You know the Celtics are going to win this playoff series -- and the next one, against the Western Conference champion in the finals -- four games to three.

Or do you?

What you know, for sure, is that the Celtics have not lost at home in the playoffs. They're 8-0 in the new Garden, having won four apiece from the visiting Hawks and Cavaliers. What you also know, for sure, is the Celtics have not won on the road in the playoffs. They're 0-6, having lost three apiece in Atlanta and Cleveland.

Since you know the Celtics have the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, by virtue of having the best record (66-16) in the league during the regular season, then you know they're going to go all the way, even though it's going to take them 28 games to do it.

You do know that, don't you?

You know the Celts are like a golfer who shoots even par on his own course, but plays bogey golf everywhere else. They're like a guy who can grill a steak to perfection in his own backyard, but burns the burgers if he has to cook at his neighbor's house. These Celtics are no different from the neighborhood kids who are unbeatable on their own asphalt court, where they know every crack, but can't win a run on anybody's else's turf.

Not to worry.

The first two games of the conference finals are in Boston, so the Celts will jump out to a 2-0 lead in the series. Then the Pistons will bounce back and win the next two in Detroit. The Celtics will win Game Five in Boston. Detroit then will win again at home, in The Palace in Auburn Hills, forcing a seventh game, which the Celts will, of course, win.

Just like they did against the Hawks. Just like they did against the Cavs. Just like they almost always did when they were hanging those championship banners in the rafters of the old Garden on pretty much an annual basis.

You're a Celtics fan, and you know that's what's going to happen.

Or do you?

Home teams have been virtually invincible in the NBA conference semifinals -- a dominating 22-2 going into tonight's Game Seven in New Orleans, where the Hornets will take on the Spurs.

There's no reason to think that trend won't continue.

Or is there?

Do you really think, considering that they couldn't beat either the Hawks or the Cavs on the road in the playoffs, that the Celtics -- despite the fact that they had the best road record in the league during the regular season -- are going to win away from home, in Detroit? Or, if they get past the Pistons, against the best in the West?

And do you really think that the Pistons, who own one of the two road victories in the conference semifinals, having beaten the Magic in Orlando, can't grab a game in the Garden?

I'm thinking -- not hoping, mind you, but thinking -- that the Celts' remarkable run is about to come to an end against the Pistons, who are playing in the conference finals for the sixth consecutive year.

While the Celtics will have had just one day to recover from their second straight grueling, seven-game series, as well as to prepare for the start of what promises to be a difficult series with Detroit, the Pistons have been off for a week since disposing of Orlando in five games.

Although the Pistons lost two of their three games with the Celtics this season, their lone win was in Boston in December, 87-85 -- one of just six homecourt losses suffered by the Celts. On the other hand, Boston did win in its only visit to Detroit -- 95-82, in January -- then beat the Pistons again back in Boston in early March, 90-78.

You might think the Celts are overdue to win a game on the road. You might, that is, if you hadn't watched their games in Atlanta and Cleveland.

Are they capable of winning a game in Detroit? Of course. But not the way they've been playing on the road in the playoffs thus far. And, as the competition gets tougher, and the strain of already having played so many postseason games begins to mount, it seems more likely that the Celts will get a game get away from them at home than that they will steal one on the road.

But you're a Celtics fan, and you're sure they're going to beat the Pistons -- probably in seven games.

Aren't you?