Sports Redux: Bruins/Celtics Thrive, Pats Reel

Both the Bruins and Celtics resume their schedules tonight after one day off from competition. Bostonist can't muster much of a complaint about either team except to say it's probably better for them that they have games to play since things are going so well.

The Celtics are rolling. While an 18-4 record that includes 9 straight wins isn't quite 27-2, we'll take having more wins than every other team in the Association. Tonight's game versus Chicago begins a five-game trip to the bottom of the NBA's standings. An opponent with a winning record doesn't appear on the Green's schedule until Orlando on Christmas Day. You get the idea. Kevin Garnett is pulling things together, too.

The Bruins just eradicated Kesselmania with all of the prejudice that goes with 14 goals in two games and can now focus on the Islanders and that unfinished business. Things are good for the Bruins on all fronts, though. We all know the 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic is coming to Fenway Park on January 1. It's a coup for the Bruins, not to mention the Flyers, their opponents, and crews are already beginning to assemble the rink.

While the Bruins and Celtics are flourishing, the Patriots are reeling. If the two consecutive losses or the 1-3 streak isn't enough, there's also LateGate, dissension in the ranks and Tom Brady's growing list (rib/finger/shoulder) of injuries. Tom Terrific played it cool, though. He said "Don't worry about me." Well, it's okay now. Bill Belichick added something robotic about an "in-cut" and it scared us.

Belichick should send players home every week because it produces better quotes than he does. We know about Adalius Thomas and the Jetsons. While Derrick Burgess didn't challenge Belichick, he was still entertaining by saying "I ain't been sent home since high school...I was disappointed, you dig?" No. How about you win another game? Bostonist can dig that.