It was a heck of a run, but the top priority for Boston has to be getting taller and more athletic in the frontcourt whether Davis stays or goes.

Size and versatility in the forward and center positions is the advantage Orlando exploited against Boston, and hopes to continue taking advantage of against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As if matching up with Dwight Howard (6-foot-11) isn't enough, Rashard Lewis (6-foot-10) and Hedo Turkoglu (6-foot-10) present problems of their own.

Orlando's roster also features three other players 6-foot-10 or taller (Tony Battie, Marcin Gortat and Adonal Foyle).

A quick glance at the remaining playoff teams shows us that length is one of the common denominators. Los Angeles has Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and Didier Ilunga-Mbenga. Denver can mix and match with Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen and Nene.

Garnett's injury left the Celtics with one big man they could rely on defensively in center Kendrick Perkins (6-foot-10). Brian Scalabrine (6-foot-9) and Davis (listed at 6-foot-9, 289 pounds) weren't completely dominated, but they were taken advantage of at different points during the series. Neither could bother the shot of a guy like Lewis, who has range out beyond the 3-point line.

Depending on the match-ups, teams knew they could either beat Davis and Scalabrine off the dribble, they could overpower them, or they could simply force them into piling up fouls. Perkins did a great job of covering for them by protecting the basket on defense, but Boston had no other options. No Plan B.

That must be addressed.

Even during the 24-win season in 2006-07, the injuries which Rivers lamented repeatedly about were his big men. His common refrain had to do with the 21 feet of center on his bench unable to play.

Bigs with length change the game.

"I think P.J. Brown is missed in this whole thing as far as I'm concerned," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said back in September about the losses of Brown and James Posey. "He gave us length. Length in the playoffs is huge to have. Glen and Leon (Powe) are terrific to have, but they don't have length. For me, that's the biggest fear going into this year."

That fear led Boston to work out Andersen and eventually sign Patrick O'Bryant prior to the beginning of the season. It's no coincidence the Celtics looked into Joe Smith, Dikembe Mutumbo and Antonio McDyess before adding Mikki Moore mid-season.

Davis stepped in for KG in February (Garnett logged a grand total of 67 minutes after Feb. 19) and cushioned a massive blow that could easily have knocked the Celtics onto the canvas for the duration of the regular season and the playoffs.

He averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during the post-season. He also provided one the more memorable moments of the second round when Celtics captain Paul Pierce differed to Davis on the final possession, and Davis nailed an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to beat Orlando, 95-94, in Game 4.

He also contributed to the championship run last year, but the Celtics cannot -- and I don't think they will -- ignore the more glaring need.

Wing players grow on trees these days. You're not going to find one the caliber of Pierce and Ray Allen by accident, but you can find that type of talent. There are also ballhandlers out there who can fill an void at the backup point guard position.

But talented, athletic big men who excel on the defensive end aren't as easy to find. That's why hunting for them and bringing them to Boston has to be priority number one.

Lynn Worthy's e-mail address is lworthy@lowellsun.com