Despite swirling media, Celtics staying humble

By Marc D'Amico
May 20, 2010
Celtics.com

WALTHAM, Mass. -- While the rest of the world concentrates on Twitter controversies, Doc Rivers is focused on keeping his team's mindset in the right place.

Media outlets from all over the country have become fixated on statements that came from Paul Pierce's mouth moments after winning Game 2 and a statement that came from his twitter account while he sat with his arms on the table at his postgame press conference -- a clear indication that it did not come from him.

The statement on Twitter has been verified as the work of a hacker, but the topic continues to be a hot one nonetheless. Pierce knows that the entire situation is being blown out of proportion, including his statements during a postgame interview with ESPN, and that he knows all too well than to take a jab at a quality opponent through any form of media. Instead, he opts to utter his trash talk to the players themselves -- on the court.

"I'm not going to say that on a Tweet," Pierce said before Thursday's practice. "I think that's pretty unprofessional. That's something I wouldn't say like that. I'll probably talk some trash on the court, say things on the court that I wouldn't say here (to the media), but I definitely didn't say that."

While that story slowly flames out during the downtime that is the three-day break between Games 2 and 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Rivers is attempting to keep his players' eyes on the prize. No, that prize isn't winning the NBA championship. Right now, it's winning Game 3, and the goal is to stay focused on what's necessary to make that happen.

"You just keep focusing on execution and improving and getting ready," Rivers said. "And each game is a single game. That's what we talk about -- that's been our speech through this playoff series, all of the series. Each game is a single game. Game 1 was an individual game, Game 2, and Game 3 will be as well."

The Celtics have gone from being bashed by NBA experts to being praised in a matter of weeks. After jumping ahead 2-0 in the series with impressive back-to-back victories in Orlando, it'd be easy for the C's to fall asleep and lose a game while they ride this positive wave that they haven't felt since Christmas Day.

To prevent that from happening, Rivers is trying to keep his red-hot team on fire by feeding it the most flammable information he possesses at the moment. His Celtics lighter fluid came in the form of the following today: "As I told our guys, we've yet to beat Orlando on our home floor this year."

If that doesn't stir the fire, we're not sure what will. The Magic are 2-0 against the Celtics in the TD Garden this season and have won three straight games in Boston dating back to their 101-82 blowout victory in Game 7 of last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Based on the statements of his players prior to their first practice since winning Game 2, it sounded as if Rivers' motivational tactics are working.

"The same over-preparation has to take place; the same focus, the same mental approach that we've taken to the whole playoffs needs to continue," said Ray Allen.

Kevin Garnett echoed that sentiment while also stating that this series isn't about words, it's about actions.

"In my estimation, confidence is about what you go out and do, versus talking about it," he said. "We haven't really done anything but won two games; now it's up to us to defend our home court. It's important that we stay humble and understand that this is a long process and this is seven games."

Not many people are using the word 'humble' in relation to the Celtics right now due to Pierce's statements, but he himself, along with Garnett and Rivers, all used that word to describe the team's current mindset.

Sounds like the Celtics are gobbling up their coach's humble pie, and that's exactly how Rivers wants it heading into Saturday night's Game 3.