He walked up the staircase to the postgame interview table seemingly more relieved because the game was over than because his team had won it.
Ray Allen drilled a 3-pointer from the corner with 49.8 seconds left to give the Celtics an 86-80 lead, helping to slam the door on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade after their new-look Miami Heat had eaten into much of a lead the Celtics had piled as high as 19 points.
Paul Pierce then hit a pair of free throws to seal Boston’s 88-80 season-opening win last night. And thus the Celtics were able to pull the plug on the hype machine for a night at least.
But Celtics coach Doc Rivers was still amazed by the magnitude of going against the new Big Three of James, Wade, and Chris Bosh.
He went to face the media, and there were reporters sitting in front of him three rows deep. He sat down and stared directly into the dozen or so cameras behind them, the media all situated somewhat like they were the last time he saw them all, at last season’s Finals.
Ray Allen drilled a 3-pointer from the corner with 49.8 seconds left to give the Celtics an 86-80 lead, helping to slam the door on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade after their new-look Miami Heat had eaten into much of a lead the Celtics had piled as high as 19 points.
Paul Pierce then hit a pair of free throws to seal Boston’s 88-80 season-opening win last night. And thus the Celtics were able to pull the plug on the hype machine for a night at least.
But Celtics coach Doc Rivers was still amazed by the magnitude of going against the new Big Three of James, Wade, and Chris Bosh.
He went to face the media, and there were reporters sitting in front of him three rows deep. He sat down and stared directly into the dozen or so cameras behind them, the media all situated somewhat like they were the last time he saw them all, at last season’s Finals.
But this was just Game 1.
Of the regular season.
“Wow,’’ Rivers said. “I guess this was a big game.’’
Dressed in their finest suits, Pierce and Kevin Garnett made the same walk, talking among themselves about the atmosphere.
Garnett asked Pierce, “Are we in the Finals already?’’
Full story: A big 3 – The Boston Globe