The war of words between Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal is starting to rival the playoff intensity of the action on the court.
O'Neal didn't take kindly to comments made by Ainge prior to Saturday's Game 4 in Indianapolis, and he had plenty to say about it yesterday.
As reported in Sunday's Herald, Ainge was apparently upset with O'Neal's constant complaining about the Celtics' physical play against him during the playoffs and said of the forward, ``He's brought a lot of physical play into this series. I'm so sick and tired of hearing his crying.''
Ainge added: `
`He's instigated the physical play. Fine. He's an inside player, but don't cry about it.''
O'Neal was informed of the comments following yesterday's Pacers pratice, and he fired back at Ainge.
``If he's being a crybaby (himself), then why is he commenting about (me)?'' O'Neal said. ``It's pretty ridiculous.''
``Danny Ainge needs to do his job in the front office and let the players play the game. He's not out there playing the game. If the tables were turned the other way, then he would be complaining about (the physical play), too.
``He needs to just shut his mouth and do what a (director of basketball operations) does, and that's run the team.''
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