Celtics can't put things together

Or, as Ricky Davis noted, ''We are missing a sense of urgency, right from the start of the game at the jump ball."

Last Friday, the Celtics eked out a win over the Charlotte Bobcats on a buzzer-beater by Paul Pierce. Three nights later, even with an exhumed Mark Blount playing reasonably well, the Celtics didn't have it. With two chances to tie the game in the final minute, Davis (22 points) tossed up an air ball from the baseline and Blount pretty much whiffed on a short jump hook, although Dwight Howard was there to contest it and was credited with a blocked shot.

Those two plays seemed to epitomize the evening for the Celtics, who fell to 5-8. As Rivers put it, ''For the first time this season, our offense let us down."

As in 43 percent shooting, 19 turnovers (leading to 20 points), and 38 second-half points. But it was still very much a winnable game in that final, frantic minute, as the Celtics had chopped an 8-point deficit (79-71 with 4:56 to play) down to 83-81 after Delonte West (11 points) made two free throws with 90 seconds left.

But Davis misfired badly -- uncharacteristically, really -- on a 15-footer from the left baseline.

''A guy jumped out on me at the last second," said Davis, who was 9 of 18 from the field. ''We weren't really executing well at all."

Then, after a miss by Steve Francis (19 points), Dan Dickau passed up an open shot to feed a more open Blount some 5 feet from the basket. Imagine how headline writers would have handled a Blount basket to tie the game? Or even a 3-point play following his Friday banishment to hoop Elba?

But Blount never got firm control of the ball and it appeared to slip out of his hands as he attempted to shoot. Howard (10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and only 3 field goals attempted) was there to make sure it got no closer.

''I knew I had to make a big play to win the game," Howard said. ''I got a great block." Well, the stats will call it a block. Howard knows better. As he later acknowledged, ''He kind of lost control of it."