Doc Rivers spent the regular season trying to get his aging Boston veterans rest.
Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 assists, and the Boston Celtics swept their way into the Eastern Conference semifinals, holding on for a 101-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
The doubters have always been there throughout Tyler Hansbrough's career, from his prep star days in Missouri to his stellar career at North Carolina to these early years with the Indiana Pacers. Same questions, too.
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, once rivals and fixtures in the playoffs in the 1990s, have rebuilt and returned to postseason play after long droughts.
Connecticut was supposed to be too young, Kentucky too immature, Butler too old news and Virginia Commonwealth too far off the radar.
The moment Indiana State's name flashed alongside Syracuse's on the TV screen, the first thing that popped into Orange forward Kris Joseph's head was Larry Bird.
Jake Kelly sees the reminders of Indiana State's basketball past all around campus.
The playwright behind the Broadway play "Lombardi" is moving from the gridiron to the basketball court.
The move is becoming as much a part of NBA lore as Kareem's skyhook, Jordan's jumper or Shaq's slam dunk: Ray Allen gets open off a screen, catches the ball and shoots a 3-pointer _ all in one fluid motion.
