Celtics without the Big Four in Atlanta

It appears an 11 games in 15 nights schedule took a lot out of the Celtics

ATLANTA — The Boston Celtics are expected to trot out a Big Four-less lineup tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

In addition to reserve wing Mickael Pietrus (knee), Rajon Rondo (back) and Ray Allen (ankle) were also ruled out earlier and did not travel with the team to Atlanta. 

Prior to the Celtics' Friday morning shoot-around, C's coach Doc Rivers said he'll "probably" sit both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce tonight as well. 
 
Rivers said the idea of sitting them both has more to do with the grueling schedule they have had the past couple of weeks, than it does with resting them for the postseason.

"We're just coming off an 11 (game) in 15 (night schedule)," Rivers said. "That took a lot out of us."

Rivers gave both players the night off following Boston's win at New Jersey on Saturday. 

The night off did both a world of good, with Pierce scoring a season-high 43 points in the first game back (against New York) and Garnett racking up 20 points to go with five rebounds and three assists.

"Honestly, I wouldn't sit them if we weren't coming off that," Rivers said. 

But even if he decided to play one or both players tonight, they still would get a decent amount of rest before they had to return to action.

"We play today and don't play again until Tuesday," Rivers said. "That gives our guys a chance to recover from that stretch and only play one game and that's today in that whole stretch. That's good."