Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Monday he has no interest in talking to center Mark Blount about his recent benching, saying his decision doesn’t need to be explained.

Blount, who had started the team’s first 11 games, didn’t play in Boston’s last-second win over Charlotte on Friday night. Kendrick Perkins started in his place, and Rivers said after the game that team needed more rebounding.

“Because I’m the coach, that’s the reason,” Rivers said, when asked before Monday night’s game with Orlando why he hadn’t spoken with Blount. “Whatever I do, that’s what I do.”

Rivers went on to say that “it’s a little bit of everything,” adding that he thought Blount would help the team this season.

Blount, who didn’t play in the final three playoff games last season, told both The Boston Globe and Boston Herald that he hadn’t been given an explanation why he didn’t play.

Team captain Paul Pierce, who had words with Rivers when he was yanked from a game early last season, said before Monday night’s game the whole thing is “overblown.”

“I think it’s normal. You have ups and downs with players and coaches,” he said. “Doc and I were up and down at times, but it worked its way out.”

Blount, in his sixth season, is averaging 13.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

AP-ES-11-28-05 2010EST