Game will be a big deal

MILWAUKEE -- Paul Pierce called tonight's matchup against Minnesota at the Target Center just ''another game." Really? Can he be so nonchalant, so business-like, before playing against former teammates Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, and Justin Reed less than a week after they were traded? Maybe. But for other members of the Celtics, it will be a night of mixed emotions. Pierce recognized as much.

''I look at it as another game, but I'm sure Ricky Davis, Mark Blount and the other guys are going to look at it as something different," said Pierce. ''Wally Szczerbiak is going to look at it as something different. I had fun playing with those guys, but it's time to move on. We're focusing on getting wins."

Al Jefferson had a slightly different perspective than Pierce.

''I told Ricky not to try to dunk on me because I'm going to foul him hard," joked Jefferson. ''It's a business. You've got to go on, but at the same time, while we're out there, we're going to have fun. We're still going to try to beat them. I don't want to hear it for the rest of my life that they beat us. It will be tough. I might accidentally pass Ricky the ball. No.

''I think Ricky is going to be trying to prove a point. Even when he was with the Celtics, he was always coming out trying to prove a point. He's really going to be trying to prove one now. That might help us because when Ricky's off he's off, but when he's on he's on. Hopefully, he'll be off."

As for Szczerbiak, he said, ''It's going to be fun. I'm really excited. It's going to be really weird. It's funny and ironic that we're going back and playing there. We need a win and they need a win. So, it should be a good game."

But before Szczerbiak plays his former teammates, he will witness the birth of his second child in a C-section scheduled for noon today.

Opportunistic

One of the big reasons Boston made the trade with Minnesota was to give Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins more opportunity. Jefferson has wasted no time taking advantage, looking impressive on defense and offense during the Celtics' 83-79 loss to the Bucks yesterday at the Bradley Center. Jefferson had 12 points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes. He credited coach Doc Rivers for pushing him to play more aggressively.

''[Rivers] has been on me, just telling me to be more physical, be more aggressive out there," said Jefferson. ''That's something I should have been doing. It makes sense. Film doesn't lie. He showed me on the film [what I was doing wrong]. It was embarrassing to me. I'm going to play hard. I just hope Doc continues to trust [Perkins and I] and let us make our mistakes, until we get to the point where we [perform well] on a consistent basis."

Not a sweet spot

In the immediate aftermath of the trade Michael Olowokandi, a.k.a Candy Man, has been something of a forgotten man. That is understandable. Davis and Szczerbiak were the featured players in the deal. Olowokandi probably will get playing time only when Jefferson or Perkins find themselves in foul trouble. That might earn him another nickname, The Big Insurance Policy. He did not play last night because of a coach's decision.

''He's going to help us," said Rivers. ''When, I don't know. It could be tonight. It could be whenever. With his size, he's going to have a value for us. You don't realize how big he is until he walks into your own locker room. He was a No. 1 pick and hasn't done what people thought he would, but I think there's still time."

Well, not much time. Olowokandi is in the final year of his contract and the Celtics are committed to developing Jefferson and Perkins. But Olowokandi remains optimistic there will be some role for him with Boston.

''I plan on [having a significant role]," said Olowokandi. ''One thing I've learned about this sport is you have somewhat of a say so as to how prepared you are. Opportunities on the other hand may not be something you have a lot of control over. If I'm given an opportunity, I'll be ready to play."