The quotable material keeps coming from all venues around the league this week.
From ESPN's recap of the Celts' statement victory over Detroit on Saturday night:
"They're a little more happy than we were when we won our game at their place," Chauncey Billups said. "It was just a regular game for us with two good teams playing. They were kind of playing like it was the Super Bowl.
"There was probably a little more at stake for them and their psyche than it was for us."
Sure, the Pistons have been the class of the Eastern Conference for a couple of years now, and yes, in the eyes of many, the Celtics had more to prove coming into this game. Fair enough.
But that said, when did being sure to act nonchalant about winning become the 'in' thing to do? And when did playing like every game means something go out of style?
"They were kind of playing like it was the Super Bowl." While I trust there are some other Boston athletes who might have a better handle on that particular event than the C's do, my apologies for not realizing that Chauncey and his boys were too cool to play hard in the regular season.
Perhaps Billups is attempting some backhanded slight at the Celts.
Or perhaps he is simply conceding that, this time around, the fellas from Beantown wanted it more.
And that will suit the boys in green and their newly earned confidence just fine.