Pressure not just on Pierce

In light of the way the Celtics lost to New York Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Jim O'Brien fielded plenty of questions yesterday about Paul Pierce and the pressure the team captain might feel to do it all. Pierce missed a pair of 3-pointers in the closing seconds of the 89-86 setback, one in which Boston blew a 17-point lead.

"I don't think there's much pressure on him individually," said O'Brien. "I would be surprised if he felt there was any more pressure. There's a certain pressure that every team in the NBA has. And our team feels it. You want to play every phase of the game.

"Paul, because he's averaging the most minutes and because he is our leader, certainly feels maybe the brunt of that. But I wouldn't call it adverse pressure in any sense of the word. Certainly, he wants the basketball in his hands when the game is on the line. And I want the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.

"He's going to be our first option, and Vin [Baker] would be our second option whenever the game is on the line. The other team knows that, and our team knows that."

Pierce was not available for comment as he prepared to host his Turkey Giveaway last night at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Pierce teamed with Shaw's and Pepsi to distribute 200 turkeys, with all the trimmings, to families in need.

Buzz about Hornets

The Celtics welcome the Hornets to the FleetCenter tonight, hoping to rebound from their loss to the Knicks and avenge an early-season defeat at New Orleans Arena. They know they must contain New Orleans guard Baron Davis, who scorched Boston for 37 points, just 1 shy of his career high, last time. "He might not have five more games like that this year," said O'Brien. "It was just extraordinary. I don't know if he's had another game like that. That's not luck. He schooled our people that night. And I hope he's a little less on fire than he was when we played them down there." The Celtics should benefit from the fact that New Orleans will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set on the road. (They defeated the Nets last night.) When the Celtics played at New Orleans Nov. 1, they were in the second of a back-to-back, and fatigue appeared to cost them in the fourth quarter . . . O'Brien on the firing of Orlando coach Doc Rivers: "I'm sorry to see any of my colleagues lose their jobs, especially a quality guy like Doc. I share the belief that he will be back coaching as soon as he wants to be back coaching. You can't always control everything that goes on around you. And it's always disappointing to see somebody of his qualities lose his job."