1st Round - Celtics/76ers - Game 1

The Boston Celtics came out with mountainous energy in front of a thunderous crowd as the defending NBA champions surged to a 8-0 lead to begin the game. By the end of the night, they would win 88-123 in front of loyal fans who want to see them bring home another trophy.

Led by the brilliance of Rajon Rondo (25pts/10assists), Kevin Garnett (13pts/11rebs) and Michael Beasley (22pts), Boston obliterated the 76ers and made everything they did, including 24pts/15rebs by Andrew Bynum, seem inconsequential.

The only "bad" thing Boston did was play too much defense, fouling the hopeless 76ers, a mistake that had Beasley foul out late in the 4th quarter despite inspired effort. But everything else was working, and working well! Paul Pierce was hitting 3's and fade-aways, Eddie House was lighting up the 3 point line, Roy Hibbert was pulling down 14 rebounds and even Allen Iverson was making half-court passes for breakaway jams.

Boston could not have asked for a better inception to this series, shooting 49/99 from the floor, just shy of 50%. They dominantly take a 1-0 lead and return to the same ecstatic arena for Game 2, hoping to outplay Philadelphia on the boards, in the fast break and most importantly, on the scoreboard. But Philadelphia has to be licking their wounds after tonight and can't be too anxious to let it happen again, at least not so emphatically.

GM's Desk: Looking Ahead to the Playoffs

Rajon Rondo has a 2nd championship ring in his sights, but a long road starts tomorrow night as the Boston Celtics enter the 1st Round against Andrew Bynum & the Philadelphia 76ers.

For the 2nd year in a row, the Boston Celtics (64-18) have earned the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference Standings with strong wins against the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. Unlike last year, the reigning NBA Champions have also claimed the best record in the entire league, which would give them home court advantage, something they narrowly avoided as an obstacle against the Los Angeles Lakers, who held the better record then.

The Boston Celtics tore through last year's post-season, stifling the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat in just 9 games before sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. To some fans and critics, Boston was the underdog in the last two of those matches, but the results spoke for themselves.

In the regular season, the LA Lakers split two games with the team that took their title away from them last year and the Miami Heat lost 2 of 3. However, the New York Knicks have drawn the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round. Unless history repeats itself, the Celtics may be faced with overcoming Spike Lee's favorite team, a squad led by Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, who have stung Boston in the past.

But Andrew Bynum and Jrue Holiday are up first. It's time to see if they can change Boston Celtics' plans to "repeat" as the coveted NBA champions.

BREAKING NEWS - Celtics Deal Frye, Turkoglu Before Trade Deadline

Boston may be reeling in a win after most games they play, but that doesn't mean every player is consistently contributing to the team's breezy success. The defending champions parted ways with Channing Frye, who was acquired in the off-season. Frye and former slam dunk contest winner, Gerald Green, were exchanged for bench booster, Caron Butler.

Also dealt away was Hedo Turkoglu, who was acquired not too long ago from the Orlando Magic for Charlie Villanueva. In return, the Golden State Warriors sent Richard Jefferson, who will add some explosiveness and a decent jumpshot to back up Paul Pierce from the bench.

Boston Celtics @ Memphis Grizzlies (Game 27 of 82)

The Boston Celtics conceded their 16-game win streak to the fiery Memphis Grizzlies, 108-116, who ultimately outran and out-shot the defending champions.

The hometown Grizzlies leaped to a 15-32 lead in the 1st quarter, forcing the Boston Celtics to do what they do best, defy the odds and storm back. Their storm was without the usual proficiency of Paul Pierce, who went cold, only 4-10 from the field and 0-2 from downtown. He was followed by Rip Hamilton, who chilled for 1-6 shooting, outdone by Rajon Rondo who was 1/7 and spent most of the game on the bench out of respect for Jordan Farmar's gutsy eruption, leading the Celtics in scoring for 32 points on 12/23 shooting, including 6 shots from beyond the three-point line.

Aside from Farmar's folly heroics, Kevin Garnett soldiered his way to 15 points and 10 rebounds, along with 14 boards by Roy Hibbert and 13 points by Michael Beasley, but Boston's defense was far too porous to secure a comeback. They allowed too many dunks in the fast break, and it showed Boston's incoherence and exhaustion after several tough road games. 12 turnovers didn't help their hopes for a comeback, either.

Mike Conley had 24 points and 10 assists, Rudy Gay crashed his way for 23 points, Mareese Speights had 14pts/15rebs, but Marc Gasol outdid him with 18pts/15rebs. The Celtics will simply have to refuel now and strike back.

Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks (Game 26 of 82)

Paul Pierce went wild for 31 points on 12-24 shooting, splashing in a quartet of three pointers that allowed Boston to pull away through a close game.

Brandon Jennings (15pts/16asts), Monta Ellis (16pts), ex-Kings forward, Marcus Thorton (25pts), and big men, Ilyasova (16pts/11rebs) and Samuel Dalembert (14pts/18rebs).

After nearly breaking even in the 1st quarter, Boston broke away and outscored the Bucks 34-27. They would continue to hold Milwaukee at bay, outscoring them by 2 in the next two quarters. Boston ensured Milwaukee's comeback attempts would fall short, containing them in the half-court setting and causing 18 turnovers for the Bucks.

Down the stretch, Milwaukee failed to hit shots, while Michael Beasley (18pts) slammed the ball down on the other end over Dalembert. Allen Iverson came in off the bench and chipped in 7 points and 4 assists, scoring more than Rajon Rondo who had an off night, but helped Rip Hamilton reach 16 points by dishing 4 assists of his own.

Boston prevailed, 106-96, extending their win streak to 16 games.

Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers (Game 25 of 82)

Despite trade rumors involving Danny Granger, the Indiana Pacers absolutely crushed the visiting NBA Champions, shooting 75% and flattening Boston 37-19 in the 1st quarter.

Faced with a huge deficit, Boston relied on the heroes that had silenced Atlanta the night before, as Kevin Garnett (23pts/13rebs) and Paul Pierce (22pts/7rebs) somehow lived to defy the Indiana Pacers, with a miraculous Eddie House (24pts on 8 three-pointers) hitting a huge shot from beyond the arc that gave Boston a one-point lead in the final seconds that Indiana failed to answer, forced to put the Celtics at the foul line in surrender, 104-101.

Tonight's remarkable outcome proves yet again why the Indiana Pacers still fail to defeat the resilient Boston Celtics, despite 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists by Danny Granger, 20 points and 9 assists by Rodney Stuckey, 18 points and 9 rebounds by Paul George, and 19 points by DJ Augustin.

Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks (Game 24 of 82)

Boston's win streak barely continued in the ATL due to 34 points by "The Truth" and 21 points by Kevin Garnett. Eddie House chipped in 12, Channing Frye gave 9, Jordan Farmar had 8 and Rondo & Rip Hamilton combined for 14 points.

Lou Williams dissected the Celtics defense for 29 points, Josh Smith had 22pts/18rbs, Devin Harris put in 19pts/9asts, and Matt Barnes gave a surprising 18 points.

Despite being dominated on rebounds (67 to 42), the Celtics surged in the 4th quarter, outscoring the fierce Hawks 42-33 to a 109-102 road victory supported by 14 blocks.