The Celtics entered the All-Star break in a slump, plagued by injuries in the first half and struggling to put together four quarters of basketball. There were even talks of breaking up the Big Three and dealing Ray Allen for younger talent.

In the end, the Celtics kept their starting five together and are 3-1 since the break. This turnaround does not come as a surprise to many players around the league. See what some of the best in the game expect from the Celtics in the second half of the season:

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

“[I expect] fight, probably a lot of fight. They have to maximize their chances and I’m expecting a lot of fight out of them. … I wish they would work it out, because it’s a team that I enjoy playing against and I would like to see them down the road.”

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

“They’re a veteran team. As long as you have guys like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and KG, you’re always going to be competitive, especially when it comes to the playoffs. … [Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo] are so valuable to that team. Perk is one of those guys who I say I always hate to play against him but would love to have him on my team. He has a little bit of a swagger about him. But all of that begins with KG, the presence that he brings, the energy he brings. What KG brings is something nobody else has in the league.”

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

“Well, they’re a veteran team, so they know how to win. They’re going to be trouble going into the playoffs, and we’ve got to look out for them.”

Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

“Oh, I think they’re going to get it together. It’s not a problem with the Celtics. They’ve been a top team in the East for a while, so they’re going to come back with a vengeance, they’re going to get healthy, and they’re ready to go. … They’ve got the pieces to win it again, they won it a couple years ago. I think if they get themselves healthy, they’re going to be all right. … I can’t quite pick one weapon. You’ve got Paul Pierce, you’ve got Garnett, you’ve got Rondo, you’ve got Ray — they’ve got a great team, so it’s tough.”

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

“We know they’re going to bounce back strong in the second half and try to finish off on a good note to position themselves for a good spot in the playoffs. That’s a team you never really have to worry about. They’ve got so many great veterans on that team and they’re not going to let that team slide too far down.”

Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors

“They struggled in the first half, but they still won a championship a couple years back. They took Orlando to Game 7 in the second round without Kevin. They’re still a good team. They know how to play. Especially when playoffs come and it gets a little closer to the end of the season, they know how to play. They’re still a dangerous team and they still know how to win.”

Brandon Roy, Portand Trail Blazers

“They’re going to make their run. They’re a good team, and once they get healthy they’re definitely one of the best teams in this league. … [You can never take their struggles for granted] because they’re so consistent and again, once they get healthy and get guys in the rotation, even the guys off the bench, I think they’ll be a really tough team to beat.”

David Lee, New York Knicks

“They’re still about 20 games above .500, so they’re doing a good job. … I think what’s going to be huge is the fact that Rondo has continued to get better and better. I think he’s the key to that team. That, and just guys staying healthy.”