At the risk of completely jinxing this team, I'd like to point out a Henry Abbott post on TrueHoop. Here are the two main points (both quoted from other sources):
The Newark Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro checked in with the team:
Once in a while, you can tell whether these guys are juiced to play a game.
This isn't one of those times.
Q. You haven't personally had a real shot at these guys yet.
Vince: (shrug).
Q. You got clobbered by 23 once against Boston, and were down 23 the other time. Your guys could say that your absence was a factor.
Vince: (shrug).
And so on.
And then there's this from Tommy Beer:
The C's have lost four games thus far, and they have avenged each loss with a brutal retaliation against who ever happened to cross their path.
- On 11/18, the Orlando Magic beat Boston 104-102. In their next game (11/21), the Celts trounced the Warriors 105-82.
- On 11/27, Boston lost to the Cavs in overtime (109-104). Their next game was the "Boston Massacre in which the spanked the Knicks 104-59
- On 12/19, the Pistons beat the C's by two (87-85) in Beantown. Two days later the Celts beat up on the Bulls, 107-82.
So, I assume by now you see the pattern developing.
I like where this is headed.