Boston Celtics

Ready to go

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was in a jovial mode before tonight’s game. The team is loose, and Rivers admitted it’s been tough keeping them focused for games like tonight’s, which don’t mean much.

“They’ve been phenomenal,” said Rivers. “I think they got bored the last week with the process. There’s no doubt about that. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, just trying to keep them interested. But he’s been great. We’ve set little private goals for each game, just to have some kind of interest in them. Because honestly there wasn’t much to play for. And our guys did a great job with that.

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“But they’re ready to play meaningful games.”

  • We should find out tonight when the Celtics will play Game 1 of their first round series against Atlanta. It should be on Saturday or Sunday, with Game 2 possibly coming as late as Wednesday, according to a source here familiar with the television schedule.
  • Not a single Celtics player lingered around the locker room to speak to reporters before the game.
  • The title of tonight’s pregame sermon is “How to love people you don’t like.”

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