Let's give a hand, ladies and gentlemen, and perhaps even raise our Saturday morning coffee cups in a toast. To the new Celtics and basketball's new Big Three!

Before we dive into Friday night's Celts season opener, we should take a quick trip back to May 22, when Boston gasped in horror over the hand fate had dealt. Fifth pick for what was then a terrible, wretched team. We were screwed. Ready to jump. Inconsolable.

Little more than five months later, we're beating Washington 103-83 - enjoying 28 points from Paul Pierce, 22 points and 20 rebounds from Kevin Garnett, 17 points from Ray Allen. If you'd told us this in May, we would have laughed.

What impressed us most about Friday's game, however, wasn't necessarily the feats of the marquee names - we'd expected that. It was instead a second quarter dominance that included an 11-2 run during which Allen and Garnett were sitting on the bench. We have ourselves a genuine basketball team!

The game felt good. It sure looked good. And, from the sounds of Allen's post-game press conference, it seems as if the team is determined to bring the fans back to the game for good. "I think they've been anticipating this for a long time,: Allen said. "The people in Boston, having something on the floor they can root for and rally behind all year." That the Red Sox showed up to show off the trophy, we're sure, only served as additional motivation.

-- Sammy Morris is out for the season, as the running back has sustained a chest injury. Meanwhile, you're not alone if you're freaking out about tomorrow's Pats/Colts game - Sports Illustrated is swooning at the thought of a "Game of the Century."

And don't forget--Bostonist will be live-blogging the game tomorrow! Stop by, and join the party!

-- In Sox mode, John Farrell is sticking with us! The Red Sox pitching coach declined an interview with the manager-less Pirates. In other "If It Ain't Broke" news: the Sox picked up the 2008 options for Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez.

Celts image by flickr user Paul Keleher.