24 second clock: Miami has won four games in a row

By winning one championship and getting off to a terrific head start toward another, the Boston Celtics have obviously enjoyed a good year.

It could finish as one of the best in NBA history.

Though the Celtics had their franchise-record, 19-game winning streak snapped with their Christmas loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and they lost again on Friday to Golden State, the Celtics could still go 69-17 for the calendar year.

The best calendar year belongs to the Chicago Bulls, who went 74-11 (.871) from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1996, fueled by their NBA-record, 72-win season in 1995-96. And though Boston went 66-16 last season and won 27 of its first 30 games of 2008-09, this isn't even the Celtics' best year ever.

The 1973 version would rank second to Chicago at 68-14 (.829), followed by the 1966 Philadelphia 76ers (69-15, .821). ...

NBA TV is dedicating 24 hours to celebrating 24 years of LeBron James.

Cleveland's All-Star forward turns 24 on Tuesday, and the channel is using the occasion to show some of James' most memorable moments on the court.

Coverage begins Monday at 11 a.m. MST with the airing of his first NBA game, a visit to Sacramento on Oct. 29, 2003. Also scheduled are a pair of Cleveland playoff games, along with a couple of documentaries or special programs focused on James.

Tuesday features a replay of his first nationally televised high school game, followed by his 48-point performance in the Cavs' victory over Detroit in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. The marathon ends with a live showing of Cleveland's game at Miami. ...

The Boston Celtics had a 19-game winning streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 11 in a row at one point.

Yet neither has been able to run away and hide in the Eastern Conference, because the Orlando Magic have been nearly as good, just not nearly as noticeable.

The Magic were 23-6 after their Christmas Day rout of New Orleans, not far behind the 27-3 Celtics or 25-4 Cavaliers.

"First is the good place to be, but if we can't be first and can't be second, I guess I would rather be third," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I think the good thing is, I look at it this way: The Celtics have the best start in the history of the NBA and we are only four games back."...