Sports Redux: Uncomfortable

The Boston Celtics needed a 24-14 surge in the fourth quarter to beat the New Jersey Nets, 96-87, on Friday night. The Nets led the game 73-72 after three quarters, which necessitated the furious comeback in the first place. Color us underwhelmed at this victory.

Yes, the 4-45 Nets who sit 27.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic division and have won one road game on the 2009-2010 schedule forced the Celtics into a fourth-quarter rally to improve to 32-16. With Paul Pierce sitting out a second-straight game, scoring in the stretch fell to Eddie House, who scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback.

Ray Allen took over as the C's primary scoring threat with 26 points (three three-pointers) and seven rebounds. Rajon Rondo finished with 17 points and 11 helpers. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 19 points and six boards. Devin Harris had 17 points and eight assists.

Eight years ago yesterday, the Patriots were parading an unexpected Super Bowl victory around Boston. Tomorrow, they'll watch two teams who beat them play for the NFL's top prize. With head coach/football jedi master Bill Belichick deciding not to hire an offensive coordinator or a defensive coordinator, meaning he will have an even bigger role coaching the defense, can we still trust in Bill to return to the big game in short order?

We can, however, seemingly count on Adalius Thomas to be amicably parting ways with New England grossly overpaid by another lucky franchise in 2010. Thomas chatted with 98.5 The Sports Hub about his issues with Belichick. Keep talking. More cash for Vince.

Bostonist loves the Bruins and wants them to succeed. But, we had to laugh at the "rumors" that they were serious about trading for Ilya Kovalchuk. It made no sense, not to mention being completely unrealistic, to think the Bruins would pull off a deal like that. Which roster players would ardent fans want to flip - Dupont's terminology - to Atlanta for Kovalchuk? Daniel Paille wouldn't have been enough B's fans.

But, a non-playoff team doesn't do that trade. The team Boston had last year that is a Cup contender, does. Or, should. This year's club needs to figure out if Milan Lucic will ever score 20 goals in one season.

Lou Merloni says his BFF Nomar Garciaparra has at least one year of baseball left in him.