By Brian Robb, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) — On the surface, it appeared the table was set perfectly for the Celtics to seize control of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night. A shorthanded (no Tristan Thompson) and tired Cleveland Cavaliers team rolled into town with LeBron James downplaying the importance of regular season game No. 78. A rested Celtics team were poised to send a message to the rest of the NBA that they could in fact hang with a Cavs team that had been reeling since the All-Star Break.