A key to the Celtics' success this season has been turning games into relay races. Discuss COMMENTS (4) The reserves have dropped the baton a few times, but the handoff went smoothly during a 108-83 win over the Washington Wizards last night. The second unit kept the margin comfortable, despite some uneven moments in the final quarter. Eddie House's direction and Tony Allen and Leon Powe's aggressiveness led the way. "I think the big thing is we were sharing the basketball," said House (11 points). "We take the mind-set of playing defense first and let the offense take care of itself. If you don't have a shot, you have to move the ball and get the open shot. That's what we did, we moved the ball and got open looks, and that's when we're at our best." The Celtics were 12 for 20 on 3-pointers, the starters going 8 for 10. Oops The Celtics committed turnovers at key stages in the late going of a 91-86 loss to Portland Tuesday. Since taking a 122-88 victory over the Wizards Dec. 11, the Celtics have scored fewer than 90 points in all but one road contest (a 108-63 victory at Sacramento Dec. 28). Asked if some turnovers resulted from the Celtics attempting to make an extra pass, coach Doc Rivers replied, "A lot of it is from making the extra bad pass. Trying for the home run pass instead of the next pass. We're trying to make the scoring pass too much." Now he gets in for free Washington's Ed Tapscott made his debut as a head coach at TD Banknorth Garden. But he made dozens of appearances at Boston Garden as a pre-law student at Tufts University in the early 1970s. Then, the Celtics charged players from local collegiate teams $1 to attend games in the standing-room section. "My grades took a turn for the worse," Tapscott said. "But it was a great deal." Tapscott has been impressed with the Celtics, who are 21-1 against Eastern Conference opposition. "You can't be perfect," Tapscott said. "But they were pretty close to perfect at the start of the season. In any season you are going to have many ups and downs. And we're aware they might be in a bad mood." --

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