Rivers discusses Amaechi

Miami guard Dwyane Wade slams home 2 of his 30 points over the Celtics' Michael Olowokandi. (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF)

His best player was in the hospital. The Miami Heat -- make that the reasonably healthy, defending champion Miami Heat -- were in town. And who was the topic of Doc Rivers's pregame news conference last night? John Amaechi.

The former Magic and Jazz player is due out with a book soon, "Man in the Middle," in which he reveals he is homosexual. Amaechi played two seasons for Rivers, appearing in 162 of a possible 164 games and starting 89 from 1999-2001.

"I was coach of the year [with Orlando in 2000]; John started for me at the power forward spot," Rivers said before his Celtics lost No. 16 in a row, 91-79. "He was great for me. He was great for our team."

Rivers said he did not know of Amaechi's sexual orientation, and that he did not care.

"You look at it and say, 'So what? Can he rebound? Can he shoot? Can he defend?' . . . John Amaechi was a great kid," Rivers said. "He did as much charity work as anyone in our city. I wish that is what we focused on. Instead, we're focusing on sexual orientation, which I could give a flying flip about."

The Celtics coach was asked if he thought today's NBA would be accepting of a homosexual. He said he did not think it would matter in the locker room, "because no subject is taboo in the locker room." He said he would encourage the player to come out, adding, "I'd [also] tell him to keep scoring and keep rebounding. I don't know if we'll see that any time soon.

"It was difficult for people to watch Jackie Robinson and they got used to it," Rivers went on. "And they started cheering for him. It would be difficult for the fans [of today] if the guy couldn't play. Nothing else should be difficult . . . John's a fantastic kid. He's better than a good kid. He's just a good guy who happens to have a different sexual orientation. And that shouldn't be an issue. But it is. And I know why it is. When guys do come out, when that day does happen, [this will] make it easier. I hope so. I can't wait until it's not an issue. I really can't."

Paul Pierce remained at New England Baptist Hospital with elbow/fever woes and is due to be evaluated today. Rivers said it's looking increasingly unlikely that Pierce will return before the All-Star break, although that could change. Rivers did say Pierce might have seen a few minutes last night and almost certainly would have played tomorrow night against the Nets before his latest setback.

Old chum Antoine Walker didn't know of Pierce's condition until yesterday and had not had a chance to call him. But as Walker and his teammates gear up for another championship run, old Employee No. 8 feels for his former wingman.

"It's tough for him," Walker said. "He's a guy who wants to win, wants to be in the playoffs. He's at a point in his career, with his skill level, [that] it's only right that he is in a situation where he can win and be effective in the playoffs. With his competitive drive, it's going to bother him some nights. He chose to stay here. He signed a long-term extension to be here. I'm sure he's committed to whatever the team decides to do."

Wally Szczerbiak sprained his left ankle when he chased a Jason Kapono 3-point attempt, missed, and landed on Leon Powe's foot. (Kapono made the shot.) "You step on a teammate's foot who is on the bench. What else can go wrong?" Szczerbiak said. He said this sprain was not as bad as previous ones, but could not say when he might be back on the floor . . . Delonte West had a frustrating night (4 for 17) and picked up a technical from Dick Bavetta . . . Rivers changed the starting lineup, using Kendrick Perkins at center to defend Shaquille O'Neal. Perk had 0 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 fouls in 18 minutes. Rivers hinted afterward he may go with seven or eight players tomorrow night, "if we have seven or eight guys." . . . Last night's game was the first of three meetings between the teams. Thus, the Celtics missed out on a chance to play the Heat without Shaq, who has been back since Jan. 24 following left knee surgery. He missed 39 games. "When he went down," Rivers said, "the first thing I did was check the schedule and I said, 'Damn, he'll be back.' " The Celtics have now played all 14 other Eastern Conference teams. They have yet to play Dallas, Houston, or Minnesota in the Western Conference . . . Miami was without Jason Williams, who is out with an abdominal strain. He has missed 17 games this season. But Gary Payton was back with the lads after missing Monday's game because of an NBA suspension for mouthing off too much to the officials . . . Miami had only two offensive rebounds and was outscored, 19-0, in second-chance points.