While the Celtics play at home bodes well for the ultimate outcome in a possible Game 7 against the Hawks on Sunday, Boston's ability to last the nearly two months it takes to produce a champion would be helped tremendously if they can close out the best-of-seven series on enemy turf tonight in Atlanta.

Jerod Mayo is excited to be a Patriot. Really excited.

They were playing for trust. For yours, and for each other's. They were playing not to go improbably, disgustingly down 2-3 in a series a lot of folks thought would need just four nights to complete. They were playing to tap dance past shame. There was no other way to put it. Shame had to be avoided. It was. The final, 110-85, was a shared thing.

Claude Julien carries the reputation of a conservative coach. That comes with the territory when you stress defensive responsibility the way Julien does. But there's been nothing conservative about Julien's decision-making in this first-round series with Montreal. And because of it, the Bruins are back in the series.

Seven months ago, Rajon Rondo stood in a gym full of basketball campers in Waltham and for the first time fielded some of the questions he would get over and over again until he made people believe his answers with his play. Now, the point guard many predicted would be in way over his head has not only accepted the monumental challenge, but has tackled it with a command that few predicted.

Shawn Thornton isn't atop the Bruins' scoring list. He doesn't come close to being among the club's leaders for ice-time. But rest assured, when he takes the ice tonight in Ottawa (CN8, 7 p.m.), every Senator will be aware of his presence.

Seven more games left. Give the Celtics credit for not surrendering to boredom. They keep giving fans their money's worth. But they're counting the days until the games are truly meaningful again. Can't blame them. They've done more than their part to make it a memorable season.

Paul Pierce could have been politically correct following the 88-62 destruction of a laughable Heat squad last night at the TD Banknorth Garden. The captain decided to be realistic instead. "Man, I am going to tell you the truth," said Pierce, "We are supposed to do that."

It's not the normal recipe for success.

It was a night that got you wishing the next three weeks would fly by so we can get to the playoffs. The Celtics and Suns went at each other, how to put it, enthusiastically, at the Garden. Both teams have Shaq-size ambitions, of course. It's not impossible for them to meet in the NBA Finals.