John Worthington, who lives in downtown Boston, heard the news Saturday on his car radio. "I'm glad because I want to see them play," Worthington said.

Worthington said he sided with the players during the lockout. "The owners are a bunch of spoiled rich guys who inherited their teams," he said. "I side with the guys going out to play every night."

And, given the age of some of the players on the Celtics' roster, Worthington said a shorter season might be a good thing. "It might make it a little easier on the old guys," he said.