By Shawn O'Neal
SportsLine NBA Editor

Expectations be damned ... the Boston Celtics just aren't any good.

Rick Pitino has taken to calling the Celtics an "expansion club," and saying that he knew the rebuilding process would take longer than many expected.

Sure, it's a cop out, but it looks like he's right.

While Pitino's Boston Celtics were embarrassing themselves Wednesday night against the Timberwolves, a fan at the FleetCenter sauntered by the bench and suggested to the coach that if his team were a horse, it already would have been put down.

Just don't let Antoine Walker do the honors. He'd miss. And he'd miss. And he'd miss. And he wouldn't stop shooting.

The poster child for all that is wrong with the Celtics seems to be missing the point as well. He criticized Boston fans for booing him after the Celtics dropped their fifth straight game, an 87-68 decision to otherwise-struggling Minnesota.

The reason behind the disdain for Walker isn't difficult to figure out. Before his 1-for-14 outing Wednesday, Walker had put together a 2-for-15 effort in a loss to Chicago. That makes CyberTwan a mind-numbing 3-for-29 in his last two home games. And the Celtics have lost 10 of 11.

He had a solid 8-for-18, 22-point performance in a Tuesday loss at Cleveland, but on the season Walker is shooting 41 percent from the floor and 49 percent from the free-throw line. His selfish play and foolish shots are snuffing out any offense the Celtics might establish.

Walker isn't the Celtics only problem. Ron Mercer's shooting is off, Kenny Anderson's best minutes rarely come in crunch time, Paul Pierce is hurting and, despite the trade for Vitaly Potapenko, the team is soft in the paint.

While Boston is blowing its season, the Atlanta Hawks continue to exceed expectations.

Lenny Wilkens' team started the season 6-3, only to get punched in the gut via an injury to shooting guard Steve Smith.

After a 2-4 swoon, the Hawks are 8-4 since Smith's return. The math is pretty simple -- when Smith is in the lineup, the Hawks win twice as often as they lose. When he sits, that stat is reversed.

They beat Indiana on Wednesday, and are only a couple of lengths behind the Pacers in the race for the Central Division title.

Sizzlin' ... The Countdown

5. Young Bucks on the free-throw line

The Bucks brightest young stars are leading the league in free throw shooting percentage. Glenn Robinson is tops at 92 percent while Ray Allen sits second at 91.

4. Bark's got bite

Charles Barkley might be getting older, but his 17.8 points and 12.8 rebounds are numbers that a man 10 years younger would consider a career year.

3. Still Blazin'

While the Lakers' soap opera continues to twist and turn, the Blazers keep winning. That's 15 wins in their last 17 games and the best record in the league for Portland.

2. Divac's dilemma

Sacramento's Vlade Divac nearly put up a triple-double in the Kings' Wednesday victory over New York, with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. Half a world away, his family and friends were having bombs dropped on them as NATO launched air strikes against his native country. A gritty performance under mental duress for one of the league's good guys.

1. Anonymous in Atlanta

They're largely ignored on a national scope and drew a paltry 12,000 for their Wednesday game in the Georgia Dome, but the Hawks are as legitimate as post-Jordan title contenders get.

Fizzlin' ... The Countdown

5. Grow up, Dennis

Imagine that, after taking a week off to deal with personal problems, Dennis Rodman decides to rejoin the Lakers in time for their national television date with Orlando and his former coach, Chuck Daly. He then proceeded to make an ass of himself, trying to bully Orlando rookie Matt Harpring, who didn't take the bait and ended up grabbing eight rebounds to Rodman's six. But the Lakers did win, and that's what matters.

4. Grow up, Alan

After a dismal performance in a loss to Milwaukee, Atlanta's Alan Henderson threw a basketball over a CNN Center grandstand Saturday night. The ball struck Dikembe Mutombo's 13-year-old daughter in the face, requiring medical attention. Very nice. Henderson was tagged with a $3,500 fine from the NBA.

3. Leave the Canadian kid alone

During a Wednesday night game Dallas fans decided to make point guard Steve Nash their whipping boy -- booing him rabidly every time he touched the ball. Mavs' followers certainly have every right to boo -- their team is awful. Better targets aren't hard to find, however. Boo coach/GM Don Nelson. Boo assistant coach Donn Nelson. Hey, better yet, boo team owner Ross Perot Jr. for employing the Nelsons.

2. More anguish in Seattle

Things were bad enough for the Sonics before they lost Vin Baker for 4-6 weeks with a thumb injury. Now they're starting to lose to stiffs at home -- dropping a Wednesday decision to Washington. Since getting off to an 6-0 start, the Sonics are 7-12.

1. Celtic pride?

Something stinks in the FleetCenter.