Health over homecourt. This time, every time. Doc Rivers won't change his mind, even against the Miami Heat. Rivers and his Boston Celtics will be without swingman Mickael Pietrus (knee) and possibly three others (Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Greg Stiemsma didn't participate in shootaround Tuesday morning) when they face the Miami Heat at 8 p.m. EST.
This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that follows the Celtics. None of those four players participated in Monday's practice in Waltham, and with practically everything (minus homecourt advantage in the Celtics' first round series against the Atlanta Hawks) wrapped up. Boston has one game left after Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
Miami will be without its star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, too.
For more Celtics and Heat coverage, visit CelticsBlog and Peninsula Is Mightier.