Article:Boston undefeated vs. West, but...

From All on the Field sports blog: By this point in the season, we've all determined that the Boston Celtics are mortal.

As it turns out, though, that mortality may apply only against Eastern Conference opponents. In beating San Antonio yesterday, Boston improved to 16-0 against the Western Conference.

This can be taken one of two ways, of course. It could be grounds to crown the Celtics, who lead the East by three games over the Pistons, the de facto midseason favorites to win the NBA Championships.

But more accurately, the staggering statistic demonstrates the disparity between the two conferences and suggests that the Eastern Conference playoffs are going to be a dogfight.

Last month alone, Boston lost five times to Eastern Conference opponents, including twice to Washington and once each to Charlotte, Orlando and Toronto. The Celtics are 39-9, good for the best record in both the East and the NBA as a whole, but no longer a mark that threatens Chicago's 73-win standard.

Two of the Big Three have missed time with injuries, Ray Allen with a ginger ankle and Kevin Garnett with a strained abdominal muscle that has now sidelined him seven straight games. And while age has been part of the problem for Boston, it certainly isn't everything; in four of the five January losses, the Celtics' roster was at full strength.

Even with the recent setbacks, it would be hard to bet against Boston making the playoffs as a #1 seed. But Detroit, Orlando, and Cleveland lurk. And now that the Lakers and Suns have bolstered their rosters, the NBA Finals may be no cakewalk, either.