IT AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN

On Dec. 18, when the Boston Celtics lost to the Heat in Boston, the Celtics slipped into a first-place tie with the New Jersey Nets in the Atlantic Division. <br>
Since then, the Nets have ripped off nine consecutive wins, the Celtics have lost four of seven, including the Christmas blowout, 117-81, in New Jersey to fall five games behind. <br>
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What the heck is going on in Beantown? You get a chance to see for yourself this week as the Celtics visit New Orleans on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Dallas on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).<br>
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Slow starts have been one problem. In the current seven-game stretch, the Celtics have fallen behind by halftime in all four defeats (the largest being 23 to New Jersey) and by 11 to Cleveland in a game they eventually won 89-82. <br>
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According to one scribe, the biggest difference between a team like Boston and Portland, which toppled the Celts 108-103 in Boston on Jan. 3, is depth. Most teams have it. (Boston Globe) <br>
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Celtics fans needn't worry, though, as GM Chris Wallace says help is on the way. On Monday, it arrived in the form of Mikki Moore. (Boston Herald, Celtics.com)<br>
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Meanwhile, the help the Celtics do have can play. Most important, it wants to stay and build on the great Celtics tradition. <br>
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"It took me awhile to understand the 16 championships,'' Antoine Walker said. "But it's a great honor. There's a lot of pride in seeing so many of the ex-players come back. That's unusual. <br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.nba.com/media/celtics/walker_200_030106.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
Antoine Walker has embraced the Celtics legacy.<br>
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"Look at Michael Jordan. That situation would never happen here to a great player." <br>
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Sounds like Walker has found a home. <br>
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<p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://nl.msnusers.com/_Secure/0OwD7d!kUbmI41zzLQ6DPI*FYQ3ceK!EAGHsn7Ds1fk822dJP8FoQFBq5*nMDTPoFUQzLb73iIzUWLmz5RhMQODGBigU7lIPm/alamo50.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

The Celtics were one of my favorite non-Spur teams to watch last year and their message board MEAN GREEN has many knowledgable posters. <p></p><i></i>

I'm sure the addition of Mikki Moore will put them over the top. <p></p><i></i>

Hmmm... I watched the Celtics in the 70s and early 80s!<br>
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Guess who I was a fan of? <p>-----------------------<br>
Sometimes I think I understand everything - then I regain consciousness...</p><i></i>

Brigitte Bardot? <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://nl.msnusers.com/_Secure/0OwD7d!kUbmI41zzLQ6DPI*FYQ3ceK!EAGHsn7Ds1fk822dJP8FoQFBq5*nMDTPoFUQzLb73iIzUWLmz5RhMQODGBigU7lIPm/alamo50.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

Eric Fernsten? <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:purple;font-size:x-small;">"Shaq is getting married. Yeah the bad news is it'll be his only chance to get a 4th ring this year." -Jay Leno</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>