I just threw up in my mouth, thanks Ray Allen

Jesus kills. And I mean that in the most figurative sense.

Jesus Shuttlesworth, aka Ray Allen, hit two threes in the final 31 seconds, including the shank in the side with .5 seconds remaining to give the Celtics their 12th straight win. It was like popping a balloon and watching the air quickly leave it. But that's what happens when you leave one of the greatest three-point shooters open for a split second.

A triumphant comeback by the Sixers after a brutal opening quarter turned this into an amazing game from the second quarter on. In the end though, it was a breakdown on defense that led to the loss.

The defense had been stellar all night, pestering the Kevin Garnett-less Celtics into 21 turnovers and turning those into 30 points.

Here are some negative notes:
-The Sixers somehow left Ray Allen wide open. Whatever the case may be, under no circumstance is this allowed. He has hit the most three's per game in NBA history. That's a nice lesson.

-Three-point shooting continues to be an ongoing process. The Sixers shot just 1-of-8 from downtown on the night. The three-ball has been more prevalent lately under DiLeo, but that doesn't mean its been all good. Sixers need a shooter to step up.

-Elton Brand needs to shut it down. He is hurting this team when he is on the floor and he is hurting himself, literally, by playing on a bum shoulder. He should shut it down, learn from the team during his time off, and start afresh next season. It's really the only option left in the bag.

-I continue to harass Sam Dalembert, even though he had a decent game. He just doesn't look like the same player to me that averaged a double-double last season. He should play no part on offense unless that entails grabbing an offensive rebound or two and the occasional dunk.

-Letting the opponent shoot 54 percent = not so good. Lucky they were even in this game.

A few positives:
-What a comeback! After the first quarter I was ready to write some downright mean things about how ugly it is watching this team, and how they can't hand with the C's. Boy was I wrong. They made a valiant comeback in the second quarter after being completely blown away in the first. It's games like this that build character, and even though they lost, they should be proud of the job they did in even being in this game.

-Andre Iguodala hit a huge shot down the stretch, and played pretty well overall. He continues to flourish without Elton Brand, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing. His 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists show he is involved in every facet of the game. But the question begs asking: can they win with him being "the man"?

-Reggie Evans is a monster. He came off the bench for 24 energetic, pulse-pumping minutes, giving the crowd something to cheer for all night. They even chanted his name a time or two. He finished with eight points, 10 boards, two steals and was a +14 on the night, meaning they played their best ball with him on the court. Every game needs to be like this when Evans is on the court. It shows you how some people can just turn a game around on their own, even if they are not a special talent.

-Mo Speights continues to play decent basketball, when he is in the lineup of course. He played just six minutes, but had a couple of dunks, played some spirited ball, and was quickly taken out. Not sure what his role is, and I'm not sure Tony DiLeo knows either.

Next: vs. Indiana, Thursday 7pm.