The Celtics picked a fine time to start playing like shit. Last night’s win over Portland aside (I’ll get to the Paul Pierce tribute later), our men in green are melting in the national spotlight. As I wrote last week, this was supposed to be the statement road trip. The moment where we punch Stephen A. Smith and other doubters square in the face. Instead, we are getting pelted with a barrage of “I told you the Celtics weren’t that good!” Are we not that good? Remember what it was like to be a Red Sox fan pre-2004? There was all that early season enthusiasm and false confidence as we raced out to a fast start.  We ignored critics who said this wouldn’t and couldn’t last and watched in horror as everything slipped away by August. I’m getting that sick feeling again.

Going back to last night, the Celtics won because Paul Pierce wanted to. The dude dropped 30 and missed just two shots. Ray Allen also showed up. (He’s been more streaky this year than Antoine Walker ever was.) Tonight we should beat down the Clippers and have Sam Cassell fly back to Boston with us. It's time to start fucking people up again....

Chuck - Red's Army