Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, sidelined by an Achilles strain, sat out for the 15th time in his team's past 16 games during Wednesday's 108-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings. It's unlikely that Bradley could have prevented this rare dud -- the Celtics hadn't endured a loss this lopsided since November -- but watching the Kings hang 31 points in the fourth quarter, it was one of a few recent reminders that the Celtics are playing without their best defender.
What has been remarkable as the Celtics have climbed to the No.