Celtics-Rockets; South Regional

Routine. That is the only word I can come up with for what the Celtics did to the Rockets last night in Houston. It was a text book road victory for the Eastern Conference leaders. They kept it close in the first half before exploding in the second half, en route to a 94-74 victory. It's not like the C's beat up on a weak team last night. The Rockets entered the game winners of 22 consecutive games and lead the Western Conference. Still, the Celts treated the Rockets like the Globetrotters treat the Washington Generals -- they allowed them to think that last night was their night before running away with the game. The Rockets were fired up for the Celtics but it wasn't enough. Houston point guard Rafer Alston tried to rattle young Rajon Rondo early, drawing the C's floor leader into a double technical before the game started. It didn't work as Rondo played a strong game. Luis Scola, Houston's impressive rookie forward, tried to play the tough guy with Kevin Garnett and KG responded in the manner that any basketball follower would expect. KG dropped 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and finished his night off with two powerful dunks on top of Scola. The C's will go for the sweep of Texas tomorrow night in Dallas. No NBA team has ripped through the Texas Triangle since the Kings of 2001 but I don't see the struggling Mavericks -- who have not defeated a team with a .500 or better record since trading for Jason Kidd -- stopping Boston. Even with the NCAA Tournament opening on Thursday, my television will be focused on the Celtics. On to the South... FIRST ROUND 1. Memphis over 16. Texas-Arlington 9. Oregon over 8. Mississippi State 12. Temple over 5. Michigan State 4. Pittsburgh over 13. Oral Roberts 11. Kentucky over 6. Marquette 3. Stanford over 14. Cornell 10. St. Mary's over 7. Miami, Fl 2. Texas over 15. Austin Peay SECOND ROUND 1. Memphis over 9. Oregon 4. Pittsburgh over 12. Temple 3. Stanford over 11. Kentucky 2. Texas over 10. St. Mary's SWEET SIXTEEN 4. Pittsburgh over 1. Memphis 3. Stanford over 2. Texas REGIONAL FINAL 4. Pittsburgh over 3. Stanford You just know that one regional will ruin everyone's bracket and I see the South as the regional most likely to do so. Memphis is a phenomenal team, they are loaded, but I have a wierd feeling they still aren't ready for primetime. Of course, if you follow my gambling history, right now is the time to put the 401k into Memphis. I go with the Pitt-Stanford final -- one that threatens to tear apart the Knight household (not Bobby's, Brevin and Brandon) -- because both teams are tough, play good defense and are battle tested coming out of the Big East and Pac-10. I go with Pitt because Jamie Dixon is an amazing coach and because when Pitt's point guard Levance Fields is healthy they are 18-1, including wins over Duke and Georgetown. My biggest worry in choosing Pitt is that it seems that all their big wins -- Duke, Big East Championship -- come at Madison Square Garden and the Panthers are not scheduled to play at MSG in March or April. Best Opening Round Game: Michigan State and Temple Best Player You Haven't Heard of Yet: Antonio Anderson, Memphis Best Matchup of Future Leaders of America: Stanford and Cornell South Regional MVP: Levance Fields, Pittsburgh