Posted on Sun, May. 18, 2008

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Celtics feeling at home in Game 7

For 2nd straight series, deciding game to be played at the Garden

Associated Press

WALTHAM, Mass. --

The Boston Celtics can drive by the statue of Red Auerbach on their way to work today, pick up some lunch at Faneuil Hall and then warm up under the 16 NBA championship banners their predecessors helped hang from the rafters.

They're back home again, and that's been the surest sign of success for them during this year's playoffs.

"We're right where we want to be: We've got an opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference finals," forward Paul Pierce said Saturday after the Celtics held a short walkthrough

The Celtics will host Cleveland in the decisive game of their best-of-7 series today at the new Boston Garden, where the green team has yet to lose this postseason.

They had a chance to close out the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Friday but lost 74-69. That forced a seventh game, which the Celtics earned the right to play in Boston by going an NBA-best 66-16 during the regular season.

Suddenly, that 0-6 playoff road mark doesn't seem so important. "They are at home and are expected to win," Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace said.

In the first round, against Atlanta, Boston also was unbeaten at home but winless on the road. After dropping Game 6 in Atlanta, 103-100, the Celtics came back to Boston and eliminated the Hawks 99-65.

"Let's hope it's like the last time," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. Rivers said his team can call on the experience it gained from playing that elimination game in the first round.

If all goes well, the Celtics will look up on the scoreboard and see the Gino, the disco-era dance highlight that The Boston Globe dubbed the "human victory cigar." The crowd goes wild, and even the players look forward to dancing along.

Just another comfort of home.