Celts Regain Home Court In Motor City

It was the challenge of the year. It was a chance to get the 800-pound gorilla off their backs. Finally. A road win. A defensive gem at that, 94-80 over the Pistons.

Six different Cs hit double figures on offense—led by Kevin Garnett with 22. Captain Paul had 11 points, after scoring only 2 in the first half.

While the Pistons made a late run, the obviously injured Chauncy Billups was a non-factor.

So, it's a chance to go up 3-1 on Tuesday night in Auburn Hills.

Back-Benchers Set The Tone In GAME 2

Much of the success enjoyed by the Celtics in their second match-up with the Cavs was due to the guys off the bench. Not only didn't they represent a drop-off from the starting five, they actually revved up the intensity level in a game that may define the ultimate fate of the Championship Seventeen Quest (which we will now call the CSQ).

While The New Big Three (TNBT) combined for their typically self-less 48 points, it was Powe, Posey and Cassell who kept the pedal to the metal and never let LeBron feel comfortable.

Celts "Coast" Into Round Two

Well, it wasn't the cake-walk we all thought it would be, but the C's made a convincing case for their worthiness by eviscerating the lowly Hawks 99-65 at the Garden on Sunday.

The scale of the rout was so epic that it doesn't even merit a player-by-player accounting. This was a team-on-team blow-out, with most of the New Big Three cooling their heels during the garbage-time second half.

Will this little scare spur them on to put the pedal to the metal on the road in Cleveland? I think it just might.

Cs Cruise To 2-0 In "Scrimmage" Round

As thrilled as we are that the Celtics are the best team in the NBA, these initial "playoff" rounds with the likes of the Atlanta Hawks are a bit much to take. The first two games of the series played more like the Globetrotters/Generals than genuine NBA fare. Not that we're complaining too much. A win is a win is a win.

But, come on. Does Ted Turner even know there's a team in Atlanta anymore? At least the Celtics kept up the intensity level in the games—keeping the likes of Garnett and Allen in at the end hitting shots and grabbing rebounds. It was a good message to send: "You guys ain't getting up for air until you're home watching the second round".

Streak Busters!

There are no more hills to climb between now and the play-offs. Your Boston Celtics have pretty much done it all. As WEEI's Michael Holley has said, they are now the prohibitive favorites to win the team's 17th NBA Championship.

They have faced the steel of the league and come through fine. And now, they have ended the second-longest winning streak in NBA history on the road.

By thrashing the Houston Rockets 94-74, the Green have now answered all the questions. They can beat anyone. Are you stacked with All-Stars? We can beat you. Are you super hot? We can beat you.

Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Captain Paul Pierce added 20, as the C's pulled away big time in the second half. In fact, they held the Rockets to only 34 points in Quarters 3 and 4.

Is this fun, or what?

Comeback? We ARE Back!

If you had any doubt that this edition of your Boston Celtics was for real, it's now official in the wake of their 93-91 come from way behind win against the San Antonio Spurs. People, the Celtics are 40 games over .500 now. In the recent past, 40 total wins would have been a successful season. Holy Jungle Jim Luscutoff!

Newcomer Sam Cassell was the highlight reel champion with a clutch 3-pointer to put the C's up in the 4th Quarter, but this was a purely Red-like team effort. Paul Pierce got 22 points, Rajon Rondo (increasingly the point guard of the present) got 20, and the aforementioned Cassell had 17. Oh, and that Garnett guy, he netted 21 with 8 boards.

This is the part of the C's schedule that critics said would test their mettle—facing the iron of the NBA as they approach the Playoff Holy Land. "Playoffs?" You betcha!

C's Clich Playoff Spot With Win #47!

It's sweet enough to be the first NBA team to nail down a post-season berth, but to do it against their chief roadblock to the Finals (a 90-78 win over Detroit) is even sweeter.

While Kevin Garnett's season-high 31 points grabbed the limelight, the win was also attributable to 20 rebounds by Kendrick Perkins and 16 stunning points by point guard Rajon Rondo.

The Cs and Pistons fought through a physical fourth quarter that is likely to foreshadow the playoff tilt to come.