News 2/1

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1070571&format=text

Celts earn benchmark win vs. Western force
Reserves fill KG’s void in triumph over Dallas

By Steve Bulpett | Friday, February 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matthew Healey
Throughout the sublime start to their season, the Celtics [team stats] have been made to listen to contrarians who whisper about the Western Conference and its superiority.

And although it’s fact that the Celts have yet to play Phoenix, San Antonio and New Orleans, it’s also true they are now 13-0 against the West. Their latest shot was fired last night against one of the monsters from the left side of the country - a 96-90 decision over Dallas.

With Kevin Garnett tied behind their back.

“Well, it’s a big win,” coach Doc Rivers said after the Celtics snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Mavericks. “They’re a heck of a basketball team. We know that. Winning it without Kevin . . . any game that we win without Kevin is important for us, part of our growth process.”

While the best closer in baseball, Jonathan Papelbon [stats], watched from courtside, the Celtics closed out the Mavs with huge plays at both ends of the floor and ran their league-best record to 36-8. Paul Pierce [stats] and a flu-weakened Ray Allen had 26 points apiece, and several others played key roles.

The Celts led by two on a pair of Pierce free throws with 3:02 left but failed on three chances to increase the lead after two great defensive stops by James Posey. Finally, Dirk Nowitzki tied it at 90 on two freebies at 58.4.

Pierce then got a jumper to go halfway down before spinning out, only to have Rajon Rondo [stats], rail thin and 6-foot-1, fly in from the left and rip the rebound away from the far larger (by 11 inches and more than 70 pounds) Nowitzki. His ensuing bucket - made seemingly in one motion - pushed it to 92-90.

“I tried to sneak behind Dirk on the baseline,” said Rondo, who had 12 rebounds overall. “(Pierce) shot the ball, and I just tried to go and get it. (Nowitzki) didn’t box me out, and I went up under him. We both had it, and I came down with it. Then I wanted to get it back up quick before the defense recognized that I had the ball.”

Nowitzki (31 points, 11 rebounds) and Jason Terry then missed at the other end. Posey rebounded the second shot and hit two free throws after being fouled with 10 seconds left. The Mavericks’ last hopes were dashed when Posey dived and picked off a Terry pass. He added two free throws of icing.

“It’s a big win,” said Pierce, who scored 22 of his points in the second half (after Allen scored 22 in the first). “As I said, guys have been stepping up in (Garnett’s) absence and making big plays for us. That’s what we are going to need with the big guy out.”

As for stating their case against the West, Pierce said, “I mean it’s a little surprising, but, hey, we’re focusing what we have to do night in and night out. Anything is possible. I think the Western Conference favors the kind of style we like to play anyway. They like to get up and down a little more.”

Rivers doesn’t want the West to get up for the C’s any more than it already is.

“I know you guys think it’s a joke, but we still have a West Coast trip coming up at the All-Star break, so you know I’m not going to say a word about it,” the coach said with a smile. “The West is better than the East.”

Posey had 13 points, Leon Powe had 10 off the bench and even a scoreless Tony Allen came up big on a Terry drive in the last minute.

“I think everybody had a chance to watch on national TV to know that we are more than just me, Kevin and Ray,” Pierce said. “They saw the guys who stepped up down the stretch. . . . What more can I say?”

Nothing that 36-8 and 13-0 don’t say more eloquently.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1070575&format=text

Posey finishes the job
Makes 4 free throws, forces turnover in final 10 seconds vs. Mavericks

By Rich Thompson | Friday, February 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
Forward James Posey wasn’t a member of the Celtics [team stats] when they were dependable cannon fodder for the powerful Dallas Mavericks.

Posey, who joined the club in August, recorded four clutch free throws and forced a critical turnover in the final 10 seconds to help the Celtics to a 96-90 victory over the Mavericks last night at TD Banknorth Garden.

Posey’s heroics in the final moments put an end to the Mavericks’ recent dominance of the Celtics. The Mavs arrived having won seven straight and 13 of their last 14 encounters with the Celtics.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers appreciated Posey’s efforts because he’d been on the business end of several lopsided affairs against big man Dirk Nowitzki and the crew from Dallas.

