In this season of pleasant surprises, new Celtics achievements seem to be chronicled by the day. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 11 years. They are in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time in 10. And they're working on the team's best December since the 1990-91 squad went 11-3.

This is pretty heady stuff for a franchise that failed to produce a winning season in nine years and has not been to the playoffs in six. But when the Celtics open a four-game trip tonight in Utah, they'd be best-served to leave their freshly updated resume behind.