(Best E Casino) - The
Boston Celtics have been the toast of the NBA since last summer, and it is no surprise they already own 40 wins by February.
Much of the success can be attributed to the acquisitions of superstars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen prior to the 2007-08 season. But head coach Doc Rivers deserves some credit too for his ability to keep all egos in the parking lot and three NBA stars on the same page. Garnett, Allen and current Celtics hero Paul Pierce have enjoyed the limelight in their careers, and have somehow managed to tie it all together in Beantown.
The Celtics currently own the best record in the league at 40-9 and have won four straight contests to push their Atlantic Division lead to 13 1/2 games over the Toronto Raptors. Pierce had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead Boston to its 40th win of the season after a 104-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
At this rate the Celtics can rotate resting their big three before the playoffs even arrive in a few months. Some teams can't muster 40 wins over an entire season and Boston accomplished the feat before Valentine's Day. The Celtics finished last season with a 24-58 record.
There have only been two other Boston squads to reach the 40-win mark faster than this year's bunch. The 1964-65 team was the quickest with a 40-7 start to the campaign, while the 1972-73 team won 40 of its first 48 games.
Boston's road to 40 wins hit a snag a few weeks ago when Garnett went down with an abdominal injury. The "Big Ticket" has missed eight straight games and the team is surprisingly 6-2 without the All-Star in the lineup. Rivers has done his best to compensate for the absence of Garnett by putting his trust in the reserves off of the bench. Players such as Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Eddie House have displayed their skills when called on by Rivers, who will guide the East in the upcoming All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Garnett, who led all players in votes received in NBA All-Star balloting, is averaging 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He is expected to appear in his 11th All-Star Game this weekend, but may take a seat due to his abdominal strain. The MVP of the 2003 All-Star Game should be back for the Celtics following the festivities this weekend.
The Celtics will play their last game before the break on Wednesday versus the New York Knicks at TD Banknorth Garden. They have won four straight as the host and own an Eastern Conference-best 22-4 record at home this season.
Boston will then hit the road for five games at the Nuggets, Warriors, Suns, Trail Blazers and Clippers after the mid-season breather.