“In those final 30 seconds he made some big plays,” said Rivers. “Posey came up with rebounds, came up with steals and he did the dirty work for us.

“He’s a like a security blanket for us. You put him out on the floor in matchups that really don’t make sense. Nowitzki had him in height and size, but he found a way to get it done.”

With Kevin Garnett sidelined by an abdominal strain, Posey warranted extended minutes and increased responsibilities that included guarding Nowitzki on the low post. Posey scored 13 points that included 3-of-5 shots from behind the arc.

But the reason Celtics fans headed home feeling good can be credited to Posey’s work on the free throw line. The Celts were up 92-90 when the Mavericks were forced to foul Posey with 10 seconds remaining. Posey made both, forcing Mavs coach Avery Johnson to call a timeout.

“I had an opportunity to go to the free throw line and knock them down,” said Posey. “I thought we did a great job closing out the game with stops when we needed them and buckets when we needed them.”

Posey sized up the Mavs’ alignment on the floor and intercepted Jason Terry’s feed to Nowitzki off a high screen. Posey sat on the floor for three long seconds before being fouled by Nowitzki. Posey made both free throws to clinch the win.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1070576

Pierce dubbed, Allen snubbed
By Rich Thompson
Friday, February 1, 2008 - Added 4h ago


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Celtics guard Paul Pierce [stats] greeted his selection to the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans with mixed emotions.

Prior to the Celtics [team stats]’ 96-90 victory over the Mavericks at TD Banknorth Garden, Pierce was thrilled when the NBA announced he was one of seven players selected as reserves on the East team.

But Pierce was perplexed that teammate Ray Allen didn’t make the cut. Pierce felt Allen’s role in guiding the Celtics to the best record in the NBA justified a roster slot alongside himself, starter Kevin Garnett and coach Doc Rivers.

“It’s an honor always to represent your team in the All-Star Game,” said Pierce, who will make his sixth appearance. “But I thought Ray should have been on there also, based on our record and doing what we are doing team-wise.

“He is very important to what we are doing.”

Rivers was named to coach the East because the Celtics were leading the conference at the midway point of the season. The reserves were chosen from a league-wide poll of the coaches, including Rivers, but the coaches could not vote for any of their own players.

The starting five were selected by the fans, and Garnett topped the list with 2,399,148 votes.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed that Ray didn’t make the team,” said Rivers. “I thought he sacrificed the most for our team and I thought the coaches would see that.

“We talked about role players and sacrifice, and Ray’s a star. But he’s sacrificed things for the team to play a role, and he didn’t get rewarded for it.”

Pierce was in agreement about the other reserve players picked ahead of Allen - with one exception.

“Joe Johnson made it?” Pierce said about his former Celtics teammate now with the Atlanta Hawks. “I think honors like this should be based on how your team is doing and, based on (that), I feel (Ray) should have been over Joe.”

Allen has been selected to the All-Star team seven times, three with Milwaukee and four with Seattle.

“Every year it seems like I’m in this predicament,” said Allen. “Every time I made it I was glad I made it.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1070578&format=text

One in, one out

By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Friday, February 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matthew Healey
The Celtics [team stats] hoped to have two players in the Rookie Challenge during All-Star weekend in New Orleans, but while point guard Rajon Rondo [stats] is on the sophomore team, forward Glen Davis was left off the rookie squad.

“That’s great for Rondo. He deserves it,” Rivers said. “He really does. He’s played terrific basketball. I personally think his last two games (Orlando and Miami) have been the best two games he’s played in his career, not on the offensive end. It’s been on the defensive end. His speed has actually been a factor, and he has to do that every game.

“Baby’s time will come. It takes work. You don’t just get things in our league; you have to earn them. And so it’s probably a good message for him.”

Davis hid whatever disappointment he may have.

“It is what it is,” he said. “They pick who they want to pick. Oh, any rookie would want to go, but that’s the way things happen. I’ve got the whole second half of the season to play.”

Big Baby, who didn’t play in last night’s 96-90 win over the Mavericks, plans to be in the Big Easy anyway.

