Players may be hurting, but confidence isn't

The Celtics have heard all those theories and more from skeptics who believe there will not be an 18th championship banner being raised at TD Banknorth Garden this year. But through all the injuries, criticism, and questions, the Celtics remain extremely confident, for several reasons.

"We don't mind flying under the radar," said Paul Pierce. "When you win a championship, you acquire a certain swagger, a certain confidence that you can beat anybody regardless of who you have on the court."

Said coach Doc Rivers, "They counted us out last year, too. Who cares? As long as the guys in the locker room and the fans believe, we could care less about anybody else."

One reason the Celtics are confident is that they are more experienced individually and as a group going into the playoffs this time.

Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis, and Leon Powe were making their playoff debuts last season, while Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen had played in fewer than eight postseason contests. While Pierce, Garnett, and Ray Allen had a lot of playoff experience individually, they were still getting to know each other in their first season together. Sam Cassell and Brian Scalabrine, who didn't play in one playoff game, were the only players on the team with NBA Finals experience.

Actually, before last season, the Celtics were projected by many to have a better chance of winning a title this season than last. But they got a lot of postseason experience quickly, playing seven-game series in the first two rounds, and got stronger as the playoffs continued.

With all of the key players and newcomers having logged lots of playoff time by now, the Celtics believe they will be much more mentally prepared for anything that comes their way.

"We know what to expect," Ray Allen said. "We know it's going up a notch. We know both sides of the ball will require an intense amount of focus.

"We had so many young guys last year that were important to our success, that feeling was great as far as beating Detroit. They didn't think our guys would hold up on the road in foul situations, and they didn't know what to expect. I think now, we know what to expect."

The Celtics have been hampered by injuries. Garnett missed 23 games (one for suspension), Powe 10, Scalabrine 29, and Tony Allen 35. Pierce is the only Celtic who has played in all 80 games. But even through all the lineup changes and lost production, Boston has still managed the third-most wins in the league, 60.

Davis and Powe gained a lot of confidence as they more-than-adequately filled Garnett's mammoth shoes. There are also talented reserve guards in Tony Allen, Eddie House, and Stephon Marbury. While the loss of James Posey still hurts, the Celtics feel they are deeper and more talented now than last season.

"We've done a pretty good job holding up without [Garnett]," Rondo said. "[Davis] is stepping up. When Leon was healthy, he was stepping up. That's fine. We're the underdogs. We've all been underdogs before. It's no big deal."

Said Pierce, "We've been missing KG. We've had our injuries. But we still find ways to win games. And that factor comes into play, especially in the playoffs."

The big question mark for the Celtics is: How healthy will Garnett be in the postseason?

They seem optimistic that Garnett will be close to his old self. He should be aided by having extra days off during the playoffs, no back-to-back games, and long television timeouts. Davis, Powe, and Mikki Moore can also reduce Garnett's minutes with solid play off the bench. And even if Garnett isn't 100 percent, Pierce says his focus and presence alone have a positive impact on the team's play.

Asked if he were confident that Garnett would be a positive factor in the postseason, Pierce said, "I'm very confident. I'm confident that even if KG's not 100 percent, [he'll contribute] just by his presence on the floor."

There are many valid reasons why the odds are against the Celtics repeating. But the champs haven't lost their swagger in the least. They believe they will have the last laugh.

"I don't think, even without us healthy, that anyone can beat us four times," Rondo said.

Said Pierce, "Teams might say, 'Oh, they're injured and they're not as good as they were.' But you still think about that this is the team that won the championship. You can't take that lightly, either."

Said Ray Allen, "We've faced different challenges. The table doesn't always have to be set the same way to win a championship or to be great. It's just a different way for us to try to get to our goal."

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com