Rivers did not play veteran newcomers Sam Cassell and forward-center P.J. Brown Friday night. But before last night's game, Rivers expressed a need to get Cassell and Brown acclimated with the team during the final stretch. "We don't have enough games to wait," said Rivers. "So we're just going to do it and hope that it doesn't throw us off too much. If it does, it does. But, it's worth doing it."
--Boston Globe
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I'm sure Doc was conflicted.
The Cs were in the middle of a 10-game roll. The teams, sans Cassell and PJ, had developed an excellent chemistry and were really starting to gel over the last few weeks.
On the other hand, only 20 games remain before the playoffs, and the Celtics faced an imminent five-game road trip, one that will more than test their mettle.
So what to do?
Doc played it safe, trying to incorporate Cassell and PJ as slowly and painlessly as possible.
But with the injury to Ray Allen, Doc decided that sometimes the most painless way to remove a band-aid is to just rip it off.
And the results are promising.
Cassell hit his first four shots off the bench, on his way to a 10-point, 5-assist, three steal night, while PJ Brown added 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 23 minutes.
As predicted by many, Eddie House was also a prime beneficiary of moving Cassell into the point-guard rotation. House went 7-11 for 17 points, including 3-5 from three. Two games earlier, when Doc first tried giving Cassell meaningful minutes, House was 5-5 from the field.
It seems being a hired gun agrees with House more than does being Rondo's back-up.
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