With the Magic trailing the Celtics 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, center Dwight Howard has taken the brunt of the criticism from the fans and media.

Boston coach Doc Rivers acknowledged prior to Saturday night's Game 3 that a team's best player will always take most of the blame when things are going badly and get praised the most when things are going well.

"Yeah, that's the way it is. It's always been that way and it always will be," Rivers then paused.

"It's too bad, but that's just the way it is."