Celtics Still Going Hard in Practice

Doc Rivers held Kevin Garnett out of the Celtics' win over the Bucks on Saturday, and is still considering sitting him and Paul Pierce for one of the season's final two games. Despite that, he's still putting his team through the paces in practice, with the playoffs less than a week away. From the Boston Herald: 

"This was a big practice for us because it was more like a playoff practice," Pierce said. "We've got two games coming up and then we've got a day off, and who knows if we're going to play Saturday. So we may have only one more practice left. Coach said we're not only preparing for Chicago, we're preparing for the playoffs, and we got some good work in here."

Said Rivers: "If you're going to sit a guy or rest more in games, the only way he's going to get his rhythm is by going longer and harder in practice. We went hard, because when you're giving them less minutes in games, you've got to up their conditioning. It may hurt us in some games, but overall you get better conditioning. We're still getting them rest in minutes (during games), and it allows us to work on our timing. Hopefully by the time the playoffs come, everything meets and we're good.

"I don't even know what's the right answer with any of that. I don't think anyone does. But I do know if you practice at game speed it gives you a better chance."