Offense comes easy for Celtics

NEW YORK -- The difference between a dysfunctional team with absolutely no shot at making the playoffs and a relatively inexperienced team with the slimmest chance of making the playoffs was on display last night at an allegedly soldout Madison Square Garden.

The home team looked like it could not have cared less about the game. The end to a disastrous season, most recently marred by well-publicized hostilities between coach Larry Brown and point guard Stephon Marbury, cannot come soon enough.

In marked contrast, the Celtics (30-42) cling to the hope they can reach the postseason. Boston played like a team trying to make a late-season run, sharing the ball, shooting 57 percent from the floor, and dismissing the Knicks, 123-98, in a game never in doubt after the first quarter.

The Celtics gained a game on eighth-place Philadelphia, which lost to Detroit, 101-91, last night. Saturday night's contest against ninth-place Chicago looms even larger, and, not surprisingly, the upcoming contest was on the players' minds.

''You evaluate the win by what you take out of the game," said Delonte West (21 points, 6 assists). ''You definitely see the chemistry there. You see the ball hopping around, the shots being spread around, and the young guys coming in there and playing well. That's what we need, confidence coming off the bench. We got that and hopefully that can transfer into Saturday's game against Chicago."

Boston started piling on the points in the first quarter, taking a 40-28 lead. The 40 points are the most in a quarter by the Celtics this season, and the most the Knicks have allowed in a quarter. Boston had scored 39 on three occasions.

The Celtics entered halftime ahead, 71-51. The 71 points also tied a season high by a Knicks' opponent for a half and set a Celtics' season high for points in a half, topping the 65 they scored against the Sixers Jan. 13. Also, the final point total set a season high for a nonovertime game. Boston scored 124 points Jan. 13, but needed three overtimes.

Although season highs in scoring are an accomplishment, the Celtics defeated a demoralized opponent that has not been competitive for a while. The Celtics know upcoming games ahead against the Bulls, Wizards, and Sixers will present greater challenges.

''This is by far the best 19-win team in the league as far as talent level," said Paul Pierce (22 points), in a nicely delivered backhanded compliment. ''But we came out and did our job, played as a team. They're a struggling team. They have a lack of confidence. I'm not going to take anything away from my team, but I feel like this is a game we're supposed to win."

The Celtic took control in the first quarter by shooting 61 percent, including 57 percent (4 for 7) from 3-point range. The Knicks' lack of effort and desire started at the defensive end as the Celtics scored inside and outside without much problem. A layup by Ryan Gomes (15 points, 13 rebounds) followed by a 3-pointer from Raef LaFrentz in the opening minutes helped set the tone. The Knicks made it look like the Celtics could not miss as West capped the quarter with a 3-pointer.

By taking the early double-digit lead, the Celtics took some of the pressure off West. Yesterday, the Celtics suspended backup point guard Orien Greene in the wake of his arrest early Monday morning for driving recklessly in Waltham. That left West and Tony Allen in the point guard rotation, a situation Doc Rivers acknowledged was a concern before the game. But the Celtics were not the least bit distracted.

Instead, the Celtics focused on the players available and the game at hand. The starters put on such an impressive performance in the first half that it didn't matter who came off the bench. Four starters reached double figures by halftime, and the lone exception, LaFrentz, entered the break with 9 of his 14 points. Meanwhile, the Knicks saw everyone except Eddy Curry (20 points, 8 rebounds) and Marbury (19 points) struggle from the floor.

''Same old, same old," said Brown. ''We can't guard anybody. We don't do a good job getting back.

''They had 33 points on the break, it looked like they could've had a hundred. We don't take care of the ball and we have trouble keeping people in front. It's almost like people script plays against us. You're not allowed to use the term dummy offense, but, you know. We gave up 40 in the first quarter and that just sets the tone."

The Celtics hope they have set a strong tone for the remaining three weeks of the regular season.