Doc Rivers Shuts Down Celtics’ Starters for Final Meeting With Wizards

If coach Doc Rivers and the Celtics are really swept up in this race with the Miami Heat for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, then they certainly aren't showing it. The C's are shutting down their starters for Monday night's game against the Wizards.

The Celtics are one game back of the Heat with two to play — they're playing Washington and New York to close it out, while the Heat get Atlanta and Toronto. The No. 2 seed is still well within the C's reach, but they're going to rest their guys against the Wiz instead.

"Definitely Ray [Allen], Kevin [Garnett] and [Rajon] Rondo," he said. "For sure. Paul [Pierce], we're going back and forth on. He really wants to to play, but I think at the end of the day, he will not play as well."

Apparently the C's aren't concerned with the race for home-court advantage in the second round. They'd rather sit their All-Stars down and get a good, long look at the second unit.

Here's the likely lineup card for C's-Wizards:

Celtics
Delonte West, PG
Von Wafer, SG
Jeff Green, SF
Glen Davis, PF
Jermaine O'Neal, C

Wizards
John Wall, PG
Jordan Crawford, SG
Maurice Evans, SF
Andray Blatche, PF
JaVale McGee, C