``All of us were thankful for that - to be able to rest and stay home with our families,'' said Ray Allen, whose team killed its chances for Christmas off by getting good. ``Those days are big for us. We know when we come in the next day, it makes us work even harder.''

Allen said keeping things in perspective is good in the long run.

``It is and it starts with Doc,'' Allen said before the Celts routed the 76ers, 102-78, at the Garden. ``Most of us here have families. We have kids, wives. We know when Doc has the opportunity, he wants to spend time with his kids. I think more than any other coach I've had in the NBA, he knows these days when we don't have games are valuable for guys to get rest, guys to get away from Basketball and spend time with their families.''

``To be able to celebrate the holidays with our family and take that time off, I think the atmosphere that's bred is one that guys come in and know everybody's going to work hard.''

Glen Davis still spent some time on his home Stairmaster, while Kendrick Perkins came in to the team's facility and worked out Thursday morning. But they liked having the rest of their time free.

``I think he's a players' coach,'' said Davis of Rivers. ``He knows the ins and outs and how players feel and the importance of family.''

Added Perkins, ``The times we do practice, we go so hard. Doc appreciates that we go hard for him every time. . . . And we appreciate what he does for us, because you don't find too many coaches like that.''

Asked about his policy, Rivers cracked, ``I blame (former Atlanta coach Mike) Fratello for practicing on all those freaking holidays.''

``No,'' he added, ``I've always tried to keep things in perspective as far as family. And I don't know if one day's going to make or break your season.''

As for the Iverson situation, Rivers said, ``I don't even want to get involved in that. I'll put it like this: I'm glad that we're not involved. That's the way I look at it. I don't think our guys would do that, but you never know.''

Part of him felt for Pistons coach Michael Curry.

``Yeah, he's trying to change his team,'' Rivers said. ``So you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.''

Getting the heave-ho

Marrese Speights was ejected on a flagrant-2 penalty after giving Brian Scalabrine a two-hand shove with 43.4 seconds left.

``It felt like a huge shove,'' said Scalabrine. ``I mean, he didn't make a play on the ball or nothing. What was he thinking?'' . . .

Gabe Pruitt left the Garden about an hour before the game because he felt ill.

``I think it's a little virus,'' he said. ``I've felt it coming on for a while. I went to shootaround in the morning, but I couldn't really do anything. I took a nap and when I woke up I still felt like this.''

As a result of Pruitt's absence, Sam Cassell was in uniform for the first time this season, but he was the only Celt not to play.

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