For 55 games, the Celtics followed a familiar pattern. The names changed on given nights depending on who was healthy and who wasn’t, but the script rarely deviated. Nate Robinson replaced Rajon Rondo. Marquis Daniels subbed for Paul Pierce and Glen Davis worked in behind Kevin Garnett and whatever center could walk that day.

With the additions of Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, things are starting to change. Green played everywhere from shooting guard to the big forward in 27 minutes of work on Monday and Doc Rivers had him playing alongside Paul Pierce in stretches. When it came time to win the game, however, Rivers returned to his tested formula.

Davis played with the other starters. On the defensive end, Garnett took a hot Al Jefferson and cooled him down. Ray Allen and Pierce made big shots and the Celtics found a way to prevail, 107-102 over the Jazz (click here for a full recap).

If the score seemed a tad un-Celtics-like, it’s because the new guys are still trying to figure things out defensively.

“It’s too early,” Rivers told reporters in Utah who asked for an assessment of the ex-Thunder players. “They don’t know half our stuff. Their heads are still spinning. I’m not looking for growth. I’m just looking for minutes.”

Rivers has six weeks to play with his new toys and get them ready for the postseason, and in a way that’s what the remaining 24 games are for. They need practice time as well as minutes if they are going to approach the kinetic closeness of the last three and a half years.

But while they work it out there are still games to be won and the Celtics are not conceding anything to the Heat – whether it’s homecourt or the recently available Troy Murphy, who is said to be torn between the two contenders.

The win over the Jazz gave the Celtics a 3-1 mark on their West Coast trip with a shorthanded loss to Denver the only blemish. They also have two games in the loss column on the Heat.

“I just appreciate this team,” Rivers said. “They tend to find a way to win games.”

Kendrick Perkins may be gone, but as long as the core four are still in place don’t expect the Celtics to shrink from the task at hand.

Here are three more points:

KEVIN GARNETT IS DANGEROUS AGAIN

Lost in the various Garnett controversies over the last month is the fact that he had recorded only one double-digit rebounding game between the time he returned from a calf injury and a Feb. 7 game with the Bobcats. But over the last three weeks, Garnett has had seven double-doubles in his last eight games and is looking every bit like the dominator he was before the injury.

Garnett went for 18 points and 14 rebounds against the Jazz, but it was his defense in the fourth quarter against ex-Celtic Al Jefferson that really stood out. Jefferson abused Krstic for 18 points in the first half, and as much as Krstic is going to have to adjust to playing with them, they are going to have to adjust to playing without a top-flight defensive center.

One way to compensate is to have Garnett switch to the opponents’ best offensive player, and Monday night that meant Jefferson. The pivotal moment came with about three minutes left in the game when Jefferson and Garnett were given double-technical fouls.

They continued to go back and forth and when play resumed, and Jefferson predictably wanted the ball on his customary spot in the post. Garnett conceded the pass, but when Jefferson went to spin into contact Garnett was nowhere to be found. He had read the play before Jefferson even thought up the move. Distracted by all the free space, Jefferson traveled.

Garnett has put on a defensive clinic on this trip and that was just one obvious example of his craftiness and footwork. One of the prime reasons team president Danny Ainge was able to remake his roster at the trade deadline is because of his faith in Garnett to lock down the paint. That faith was rewarded again against the Jazz.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF NENAD KRSTIC

First, the good stuff from the Celtics' new center. He is quite obviously a much better offensive player than Perkins. Krstic scored 10 points in the first quarter and is showing that he may be able to do more than just run pick-and-pops with Rondo.

Krstic has shown a nice touch around the basket and the ability to roll to the basket off low-post touches. He’s also not afraid to mix it up for offensive rebounds, and while that’s not a point of emphasis for Rivers, the Celtics could use at least the semblance of a threat on the boards.

Now, the bad. Defensively, he’s nowhere near Perkins’ class. That was expected, but Krstic has looked slow on rotations and was the obvious matchup the Jazz looked to exploit whenever he was on the floor.

It’s obviously unfair to expect Krstic to approach Perkins on that end -- and it’s also a given that he will improve with practice time. But Rivers may have to consider some adjustments when he’s on the floor, including some -- like double-teaming the post -- that he’s loathe to implement.

It will also be interesting to see what Rivers does with his fourth quarter lineup. Davis has been a stalwart for the Celtics this season, but he has struggled with consistency since January and had a miserable time down the stretch against Utah.

All this new-found flexibility opens up a number of avenues for Rivers and he’s shown a willingness to experiment during the first three quarters. The question is whether he’ll be willing to do it in the fourth.

THE BUYOUT MARKET TAKES SHAPE

The important thing to remember between now and 11:59 p.m. Tuesday is that players only need to be waived by that time to be eligible for someone else’s postseason roster. They can sign at any time once they clear waivers until the end of the regular season.

With that in mind, the market for veteran free agents began to come into focus Monday and there are decent options to be had for the Celtics.

Troy Murphy is the big name, and he is expected to choose between Boston and Miami. A surprising name that became available is Corey Brewer, who was hailed as a necessary defensive stopper by the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade, but became expendable once they set their sights on Jared Jeffries. The Knicks also cut ties with Kelenna Azubuike, who would be a very intriguing option if he hadn’t missed the entire season following knee surgery. 

Veteran point guard Mike Bibby also gained his freedom once he elected to forego the last year of a contract that would have paid him $6 million. (Remember, players don’t get paid in a lockout.) Bibby is reportedly headed to Miami, where he will be an upgrade over Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo, though he will remain a defensive liability against the likes of Rondo and Derrick Rose.

The Celtics have two open roster spots for the time being and they will likely target Murphy and Brewer. Neither one is a game-changer, but both could come in useful in the playoffs and provide depth in the regular season.

They could open up a third spot once Chris Johnson’s 10-day contract expires and it would make sense to hold on to that spot in case another injury hinders Delonte West, who missed the Utah game with a sprained ankle.

Beyond Murphy and Brewer, players like Leon Powe and Morris Peterson are available. Others will join them Tuesday.

The Celtics have room to maneuver and it’s becoming clear that they will be competing with the Heat on another front as the battle for the Eastern Conference comes into focus.