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When the Celtics step on the floor Saturday at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series with the Knicks, only two players (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett) will remain from the Boston teams that went to the NBA Finals in 2008 and 2010. In fact, only one other available player (Brandon Bass) was on the court during the team's seven-game series with the Miami Heat during the Eastern Conference finals last season.

But even with a new-look core, the seventh-seeded Celtics have familiar confidence for one big reason: The guy at the end of the bench has been there all along.

Doc Rivers loves this time of year, when many of the NBA variables get thrown out the window and a coach can lock in on one opponent. This is where Rivers can roll up his sleeves and mask some of his team's deficiencies through strategy and game-planning that's simply not possible over the course of the regular season.

The Celtics face an uphill battle against the second-seeded Knicks, and their inconsistent play this season offers little reason to think they can shift to the next gear. But Rivers is going to try to extract all he can from his team.

"When it comes to basketball nothing's perfect, and I think that everything can be worked on. Obviously, we're a team that's been a work in progress," said Kevin Garnett. "We've had a lot of change in our team... [but] I think Doc is always striving to be his best, trying to prepare us as best as he can for the games. That's sort of the process."

Rivers smiled wide after Wednesday's regular-season finale in Toronto. On the NBA calendar, this is his Christmas.

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NEW YORK -- Despite sitting out the second half of Boston's regular-season finale against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday with a sore lower back, Celtics forward Shavlik Randolph said before the team's final pre-playoffs practice on Friday that the injury is nothing more than a bruise. Randolph said he isn't expecting to be limited when the Celtics open their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series with the New York Knicks with Game 1 on Saturday.

"I feel fine. It was something that happened in practice [Tuesday]," Randolph said. "I took a charge and landed kind of on the side of my tailbone and, it was nothing I couldn't play through. They wanted me to sit out the second half [in Toronto].

"It's bruised, whatever. At this time of the year, it doesn't really matter. You've got to be ready to play through that... I'm fine, for whatever I'm needed for."

Like several of his teammates, how much head coach Doc Rivers will utilize Randolph in the postseason is still a bit of a mystery. Rivers said Friday he has his playoff rotation in mind, but admitted nothing is set in stone. Randolph said he isn't sure how much playing time he'll see in the postseason, but stressed he'll be ready whenever Rivers calls his name.

"I'm not really trying to go into anything with any kind of different mindset than I've had the whole time," Randolph said. "I've always approached every game with a sense of urgency and kind of like it's my last game, and that's going to be the same. Like I said, I don't know what my role will be, but I'll be ready, whether it's 20 minutes, whether it's one minute, whether it's 20 seconds, I'll be giving it my best."

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The Boston Celtics visit the New York Knicks in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series on Saturday at Madison Square Garden (3 p.m., ABC). Here's what to watch for:

* THE NITTY GRITTY: Setting the table with some help from our friends at ESPN Stats & Info: This is the 14th time the Celtics and Knicks will meet in a playoff series, second most in NBA history (Celtics-76ers have met 19 times). Boston won seven of the previous 13 series, including a four-game sweep the last time the teams met back in the opening round of the 2011 playoffs. New York won three of four games against Boston during the regular season, but the Celtics were without Kevin Garnett in two of those games (both of which were Knicks wins late in the year). Carmelo Anthony averaged 25.3 points in four games against the Celtics this season, but shot just 35 percent from the field.

* CELTICS ARE UNDERDOGS? Since Garnett arrived, the Celtics have never been an underdog entering the first round of the playoffs (they opened the playoffs on the road last season in Atlanta, but were the higher seed). While some Celtics have brushed off the underdog chatter, Garnett hasn't shied away from it. "The Knicks are the better team. They deserve it, they've earned it, and rightfully so. I think [Carmelo Anthony is] playing unbelievable, I think J.R. [Smith], just the whole team, they're playing with a lot of confidence, and that's what you want going into the playoffs." Paul Pierce just laughed at the underdog question and offered, "I don't want to get into that. That's for [the media] to do. You pick the underdogs, I'll play."

* NOW OR NEVER FOR ANTHONY? Being a heavy favorite might only add more pressure for Anthony, whose teams have posted a .315 win percentage in his playoff career, the worst percentage by any player in NBA history to have played a minimum of 15 playoff games and have a career regular-season scoring average of 20-plus points, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Anthony is 1-8 in playoff games in his Knicks career. His teams have been eliminated in the first round eight of nine times in his career.

