ut Perkins, this will be the third time the Celtics' core of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo has been together for a playoff run. Garnett missed their entire '09 run to the Eastern Conference semifinals due to a knee injury. Otherwise, the Celtics' nucleus that the Knicks will have to contend with starting Sunday night has played in eight playoff series. That's 50 games, compared to the Knicks being together for all of 54 days since the Anthony trade.