By JIMMY GOLEN, AP
May 28, 2008
WALTHAM, Mass. - Doc Rivers wants his players to start listening to Pistons forward Antonio McDyess.
It wouldn't hurt if they started guarding him, too.
McDyess had his best game of the postseason in Detroit's Game 4 victory over Boston, then reminded his teammates that they can't afford to squander an opportunity to win a championship. A day later, Rivers cited McDyess and suggested that the Celtics could also learn from his message.
"I think the veterans really get that. I think the young ones always think there's another opportunity," Rivers said after practice yesterday. "The whole thing is to show them how close we are, the sense of urgency they have to have. Because the other team has it."
McDyess had 21 points and 16 rebounds - both playoff highs - to lead the Pistons to a 94-75 victory over the Celtics on Monday night and even the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece. The best-of-seven series returns to Boston tonight for Game 5.
"[McDyess] knows that you can't take any of this for granted," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "And all our guys need to realize that. You can't just expect there to always be a next time."
Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who made just 3 of 14 shots on Monday night, passed along the same message to his teammates.
"We have to find some way," he said, "somehow to get a win at home and bring that momentum back to Detroit."