* NEW FOCUS FOR NEW CORE: Of the players that step on the floor for Boston Saturday, only two remain from both the 2008 title team and the 2010 squad that went to the NBA Finals in Pierce and Garnett. Heck, only one other player (Brandon Bass) was on the floor during last year's conference finals (Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Chris Wilcox all missed that series last year). Jason Terry, a newcomer himself but with championship experience, said this new young core is ready for what lies ahead. "Guys have been really tuned in to what we're trying to do, especially in these meetings and film sessions, and the practices have been intense," said Terry. "So I feel they're ready as they're going to be and we've got tremendous confidence in them. They've made tremendous strides over the year. You talk about Jeff Green, Avery Bradley, these guys are prepared and ready for the challenge."

Doc Rivers & Co. hope to turn the page on a tragic week in Boston with win in New York:


For a look at how things are playing with the Knicks, hop HERE to view ESPN New York.

NEW YORK -- The rivalry between Boston and New York might not be as strong in basketball as it is in baseball, but the Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff matchup between the Celtics and Knicks, tipping off Saturday afternoon (3 ET, ABC), has the potential to kick it up a notch. The Knicks won the regular-season series 3-1, but as C's coach Doc Rivers likes to say, teams press the restart button in the postseason when the stakes get higher and tensions rise. With that in mind, it's time to examine where each club might hold an edge in this series. Although the Knicks' starting lineup might not be finalized, we're taking a look at each club's potential starting five, benches and coaches, to determine who has the advantage.

POINT GUARD
Avery Bradley (Celtics) vs. Raymond Felton (Knicks)

Felton gets points over Bradley for being more of a natural point guard, seeing as Bradley is better suited as an off guard but was thrust into the role in the wake of Boston's loss of Rajon Rondo for the season in January. Bradley still won't fill the role of a conventional point guard, as Boston will utilize multiple ball handlers to initiate the team's offense. Felton has posted solid numbers all season, and while his greatest contributions should come on the offensive end, Bradley holds greater potential for an all-around impact if he can emerge as a consistent source of offense (keep an eye on his corner 3-point shooting) while bringing his usual tenacious on-ball defense. Bradley's pressure defense could spell trouble for not only Felton, but New York's other primary ball handlers.

SLIGHT EDGE: Celtics

SHOOTING GUARD
Paul Pierce (Celtics) vs. Iman Shumpert (Knicks)

Pierce and Jeff Green are interchangeable at the shooting guard/small forward spots in this lineup, but we envision Pierce seeing more time in the back court. Shumpert's athleticism could make him a difficult cover for Pierce at times, but the Celtics' captain will happily return the favor on the other end, as he'll utilize his height and strength to attack the lane and create easier shots for himself. Pierce loves playing in Madison Square Garden, and with his jack-of-all-trades kind of role (don't be shocked if he registers a triple-double or two), he could be poised for one of his better playoff series in recent memory. Without a true lock-down defender in front of him, Pierce will want to put his stamp on this series early, before an emotional return to Boston for Games 3 and 4.

EDGE: Celtics

SMALL FORWARD
Jeff Green (Celtics) vs. Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)

Anthony is arguably the best player in this entire series, and there's no doubt Green will have his work cut out for him on the defensive end. In four games against the Celtics this season, Anthony averaged 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists, although he shot just 35 percent from the field. As much as Green (and Pierce and Brandon Bass, who'll also spend time guarding Anthony) will need to make things difficult for Anthony when he has the ball, Green needs to channel an aggressive mindset on offense and force Anthony to work on the defensive end as well -- something Anthony most likely doesn't want to do. While Green could easily emerge as something of an X factor for the Celtics throughout their entire playoff run, there's little question that Anthony boasts the greater ability to take over a game (and potentially a series).

EDGE: Knicks

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NEW YORK -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers awoke Friday morning in New York to panicked calls from team managing partner Steve Pagliuca, who wanted to make sure Rivers and his players were OK. Rivers groggily reminded Pagliuca that the team was in New York, but soon became aware of the overnight violence and the massive manhunt for a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings.

"It woke me up, then you turn the TV on and then you don't go back to sleep, you can't turn it back off," said Rivers. "So it's really sad stuff. It's crazy, it's sad. You just want it to come to an end."

