Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers minimized the depth angle against an opponent that still possesses Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

"They have two pretty good guys, three pretty good guys they are going to play 40 minutes, so I don't think they are going to have that big of a bench problem during the playoffs, honestly," he said Thursday, with Wade, James and Bosh each playing at least 40 minutes Wednesday. "They have enough guys that they'll move them around."

The Celtics, by contrast, not only have Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal in support of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the starting lineup, but also the bench boost of Glen Davis, Delonte West, Nenad Krstic and possibly another O'Neal (if Shaquille O'Neal is able to make it back).

Rivers, though, said that doesn't diminish the pressure on his starters.

"It's important, but at the end of the day, the starters are the key," he said. "The starters have to play well. The bench has to help, and we have enough guys that that will happen for us, as well. But let's make no mistake, if your starters are playing well, then you have a very good chance of winning playoff games."