The Celtics have made quite a few mistakes this week.
They kicked the ball around and approached defense with stunning nonchalance in road losses to the Nets and Hawks. They gave lie to the popular preseason notion they are a team that will win even more than their talent would indicate because they will work harder and longer than their opponent nearly every night. That might not be good enough against some of the elite teams, but it should be enough to make them well above .500 for the season.
Or so it was said.
By barely getting past winless Philadelphia, 84-80, Wednesday, the Celts sit at 8-7, having saved themselves from an embarrassing defeat and sideways glances from relatives across the Thanksgiving table.