By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- Celtics players got back on the basketball court collectively Friday morning for the first time since Game 3, holding a shootaround at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Celtics did not practice yesterday, though the team did watch film. Coach Doc Rivers said Paul Pierce and Ray Allen did some running Thursday, and that Kevin Garnett went over to the arena on his own to get some shots up.

"We definitely take more days off this year than we probably ever have," said Rivers. "But I think this schedule has forced that action. When we don't practice, guys still work on their games....especially veterans, more than young guys, understand what they need to do to keep them in rhythm.

"I think young guys, days off are bad, because they think a day off is a day off. They don't understand what gets them to the next game."

The Celtics' approach is in contrast to Philadelphia's. With a young team, Doug Collins said he values his practice time and that every day in the playoffs is a learning experience.

"Championship teams, teams that have done it, have a certain mindset," said Collins. "We're learning about ourselves. I think that's the good part about what we're going through. It'll be fun tonight to see how we react to it."

-- All Celtics were good to go for shootaround this morning. Paul Pierce wore a rigid brace on his left knee. He said he's been wearing the brace for practice but not for games ever since he injured the knee during a shootaround in the Atlanta series.