Celtics' Bench

Boston's up 68-50 with 6:44 to go in the third.

The Celtics bench has scored all of eight points, meaning the starters have scored 89% of the points.

The 1986 team had Walton, Sichting, and Wedman.

I'm not sure the 2008-09 team has one reserve who could crack that rotation.

Leon Powe seems to have taken offense by my remarks. He's started the fourth quarter with two slams and five freebies. Everyone knew Doc would go to the bench to start the fourth, what we didn't know was what to expect from them. If Leon played this way consistently, I'm not sure he'd crack the top eight of the '86 club, but KC would be hard pressed not to extend the rotation to nine.

Gabe Pruitt drains a three, increasing the lead to 20, thereby raising the specter that the starters may not need to return. This would be a blessing, of course, with a plane waiting on the tarmac for the Celts to board later tonight.

I suspect Doc has issued orders:

"Reserves, this is your game to win or lose. The starters are done." This was a common refrain heard after the Celtics won home court in the playoffs last year.

E.House is 1-7 tonight. He's shooting .413 for the year. That sounds lowish for him. But he shot .409 for all of last season. Meanwhile, TA is 2-6 tonight, but is shooting a more respectable .488 for the year. House misses another, and then drains a three to put the C's up by 19 with three to go. The bench, which had just eight points midway through the third, now has tallied 34 points.

Despite no one remembering when they last saw Ray Allen on the court, he somehow managed to play 35 minutes. You can hardly blame Doc, though. Jesus was a +25. The next best starter was a plus 13.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are breezing against the Hornets, up 16 after three. I highly doubt, however, that Phil will rest the starters for the duration.

Patrick O'Bryant enters the game. Not quite the same as Dave Popson entering the game, but close. He promptly fires up two shots, making one. Green up 16 with 35 seconds to go.

It's in the books.

History is their's.