Vin Baker was finished. Everyone knew it. Damaged goods.The six-foot-11-inch power forward out of Hartford had become the poster child of a fallen star. Baker started his career with promise, averaging 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Milwaukee Bucks in his rookie season. He was selected to the all-rookie team with the likes of Penny Hardaway and Chris Webber. By his fourth season he was averaging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Baker was starring in Milwaukee, and looked just as good in his first season after being traded to Seattle.

Soon enough though, things started to go wrong with Baker. He played only 34 games his second season in Seattle because of injury and never seemed to regain all-star form. His numbers were dropping while his weight was ballooning. Questions started to arise about his desire and his commitment. Rumors of alcohol problems were persistent. Baker had been a four time all-star, but after four disapointing seasons with Seattle he had worn out his welcome.

Things didn't get any better for Baker after a five player deal sent him and Shammond Williams to the Celtics for Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Joseph Forte. Chris Wallace, Boston's general manager at the time was instantly vilified and criticized for the move. The Celtics had given up their only true point guard in Anderson for an overweight washout. There was tremendous pressure for Baker to fill the void the Celtics had in the low post. Baker was unable to play up to the expectations, and the spiral continued.

Baker never seemed comfortable on the court in his first season with the Celtics. Coach Jim O'Brien was hesitant to rush Baker into his rotation, and Baker struggled to earn minutes. He was slow up the floor, tentative with the ball and seemed unwilling or unable to be the physical presence he once was. But Baker's real problems were off the basketball court.

The Celtics were becoming increasingly concerned with Baker's alcohol problems. Baker would often come to practice smelling like Ziv quad on a Saturday night. O'Brien and other members of the Celtics repeatedly tried to approach Baker and offer help, but to no avail.

Finally, Baker hit bottom. After 52 games of which he started only nine, Baker was averaging 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in a meaningless 18 minutes per game. Baker was finished, just as fans in Boston had first suspected. On Feb. 27, the Celtics suspended Baker indefinitely for his problems with alcohol.

When new GM Danny Ainge came to town, it seemed like Baker might be one of the first to go. Surely if Ainge was willing to trade Celtics all-star captain Antoine Walker, he would happily unload Baker's hefty contract as soon as possible. But no teams were willing to take the risk the Celtics took, and as the preseason began, Boston fans were introduced to the new and improved Vin Baker. Baker broke his silence upon his return to the team, and for the first time shared details of his fight against alcoholism.

"I'm an alcoholic," Baker told the Boston Globe.

Baker went on saying he had not touched alcohol since the day the team suspended him. Baker said he completed a 28 day rehabilitation program and a 10 week out patient program. More importantly to Celtics fans, Baker pledged that he was back.

"For me, I've worked so hard this summer physically," Baker said. "I've worked harder mentally and emotionally. What I've worked for is to come back and help the team, whatever way I can help the team."

Celtics fans and folks around the league were suspicious, and with good reason. But make no mistake, Vin Baker has resurrected his career this season in Boston. Baker has started all nine games this season, scoring 14.6 points and pulling down 7.9 rebounds in 31.7 minutes per game. Baker is leading the Celtics with a 0.557 field goal percentage, good for fifth best in the league. In the size-challenged Eastern Conference, Baker looks like he could be exactly what the Celtics need make another run at the NBA finals.

Baker posted season highs of 24 points against Memphis and 13 rebounds against Sacramento. More importantly, the Celtics power forward is playing physical, hard-nosed basketball on both sides of the court. Last Tuesday Baker hit the game winning jumper to down the Pacers in Indiana. He looks thinner, stronger, faster, sharper and hungrier than ever. Expect Baker to be wearing a green uniform for a long time to come.

If he continues to play at this level, the Celtics could threaten the upper echelon teams of the Eastern Conference.