Big Baby better than Baby Bibby.

A big time second half helped the Celtics to beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-90 last night, proving once again that we can beat quality teams with Rondo, Shaq, Jermaine, and Delonte all on the DL (or is it the IR in basketball?). Glen Davis, KG, and Paul Pierce all double doubled in a game where the Green Army finished 53% from the field. That's 12 straight wins for those keeping count.

Remember how the Hawks beat us all four times last season? Ah, revenge is so sweet (just ask them, last season). Despite our hot second half, the Hawks pulled within two at 77-75 in thr fourth. But, Davis, Pierce, and Semih "Tater Tot" Erden all chipped in for a 7-0 run that all but slammed the door shut with about 8 minutes to play. It was smooth stuff out there for a team that is showing the importance of a quality bench. Altanta finished with 18 turnovers (+6 on us), and lost out in every category except rebounds. Despite Nate Robinson officially playing for the injured Rondo, it was Paulie playing a point-forward position all night, and he handled the role well. He finished with a truthful 15 points and 10 assists. He was joined in the double digit club by Garnett (17 and 14 boards), Erden (10 points and a block as a starter!), Ray Ray (18 points and 6 assists), Nate Donk (14 and 5 assists), and Big Baby (18 and 10 boards). Clearly, it was a game where all got involved, and it worked. Even ND alumni Luuuuuuke Harangody notched 4 and 1.

Now 21-4, we're 5.5 up on the trending Knickerbockers in the division, and 3 up on the second place Heat (19-8) in the Conference. In the NBA overall, only the 22-3 Spurs are better. Anyone else surprised by that? Tony dumps Eva, and all the sudden the Spurs can focus? Weird. Meanwhile, our most hated rivals from Los Angeles are 5-21, back to the cellar of the West, and are 16.5 back of the real C's in the greatest rivalry in all of sports. 

The Celts have a +9.5 point differential per game, rocking the 10th best offense and the 2nd best defense. Our SRS of +9.08 is the absoulte best in the NBA. Suck it, Spurs! 

I figured that I'd make the Celtics winning streak seem even more important by giving you the percentage of production that the six injured players have given us per game (aka, what we're missing). Those players are, of course, Rondo, Shaq, Jermaine, Von Wafer, Delonte West, and Kendrick Perkins (who is really a zero). After you see the percentage of contribution from the injured guys, maybe you'll appreciate the Celtics winning streak as much as I do.

Percentage of Pts/Game Missing Due to Injury: 40%

Percentage of Reb/Game Missing Due to Injury: 42%

Percentage of Ast/Game Missing Due to Injury: 67%

Percentage of Stl/Game Missing Due to Injury: 67%

Can you believe all of that? 40% of our points, 42% of our rebounds, and 67% of our assists and steals? All sitting on the bench with injuries? And we're still in the midst of a 12 game winning streak? Man, we're good.

We're good, and we'll continue to be good against Indy on Sunday. Bring it, Pacers.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē