What kind of road do the Celts have ahead of them? Is it going to be the joy that overcomes a runner when they see a freshly paved flat street in their line of vision? Or, is it going to be like the nauseating feeling that comes over a person when they drive their brand new BMW over a pothole going 80mph on 128? I don’t have a BMW, but I’d like to.

I desperately wish I had the answer to this burning question, because I know so many of you would like to know. But if the way the Philadelphia 76ers have been manhandling the Detroit Pistons is any indication of where this ride is going, it likely will be as unpredictable as New England’s ever-changing weather patterns.

You see, over the first three games of the Pistons/76ers series, Philadelphia surprising leads the “fierce” and “dominant” Pistons 2-1. Are you kidding me? The 76ers have blatantly outplayed the Pistons. If you watch the games, Detroit looks lost and totally tormented by some kind of inner turmoil. They don’t look right.

My fear is this; the 76ers beat the Celtics twice this year. They have confidence against us and that’s not good in a time like the playoffs. If the Celts do wind up playing Andre Iguodala and the 76ers they must blow them up, totally demolish and demoralize them. As we all know, this is not a time for lazy play.

Thoughts while waiting for Doc to take out the starters at the end of Game 2 (so yeah, I was thinking for a while):

Potenital Lawsuit of the Week:
So either Time Magazine or the NBA needs to sue somebody. For Time’s sake, I hope it was their idea first. You don’t want any piece of David Stern in the court room. He’d own 51% of the magazine after seven minutes in court.

I feel like I’m supposed to really like those half-face NBA Playoff commercials, but I never really did and they got old pretty quickly. But just for fun, here would have been my ideal (from a purely comedy stand point) half-face match-ups for each series-please consider both looks and voices.

Lakers/Nuggets: Ronny Turiaf and Eduardo Najera
Hornets/Mavericks: Peja Stojakovic and Erick Dampier
Spurs/Suns: Manu Ginobli and Boris Diaw
Jazz/Rockets: Kyle Korver and Dikembe Mutombo
Celtics/Hawks: Glen Davis and Josh Childress
Pistons/Sixers: Tayshaun Prince and Samuel Dalembert
Magic/Raptors; Adonal Foyle and Jose Calderon
Cav/Wizards: Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Darius Songalia

Loser of the Week: Mike Bibby

Here’s what bothered me most about Bibby’s statements after Game 1. It’s not so much what he said, but that he made such a weak attempt to motivate his team.

Wicked Good Sports and Rich Levine from The Improper Bostonian are proud to present The Dino Radja Experience: A Celtics Podcast for April 25th, 2008.

[audio:dino2.mp3]

As the lights of the TD Banknorth Garden shine down on the hallowed parquet floor and the 16 championship banners sway to the faint breeze filtering through the building, I can’t help but wonder how this season will end.

Will “K.G.” live up to the hype and dominate? Will Paul Pierce finally get his gold? Will Rondo freeze? Will Ray Allen shoot with determination or desperation? These are all questions weighing heavily on my mind today as the opening tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks draws closer and closer.

The National Basketball Association playoffs are a beast, a conundrum of blood, sweat and tears. To me, with K.G. aboard the Celtics’ ship this season, the future looks bright. He is the prototype of what it takes to win in this league. He is a potent elixir of grit, talent and the determination. He has it all.

Pierce is a matured player, a man who finally can see a light at the end of the tunnel. He can taste it, he can smell it, and he can already feel the sterling silver, 24 karat gold glazed Larry O’Brien Trophy in his hands. Will Pierce make a name for himself in the annals of Celtics lure? Stay tuned.

Point guard Rajon Rondo has morphed, in my mind, into one of the premier point guards in the NBA. In his second year, Rondo has surprised many and has proved his worth on this team. But, with the playoffs a day away, will the inexperienced sophomore turn into stone or glow like a freshly waxed Corvette. Only time will tell.

Thoughts while hoping someone would take Wednesday night’s Red Sox/Yankees game out behind the shed.

Announcement of the Week: NFL Schedule

Here are three quick thoughts on the Pats 2008 campaign.

• There are essentially two pre-seasons this year with the Pats kicking off the regular season with games against Kansas City, NYJ and Miami, a bye week and then a game at San Francisco. Let’s start getting mentally prepared now and promise not to make too big a deal if the Pats start 4-0 again with an average win margin of 30 points.

• The Pats follow up their Week 5 match-up at the Niners with a Week 6 contest at San Diego. Not only will this be the first overhyped, overanalyzed, storylines-beaten-like-a-dead-horse-game of the season but also brings up the biggest problem I have with this year’s calendar. Twice this season, the team plays back-to-back games on the west coast (these two weeks, and Weeks 14 and 15 when they play at Oakland and Seattle). How rare is something like this in the NFL? It’s been 25 years since the Pats and played even ONE back-to-back on the west coast! (They finished 1983 with games at LA and Seattle.) That doesn’t seem fair. Maybe Bridget Moynahan paid off the NFL to make it so Tom Brady would have to spend more time with his kid.

Before we embark upon the postseason, it is worth one more look back on how far this team has come in one short year. Here’s a tale of the tape.

Wins in 06-07: 24
Wins in 07-08: 66

Defensive ranking 06-07: 24th (opp. FG 46.8%)
Defensive ranking 07-08: 1st (opp. FG 41.88%)

06-07 High point: Gerald Green wins dunk contest
07-08 High point: It just keeps getting better

06-07 Low point: 18 game losing streak
07-08 Low point: 3 game losing streak

April 2007 Storyline: Tanking for lottery balls
April 2008 Storyline: Resting stars for postseason

Doc Rivers status in April 2007: Hot seat
Doc Rivers status in April 2008: Coach of the Year candidate

Danny Ainge status in April 2007: Last chance summer
Danny Ainge status in April 2008: Leading Executive of the Year candidate

Paul Pierce status in April 2007: Pondering future outside of Boston
Paul Pierce status in April 2008: Pondering his place is Celtics history

Rajon Rondo status in April 2007: Solid rookie season; very shaky jumpshot
Rajon Rondo status in April 2008: One of the best young players in the league

Leon Powe status in April 2007: 12th man
Leon Powe status in April 2008: 6th man

Team plans for May of 2007: Headed home
Team plans for May of 2008: Home court advantage

Celtics Fans 06-07: "Fellowship of the miserable"
Celtics Fans 07-08: Giddy anticipation

Let’s get this party started.

Thoughts from the week when we learned that a five minute standing ovation can apparently erase 21 years of shame and embarrassment.

Strangest Threesome of the Week: David McCarty, Curtis Leskanic and Brian Daubach.

Honestly, what the hell was that all about? You’re celebrating Boston as the city of champions. You have a collection of ex-Bruins led by Bobby Orr, a group of Celtics led by Bill Russell and John Havlicek, and a group of Patriots led by Tedy Bruschi. And then, representing the 2004 Red Sox - the team whose title probably meant more to Boston than all the other combined - and you trot out Curtis Leskanic, David McCarty and Brian Daubach.

I’m guessing they didn’t make these arrangements anytime around April Fool’s Day, because if I’m Leskanic there is no way I’m buying this phone call:

"Curtis, baby. It’s the Red Sox. So listen, Opening Day, we’re having this big get together. We’ve got conformations from Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Danny Ainge, Bobby Orr and Tedy Bruschi, and, OK, we know this is a stretch, but we were kind of hoping you’d come represent the 2004 Red Sox. It only feels right. And if it sweetens the pot at all, you won’t be alone. We’re in negotiations right now to have David McCarty and Brian Daubach on board as well."

It’s that time of year again. Time to hand out the hardware to the Celtics. Sure, you know KG is the MVP, Posey is the 6^th man, and Big Baby is the Rookie of the Year. But what about some more obscure awards?

Unsung Coach: Clifford Ray

All the credit for the defense goes to Tom Thibbodeau and the rest of the credit goes to Doc, but how about the big man’s coach? Heading into the season, the frontcourt depth behind the starters included Brian Scalabrine, a broken down Scot Pollard, and two undersized power forwards with little to no NBA experience. Leon Powe and Big Baby Davis have grown up fast under the watchful eyes of Coach Ray. He also deserves some praise for bringing along Perkins the last few years, and developing Big Al Jefferson to the point where he could be traded for KG. Give it up for the big man.

Best Player Blog: Rajon Rondo

Sorry Rajon, but this one kinda goes to you by default. I mean, we had Big Baby’s blog in Italy, but that was pretty uninspired and short lived. However, if I ever need to find a steak place in just about any NBA city, I know I can consult your blog for the best places. Also, thank you for letting us know that people still use the term "straight" as in "My last place was straight, but it was kind of small." And I am going to try to get all my friends to start saying "coo" instead of "cool." I think it will catch on.

The playoffs, a time presented to us fans that encompasses joy, rapture and a stress level higher than a Jack Clark popup. Well, you know what I mean.

If the season were to end today, the Celtics would play the 35-40 Atlanta Hawks. The only other squad they might possibly face in the first round would be Philadelphia (38-37). But with Atlanta and Philly on tap for a home and home series this weekend, the Celtics’ first round matchup should be decided by Sunday.

As for Atlanta, they are a team that has won five games in a row and is actually stocked with some well-rounded players like point guard Mike Bibby, shooting guard and former Celtic Joe Johnson and power forward Josh Smith.

They are five wins ahead of last years final win total of 30 and are No. 15 amongst all NBA teams with 98 points scored per game. In addition, they are ranked 16th in the league with a 45.3 field goal percentage and are positioned a surprising 12th in the league with a mere 99.5 points allowed per game.

Now for our C’s, I don’t know how much you keep up with their splits on a daily basis, but that’s why I’m here. The Celtics of course are 36 wins ahead of last year’s final mark of 24. They are No. 11 amongst all NBA franchises with 100.5 points scored per game. They sport a 47.6 field goal percentage, which positions them third in the game and have limited opponents to a top-ranked 90 points per game. Simply elite!

Things I’ve learned this week

There are nice things about having the Internet on your cell phone

There are also about 10 things that bother me about this commercial. For one, the dude clearly hits the letter H instead of a B at the beginning of basketball. Also, the bet in question is the equivalent of the guy in Seinfeld betting Elaine that Dustin Hoffman was in Star Wars. Anyone in a position to place a wager on this topic knows that Kareem is the all-time leading scorer, or at the very least would remember that it was him the first time someone brought his name up as a possible answer. I’m embarrassed to admit how much longer I could write about this ad. I just don’t like it, which is weird because I feel like I’m the target audience. I don’t know, maybe that’s why I don’t have an iPhone.

That’s my Kenyatta, always peein’ on people

I need to scratch those plans to dress up as a squirrel on Opening Day at Fenway

Michael Jackson’s not going to buy that property in Arkansas after all

The Shaquille O’Neal "Wait, You Know It Isn’t 1999, Right?" Award of the Week: Pedro Martinez

I understand how Pedro going on the DL is newsworthy, but I didn’t realize we still lived in a world where Pedro pulling his hamstring required its own box on ESPNews, prominent position on espn.com and lead story on Baseball Tonight.

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Rondo. One minute you’re agreeing with the Chris Paul MVP argument and the next Rondo is playing him even for eight quarters with no indication anything’s changing anytime soon. Rajon’s emergence from the shadow of the big three is the year’s best unexpected storyline.

A Few things I Learned This Week

It’s annoying and elitist to refer to a player as an “All-America.” And yes, Jim Nantz, I’m talking to you. “Ahhh, Tyler Hansbrough, the Tarheel All-America… It’s been a tough first half thus far for the junior All America… Tyler Hansbrough… All-America… Tyler Hansbrough… All-America.” Just say All-American, professor. No one’s impressed by you.

When people talk about Dwight Howard as the eventual greatest big man of the next 15 years, they need to start including Amare Stoudemire in the discussion.

Sam Cassell’s career stats are significantly more impressive than Doc Rivers’. I always assumed they’re numbers were a lot more even, although Doc does have a distinct advantage in the Daisy Duke column.

It is impossible to get that excited about the NFL Draft when there’s a 90% chance your team is trading its first pick. (Add an extra degree of difficulty if it’s been two months since the Super Bowl and the mere thought of your team still give you heart palpations.)

Everyone talks about how thin and inexperienced the Yankees starting rotation is, but until Dice-K starts showing a little life (more on that below), the Red Sox staff isn’t much better

Denny Crum’s toupee is the Mona Lisa of hairpieces. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76-nP2HFmyg[/youtube]

Question of the Week

Here’s what I was asking Monday night during the Celtics/Sixers game: Who’d you rather have playing center for the Celtics right now: Kendrick Perkins or Samuel Dalembert?

KG is the MVP. End of subject. C’mon, have you forgotten 20 something wins so quickly? Do you miss wondering if Gerald was going to come around ? That was just 11 months ago.

They’re about to win 60 something games. Last year people felt sorry for the C’s, now they’re afraid of them. Sure Paul Pierce is having his best year and Ray is an assassin and Rondo’s a talent and Perk and Powe are all one could hope them to be. But without KG they’re fighting for first round home court advantage. KG raised the first time he sat down at the table. He makes everybody around him work harder - get better. That’s what MVP’s do. Kobe, Lebron, CP3 all great players, maybe even better than KG. But more valuable, no way, not even close.