Wyc Grousbeck, a majority owner and part of the local group that bought the Celtics in 2002, is elated with the quick chemistry but cautions that "it's early yet." Danny Ainge, whose seat as general manager would've been increasingly hot during these last few futile seasons if not for his close ties to then-senior assistant Auerbach, isn't quite ready to be deemed "Executive of the Year" unless it continues into April.

"I don't get overly excited about a good start," Ainge said. "I'm glad that it's working, glad that the players are getting along and they're coachable and seem to have great chemistry. Now we just need to get better. We're looking to have a good finish, and they need to get better."

"All three of us have to have an ego to opposing teams, and at the same time none of us can have an ego with each other," said Allen, who was acquired in a trade with Seattle last offseason. "We haven't had any problems. There are moments when Kevin might say, 'I want the ball in the post on a chest pass instead of a bounce pass,' or times when I miss him or times when he misses me, but we know everybody's got good intentions out there. ... Nobody on this team is selfish, so we all know everybody is trying to make the right plays for everybody else."

The only record that really matters in Boston these days is the one that leads to championships. Although they're back on the front page in Boston, there's more to do yet before they grace the walls at Four's.

"What they were doing there for a while was just awful to watch," said Colton, the Four's owner. "But now there's no more people saying: 'Hey, I can't use these tickets. Do you need tickets?' And no one wants them. 'Tickets? Who wants tickets? No thanks, I've got something better to do.' It's fun again."