Because we spent our football words here — trying to explain why the Patriots shouldn't set their sights on anything except another appearance in the Super Bowl — and the Celtics are in the midst of a hellacious stretch where they'll play eight games in 13 days, we decided we'd give the local hoops team some love tonight.

And we opted to do it a little differently. Instead of arbitrarily blabbering on and on about each guy, we've chosen a bit of a challenge and are going to give each guy the exact amount of attention dictated by his jersey. Whatever number he's wearing, that's the number of words we spent on him — so here's a look at the champs, eight games in to the pursuit of the 18th banner:

Ray Allen (20)
At 33, wouldn’t mind seeing him sit 10 games at some point – otherwise his flat jumper may linger through spring.

Tony Allen (42)
Don’t forget the player who was blossoming before he blew out his knee early in 2007. Allen hit for double-figures in 14 straight that season, and if now he’s fully healthy, he could be heroic, in the Posey role, for this team.

Sam Cassell (28)
Of all the spellings and variations, Sam’s behind Matt Cassel and Castle Greyskull on my list of favorites. In fact, I’d be cool if he’s inactive all year.

Glen Davis (11)
Forget fitness. Using his body, he’s becoming a poor man’s Barkley.

Kevin Garnett (5)
Anything is possible, again, Peanut.

J.R. Giddens (4)
Four letters, instead: NBDL.

Eddie House (50)
The more House plays within himself, the more the Celtics can do without Cassell – and the better they’ll be. So far he’s struggled from 3-point land, but he’s been good enough elsewhere to be a big factor off the bench. Once he starts hitting, a solid bench becomes legitimately lethal.

Patrick O’Bryant (26)
Certainly a worthwhile shot when the 9th-overall pick is there two years later. Run him with the first group at some point, and see what’s what.

Kendrick Perkins (43)
It’s hard to believe that Perk just turned 24 today, considering he’s been here since 2003. But from a project he’s become a pretty good center, serviceable enough offensively, and a darn good defender (especially as he cultivates a rep with the refs).

Paul Pierce (34)
Tonight’s game was vintage Captain, and the guess here is that his 22-point fourth quarter is just the spark he needed to shake the funk of his – I may mean this literally – post-title hangover.

Leon Powe (0)
.

Gabe Pruitt (13)
Supposedly he’s unstoppable in practice … so let’s see it at gametime, already.

Rajon Rondo (9)
I’d like 12 and 7, average, by season’s end.

Brian Scalabrine (44)
He may be fetching $3 million. And that may seem a lot for the two points, three rebounds and zero assists he’s accumulated this season. But you can’t quantify the quality of outlet passes. And, as Scal will remind us, he’s NBA royalty there.

Bill Walker (12)
A couple nice dunks does not a career make. Ask Harold Miner.

FREE THROWS
I won’t complain if the Celtics sign Antonio McDyess, if for no other reason than it keeps a familiar cog out of the Pistons’ machine. But I don’t necessarily see where McDyess gets minutes on this team. Obviously it worked with P.J. Brown, but that was a short-term scenario, and I think bringing in a veteran for the length of the season could stunt the impressive growth of rotation guys like Powe and Davis – without gaining much on the floor. … Two more encouraging signs of tonight’s win over Toronto: Pierce, who’d been struggling at the stripe, made 12 of 14 free throws; and Garnett limited Chris Bosh (the NBA's third-leading scorer) to nine points and seven boards. That’s a championship recipe, right there. … Is it too early to criticize Kevin McHale for trading away O.J. Mayo? Not by the looks of that kid’s ceiling. … If you’re looking for some extra cash, lay a few bucks on the Celtics this Wednesday night. Atlanta’s coming to the Garden, possibly unbeaten, but on the second night of a back-to-back – and with the Celtics probably looking to make a statement after the Hawks pushed them to seven games last season. … The Pistons’ trade of Chauncey Billups will cost them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. … There’s a chance – and I’d say a pretty good one, given what he’s defensively capable of doing – Tony becomes Boston’s Most Valuable Allen by season’s end.