"Doc Rivers has been pleading with Kevin Garnett to be more assertive with the ball. Borderline selfish even.

Now you, and the Washington Wizards, know why.

After averaging 10.3 shots and a modest 10.8 points to start the season, Garnett was hungry for the hoop in this one. His 17 shot attempts and 24 points were both game-highs. And as long as he was willing, the Celtics were pretty much a lock against the wobbly Wizards.

They led by as many as 19 and withstood their own bout of ennui before taking a 94-86 victory.

Sure, it helped that Rajon Rondo rolled out a triple-double — 18 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists — but he was impressive in the first three games of the season and the C's lost them all.

But when Garnett is taking the ball inside, the Shamrocks need no lucky charms.

Asked if he did any special prodding before this affair, coach Rivers said, "No, he woke up aggressive. We talk about it a lot. I get on him. You know, Kevin is the easiest, best guy in the world to coach. He keeps telling me, 'Stay on me.' He comes in the huddles (and says), 'Remind me that I'm not shooting.'?"

Garnett had six points in six first-quarter minutes as the Celts took a 28-17 lead. He added six more in the second when the C's held the hosts to 20 percent shooting.

Then Garnett and the Celtics took a bit of a break.

"And he still drives you crazy," said Rivers. "I got on him in the third (quarter) when I called a timeout because I thought he had two early shots (he passed up). He almost has a regulator that says you can't take but a certain amount of shots, because he was wide open and he passed it."

Garnett took just one shot and had two points in the third quarter, but when the starters were summoned after Washington got within seven in the fourth, he went for 10 points in six minutes to restore order."