Like most back home, Celtics players spent the morning glued to news reports of what was happening around Boston. Those with families in the area called home to ensure their safety. Then Rivers tried to collect their focus for the final off day workout before Boston and New York open a first-round playoff series on Saturday with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.

"This is what everyone's going through, not just basketball players," said Rivers. "It's everybody. It's everybody at work, whatever you do. But then you have to do your job, too. Honestly, for us, getting on the floor is good medicine. It gets you focused on your job."

After closing out their regular season on Wednesday night in Toronto, the Celtics elected to travel to New York and practice here on Friday. But Boston remains at the forefront of their minds.

"Our sympathies and condolences go out to all of the families that were affected by this disaster in Boston," Jason Terry said. "And the Boston people who are constricted to their homes right now while they try to find these people that have done this terrible thing. We're thinking about it, but, again, fortunately we got out of there in time, so we're not too distracted. But they are in our thoughts."

"Well, you can't help but to see it," echoed Paul Pierce. "You wake up, turn on the Internet, it's cause for concern, especially with us having families in the areas that these situations are happening in. I got phone calls from home, the whole city's locked down, especially in the area where I live at, so it's definitely a concern. You worry. But, we're here, there's nothing we can really do about it. Hopefully everything takes care of itself back home with the law enforcement doing what they have to do to secure the situation."

Added Kevin Garnett: "The city's crazy, man. I think everybody's kind of trying to at least focus in a little bit on, obviously, our game and the playoffs. But the obvious thing is everybody's worried, also. I hope everybody back home, especially in the whole New England area, is OK, and safe."

The Celtics don't return home until after Tuesday's Game 2 in New York. Boston won't play its next home game until next Friday night. But Rivers knows his team could play a big role in helping the region cope and get back to some normalcy.

"Listen, to some people, basketball games aren't going to matter," said Rivers. "Some people, just the joy of the sport and the victory -- it'll help people. It'll help people heal. I just think the public gathering helps, more than anything, because that's what's been affected in a lot of ways."

On the final day of March, after his team had endured a 19-point loss to the New York Knicks -- the second lopsided defeat to their rival in a five-day span -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was asked if he was leery about the prospects of a Boston-New York playoff series.

"If Kevin doesn't play," Rivers answered.

Yes, everything is different for the Celtics when Kevin Garnett is on the floor. Six seasons after he arrived in Boston and helped deliver the team its 17th world title, the soon-to-be 37-year-old Garnett remains supremely vital to Boston's success.

Garnett sat out 12 of the team's final 17 regular-season games, including eight straight -- those two losses to New York included -- while allowing left ankle inflammation to subside.

Garnett will be operating on nearly a full week's rest when Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series with New York tips on Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. ET, ABC) at Madison Square Garden. After doing all they could to keep him down for the better part of the past month, the Celtics are ready to unleash Garnett in hopes he can help the team do what few believe they can: make another postseason run.

It was Garnett who bellowed, "Anything is possible" after the team dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals. That remains true for Boston, as long as Garnett is on the floor.

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Quick hits following Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers' weekly appearance on Boston sports radio WEEI (93.7 FM) Thursday.

On the Toronto Raptors introducing the Celtics Wednesday night with "Sweet Caroline" playing in the background: "Yeah, they suggested it before the game. They asked us if we would like it and I said it would be great. I jokingly said after the game I wish some of the Canadians knew the words to the song, it would have made it a little bit better, but it was really nice. It was very touching, both teams standing together. All that, it was great."

On where he was during Monday's Boston Marathon bombings: "Well I do what I usually do if it's Patriots Day and the marathon. We're not in town a lot, but when we are, I like to go down and just check it out. I live three blocks away, so we had practice, I got dressed pretty quick and got in the tunnel. I was coming out of the tunnel right when it happened, and I didn't have my radio on, so I didn't know what was going on, and I just noticed people, literally running around. And then my phone rang, and I think it was my assistant who told me what was going on and so, obviously, I didn't have any hardship, personally, except for trying to navigate through people.

