OPINION

By Sean Deveney

updated 8:08 p.m. ET Nov. 19, 2008

Sean Deveney

It's an understatement to say that Celtics coach Doc Rivers was ticked off about the suspension given to star forward Kevin Garnett. He hadn't been expecting it, and probably shouldn't have expected it. That's because the play for which Garnett was suspended looked to be so mild, and over the course of the year, the Celtics have been taking some tougher blows than the one for which Garnett was suspended.

Last Saturday in Milwaukee, Bucks center Andrew Bogut and Garnett got into a scuffle after Bogut's fist landed near Garnett's face on a play under the basket. Garnett appeared to push Bogut near the face, but the league interpreted it as a slap, so Garnett was sent off for a game. As Rivers described it, "That was two guys who don't want to fight, talking. They don't want to fight, and I'm glad."

But, that night, Rivers went on to say something significant about what the Celtics have seen so far in this, their championship defense season, and what they can expect to see the rest of the way — they can expect to see more physical play and, possibly, more altercations. Unless they keep their cool.

"I am worried about our composure," Rivers said. "Teams are attacking us, and we have got to be able to take it. Really. Teams are talking to us. We're the target. We just have to stand up and take it. We don't have to respond. I think right now, we respond a little too much. Just play.

"Scoreboard. That is all you should say. Win the game and don't say a word. The scoreboard does the talking. That's what we've got to learn in this new role as the hunted."

The Celtics seem to be dealing with their new role just fine. Even without Garnett, they beat the Knicks on Tuesday, 110-101. That puts the Celtics at 10-2, tops in the East and looking to be on track for a return engagement in the NBA Finals. There doesn't seem to be much for Rivers to worry about when his team is holding opponents under 40 percent shooting.

Special feature Title town Images of the 17 championships that the Boston Celtics have won

For most of us, it's easy to roll our eyes when the Celtics roll out the old cliches about wearing the target and being the hunted. But the cliche is rooted in truth, and the Celtics need to stay vigilant.

"They're the champs," Bucks forward Richard Jefferson said. "Of course you get up for playing them. It doesn't mean anyone is taking cheap shots. But some guys are maybe going to work harder to try to beat them."

What one player calls working harder, another might call taking cheap shots. The Celtics have certainly been roughed up more than any other team this year. Their opponents have committed 304 fouls, most in the league.

"More physical, that's what I notice," said Boston point guard Rajon Rondo. "Teams have always been physical with me so that's nothing new, but, from night to night, you see more teams being physical with all of us. But we understood that is how it would be. We just have to stay poised."

If Rivers has his way, that won't be a problem.

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