--The Celtics were still angry about the loss of a visible 24-second clock for a long stretch of the second half in Game 3. When the clock at one end went out (and no replacements were available), the other was turned off as well.

The arena P.A. announcer called out different intervals, but the Celts insist he was off on his counts.

Coach Doc Rivers said he even thought about not playing until the problem was corrected.

"It was different, man," said Kevin Garnett. "I think when Josh (Smith) got a block on (Rajon) Rondo (in the third), the seconds were three seconds. Then all of a sudden they called a shot clock violation. That was kind of weird. That's playing on the road, man. You can't (complain) and moan about that stuff. It's called home court for a reason."

--Rivers believes Maurice Cheeks has done a great job with the 76ers and deserves consideration for Coach of the Year (though the ballots were in at the end of the regular season).

"Mo has done an amazing job," Rivers said. "He should be in the forefront of people's thoughts with what he has done. They were about to break that team up, and now look at where they are."

On the other hand, Rivers was disturbed to learn of Sam Vincent's firing by the Bobcats after just one year on the job. Rivers said, "There are good days and bad days in coaching, and that's a bad day. It bothers me a lot. You have to allow a coach to coach and give him a chance."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Better offense beats better defense every night." -- The Celts' Sam Cassell after Game 4.