"What I witnessed more was just how quickly, in my opinion, the city went to work, and I'm not talking just the first responders. What I did get to witness was it felt like hundreds -- it wasn't -- but it felt like hundreds of ambulances and fire trucks roaring by me, because I was on Huntington Avenue, which is the next block. But what I saw that was really neat for a person who lives in Boston -- you see the pride -- I saw a guy in a suit and tie directing traffic. I saw guys hugging. I saw people just trying to help each other and that's what struck me. Obviously the fear was there and you could see that. But also, the pride, and 'I'm going to protect my city and make it right' was there as well. And I was just really proud. That's what I was struck with most of anything, I was really proud to be part of the city."

On whether Boston feels like his town: "Oh, absolutely. I grew up in Chicago and that'll always be in me, if you know what I'm saying. I grew up 18 years there. But I've been nine years here, and this is, for me, this is it for me, as far as a city. That doesn't mean someday I get fired or get old and come back like Phil Jackson may do, but this will never get out of you, this city, this place. And I think a lot of people who have been here -- and really, guys, you probably don't appreciate it because you live here -- but I really think a lot of it is because of the passion of the fans. You get engrossed in that, it becomes part of you. You don't get that, you really don't -- I've coached in one other city, but I've played in a lot of other places, and it's rare that you get the true passion, is what I call it. Anyone joins on when you're winning. Very few places are in all the time, and this is a city that is in, if you know what I'm saying."

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Good riddance, regular season. Let's do this, playoff basketball.

For the past three weeks, the Boston Celtics have balanced a need to rest players with simply trudging through the schedule, which contributed to a 7-13 record over the final 20 games. Boston did enough to keep the Milwaukee Bucks at arm's length and avoid the eighth seed (which would have meant a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Miami Heat). Instead, the Celtics are off to New York to open a best-of-seven series with the 54-win Knicks.

Go ahead and wipe the slate clean. The past six months determined the degree of difficulty in Boston's playoff path -- and it is higher than any point during the Kevin Garnett era -- but nothing that Boston did over the past 81 games will matter on Saturday when the second-seeded Knicks and seventh-seeded Celtics tip off in Game 1 (3 p.m., ABC).

Coach Doc Rivers went so far as to caution against looking too closely at the four head-to-head meetings between Boston and New York. The playoffs are a whole different beast.

"I don't think that [intensity and focus will] be a problem in the playoffs," Rivers told reporters in Toronto after Boston closed out its regular-season slate with a 114-90 loss to the Raptors. "I think both teams will have that same intensity. That's why you have to be careful with regular-season games. You don't know where the other team is coming from, road-wise, mentally, if they're [playing their fourth game in five nights], if they have injuries. When you get to the playoffs, everybody's right and ready, and that's what it'll be."

The playoffs are a welcome reset button for the Celtics. For all their woes in the regular season, Boston can make everyone forget some of the more maddening losses with inspired and consistent play in the postseason. Players that underperformed for 81 games will be remembered as overachievers if they help this team pull off an upset or two.

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A look at the schedule for the Eastern Conference first-round matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks:


Game 1: Saturday, April 20 - Celtics at Knicks - 3 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2: Tuesday, April 23 - Celtics at Knicks - 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, April 26 - Knicks at Celtics - 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, April 28 - Knicks at Celtics - 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5*: Wednesday, May 1 - Celtics at Knicks - TBD
Game 6*: Friday, May 3 - Knicks at Celtics - TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, May 5 - Celtics at Knicks - TBD

(* - if necessary)

Rapid reaction after the Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics 114-90 in the regular-season finale on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre:

THE NITTY GRITTY
The Celtics got their starters some limited action (Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley each had 11 points in limited minutes) then leaned heavy on the end of their bench (even rookie Fab Melo played 17:26 and finished with two points, two rebounds, and four fouls). Jordan Crawford scored a team-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting with six rebounds and five assists over a team-high 36:14. DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Rudy Gay (19 points), Jonas Valanciunas (18), and Alan Anderson (16) all joined him in double figures for scoring.

GREEN FINISHES WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Jeff Green said earlier this week that, after missing all of last season due to heart surgery, it was important for him to play in every games this year. Green and Brandon Bass were the only two Celtics players to appear in all 81 games this season. Both players had breezy nights as Green finished with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting with six rebounds over 17:10, while Bass added six points on 3-of-8 shooting with three boards over 17:41.

