With the Celtics playing every other day until Sunday -- home against Indiana and Portland on Wednesday and Friday, and at Indiana on Sunday -- rest becomes a big issue. That's especially so for a team with a lot of key veterans.
It's just one of the reasons the players appreciate coach Doc Rivers' approach to practices. And last week when Allen Iverson blew off the Pistons' Thanksgiving morning session, the Celtics talked about how happy they are that Rivers is generally protective of their holidays and family time. "All of us were thankful for (having Thanksgiving off) -- to be able to rest and stay home with our families," said Ray Allen. "Those days are big for us. We know when we come in the next day it makes us work even harder."
Allen said keeping things in perspective is good for a team in the long run.
"It is and it starts with Doc," he said. "Most of us here have families. We have kids, wives. We know when Doc has the opportunity he wants to spend time with his kids. I think more than any other coach I've had in the NBA, he knows these days when we don't have games are valuable for guys to get rest, guys to get away from basketball and spend time with their families. The season's way too long to not do that.
"It's a long season. To be able to celebrate the holidays with our family and take that time off, I think the atmosphere that's bred is one that guys come in and know everybody's going to work hard. We know we're going to get days off, and it's more so than I've ever had in my career. Toward the end of the season, bodies feel great. People are fresh and more rested."
Asked about his policy, Rivers cracked, "I blame (former Atlanta coach Mike) Fratello for practicing on all those freaking holidays.
"No," he added, "I've always tried to keep things in perspective as far as family. And I don't know if one day's going to make or break your season."
CELTICS 107, MAGIC 88: The No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference took on the No. 3 team on Monday in Boston, and the distance between them looked great.
The Celtics led by as many as 15 in the first half before their lead was sliced to two by halftime. Paul Pierce then scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter as the Celtics pulled away for good.
Rashard Lewis had 30 points for Orlando, but he was guarding Pierce for much of the third.
Last season, the Magic won the season series from the Celtics 2-1, and the Celtics were looking to make a point Monday -- particularly with Orlando starters Jameer Nelson and Mikael Pietrus missing because of injury.
"You like playing teams like them because it gives your team something, too," coach Doc Rivers said. "Both teams are up, and that's always nice, when you get that. I call it a 'free speech night.' You don't have to talk a lot before a game when you play teams like that. But they have some injuries, and we understand that, too. And so I thought we took advantage of that a little bit."
