They have no nickname and no clever ESPN promo. They just happen to be four pros who saved a playoff game for the Boston Celtics.

Three are cagey vets with a cumulative 38 NBA seasons of experience and the fourth is an inspirational young man who plays every game as if he's been asked to save the entire city from enslavement. Without them, well, who knows? It might have been disastrous. Instead, the Celtics eventually walked off all smiley last night after an 89-73 Game 2 conquest of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"We gave our starters a break," said Sam Cassell. "Our starters' energy level wasn't there at the beginning of the game."

Facts are facts. The Boston bench altered the course of the ...