The Chase for 70 -- Best 20-Game Starts</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Dec. 14, 2007 -- Only one team in NBA history, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, has ever won 70 games in a single season, but you've got to play 20 to get to 82. By kicking off the 2007-08 season with 18 wins against only two losses, the Boston Celtics have jumped out to a 20-game start that ranks among the best in NBA history, and they're doing it emphatically.</p> On pace to win 74 games, Boston has scored 2,022 points this season, and allowed only 1,745 -- good for an average point differential of 13.9 per game. Among teams to win at least 18 of their first twenty games, that figure ranks third all-time, trailing the 1969-70 New York Knicks (15.5) and the 1993-94 Seattle Supersonics (14.4). They are comfortably ahead of the 9.6 differential posted by the 72-win Bulls, though their competition has been limited to all but three games against Eastern Conference opponents. Stiffer competition lies ahead for Boston, and time will tell if the team can continue to dominate.</p> Even so, the Celtics are in strong company: five of the 12 other teams won the NBA championship, while two more lost in the NBA Finals. Only the Supersonics failed to advance to their Conference Final, and while the '57-58 Celtics were the only team not to reach 50 wins, it was because the League played a 72-game schedule back then; their .681 winning percentage remains lofty.</p> Take a look at how this year's elite squad of Celtics stacks up against those quick-starting teams of years past:</div></p> <table width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" bgcolor="#dddddd"> <tbody> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#999999" align="center" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px;"> <th>SEASON</th> <th>TEAM</th> <th>RECORD</th> <th>DIFF</th> <th>FINAL RECORD</th> <th>FINISH</th> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1969-70</td> <td>Knicks</td> <td>19-1</td> <td>15.5</td> <td>60-22</td> <td>Won NBA title</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>1990-91</td> <td>Trail Blazers</td> <td>19-1</td> <td>12.6</td> <td>63-19</td> <td>Lost Conf. finals</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1993-94</td> <td>Rockets</td> <td>19-1</td> <td>7.5</td> <td>58-24</td> <td>Won NBA title</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>1993-94</td> <td>SuperSonics</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>14.4</td> <td>63-19</td> <td>Lost First Round</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>2007-08</td> <td>Celtics</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>13.9</td> <td>?</td> <td>?</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>1963-64</td> <td>Celtics</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>13.5</td> <td>59-21</td> <td>Won NBA title</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1966-67</td> <td>76ers</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>13.1</td> <td>68-13</td> <td>Won NBA title</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>2002-03</td> <td>Mavericks</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>12.2</td> <td>60-22</td> <td>Lost Conf. finals</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1984-85</td> <td>Celtics</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>12.1</td> <td>63-19</td> <td>Lost NBA finals</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>1985-86</td> <td>Lakers</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>11.3</td> <td>62-20</td> <td>Lost Conf. finals</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1957-58</td> <td>Celtics</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>10.0</td> <td>49-23</td> <td>Lost NBA finals</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"> <td>1995-96</td> <td>Bulls</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>9.6</td> <td>72-10</td> <td>Won NBA title</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle" bgcolor="#cccccc" align="center"> <td>1996-97</td> <td>Rockets</td> <td>18-2</td> <td>7.7</td> <td>57-25</td> <td>Lost Conf. finals</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
The Chase For 70 -- Boston Celtics</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Dec. 14, 2007 -- Only one team in NBA history has ever won 70 games in a single season, but the 2007-08 Boston Celtics are making an early run at the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Despite the surge, coach Doc Rivers is trying to maintain perspective, keeping an eye on the team's overall play, rather than game-by-game performance.</p> ''The record's nice and all that, but that's not our goal,'' Rivers told the Chicago Sun-Times on Dec. 9. ''I don't even know what our record is, but whatever it is, that's not what our goal is. We're just trying to get better and improve. You know, we've won games, but we can be a better basketball team. Everybody in our locker room, as long as they have that understanding, we're going to be OK.''</p> Boston has torn through its first 20 games, ripping off 18 victories, good for an astounding .900 winning percentage. If they maintain the pace, they'll crack the record with 73.8 wins .. or 74, because they play full games in real life.</p> But they've done it by beating up on a weak Eastern Conference (nine of 15 teams below .500), playing only three games against Western opponents (wins against Golden State, Los Angeles and Sacramento). As the schedule enters its second quarter, the Celtics will face stiff competition from squads like Utah, Detroit, Orlando and Houston in coming weeks.</p> None of that stops us from counting to 70. With each Celtics victory, we'll continue to use the best season on record as a measuring stick for Boston' success. So, take a look at how this year's elite squad stacks up against Jordan, Pippen and the Bulls of yore:</div></p> </p> <table width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" bgcolor="#dddddd"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="345" valign="middle" bgcolor="#00611a" align="center" colspan="8"> <div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2007-08 BOSTON CELTICS Current Pace: 74-8 (.900)</div> </td> <td width="20" valign="middle" bgcolor="#000000" align="center"> <div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">GM</div> </td> <td width="345" valign="middle" bgcolor="#990000" align="center" colspan="8"> <div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1995-96 CHICAGO BULLS NBA Record: 72-10 (.878)</div> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">DATE</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">VS</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">RESULT</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">REC</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">STR</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">OPP</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">DIFF</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">AVG DIFF</div> </td> <td bgcolor="#000000" align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px;">#</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">DATE</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">VS</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">RESULT</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">REC</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">STR</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">OPP</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">DIFF</div> </td> <td align="center"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;">AVG DIFF</div> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">WAS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 103-83</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">1-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">0-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+20</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">20.0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">CHA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 105-91</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">1-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">0-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14.0</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ TOR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 98-95 (OT)</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">BOS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 107-85</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">0-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+22</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">18.0</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">DEN</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 119-93</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+26</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">16.3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">TOR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 117-108</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">1-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">15.0</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">ATL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 106-83</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+23</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">18.0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ CLE</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 106-88</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">0-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+18</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">15.8</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ NJN</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 112-101</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">16.6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">POR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 110-106</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.4</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/13</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ IND</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 101-86</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+15</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">16.3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ ORL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L 88-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10.2</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">NETS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 91-69</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+22</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">17.1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/15</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">CLE</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 113-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">0-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+19</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.4</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/16</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">MIA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 92-91</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8-0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">1-7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">15.1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/17</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">NJN</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 109-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">7-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+15</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.9</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/18</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ ORL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L 102-104</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/21</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ DAL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 108-102 (OT)</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.2</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/21</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">GSW</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 105-82</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">3-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+23</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14.2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/22</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ SAS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 103-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.0</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/23</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">LAL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 107-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+13</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14.1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/24</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ UTA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 90-85</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10.5</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/24</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ CHA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 96-95</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/26</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ SEA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L 92-97</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8-5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">-5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9.2</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/27</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ CLE</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L 104-109 (OT)</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">L1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9-5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">-5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11.6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">13</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/27</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ POR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 107-104</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8.7</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/29</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">NYK</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 104-59</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+45</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14.0</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/30</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ VAN</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 94-88</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">2-12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8.5</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">11/30</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ MIA</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 95-85</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">4-10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">15</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ LAC</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 104-98</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">7-8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8.3</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">CLE</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 80-70</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9-8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">16</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">NYK</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 101-94</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13-4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8.3</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ PHI</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 113-103</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">15-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">5-12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.3</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">17</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">SAS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 106-87</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">15-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+19</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">8.9</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">TOR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 112-84</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">16-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W5</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+28</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">14.1</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">18</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ MIL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 118-106</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">16-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9.1</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ CHI</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 92-81</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">17-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">6-11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">19</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/13</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">ORL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 112-103</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">17-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">17-4</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9.1</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">SAC</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 90-78</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">18-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W7</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-6</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+12</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">13.9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">20</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ ATL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 127-108</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">18-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W8</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10-11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+19</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9.6</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/14</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">MIL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">7:30 p.m.</td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">21</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/16</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">LAL</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 108-88</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">19-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W9</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12-11</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+19</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">9.6</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/16</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ TOR</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">1:00 p.m.</td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70"></td> <td align="center" class="chase70Gm">22</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">12/18</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">@ BOS</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W 123-114</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">20-2</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">W10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">11-10</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">+20</td> <td align="center" class="chase70">10.0</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Odd similarities: Both teams' first losses were to an up-and-coming Orlando team. Boston lost to the previous years' Eastern Conference Champs (Cleveland), Bulls lost to that current season's Western Conference Champs (Seattle).</p> BTW, I remember that Seattle team and loved em. They were crazy good.</p>
With the easy schedule that the Celtics have been having, it'd have been embarrassing to have lost more than 3 games. Let's see them play San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix several times before labelling them as the best team of all time.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke)</div><div class='quotemain'> With the easy schedule that the Celtics have been having, it'd have been embarrassing to have lost more than 3 games. Let's see them play San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix several times before labelling them as the best team of all time.</p></div> Another one!Please, like this is the first time in NBA history that an NBA team has had an "easy schedule."And obviously all those teams went 18-2 also. It's a yearly thing.</p>
The trolls only come out when you are good. No one is going to the Rockets board to bash them. The "easy" sched. thing is a joke. It's very difficult to win that many games in the NBA. Like aqua said, how often does it happen? </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> With the easy schedule that the Celtics have been having, it'd have been embarrassing to have lost more than 3 games. Let's see them play San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix several times before labelling them as the best team of all time.</p> </div></p> Nobody was labeling them best all time. It was just a comparison at this stage in the season and what is probable to happen with Bostons current success. Anyway, Houston knows all about embarrassment. Losing MORE than 3 games to easy teams. They lost to: Philly, Sacto, GS & Miami etc. Dallas lost to: Toronto, Denver, Atl, & Mil etc. And Phoenix lost to: Miami, Minn, GS, Atl & Hous etc. LOL! Didn't Boston beat all those teams?? Thanks for posting!</p> </p>
''The record's nice and all that, but that's not our goal,'' Rivers told the Chicago Sun-Times on Dec. 9. ''I don't even know what our record is, but whatever it is, that's not what our goal is. We're just trying to get better and improve. You know, we've won games, but we can be a better basketball team. Everybody in our locker room, as long as they have that understanding, we're going to be OK.''</p> A couple or three seasons ago, the Pistons were on pace to challenge the Bulls' record (and they're not in the best 20 starts, apparently). Then their coach made a similar statement and the team tailed off. They did finish with 64 wins.</p> For the Bulls, making the playoffs was the start of the real season. It was a challenge to them to go for the record and it was their goal. Otherwise, the regular season didn't have much meaning for them.</p> </p> </p>
What I like is the finish for those teams, all of them either went to the conference finals or the nba finals. (with the exception of sonics who lost in the first round)</p> No matter how many games we end up winning, we can expect them going to the ECF or nba finals.</p> (of course always barring any injuries)</p>
