Luck is a Traitorous Bitch

You win some...
you lose some.

Down-to-the-wire games are fun to watch, especially when your team comes out on top. But if you want to make sure you come away with the W, you can't depend on things in the final seconds to go your way.

In its last two games, the Celtics' fate has been determined in the last few seconds of regulation. Last Saturday, Boston won a nailbiter against the Charlotte on a last-second three by Ray Allen. Today, Allen was again poised to be the big hero in Boston's game against Cleveland, but he uncharacteristically missed two free throws with the game tied with 23 seconds to go in regulation. This set the stage for overtime, which was dominated by the Cavs' Lebron James. Cleveland won, 109-104.

Boston has played five very close games in its first 13 games; an OT thriller against Toronto, a games against a weakened but inspired Miami squad, a painful loss against Orlando, the miracle in Charlotte, and now this disappointing game against the defending Eastern Conference champions.

If you depend on the last-second shot or steal or whatever, you're playing dice with the devil, and that's not something you want to make a habit of. Moral of the story? Blow your opponent out. Every. Time.