WALTHAM - In this increasingly surprising Celtics season, we find ourselves going back to the Big Three Era for a lot of topics under the heading: ''The Best Since ...''


To wit: The Celtics' 22-14 record represents the best start since 1990-91, when Boston started 26-5. Here's another: A victory tonight over the once-dreaded and now-dreadful Knicks will give Boston three wins over New York in a season for the first time since 1991-92. That would be Larry Bird's last season in Boston, otherwise known as The Year The Music Died.

This will be the second meeting with New York in 11