Anytime you have a team lose an unimaginable amount of consecutive games, like, lets say, 18 in a row, and you have the talk of the draft lottery you can not help but think this team has NOT been bringing it every night in hopes of landing that number one pick. I did not watch every game during the losing streak, it just got to difficult especially with the all the media coverage and commentary on how awful my team was. Then Pierce finally returned and after an ugly loss at home to New Jersey and a gut wrenching buzzer beating loss at the hands of the T-Wolves in Minnesota, the Celtics finally broke the streak at home against the Bucks going into the all-star break. Thank goodness they did, because they headed out west for a 5 game trip out of the break. I am not about to sit here and try to convince you that now that Pierce is back that the team will go on some rediculous role in the eastern conference or am I going to tell you that by adding Oden or Durrant in the draft is going to guarantee we are a playoff threat in 2007-2008, though it is nice to think about. What I will tell you is this; There is NO TANKING going on in Boston, none, zip, nada. (I am watching the second half of last night's Celtics/Suns game as I type this and Amare can not guard Al Jefferson one on one, just wanted to make that official) Some may disagree, some may call the Celtics stupid for not tanking because of the player that they could "potentially" have, others just look at the standings without having any clue about the level of injuries this team has sustained. (Nash slips it to Amare on the pick n roll, I love the way they play, time out Celtics) After watching more Celtics games than I can count since the Pierce Walker eastern conference finals team of 2002 I can say with full confidence that this team is playing its ass off and I am as proud as ever to be a Celtics fan. (Suns pulling away in the 4th despite AL taking to Amare again, yes Amare has plus 30 but AL is giving it to him, Barbosa is just hit his 6th 3 pointer, such a problem) While I am proud my patience is running thin, but I will give this project that Danny Ainge is heading one more off season to do what is necessary to get this thing on track. Keep playing hard guys. Celtic Pride.