If you'd like to find a bright spot in Boston's Game 1 loss, there's only place to look:

The second quarter.

The Celtics won the second by 10 point last night, and lost by a combined 24 in the other three. They scored 35 points in the second quarter and averaged 14.6 in the other three. In the second quarter, they played like a team that just might shock the world they played like sad pretenders in the other three.

And while it was only one quarter, that quarter was real. It did happen. Over that one 12-minute span the Celtics proved that they have what it takes to combat the Heat attack. That they can play with the Heat.

Certainly that only goes so far. After all, the Hawks proved they could play with the Celtics. The Sixers certainly proved they could play with the Celtics. And that's not doing either of them one damn bit good right now.

But in a game like last night's, you'll take the bright spots when you find them, and Game 1 was all about the second quarter. So, how did the Celtics succeed in that frame?

Not to oversimplify things, but they made their shots. The C's went 4-4 from three in the second, while going 0-10 in the other three quarters. They also got to the rim, making seven lay-ups. They also moved the ball, registering assists on eight of their 12 made field goals. And while it's impossible to expect the Celtics to play at the level all the time they probably have to miss a three pointer once in a while last night's second quarter is still a very realistic glimpse of what the Celtics can do when they can make a few shots, and a legitimate reason to stay relatively optimistic heading into tomorrow.

Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine