[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="187" caption="(Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)"]
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The Celtics made it through their 6th back-to-back situation in a month. That's 1/3 of their back-to-backs out of the way in one month. The've got no more than 3 in any month from now on. And they've managed to lose only one of those back-end games.
In fact, the Celtics have come out of this first-month gauntlet better than expected. Even though they coasted in a few games (like last night)... and the starters are playing fewer minutes... the Celtics are 16-2. Thank the bench and a few killer 3rd quarters for that. I would have been perfectly happy if the Celtics were 14-4 or 13-5 at this point because I know the Celtics haven't consistently played their best basketball. For them to be 16-2 is a bad sign for the rest of the league.
I think Cleveland is due to come down a little because there's no way LeBron is going to keep up this ridiculous pace. And I don't think the Lakers are going to make it through December with only 1 loss. So while the other hot stories in the NBA are due to level off a little... the Celtics best basketball is still ahead of them.
Down in the D-League... Bill Walker and JR Giddens continue to tear it up. Walker scored 26 points and had 5 rebounds while Giddens had 17 and 6, albeit in a loss. Walker did have 7 turnovers, though.
And last night was a night of HUUUUUGE performances in the NBA. Here are some highlights:
- Chris Duhon had 22 assists, David Lee had 37 points and 21 rebounds, and Al Harrington had 36 and 12 in a 135-128 Knicks win. Corey Maggette had 32 and 12 in the loss.
- Dwight Howard had 32 and 21 in a win over Indiana.
- Kevin Durant had 30 and 7 as the Thunder beat Memphis. OJ Mayo matched him for the Griz.
- Devin Harris had 34 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in an easy win over Utah.
- LeBron James had 32, 7 and 5 to beat the Bucks
Herald: Scheduling storm weathered | Champs stretch streak on the road | Clifford Ray has a way of getting around | Globe: Pierce, C's wake up in time | Cats got some claws | Forecast is OK for Thunder | Souza: Atlantic Division no problem for C's | T&G: Pierce riding high |