It’s not a rivalry. Let’s dispatch that word to the end of the bench for now.
A few games of sideways glances, trash talk and slapped away fingers to the face do not a rivalry make. To even approach that level, the Celtics and Wizards will need to engage in a playoff series, and therein must be contained multiple close games and at least two incidents that require the league office to issue a statement and/or fine.
But what we have here is just fine — for now. Not that we’re advocating assault with a deadly elbow or anything, but the Celts and Wiz trading more unpleasantries (a steamroll, five technicals, an Al Horford finger wag) in a 110-102 Boston win is welcome if it raises the intensity.