There was a real question as to how the Celtics were going to handle their part in the Super Bowl pregame show yesterday. They had been the All-Maddening team, losing three straight and squandering double-figure leads in the latter two.

But against the Los Angeles Clippers at the FleetCenter, they flipped the script. In what can best be described as an episode of ``Survivor,'' the Celts collected more bruises and pain - and a 104-91 victory.