Celtics beaten but not defeated

Are the Celtics overrated? The Cleveland crowd expressed that opinion as they chanted in the late going of the Cavaliers' 98-83 win over the Celtics Friday night.

In any case, a fourth successive defeat has forced the Celtics to take stock of themselves as they visit Toronto today and play host to the Raptors tomorrow. Coach Doc Rivers believes there are positives to this downturn in the Celtics' fortunes.

"Sometimes you have to go through something to get something," said Rivers. "Last year, we didn't have this, at all. And I was extremely concerned going into the playoffs and I made the comment, my one concern was we hadn't been tested, we breezed through the season, 66-and-whatever. Well, we can't say that this year.

"You find out a lot about your guys when you go through stretches like this, who wants to fight, so it's good for everybody. It's not what you want to go through - I'd rather do last year."

But, Rivers said, the Celtics would not have defeated the Cavaliers in last year's playoffs without having been tested in the opening round by Atlanta.

"I really believe we don't win the second round if we don't go through the first round," Rivers said. "So, maybe this will teach us something, too."

Cleveland improved to 19-0 at home, highlighting the stakes of playing for home-court advantage.

The Celtics conducted their postgame powwow in the cramped quarters of the visiting locker room and emerged comparing their situation to Detroit's when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA title, rallying from a six-game March losing streak.

The Celtics did display flashes of the form that got them off to a 27-2 start. But the flaws that have caused them to lose seven of nine games emerged. Cleveland scored 33 points on 72.2 percent shooting in the first quarter, and the Celtics never recovered.

"Usually we set the tone early defensively - we didn't," Rivers said. "Give us credit; I thought in the second quarter we came back and clawed back defensively and that's what we have to do. But our defense will be the reason this will turn around.

"I think they were pressing because they wanted to win and I don't mind that. Just because you are playing hard that's not an excuse for not playing smart. You have to do both."

The Celtics' teamwork-based style of offense contrasted with the LeBron James-dependent Cavs. But James's scoring buoyed Cleveland and helped cause the Celtics to self-destruct in transition.

"Doc said it best, everyone is trying to do it themselves and find solutions instead of doing it together," Kevin Garnett said. "We talked very deeply of what we need to do. Now it's about applying it on the court.

"The communication is still there. We're talking. I don't think we got many calls. But I don't think we put the refs in situations where [they have] to make calls to get us more to the line and be a lot more aggressive.

"I can remember when the Pistons in '04 won, I remember they lost [eight of nine games]. That keeps coming to mind because of confidence, and when you're rolling and when you're rolling at the right time. We learned a lot about our team during these dark days here."

The Celtics have not used all of their weapons to combat their current slump. And guard Sam Cassell, who has not played for the team since last season, could make his debut soon. "It looks like it's time," Cassell said. "It'll have to be soon - I want the opportunity."