“Well, I’m from there, so I might as well go,” he said. “I’m going home, so I might as well go and see the game and stuff like that.”

Rondo passed the recognition on to others.

“I guess it’s a good honor individually, but I think the reason why I probably made it is because of our wins and losses,” he said. “That’s what it’s about. I give a lot of credit to the guys around me, because they make me a lot better.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1070582

Bench mark
By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook
Friday, February 1, 2008 - Added 4h ago
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Tuesday’s 117-87 blowout of Miami was notable for more than just the fact it was accomplished without Garnett and guard Ray Allen.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time the Celts had two players score 20 or more points off the bench since a 107-96 victory over Houston on Feb. 1, 1998.

Guard Dana Barros had 23 points and center Travis Knight 21 during Rick Pitino’s first year as the C’s coach. Forward Leon Powe had a career-high 25 and guard Eddie House added 20 on Tuesday.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/01/celtics_13_0_earn_another_west_win?mode=PF

Right direction
Celtics (13-0) earn another West win
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 1, 2008

So far, the Celtics know how the West is won.

They defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 96-90, last night at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden. With Celtics legend Bill Russell sitting courtside, Boston improved to 13-0 against the Western Conference this season.

While the Celtics have yet to play the reigning champion Spurs and the hot Suns and Hornets, defeating the Mavericks legitimized Boston's unblemished West record.

"I didn't know that," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers of his team being 13-0 against the West. "It's nice. It caught me off guard. But we still have a West Coast trip coming up [after] the All-Star break, so you know I'm not going to say a word about it. The West is better than the East."

Boston is now an NBA-best 36-8, and 20-4 at home, after going 10-5 in January.

Kevin Garnett missed his third straight game with an abdominal strain. Boston, however, is 2-1 without Garnett, filling his mammoth sneakers with the likes of Leon Powe (10 points, 4 rebounds) and James Posey (13 points, 3 rebounds).

"When you don't have a Garnett and you win against Dallas, it's good," Rivers said. "Dallas is a team that we are still trying to catch in our minds. They've been there."

Rivers said he wouldn't return Garnett to the lineup until he was 100 percent and that there was no timetable for his return. Rivers, however, did say that Garnett seemed to be improving.

Garnett hasn't spoken publicly in a week. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, however, expressed optimism that Garnett will be back soon.

"I'm not worried long term," Ainge said. "It's day to day. I'm hoping he can play next week."

Allen returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game at Miami with flu-like symptoms. He received intravenous fluids at a Miami hospital and slept so much that day that he remembers little of it.

"I just kept throwing up," Allen said. "It was probably the most I had thrown up in my life."

To make matters worse, he returned to action just after learning he didn't get selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while teammates Garnett and Paul Pierce made it.

The teams went into halftime knotted at 44. Allen scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting before the break. Dallas forward Josh Howard, who was snubbed for the Western Conference All-Star team, scored 17 of his 19 points in the first half.

"I was trying to make plays," Allen said. "I've spent a lot of time being a playmaker so I wanted to make sure I came out and was aggressive."

Boston held a 71-70 lead through three. Pierce scored 13 points in the third quarter, when Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 of his game-high 31 points.

Howard's lay-in tied the game at 88 with 3:21 left. Two free throws by Pierce gave Boston a 90-88 lead with 3:02 remaining, before Nowitzki hit two free throws with 58.4 seconds left to tie the game at 90.

After a missed jumper by Pierce, the 6-foot-1-inch, 171-pound Rondo snuck behind the 7-foot, 245-pound Nowitzki and took the ball out of his hands. Without hesitation, Rondo (14 points, season-high 12 rebounds) scored on a reserve lay-in to give Boston a 92-90 lead with 42.5 seconds left.

"[Rondo] came in from behind on us and I guess we just lost vision of him, and it was a huge play for him," said Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.

Said Rivers: "Over the last three games, I think this is the best stretch of [Rondo's] career."

After Dallas guard Jason Terry missed a jumper in the lane, Posey retrieved the rebound with 10.9 seconds left. After being fouled, Posey sealed the win with two free throws with 10 seconds left.

