--Former Celtic coach Jim O'Brien credits Danny Ainge with a bold move to bring in Stephon Marbury. Bold because of Marbury's history.
"That's a gutsy move on their part," said the Pacer coach. "When you have that strong a locker room that can deal with him, then it's a smart move. I've really liked him over the years, though I know others have had a lot of opinions about him. "But that move took a lot of guts, and I think it will pay off for them. If (Rajon) Rondo goes down during a playoff series with an injury or gets into foul trouble, they'll be very happy that they have Marbury. For the price they paid, it's great. And if it doesn't work out, they don't have to pay him. The great thing is that you never know when a player as good as him will win you a playoff game or two."
--Doc Rivers was hit hard by the deaths of Chicago legends Norm Van Lier and Red Kerr.
"That was very sad," he said. "I'm a Chicago kid. And Norm Van Lier, and Johnny 'Red' Kerr... People don't know this, but I always snuck into the YMCA on LaGrange. And I found out years later (Kerr) lived in that area and he basically had informed them to let me in. I always thought I was being crafty and sneaking in, and I found out years later I had nothing to do with it. It was Kerr who was getting me in to the Y. And Van Lier, just recently they asked me my Fab Five, and I actually had him on there. He was one of my favorite players growing up because he struck fear into other players, him and Jerry Sloan. It's amazing -- I think (Van Lier and Kerr died) within an hour apart. That's just very sad."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I thought they had great fire. They didn't want to get swept by us." -- Doc Rivers, on the Pistons.
