this the end of the Garnett era in Boston for certain? Were Paul Pierce’s days as a Celtic numbered? These were all questions that we were anxiously awaiting the answers to–most of them are still unanswered, honestly.

We didn’t know how our future would look in the long term or the short term–some even thought that we were better off without you after a few quick wins. Oh, how wrong they were, Rajon. How wrong they were.

We found that out in the playoffs where the Celtics team that needed to be freed from you so much couldn’t complete a post-entry pass against the New York Knicks. This same team that could barely muster up 90 points with you certainly could not do it without you when the game slowed down even more.

On a team that yearned for offensive consistency, you were the most consistent threat. You were the bandage that slowed the bleeding, and when you fell off the wound completely reopened. There was only  a quick fix, but it couldn’t be stopped–only slowed.

Look, your flaws have been well documented over the past few years. You aren’t a great shooter–though you have improved your midrange game immensely. You only make your free throws 65% of the time and sometimes, you can be a bit crazy. But you are still our point guard.

You are the cog that makes the offense go–11.1 assists don’t manifest by osmosis. Your turnover to assist ratio was almost 3-1 and taking into account how much you dominate the ball, quite frankly that’s amazing.

You are one of the most enigmatic players in the association currently. No one else can endear himself in the hearts of fans while destroying children in a game of Connect 4.

You are the future of this Boston franchise in one way or another. Every year your name will likely be thrown into trade conversation just as it was this year. But you should know that, as fans, we have your back. We appreciate you for what you are even if that is a flawed, yet skilled, and very quirky point guard.

You may be the antithesis of today’s average NBA point guard, but what does that mean if you are productive? Your skills provide merit in your role–you don’t need to be something that you aren’t.

At the end of the day, Rajon, you are all that we have and there doesn’t seem to be much better on the horizon. Hopefully the organization can get some decent pieces around you in the very near future so we can watch you compete for championships again.

As I’m sure you already know, there is nothing like playoff Rondo or national television Rondo. Who else can have nearly a triple 20 game  on the highest level of basketball? Who else has 20 assist games and comes out of them with a sense of angst and dissatisfaction? You are a point guard among point guards–a player among players. You are special no matter what anyone says and you need to be appreciated.