Nov 28, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen (9) reacts to a call by the official during the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Fed Ex Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

Often, former players are quick to level diagnosis on teams they have left.

Tony Allen’s prognosis of the Celtics was rather pointed, and quite nearly egotistical.

Allen said the Celtics don’t have “a defensive minded guy yet.”

He went on to contradict himself by saying that they had “one, but he’s not 100 percent yet” (speaking of course of Avery Bradley). Allen then criticized the trading of Kendrick Perkins, and said that the Celtics need Perk because he “clogs up the paint, and talks to trash to you.”

That’s about all Perk does. Clog it up and talk trash.

Jeff Green is a much more evolved basketball player whose value on the court greatly exceeds that of Perkins, who can do little more than…well, clog the paint.

So what do Celtics fans make of Allen’s assessment?

It primarily seems to be indicative of a guy who is saying: They can’t win without me.

The team has regressed since 2008, but it really isn’t due to anything more than aging players and a team whose peak may have already come. Other than Rajon Rondo, the core of the team is just older—not better.

Allen’s departure had about as much to do with their decline as the president does with gas prices (despite the claims of pundits that every president intimately affects the price of petroleum).

Here’s what to watch as the Celtics try to follow up the big win over Miami Thursday with another strong effort tonight.

1) Talking defense: This will be a test for Boston’s D, because the Grizzlies are a strong offensive team. Memphis is averaging 104 points a game (eighth in the league), but they are not the most efficient offense (21st in that category). Instead, Memphis plays a fast-pace brand of ball and pushes up the court to create more possessions.

Now, normally that would not be good for an older Celtics team. But the C’s have actually played their best when they have been in transition, and Doc Rivers’ club has not been adverse to running with the opposition. While the Celtics will need to be wary of the Grizzlies’ myriad scoring options (from Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph down low to Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo on the perimeter), this one could actually come down to whether Memphis decides to show up on the defensive end. Which brings me to…

2)  TA: Celtics fans will get to see their first glimpse of old friend Tony Allen in Memphis colors tonight, but whether it is just in sweats or in uniform remains to be seen. That is because head coach (and former Portland Trail Blazers’ great) Lionel Hollins has not given the former Boston guard consistent minutes, even making Allen a healthy scratch in two games last week.

TA was brought in to be the defensive stopper on a team of offensive stars, but for a team that is clearly not shutting down the opposition whatsoever Allen can only get 12 minutes a game. It’s been a tough start for him, but if he plays he can add something to this Memphis club.

3) Manning the middle: Memphis has some impressive big men in Gasol and Randolph, and this will be the toughest test the Celtics’ D has faced in the paint thus far this season. With Jermaine O’Neal out and Shaq limited, Kevin Garnett will really have to control the inside area if the Celtics want to stop Memphis from getting easy buckets.

Let’s not forget that good power forwards and big men (minus Chris Bosh) have shredded the Celtics at times this season. J.J. Hickson put up a gem of a game against Boston in the Cavs’ upset win, Andrew Bogut was great offensively despite playing with basically one arm, and Joakim Noah put up 26 points for the Bulls. But those teams didn’t have two strong options up front like Memphis. The Celtics can’t let the Grizzlies get easy baskets inside, and they have to wear them down on the other end of the court.

At that point in the game, he had already fouled Udonis Haslem, and the Heat were in the penalty. Haslem hit both free throws, plus they would have had an extra point tacked on when they hit the techincal free throw. Tie ball game. Nevermind an extra point the Heat would have had, technical fouls tend to have this weird flow of energy with them. After any technical foul, especially late in the game when adversity is against the C’s because they are on the road, it makes it very difficult to combat.

Well the Celtics bench would not allow it to happen. In something I have never seen before, the entire bench barricaded Sheed off to the corner of the bench and partway to the locker room so only a limited amount of his words would reach the refs. In addition to their seclusion of him down the entrance, Tony Allen pretended to be stretching obviously in a way to block Rasheeds face from the court. Also, Scalabrine went over and tried to joke around with him to calm him down.

This was a clutch performance by the bench as they sprung into action from the history of Sheed. They have gotten used to his personality, and apparently a lot more used to being comfortable around him to an extent where they have no problem putting him in line. Don’t look past how big this decision by the Celtic bench was on last nights game. There were many huge plays, and this is one of them.