"It's a little surprising," said Pierce of Boston's success against the West. "But, hey, we are focusing on what we have to do night in and night out. Anything is possible. I think the Western Conference favors the kind of style we like to play, anyway. They like to get up and down [the floor] a little more. They are more offensive-oriented than, I think, the Eastern Conference. That suits our style just fine."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/01/missing_garnett_doesnt_hurt_yet?mode=PF

Missing Garnett doesn't hurt yet
By Peter May, Globe Staff | February 1, 2008

Kevin Garnett missed his third consecutive game last night, and his coach produced a timetable for a return without a calendar. In other words, indefinite. Or he could be back Tuesday. Does that make it any clearer? Didn't think so.

Garnett has an abdominal strain and, yes, that can be troublesome. Shaquille O'Neal missed 21 games with one during the 1997-98 season. Manny Ramírez - the anti-Garnett - had a strained oblique last season and missed 24 games. It's one of those injuries you don't mess around with - and one that may require a long time to heal.

Fortunately for the Celtics, they have time, plenty of it. That's what 36 wins in 44 games after last night's 96-90 win over Dallas has given Doc Rivers. He can now be a real Doc, holding out Ray Allen here and James Posey there. Gregg Popovich has been doing that for years with the Spurs and he seems to have succeeded all right with that approach.

Now, Rivers is putting the clamps on his best player and will not release them until he is sure Garnett is ready to step back on the floor. If that means missing Tuesday's biggie at Cleveland, so be it. If it means missing next Friday's, soon-to-be-hyped Return to Minnesota, so be it. If it means missing All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, so be it. Rivers made it clear yesterday that Garnett won't play again until the putative MVP is 100 percent healthy.

"It's just not worth it," Rivers said. "We need him for the long haul. Could he have played [last night]? Maybe. I don't even think he should. It's just not worth it."

Rivers is 100 percent correct. Danny Ainge said before the game last night that he didn't know when Garnett would be back, but that he didn't see this thing as a "long-term problem." It didn't appear that his nose was growing when he was talking. And one way to make sure it isn't a long-term problem is to take care of it in the short term, however long that might be.

"It's kind of a hard injury to diagnose," Paul Pierce said. "It's not like he's walking around with a limp or a cane or something. Only time will tell. I don't know if it's getting any better or worse, but I think it's getting better because he was a little more upbeat [yesterday] than he's been the last couple days."

Anyone who saw the Celtics' first 41 games knows how valuable Garnett is. He's a transformative presence on defense and an energy spreader at both ends. He demands excellence from his teammates. He's also pretty good, which helps.

We don't know how badly he's hurt except that it has to be somewhat serious because Garnett doesn't miss games. Yes, he's missed six in each of the last two seasons, but 11 of those were after the Timberwolves had long made travel plans for Secaucus, N.J. In 12 seasons, the guy missed a total of 25 games and a good portion of those were those mid-April, Game 82-type contests where nothing was at stake. The Timberwolves had a lot of those over the years.

The Celtics don't have them now, but they do have the luxury of playing in the Eastern Conference, where three straight losses won't drop you from first place overall to ninth. What is the worst that could happen if the Celtics go on a slide waiting for a month for Garnett to get healthy? They get passed by Detroit and tumble to, um, second in the conference? Could you live with that if it led to a healthy Garnett in the spring? I sure could.

Unless Ainge is being coy and it's really worse than the Celtics are letting on - insert your favorite Bill Belichick line here - or unless Rivers's idea of being 100 percent is unattainable, the Celtics shouldn't take much of a hit while Garnett is mending. They split the first two games, losing a close one at Orlando (the No. 3 team in the East) and then destroying the rudderless, heartless Miami Heat without Garnett and Allen.

The great unknown is whether all that mileage from all those years has started to catch up a bit with Garnett. Rivers isn't taking any chances; he wants to see a healthy Garnett in a playoff game in May over a sorta healthy Garnett in a big January game.

