The Celtics may be a bit weary as they finish a four-game road trip in Oklahoma City Friday night, but they should be buoyed a bit by the approval from Larry Brown. The Charlotte coach called the Celtics' first five of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo the best starting group in the league. Celtics coach Doc Rivers agrees, but he's still trying hard to figure out the best way to handle their playing time.
"It's a fine line," Rivers said. "You can't shut them down from practice or game minutes. They need both of them. But there's a line you can go over that hurts them.
"Rondo and Perk you don't worry about, but the other three you do. It's a work in progress so far.
"We've been good with Kevin. He's at a career-low right now in minutes played," the coach added. "But where we struggle at times with Ray and Paul -- it's one or the other who plays more minutes than we probably want them to."
Thus far, Rivers has been most careful with Garnett, who is coming back from knee surgery.
CELTICS 90, SPURS 83: The Celtics got 20 points from Kevin Garnett and 12 points and 12 assists from Rajon Rondo Thursday in a strong outing for the club overall. But the visitors were helped immensely by the fact the Spurs made just seven of 17 free throws and were two for 16 on treys.
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