7.17.2009

Celtics Prepare for Texas Triangle

1990-91 Boston Celtics

The Celtics hit the runway yesterday for a three-games-in- four-nights swing through Texas, whose professional basketball teams have been about as hospitable as Santa Ana was to Davy Crockett.

No one has swept the Texas trio of Dallas, San Antonio and Houston since the Celtics did it in February 1987, and opponents have been able to come up with winning records on just eight of 33 trips to Texas since then.

The good news is that six of those winning Texas Treks have been accomplished by the Celtics, who are 13-5 on six previous visits, including two sweeps. By comparison, the rest of the NBA is 104-187.

The Celtics, who play tonight at Dallas, tomorrow at San Antonio and Monday at Houston, will have to get their game plan in order, however, if they have any thoughts of sweeping or at least posting a winning trip.

True, the Celtics sport a 14-3 record and have won 10 of their last 11 games, but their 148-140 Garden decision over Denver Wednesday night wasn't salted away until the final five minutes.

"I wasn't pleased with anyone's performance, including my own," said coach Chris Ford, who gave his team a morning off from practice yesterday. "I'd like to see us progress every game, but Wednesday was a major step back. We got away from everything we've done, offensively and defensively. We've got to get back to playing our style of game on this road trip."

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