Celtics coach Rivers miffed at Garnett suspension

Nov 19, 2008 - 3:34 AM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers didn't hold back when asked about the suspension that left his team without his starting power forward Kevin Garnett against the New York Knicks.

Garnett was suspended for his team's 110-101 victory over the Knicks at TD Banknorth Garden for flailing in retaliation at Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut on Saturday night.

Bogut's two swipes to the face of Garnett late in the fourth quarter earned him an ejection while Garnett remained in the game.

"I was just surprised," Rivers said before the game. "I thought it was a ridiculous suspension, I really did. Anybody who's been around the game long enough, whether you've played it or not, you've got your head sideways and someone strikes you not once but twice, your reaction ? your reflex is to flail.

"And I guess that constitutes a punch. Clearly, he's not a good fighter if that's the case, if that's a punch. It is what it is. There's nothing you can do about it. We have to play tonight so we have to move forward."

Garnett's one-game absence also will cost him $200,000.

Rivers then drew a comparison to the flagrant foul Shaquille O'Neal committed on Detroit's Rodney Stuckey, which drew a $25,000 fine but no suspension.

"I just want more consistency from our league. I think they have to look at things differently," Rivers said. "I just looked at the Shaq thing, and I hate to call out Shaq, but that was a hard foul, where a guy was suspended in the air and comes down on his face and he gets ($25,000) and Kevin gets $200,000 and misses a game. Those two things don't go together, and we have to pay the price."

Brian Scalabrine got his first start of the season, scoring eight points on 3-of-5 shooting - including a clutch jumper in the final minutes - in place of Garnett.

"You don't replace Kevin Garnett. Everyone just has to pitch in and do a little bit more," Rivers said.