WAS THAT THE CELTS BEST WIN OF THE YEAR YESTERDAY?

Shaquille O'Neal, Delonte West, Marquis Daniels, Semih Erden, Jermaine O'Neal all were out with nagging injuries.  Paul Pierce had one point.  The first time in over 10 years that Pierce did not hit a shot from the field.  It was okay though because Rajon Rondo took over the game.  He notched a triple-double sparking the Celtics to a much needed victory.

Trailing by four at halftime the Celtics came out in the third quarter and shot 83% from the field building a lead by as many as 13 points only to see it shrink in the fourth quarter to a one possession game.  LeBron misses the tying free-throw with 12 seconds left, a better script could not have been better, but the real story of this game was that the Celtics only scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and were able to win the game due to their suffocating defense.  The defense in the fourth quarter was remarkable.  The rotations by the big men were flawless.  Jeff Van Gundy said it best yesterday on the broadcast, ..."that rotation by the Celtics defense should be on ESPN Top 10, but it won't be because people don't care, but that is why they are a championship team every year," said Van Gundy.  I could not agree more.  KG and Perk were leading the way as Rondo was hasseling LeBron all day.

The Celtics were very short-handed yesterday and Doc did not even know if he would have enough players to dress, but people stepped up such as Ron Von Wafer who had 10 points in 12 minutes which sparked a third quarter rally.  For one time Pierce could not get going.  It may have been his foot injury, hand injury, sickness or covering LeBron for half the game, but that is why they are a well-rounded team.  His teammates picked him up and the Boston Celtics regained sole possession of the best record in the Eastern Conference. 

Again, the Celtics proved that they are tougher than the Heat and have more chemistry.  Obviously, KG is in Dwayne Wades head after their little altercation in the third quarter.  The Heat are 0-3 versus the Celtics this year and if they want to be the best they are going to have to beat the best.  Ubuntu.