The only marquee player on either team to suit up was Paul Pierce, and he left early after the game, failing to elaborate on an 8-point, 6-turnover, 18-minute submission that was beneficial only in that he broke a sweat. He looked out of sorts playing with the B team, and Doc Rivers admitted as much. We don’t know what Pierce thought. He left after the game with (Rajon) Rondo, (Kevin) Garnett and (Ray) Allen, telling reporters, “I’ll talk to you all in three days.”

That would be prior to the start of the playoffs and, after 65 games, the Celtics still don’t know where they’ll be for Game 1. Atlanta defeated the Clippers on Tuesday and still leads Boston by one game. So it boils down to this: Unless the Atlanta Hawks lose Thursday (to Dallas at home) and the Celtics win (against Milwaukee at home), their playoff series will open in Atlanta.

But overtaking the Hawks has never been one of Doc’s priorities. If it was, he wouldn’t have rested his main guys on Friday when the teams played. Rivers has continued to state he wants his regulars as rested and healthy as possible. If it happens that the Celtics overtake the Hawks, so much the better.

via Peter May of ESPN Boston