--Doc Rivers didn't place any emphasis on winning Friday night just so the Lakers wouldn't have a larger edge on rest heading into The Finals. With nothing yet assured his team, the goal was closer to home.
"No, the urgency should be there anyway," the Celtics coach said. "It doesn't matter if they won or lost (Friday) night. That shouldn't affect how we're going to come out and play tonight. That has nothing to do with us. We have to get there, and that should be our only focus, just getting there." --Rivers on the high marks the NBA received in a recent study on diversity in the league: "I think they've been terrific. I've always said since I've been in the league as a player, when you want to win, color doesn't really come into play. I think our league understands that as much as anything. We have GMs, we have minority owners, in ownership groups, coaches, obviously assistant coaches. I just think through the league office it's been great, and not only about blacks but with women as well. I just think our league has done a terrific job of hiring the best person, and I think that's what we have to continue to do."
--It passed with little notice, but there was an odd stat in Game 4 when Ray Allen missed two free throws with 2:04 left as the Pistons were trying to pull away. Forget about missing two freebies on one trip to the line, Allen had missed two in an entire game just four times this season -- Nov. 23 against the Lakers, Nov. 27 in an overtime loss in Cleveland, Feb. 10 against San Antonio and Feb. 24 in Portland. Not once this year did he miss three in a game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Beat L.A." -- Paul Pierce starting the chant after receiving the Eastern Conference championship trophy.
