The Celtics played 108 regular-season and playoff games on the way to winning the NBA championship last month. But Paul Pierce has not needed much time to recharge his batteries, the thrill of victory providing the motivation to start preparing for next season.

"It feels good, truthfully," Pierce said of the aftermath of the title run, capped by beating the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. "It was kind of hard on the people out in LA. They were happy, but they were sorry, too. But it is what it is, the Boston Celtics are champions."