Last season, in their run to their 17th NBA title, the Celtics went from potential to prolific, winning 66 games in the regular season. This season, they are going from hype to historic, as in no team in NBA history has ever followed up an 18-2 start one season with a 19-2 opening the next… until now. What’s scary about the Green Machine’s is they honestly believe they have yet to play a complete game. Friday night, the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA came to town with a 16-4 mark and a six-game winning streak. They hadn’t lost to an Eastern Conference team. They had lost just twice in 16 games when holding their opponent under 100 points. Still not enough to overcome the Celtics, who overwhelmed them with a 21-0 run. The Celtics are all on the same page, preaching the same message, we’re playing well but there’s a lot of season remaining and a lot to play for. Just take a listen.

Doc Rivers loved the energy and effort against Portland.

Rivers said his team took the offensive rebounding challenge against Portland to heart.

Paul Pierce said the Celtics are just looking to get better.

Kevin Garnett on the flow of the team during the 21-0 run.

Garnett said the team is all business right now.

Kendrick Perkins said the team is ready for a battle in Indiana on Sunday.

Darius Miles was anxious when he moved to Boston last month. He had played here before on opposing teams but it’s a different story when you are representing Beantown. The city’s winning tradition was intimidating at first.

Miles hopes to be part of #18

“The last time I played there it wasn’t really a big deal because the team was losing games,” Miles said. “Like now just walking into the practice facility, it’s like it’s scary to a point because of the history that goes back on this team. Seeing all these pictures of Bill Russell and all these great players that used to play here and seeing those big banners, it’s different now.”

Through his six-year stint in the NBA, Miles already knew many of the veteran Celtics including Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Sam Cassell. Knowing these players also meant knowing the high expectations of winning another championship this season.

“I’m a basketball fan so I kind of knew a lot about [the Celtics tradition],” Miles said. “Then once they brought a championship back, that kind of brought it all back to the world and everybody else and it kind of brought it back to my memory too. Like I said it got scary where I just don’t want to mess up, don’t want to miss a pass, drop the ball, miss a shot.”

After six weeks Miles has become more comfortable in his new digs. Doc Rivers has praised his hustle and he seems at ease in the Celtics locker room. Off the court, he has already staked claim of his new favorite restaurant, Biagio in Waltham.

No Mickey D's for Miles

“I like the family restaurants,” he said. “They don’t have too many name brand restaurants. There are a lot of family-owned restaurants around here, so the food tastes better and the people know how to cook.”

What else does Miles like about Boston?

“My favorite part is I like everybody’s accent,” he said, adding, “My mom came down here when I was sick (tonsillitis) and she was telling me she liked everybody’s accents too.”

So will this Belleville, Illinois native be pahkin the cah any time soon?

“No, I don’t think I’ll pick one up,” Miles said with a laugh. “I’m too country for that.”