5. They swept Texas

The Celtics went into Texas in March and beat the defending-champion Spurs (pictured), the Rockets, who were on a 22-game winning streak, and the Mavericks. The last team before them to make it out o the Texas Triangle unscathed before the C's did it was the Sacramento Kings -- in 2001. That stretch by the Celtics sent a message that they can play with the big boys in the West as well as the East.