TURNING POINT
A tied game early in the second quarter, Toronto started breaking this one open before Boston even rolled in its junior varsity lineup. A 9-0 run by the Raptors helped the hosts take a double-digit lead (59-49) into the intermission. That lead was at 21 just three minutes into the third quarter after a Jonas Valanciunas dunk. The Raptors led by as much as 33 while finishing up their season.

WHAT IT MEANS
Bring on playoff basketball (good riddance, end-of-the-regular-season hoops). The Celtics rested veterans Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, while avoiding any injury scares for those that dressed (Shavlik Randolph did not play in the second half due to a bruised back, but logged 12 encouraging first-half minutes). As most final games of the season tends to play out, this one turned into a shot-heavy pick-up game. The Celtics finish the season at 41-40 overall. They'll get two days of practice before visiting the New York Knicks to open an Eastern Conference first-round series at Madison Square Garden this weekend.

Before Wednesday's regular-season finale in Toronto, the Celtics and Raptors gathered at midcourt for a moment of silence in honor of the victims from Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. The Fenway staple "Sweet Caroline" then played during the Celtics' lineup introduction.

After the game, Boston coach Doc Rivers said of the pregame festivities, "I thought it was sensational. I thought it was really neat. I wish the fans had known the lyrics a little bit better to 'Sweet Caroline.' Other than that, it was terrific."

The Boston Celtics will rest Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry during their regular-season finale against the Toronto Raptors, according to the team.

Terry sat out Saturday's game in Orlando and coach Doc Rivers suggested he'd sit him again before the end of the regular season in order to give his 35-year-old legs some additional rest. Garnett missed eight games due to left ankle inflammation spanning into this month and will sit out two of the team's final three games overall with the Celtics hoping he's as healthy as possible for the start of the playoffs this weekend in New York.

The Boston Celtics will wear a black stripe on the left shoulder of their jerseys in Toronto to honor the victims of Monday's Marathon tragedy. From the team's Instagram account:

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers gave Shavlik Randolph a quick hook during Saturday's win in Orlando, pulling the big man a mere 46 seconds into his first shift and he didn't play again until the final minutes. What happened?

"Defense," said Rivers. "Defensively, he’s got to know our schemes and I just explained that to him."

Randolph got outmuscled by Nikola Vucevic for a quick bucket after checking in, then fouled Vucevic trying to force him off the blocks next trip down. Rivers sent in Chris Wilcox, who played 20 minutes with four points and six rebounds.

Randolph didn't return until the final 2:10 of the game. Despite the quick stint in the doghouse, Rivers was confident Randolph would rebound from the lesson.

"[His defense will] come back," said Rivers. "He’s had a couple bad games in a row, [but] it’s more he didn’t play a lot, No. 1. So he’ll be fine. Shav will rebound tomorrow, the next day, and the next day."

For his part, Randolph, who has endured his share of bumps and bruises lately, didn't pin the quick hook on injury. Earlier this week he noted, "It was just an in-game decision. I think [Rivers] just decided it was a better personnel move, which he was obviously right."

Randolph ascended to the role of first big off the bench with his inspired play in recent weeks. But while his rebounding has been a boon for Boston, his defense hasn't been consistent enough for Rivers.

While Wednesday's visit to Toronto is somewhat perfunctory for most, it would benefit Randolph to make the most of his floor time. Rivers had said a night before benching Randolph that the 29-year-old center had positioned himself for playoff minutes because of the way he typically performs.

"He’s the aggressor. That’s what we need off the bench. He’s an instigator," said Rivers. "When he comes in the game, he’s a natural instigator. It’s not the fake instigator who tries to start stuff. He doesn’t do any of that. He plays so hard that he really gets under the skin of his opponents. And you like that. Forget that he’s our best rebounder too, but the fact that he’s able to do that in his natural play... I still say what Red [Auerbach] said all the time: As many instigators as you can get on your team, you want them. And he’s one of those. He does it in practice. In every practice, he gets under somebody’s skin because he outworks them, he outrebounds. He’s a great player to have on your team."

Asked before the Miami game if Randolph would be part of the playoff rotation, Rivers said, "Most likely. Obviously, you shorten your rotation, but I would say most likely."

Randolph knows that the Knicks go small at times, but is hoping to carve out a postseason role.

"I'm very excited. Like I said, whether I get to play, whether I don't play, just to be part of it, to be part of playing with the Celtics in the playoffs and seeing what that's part of -- whether I play or not -- it's going to make me better," said Randolph.