BOSTON — The thought was the Boston Celtics would come out fighting, literally and figuratively.
Well, it never happened, at least the literal part.
The Celtics got straight-A's for their conduct from coach Doc Rivers last night in a game that turned out being very emotional.
"Our focus was not to get caught up in that stuff," said Rivers. "It was heated out there but not as heated as it looked."
Rivers said there were moments when the referees had to step in and separate players. But he is still wondering why players from both teams needed to be separated in the first place.
"Every time there is a guy that looks at one another everyone is running in and grabbing each other," said Rivers. "Sometimes it's a joke. It really is. One time I was like, 'Nothing is happening. Why is everyone going around grabbing each other?' "
Rivers said this series has become very intense, as the fans' oohing and ahhing will attest. But he's glad nothing ugly has materialized.
Kevin Garnett, who was nearly thrown out of Game 4, picked up a technical for Boston while Atlanta forward Josh Smith and coach Mike Woodson were hit with T's.
Cheryl Miller: My brother made right decision
TBS sideline reporter Cheryl Miller was asked about her brother Reggie's interest in joining the Boston Celtics this summer.
The ex-Indiana Pacer great, who is the NBA's all-time 3-point leader, got a call from Celtics president Danny Ainge while he was putting together the new Celtics.
"He really considered it," said Cheryl. "He worked out with some guys and realized he still had it. But, in the end, he was too loyal to Indiana. He really thought about it, and he could have done it, but it was because of Indiana."
She said her brother has no regrets, despite the Celtics/ incredible season.
"None," she said. "Even when they were doing great this season. Even if they win the championship. He's happy with his decision."
Patriots in attendance
Several Patriots were in attendance last night including running back Laurence Maroney, tight end Benjamin Watson and safety Brandon Meriweather. In fact, Meriweather was called to help out with the Celtics mascot, Lucky, who performs dunking tricks with a mini-trampoline. He had Meriweather standing in the middle of the key, holding the ball high in the air. "Lucky" snagged the ball from the Patriots safety before doing a flip and dunk.
Neely, Sox owners were there, too
Bruins vice president Cam Neely, who attended a Lazarus House Golf Tournament sponsors' luncheon at Andover Country Club yesterday afternoon, got a standing ovation when he was shown on the Jumbotron. He was sitting in the front row. Also in attendance were Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner, who apparently came over to the Garden immediately after the Sox' 2-1 win. In fact, when Jason Varitek's walk-off single was shown on the Jumbotron, the fans gave a standing ovation ... Reebok handed out 1,500 green Celtics T-shirts before the game.
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