By: Gabe Souza, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
It started off so promising.
A clutch opening day win over Cleveland had analysts abuzz on whether they had misjudged the Celtics’ power in the East.
A few easy wins here mixed with very few loses there had C’s fans flaunting their bragging rights up and down Mass. Ave. They could even throw it back in the face of Lakers’ fanatics – World Champion Laker fanatics. And it was all merited.
The green demolished the likes of Philadelphia, Utah, Chicago, Golden State and even Oklahoma City. With only four losses up to Christmas Day, things looked good in the Garden.
But as the yuletide spirit began to grow, so did the anxiety that the Celtics would get coal in their stocking like the had the year before against the Los Angeles Lakers, a loss that ended up derailing their postseason hopes.
Turns out the knots in fans’ stomachs were for not.
By the time Santa finished his rounds on December 25, five Celtic players had scored in double figures – including a near triple-double from Rajon Rondo – and the C’s defeated Superman’s Magic, 86-77.
A solid win. Things looked good. Championship run: still intact.
Then they lost to the perennial cellar-dweller, the Clippers. [...]

By: Jess Lander, Yawkey Talkies Editor
Could Boston fans be any more ready for Red Sox season?
The Patriots were the most disappointing they’ve been since before winning their first Super Bowl. I know, they didn’t make playoffs in ‘08 but that was without our Golden Boy.
The Bruins, after an embarrassing 10 game losing streak, finally steered back onto the ice, winning four in a row. They had TWO weeks to rest up during the Olympics and prepare to turn their season around, starting with tonight’s game against Montreal. And then, they were the old Bruins, giving up a 1 goal lead, scoring four unanswered goals in the third period. Hello, ten game losing streak at home.
Does blowing a lead sound familiar? Well, that’s because the Celtics have perfected it. It’s been a problem all season, but more recently it’s been getting worse. The Celts were up on the Cavs by double digits before blowing the lead in the fourth so bad that they lost by 20 points. Then, our Celtics did the unthinkable. They lost to the worst team in the NBA, a team that is almost the worst team in the history of the NBA: the New Jersey Nets, giving [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Was Saturday’s loss to the Nets the worst in franchise history for the Celtics?  Channel 5 sports anchor Bob Halloran said on the air following the loss that an argument could be made that it was.  There’s no argument that it was one of the worst losses of the Pierce-Garnett-Allen era.  (I refuse to call them the Big Three anymore, that title belongs to the Bird-McHale-Parish trio that won 3 titles in the 80’s).  The Nets came into the game with a 5-52 record, by far the worst record in the league and it puts them in position to potentially become the worst team ever, the 1972-73’ 76ers hold the mark at 9-73.
But just how bad was it?  Pierce didn’t play, but the Celts still had two All Stars on the floor in Rondo and Garnett and a former All Star in Allen.  This was an embarrassing loss.  The Celtics had just been beaten by 20 by the Cavaliers on Thursday in a game they led by double digits.  Danny Ainge called the team out before the Nets game.  He especially went after the starters saying to reporters, “I think the onus is on the [...]

By: Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Boston fans thought the Patriots were the only team that couldn’t close out games.
The Celtics have lost five of their previous eight games dating back to January 28. Twice they lost to the Orlando Magic, who sit two games ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. They lost to the Atlanta Hawks (one and a half games ahead of Boston in the East), Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference’s number one team), and a Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets.
Not only have they not beaten good competition, but in four of those losses they blew double digit leads in the second half.
They blew leads of 16 and 11 points against Orlando (the latter just one day after Orlando blew a 21-point lead to Washington), 11 points against the Lakers, and 12 points against the Hornets.
If you cannot close out games, then you cannot win. Period.
“One of the guys said, ‘We’re better than Orlando,’ and I said, ‘No, you’re not,’” Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “They knocked you out of the playoffs last year. Orlando’s better than us right now. Atlanta’s better than us right now. L.A. [Lakers are] better than us right now.”
What has happened [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Ouch.  What else can you say after watching the Celtics fail their three game test against three of the best teams in the NBA.  The Celts lost to the Magic, Hawks and Lakers in a span of four days.  Last week I wrote about the 5 questions the Celtics must answer in the second half of the season.  If these three games are an indication of how they are going to be answered, it’s not going to be a fun ride for Celtics fans.
On Thursday night in Orlando the Celtics were great for three quarters.  They led by 16 at one point before giving it all away in the 4th Quarter as they lost by 2.  The Celtics flat out ran out of steam.   A similar thing happened Sunday against the Lakers.  After a bad 1st Quarter the Celtics took a 5 point lead into halftime and led by 11 in the 4th Quarter.  But the Lakers hung around and stole this game from the Celtics.
Friday night was a little different as the Hawks were in control for most of the night.  Boston jumped out early but Atlanta ended the 1st Quarter up [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The Celtics have reached the halfway point of the regular season and there are more questions then answers as we turn to the second half of the campaign.  Boston has a 28-13 record; good enough for a 7 game lead in the Atlantic Division and the second best record in the East behind only Cleveland.  But there are many things to ponder before the Celts take on the Clippers tomorrow night in their 42nd game of the season.  Here are 5 key questions that need to be answered in the second half of the season.
1. Why has the Garden not been a great home court advantage this season?
The Celtics are only 12-7 so far at home.  Are the players getting complacent at home?  Great teams take care of their home court.  With 23 home games in the second half, the Celtics need to flex their muscles by racking up wins at home.
2. Is Kevin Garnett going to be healthy?
Garnett just returned on Friday night against the Blazers and looked pretty good in 30 minutes of action.  But can he stay healthy the rest of the season?  I wrote several months ago that his health is [...]

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor
You can look at life with a glass half full, or half empty. Today in Boston is a little bit of both, maybe a touch more bad.
The Good:

Wes Welker, may have the biggest challenge of his career ahead, but his work this season hasn’t gone unnoticed. Welker got some positive news today, being selected to the AP All-Pro first team for his first time. No other Patriots made the cut.

The Celtics may be without Garnett and Wallace, but that didn’t stop them from rocking the Nets last night 111-87. This is the eleventh straight time the Celts have beaten the Nets. The Celts scored a season-high of 71 points in the first half, and Pierce scored 24 points in 28 minutes of game time.

The Bad:

Patriots linebacker Junior Seau reports that the Sunday was his last NFL game and he is retiring, as he approaches 41. As if the Pats needed to lose more of their defense.

The Bruins lost their third straight to the Ducks 3-4 last night, also their 4th loss in five games.

Duke proved their rep, beating BC 79-59, giving the Eagles their second loss in the ACC this season.

Celts coach Rivers was fined a [...]