Chicago (No) Hope

OK, this is getting fun. After the Celtics thrid straight dismantling of an NBA foe (118-90 over the hapless Bulls), maybe we can schedule more challenging games against Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv or Regal FC Barcelona. Yikes. This time, five C's hit double figures in points—Pierce (22), House (22), Allen (20), Garnett (16) and Shelden Williams (10).

Oh, and did we mention Rajon Rondo's line? How about 16 assists in just 30 minutes. Can we start the playoffs now?

De-Clawed Bobcat

It wasn't really fair. The ease with which the Celtics dispatched the Charlotte Bobcats last night (92-59) at the Garden was a tad embarrassing.

This time the C's had five, not four, players in double figures—Pierce, Rondo, Garnett, Allen, and Shelden Williams (Big Baby's short-range replacement).

This was so lopsided that Pierce, Garnett and Perkins needed to play only about 25 minutes. Talk about shortening up the game!

Let's hope that we have roughly 60 more or so laughers like this in 2009-2010—and four of them in the Finals.

Class Beats Crass

The predominant theme emerging from last night's opening night victory was that the C's are all about "team" and the Cavs are all about, well, a "dream"—the dream of pairing two mega-stars on the way to their first championship.

If the 95-89 Boston victory is any indication, this Cleveland squad is a long way from that dream.

For Boston's part, they got double-digit scoring from Pierce (23), Allen (16), Garnett (13) and Rasheed (12). Ten assists from the (hopefully) soon-to-be-resigned Rajon Rondo rounded out the truly team victory.

So, Shaq and LeBron can make the cover of Sports Illustrated. We'll take banner number 18.