The Celtics refuse to settle into lowered expectations.

Boston suffered two straight road losses out of the All-Star break, and the season-ending injuries to Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger weighed a little heavier.  Before Friday the team had no wins on the road against the Western Conference this season. Success in Phoenix Friday night could begin to prove that the Celtics were the same team out West that went 8-1 in its last nine on the East Coast.

But since Wednesday’s trade deadline the Celtics are no longer the same team.  They sent Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins to the Washington Wizards for guard Jordan Crawford.  Earlier in the week guard Terrence Williams signed a 10-day contract with the team from the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the CBA in China.  And on top of all that, Coach Doc Rivers opted not to play Kevin Garnett against the Suns.

The usual starting center got some vital rest.  Jeff Green stepped into the starting lineup at the U.S. Airways Center, and in the first three and a half minutes the Celtics had a 13-0 lead.  The risk of giving Garnett the night off evaporated quickly.  Boston blew past the Suns 113-88, improving to 29-26 and dropping Phoenix to 18-38.  It was the largest margin of victory for the Celtics this season.

Green scored 31 points on 11-for-14 shooting, looking unquestionably like the best player on the floor.  He was too quick for Luis Scola, too big for Goran Dragic and just too skilled offensively for P.J. Tucker.

A road game against the team with the worst record in the West afforded Boston the opportunity to regroup and work new players into Rivers’ system.  Crawford’s first points as a Celtic came off an assist from Williams, who found Crawford open near the corner for a 3-pointer early in the second quarter.

The two played off each other all night.  Williams opened the fourth quarter with a leaping teardrop and Crawford reciprocated with a left-to-right cut through the lane that ended in a baby hook shot.  Crawford finished with 10 points.  Williams had nine and four assists.

Boston shot over 55 percent from the field and over 45 percent from 3-point territory.  Snappy perimeter passing and quick drives to the basket created dozens of uncontested shot opportunities.  The Suns were unable to catch Green and Avery Bradley, who finished with 13 points and four steals.

Chris Wilcox may have played his most efficient game as a Celtic in Garnett’s absence.  He had 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting and eight rebounds in 20 minutes.

Dragic had 19 points and 10 assists in 41 minutes for the Suns, but shot 1-for-6 from behind the 3-point line.  Boston’s perimeter defense suffocated the Suns’ deep shooting.  Phoenix attempted 19 3-pointers but made only four.

Phoenix was also active before the trade deadline.  The Suns acquired Marcus Morris from the Rockets, uniting him with his twin, Markieff, for the first time in the NBA.  The two played together at the University of Kansas.  Marcus played only five minutes but scored seven points.  Markieff had 11 points in 25 minutes of action.

Boston travels to Portland Sunday night to play the Trailblazers, who have lost six games in a row.  Garnett should be back and Portland should beware.  After brief lapses against the Nuggets and Lakers, Boston continues to play like it can advance in the playoffs without its All-Star point guard.  The Celtics are 9-3 without Rondo.