<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Last night's contest between the Raptors and their Atlantic Division rivals Boston Celtics at Rome's sold-out PalaLottomatica was not a typical pre-season game.</p> There was real electricity in the air, undoubtedly because of the presence of hometown boy Andrea Bargnani of the Raptors. But also because the Celtics started a lineup that included NBA superstar Kevin Garnett, and his two almost-as-celebrated teammates, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.</p> Indeed, the standing ovation afforded to Garnett, when introduced to the crowd of 11,118, was as loud, and probably longer, than the one given to Bargnani.</p> "It was a great atmosphere," Garnett said. "A great basketball atmosphere."</p> Generally, coaches use pre-season games to gain a measure of how well their team is coming together out of training camp. But last night's match was decidedly intense, with both clubs playing hard.</p> In the end, the Celtics prevailed 89-85.</p> "Our coach (Doc Rivers) wanted us to go extremely hard, as if it was a real game," Garnett said. "I prepared myself to be very aggressive"</p> Boston GM Danny Ainge has thrown down the gauntlet in trading away the team's future to bring the Big 3 together.</div></p> The Toronto Sun</p>
