Celtics' Doc Rivers Reiterates Garnett Will Not Return

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Celtics' Doc Rivers reiterates Garnett will not return
By Albert Breer

BOSTON—Frustrated Celtics coach Doc Rivers made it clear, again, as if he was sending the message not just to the media, but also to his team.

"Guys, Kevin is not playing in these playoffs," Rivers said tersely. "I'm not answering any Kevin Garnett questions."

But after a 105-103 overtime loss to the Bulls, Garnett's absence was omnipresent.

It was in the way Derrick Rose attacked the rim, and how the slight Joakim Noah pulled down 17 rebounds. And as much as the Celtics tried to deny that there was a problem, they admitted issues in the one department that Garnett always covers: Intensity.

"We didn't play as a team with a sense of urgency like we did last year, opening playoff game, especially at home," said Rajon Rondo. "We didn't have any energy to start the game. We tried to pick it up, but it was too late."

Rivers doesn't care about point-guard matchup

Rose wasn't the only star point guard on display—Rondo scored 29 points, 17 of them in the second half.

But at game's end, it was not in Rivers' interest to break down the matchup of two talented young floor generals.

"I don't care about the Rondo-Rose battle, honestly," Rivers said. "(Rose) was unbelievable. So was Rondo. Rondo was fantastic tonight in his own right. So we've got other who have to pitch in too."

College experience a plus

Rose's 36 points were a career high, and Noah has topped 17 rebounds only twice in 155 career games. Neither had appeared in the playoffs before, but each played in the NCAA championship game, and that big-game experience is not to be overlooked.

"It's up a notch in the playoffs," said Noah. "But at least you know what the animal looks like."

Celtics get wake-up call

While Rose's performance belied the importance of experience, the Celtics now hope to draw on having to fight through seven-game battles with Cleveland and Atlanta last spring.

"(The Bulls) come to play, but they're not just a team that's happy to be in the playoffs," said Paul Pierce, who scored 23 points but uncharacteristically missed a go-ahead free throw at the end of regulation. "They're here to play, so hopefully this was a wake-up. And this is reality. Let's pick up our play."

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happens

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happens

Like Paul Pierce.

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Like Paul Pierce.

Basically