--Byron Scott gave a campaign speech for Chris Paul's MVP candidacy Friday, saying his point guard deserves the honor over Kevin Garnett, because K.G. has better players around him.
"I think Byron's a smart man, but I don't want to get into that," said Doc Rivers. Garnett is talking up Pierce, who threw it back at K.G.
"You have to understand where I came from a year ago, and to be on pace to win as many games as we are, I wouldn't have believed it," Pierce said. "The whole face of the Celtics' nation turned around when the trade happened with this guy. Everyone talks about the MVP and they talk about numbers, but this guy has changed the whole culture around here and I think that says a lot for everything. The mentality, to a day-to-day aspect, everything is changed from a year ago."
--G Rajon Rondo has been getting a lot of attention for the move he put on Steve Nash Wednesday. Rondo faked Nash in the lane with a sort of one-hand crossover and rolled in for a lay-up.
"I don't even know really," said Rondo when asked to describe the play. "I just did an in-and-out. He went for it."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Oh, wow, that's cool." -- Doc Rivers, on the Celtics having a chance to beat every team in the league with a win over New Orleans Friday. They finished the job, winning 112-92.
