Doc’s pregame Q&A
For a coach, the challenge of a Game 7 is keeping the game between the lines. Limit distractions. Play down the magnitude of the do-or-die situation.
Just play.
“You’re not going to change completely what you do,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “You try to get Ray [Allen] open more. You try to get Paul [Pierce] more space off your double-teams. Other than that you just play your game.”
Both teams stuck to their usual pregame routines tonight, the Celtics making themselves unavailable for interviews, Magic players sitting at their lockers joking around, seemingly immune to the pressure of the moment. The Celtics have played in three Game 7s over the last two seasons, so experience should help the home team. But Rivers cautioned that this group of Celtics is a bit greener than one might think.
“It’s just a different team,” said Rivers. “Last year you had the comfort of Kevin [Garnett], of veterans like P.J. [Brown] and [James] Posey, and this year you don’t. But you didn’t know how they were going to react, either. It doesn’t necessarily apply because you’re young or old. Sometimes you get in big games and you play extremely well…you would bank on veterans more, in that regard. We have two, Paul and Ray. But hell, other than that, we’re younger than them”
Rivers also downplayed the notion that a loss in this game would diminish his team’s title defense.
“I think our defense has been noble all year,” said Rivers. “That’s up for you guys to decide. I’m sure some of you will say if we win, yes, some of you wil say no. It won’t affect one thing for us.”
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