Wake up with the Celtics and your daily dose of Irish Coffee …

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has only been held to fewer than 10 points once all season — and never fewer than six. Conversely, his Celtics counterpart, Rajon Rondo, has been held to single-digit scoring 21 times in the 2010-11 season — and less than six points nine times.

Meanwhile, Rose has recorded double-digit assists just 16 times — and never more than 14. On the other hand, Rondo has produced 10 or more assists 36 times — and more than 14, well, 14 times.

To say the least, Rose and Rondo have led the Celtics and Bulls to a tie atop the Eastern Conference by playing different styles as the floor generals of their respective teams. But which is more successful?

In the 29 times since 1980 that someone has recorded at least 11 assists per game, that player has reached the conference finals nearly half the time (14-of-29). Those are favorable odds for the Celtics, as Rondo has produced 11.7 assists per game this season.

Still, only six times in that span has someone averaged 11 assists and led his team to the NBA Finals. Each time his name was Magic Johnson, who led the Lakers three titles in such seasons (1985, ’87 and ’88).

Fear not, Celtics fans, for no point guard who has averaged at least 24 points per game has even won a playoff series in the last 30 years. Michael Adams (1991), Gary Payton (2000), Allen Iverson (2005, ’06, ’08) and Gilbert Arenas (’06, ’07) have all produced 24-plus points a game as the primary point guard on their roster and never made it out of the first round.

Before you say, ‘Hey, Rose has had a better year in 2010-11 than any of those four players in those seven seasons — and he’s surrounded by better talent,’ consider Iverson’s 2007-08 season with the Nuggets:

• Rose (’10-11): 24.7 points, 8.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 3.5 turnovers, 44.1 FG%, 33.7 3-PT FG%, 84.5 FT%
• Iverson (’07-’08): 26.4 points, 7.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 3.0 turnovers, 45.8 FG%, 34.5 3-PT FG%, 80.9 FT%

I’d say Iverson’s supporting cast of Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby and a healthy Kenyon Martin are fairly comparable to Rose’s supporting cast of Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and a questionably healthy Carlos Boozer. And that Nuggets team got swept in the first round.

There’s no question that Magic’s three 11-assist championship seasons were better than Rondo’s performance this year, but would you also concede that Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and a 39-year-old Shaquille O’Neal are a better supporting cast than Magic’s 1988 supporting cast of James Worthy, Byron Scott, A.C. Green and a 41-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that won the title?

I think I just talked myself into betting on the Celtics to win the Eastern Conference. If not, I can take solace in the fact that Brian Scalabrine would make the NBA Finals as a member of three different franchises (2002-03 Nets, 2007-08 & 2009-10 Celtics, 2010-11 Bulls).

KENDRICK PERKINS: ‘I FEEL LIKE I WAS WANTED’

Yahoo! Sports reporter Marc J. Spears had an interesting interview with former Celtics and current Thunder center Kendrick Perkins. Here’s what Perkins had to say …

• “I’m just glad I got traded to a good organization, not a [expletive] organization.”
• “I feel like I was wanted – and that’s a good thing. You always want to be at a place where somebody wants you.”
• “Sometimes when you do something wrong, sometimes you have to find a reason to cover it up – they don’t want to make themselves look bad. But at the end of the day, I’m happy where I’m at. Obviously, they didn’t want to spend some money on someone else big. I don’t wish bad on them. I want them to have great years in Boston. I think it’s going to be Ok on both ends. There is no bad blood.”

Perkins recorded six points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes during his debut for the Thunder in their 116-89 victory against the Wizards on Monday night. Meanwhile, new Celtics center Nenad Krstic averaged 14.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last week, capturing a Player of the Week nomination.

KEVIN GARNETT: ‘WE’LL FIGURE THIS OUT’

Garnett published a couple more entries to his blog on shoe company Anta’s website, covering the Celtics’ last three games — including losses to the 76ers and Nets. The highlights (lowlights?) …

• 76ers 89, Celtics 86: “Tough one tonight. We got to Philly without a problem and seemed like we were focused. Still integrating the new guys into our system, but that wasn’t our problem. We just shot bad. We played hard, but shot bad. We gotta step up and start to dictate our wills on the other team. Our team defense has been lacking, so communication needs to pick up and intensity as well. …  Guys are frustrated and should be. Gonna do my part. Gotta keep getting extra shots up, lifting and focusing on our long-term goal. It will be nice to get some bigs back. Rather have them back in the playoffs, so we’ll get through it.”
• Celtics 87, Bucks 56: “Guys were focused and locked in. Held them to a record low 56 points for the game. Defense was moving, and we were ballin’.”
• Nets 88, Celtics 79: “We didn’t get it done. Gave New Jersey a chance, and they took it. Hate losin’ and we gotta get these games. First two games of our five games in seven nights.
• Celtics vs. Pacers: “Next game Indy at home. We’ll figure this out! Gotta get some rest tomorrow and get ready for Wednesday.”

LAYUP DRILL

Five of the 16 championship rings that Red Auerbach won as coach, general manager and team president of the Celtics will be up for auction on the website SCP Auctions from April 15-30, according to Bloomberg.com. Personally, I’d rather bid on his humidor, engraved with signatures from members of the 1954-55 Celtics. …

Sports Illustrated posted 12 rare photos of former Celtics draft pick Len Bias that I’d never seen before, including this one …