Up to challenge in a rare test</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> When Udonis Haslem knocked down a free throw with 33.5 seconds left in last night's Celtics-Miami game, it gave the Heat a 91-90 lead. Haslem then missed the next one and, 33.5 seconds later, after a Paul Pierce layup, the Celtics were walking off the TD Banknorth Garden parquet with yet another win. Eight for eight.</p> But this one was different. For only the second time all season, the Celtics trailed in the second half. And on both occasions, the deficit was 1 point. The only other time the Celtics trailed after halftime was in Toronto, in the first overtime, for all of 18 seconds. Last night's deficit lasted only 8.5 seconds, until Pierce outmuscled Haslem for a layup. In eight games, consisting of 16 third and fourth quarters and one overtime, or 197 minutes, the Celtics have trailed for only 26.5 seconds. And never by more than a point.</p> The Celtics also lead the league in fewest points allowed, a statistic unlikely to change as Miami's 91 represented only a slight increase (to 87.6) from the 87.1 they allowed in the first seven.</p> That's why last night's game was so intriguing. You had to wonder how they would react if they watched a double-digit lead evaporate, which is what happened. At home, no less. You wanted to see what they'd do if they absolutely, positively had to have a basket. They just went back to Old Faithful himself, and Pierce delivered. It was, said Shaquille O'Neal, "a fabulous move." It also was a move in which Haslem got no help.</p> "Every night we're finding out more and more about ourselves, and games like this really help us," said Pierce, who said he was battling a back strain all night and was surprised Doc Rivers called his number. "I wanted to be there for my teammates at the end. It was a good call."</p> "They got three Hall of Famers out there and they do very well together. We had a chance to beat them, but we let it slip away," lamented Shaq, who said the Heat had probably given away five of their eight losses.</p> Heck, last night he actually got to coach in the fourth quarter. Prior to that, his big late-game decisions had boiled down to Leon Powe or Big Baby.</p> </div></p>
Wow, that is insane. Only down by 1 point twice in all the second halfs this season?I mean, it's only eight games, but still, it is eight games!
unreal...who would have thought a year ago that we'd be talking about an undefeated team 3 weeks into this season?...we might surpass our entire last season win total by January!</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1AntoineWalkerFan)</div><div class='quotemain'> unreal...who would have thought a year ago that we'd be talking about an undefeated team 3 weeks into this season?...we might surpass our entire last season win total by January!</p></div> I doubt it will take that long.</p>
