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PISTONS VS. CELTICS MARCH 1ST AT HOME 1:00PM ON ABC...... .. .. .. .. A. Iverson, R. Hamilton, T. Prince, A. McDyess, R. Wallace
CELTICS BEGIN THE PLAYOFFS!/u>Welcome to the Garden, where the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls will face off in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series at 12:30 p.m. Argue all you want about the pomposity of calling yourself Sportstown, USA, but this building will be buzzing with two playoff series today (the Bruins and Canadiens face off later tonight). There weren't many early-risers on my walk over to the Garden around 9:30 a.m., but Canal Street should be jammed later in the day with the postgame Celtics and pregame Bruins crowds.A quick photograph snapped on the way into the building is a reminder, once again, of just how much the Celtics were counting on Kevin Garnett for this playoff run. Conspiracy theorists should step back from the ledge a little bit knowing that however long ago the team printed up those banners for the light posts, KG was still very much in the plans for Boston. Those banners hung for more than two months during last spring's championship run. The goal this year may simply be to keep them up as long as possible.The Celtics are currently holding a closed walkthrough on the Garden's parquet floor. Day games are tricky. Players and sportswriters alike, used to starting their work days at 7:30 p.m., may be a little rusty for a tip-off just after noon. Boston won the season-series with the Bulls, 2-1, the lone Chicago victory coming on March 17, when John Salmons torched the Celtics for 38 points. Leon Powe injured his knee during that game in Chicago. In Boston's two victories over the Bulls this season, both at home, the Celtics won by an average of 17 points.Three players for whom this series probably means a little more are Boston's Mikki Moore and Chicago's Brad Miller and Salmons. All were teammates with the dismal Sacramento Kings earlier this season and must appreciate the chance to be on playoff teams. Enough ranting. Plenty of playoff substance coming your way when the locker rooms open. Stay tuned.
WEAR YOUR GREENFans coming to this afternoon's game will find T-shirts at their seats. Rally towels are also being handed out. This is pretty awesome because this was started in last season's playoffs. Then in the finals. most of the fans were wearing white t's of "Gotta Beat LA"
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