Victory Over Lakers Will Get Attention

This blissful start to the 2007-2008 season is all well and good. But, fans of the Green for more than a few years were (understandably) a little skeptical. The 1986 Championship seems like two lifetimes ago to those of us who are old enough to remember Jungle Jim Loscutoff rambling down the lane. (By the way, Jim and his son run a great kids' camp in Andover, Mass. called Camp Evergreen).

Anyway, last night's 107-94 win over the hated Lakers may offer the first opportunity for the rest of the country to stand up and take notice. If the Celtics are solid enough to dispatch the lads from La-La Land, the national pundits might opine, something must be up in Boston. The Governator came all the way from Sacramento the see the game. Heck, there were even "BEAT L.A." signs in the Garden again!

And so it should be. The New Big Three (who will heretofore be known on this blog as "TNBT") showed up in force once again—Garnett (21 pts., 11 boards); Pierce (20 pts.); Allen (18 pts.). But two other C's were huge in the win over "Kobe and Four Other Guys" (heretofore referred to as "KAFOG")—Rajon Rondo with 10 assists and the resurgent Kendrick Perkins with 21 points and 9 boards.

All in all, a very satisfying victory for the suddenly 10-1 Division leaders. That sounds so right.