But it's clear that Julius Erving isn't walking through that door any time soon. Nor are Hal Greer, Moses Malone or World B. Free. Maurice Cheeks is, but he's wearing a suit and he's coaching a team that's now two games below .500 and 7 1/2 games behind the Celtics in the Atlantic Division just one month into the regular season.

Last night the 76ers looked more like the Washington Generals than an Eastern Conference contender. The Celtics broke out everything but the bucket of confetti as they rolled to a frighteningly easy 102-78 victory at the Garden.

Clearly the locals didn't overindulge at the holiday table on Thanksgiving, leaving them more than able to flip the Sixers the bird early.

It was a six-point game after one quarter and an 18-pointer at the half. In the third period, the Celts sailed away. Ray Allen had 15 of his 23 points, and the hosts took a 26-point lead into the superfluous fourth.

Philly scored a couple of hoops to get within 16 midway through the frame when Allen - with Rajon Rondo as his trusty sidekick - sent the guests into the night with a kick in the tail and a bag of leftovers.

Rondo found Allen on the right wing for a trey. The next time down the floor he hit Allen in the left corner for another 3, and, hey, if they can't hit the fastball, then keep throwing it. So Rondo fed Allen on the next possession, and the result was the same.

The hosts were up by 18 and pushing the issue when Paul Pierce said a lot for this team. He missed a 3 but immediately rushed to the other end to take a charge from Andre Iguodala. He got in front of Andre Miller the next time Philly had the ball and drew another charge.

Pierce got up, but the Sixers were down for the count.

``They'll be fine,'' C's coach Doc Rivers said before tipoff. ``And I really believe that. I'm not saying it because they're our opponent. I'm not Lou Holtz-ing this.

``You just never know. With some teams you make a lot of changes and you break out right away. With some it takes time.''

Time wasn't on the 76ers side last night.

It took 2:13 before anyone could nudge the scoreboard (a Brand left-handed scoop), and it wasn't until 18 seconds later that Kevin Garnett broke the ice for the C's.

But after the early ineptitude, the C's went on to hit nine of their next 14 shots en route to a 22-16 lead after one.

The most important player for the Celts in the period didn't score a single point.

Rondo again controlling the show, this time with four rebounds, four assists and most importantly, three steals kept Philly from getting anything going offensively.

The Celtics kept the beat going by scoring the first 11 points of the second. They headed into the locker room at the break up 46-28.

- sbulpett@bostonherald.com