ASHINGTON - Written in big, bold, black print on the erasable board in the visitors' locker room was the number 71. It was circled for emphasis. Coach Jim O'Brien had made 71, the number of games remaining in the regular season, the focus of his postgame speech.

He reminded the Celtics it was still early, but said they were at a critical juncture and it was time for the team to make an important decision. Boston has to determine what type of team it will be: one that reaches the playoffs or one that packs for the summer in mid-April. He told his players to find an identity, preferably one based on four quarters of intense play.