Last night's game represented the Celtics' first of the season against any of the top three teams in the West (according to records, which means the Spurs aren't in that group). The Celtics have six games remaining before the All-Star break and only two of them, Tuesday in Cleveland and a week from Sunday against the Spurs, are against likely playoff teams. The other opponents are the Clippers, Wolves, Knicks, and Pacers. We could see Garnett in any of those games, or none of those games. It's the uncertainty that makes it a little sketchy, but it's the Celtics' record that affords them that luxury.

"There are no guarantees until he's 100 percent," Rivers said. "If he's ready for Cleveland, great. If he's not, we'll sit him. If he's not ready for the next one [the Clippers], we'll sit him. I'm not playing him until he's 100 percent. That could be Cleveland. It could be after the All-Star break. It could be after that. He's not playing until he's 100 percent."

In other words, don't take him off your rotisserie team just yet.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/01/pierce_named_all_star_reserve?mode=PF

Pierce named All-Star reserve
Allen among those who were left out
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 1, 2008

Just after learning he made his sixth All-Star team, Celtics forward Paul Pierce's first reaction was: "Joe Johnson?"

Pierce was surprised that his ex-Celtics teammate, now with the Hawks, made the Eastern Conference team at guard over his current teammate, Ray Allen. Pierce was one of seven players voted in as an East reserve by the conference's coaches. Celtic Kevin Garnett already was voted in as a starting forward by the fans, while coach Doc Rivers and his staff earned the right to coach the East.

Johnson is averaging 21.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for the 18-23 Hawks. Allen is averaging 18.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for a Celtics team that is an NBA-best 36-8 after last night's 96-90 win over Dallas.

"I felt like [Allen] probably should have been over Joe Johnson," Pierce said. "That's just my opinion, though. They don't have a good record. They are not a .500 team. If that's the case, I think you should be on a .500 team or better.

"No knock on Joe Johnson. He's definitely an All-Star. He's definitely put up numbers and he is definitely a great talent in the NBA. But I think it also should do a lot with what you do as a team."

Pierce said "that's crazy" when he heard Allen didn't make it. Allen's scoring average was the lowest since his rookie season and he was averaging a career-low field goal percentage (.422). Allen, however, has hit game-winning 3-pointers at Charlotte and Toronto.

"I thought Ray should have been there also based on record and what we were doing team-wise," Pierce said. "I remember two years ago when the Pistons had four guys and they had a similar record to what we have now."

Allen took not being selected in stride.

"I look forward to spending some time with the family," he said. "Every year it seems like I'm in this predicament where you sit back and wait to see if you're chosen or not. It's been a privilege every time I made it. I'm glad to have made it. But I always said any time I don't make it, you can always make a case for other players in this league.

"There are so many players having a good first half of the season. I celebrate them. I don't look down on the season I'm having."

Rivers said, "Obviously, I think Ray should have made it. The fact that he had to sacrifice the most of the [team's Big Three]. It's unfortunate that the other coaches didn't see it that way."

Pierce will be making his first All-Star appearance since 2006. He is averaging a team-best 20.2 points and 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists.

"It's definitely gratifying, especially after last year with what we did as a team and not making All-Stars," Pierce said.


Count Rondo in
After not making the game his rookie season, guard Rajon Rondo was named Wednesday to the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam in New Orleans Feb. 15 as a member of the sophomore team. Rondo averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while starting 25 of 78 games last season. He is averaging 9.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds.

"I'm still growing now," Rondo said. "It's an individual award. I'm just trying to get the wins."

Glen Davis did not get selected for the Rookie squad. The Baton Rouge, La., native, however, does plan to go back to his home state to enjoy the All-Star Weekend festivities and attend the Kentucky-Louisiana State game Feb. 16. Davis is averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds and had stiff rookie competition at forward.

"It is what it is. They pick who they want to pick," Davis said.


House for 3?
Allen recently said he was hopeful that teammate and fellow sharpshooter Eddie House would be selected for the 3-point shooting competition. House, who has never been in the competition before, said he would definitely like to participate. He has nailed 40.6 percent of his 3-point attempts and 71 total.

The 3-point shooting participants will be named Thursday.

"It would be nice if I got invited," House said.


No Kidd-ing
Mavericks coach Avery Johnson killed rumors that Nets guard Jason Kidd could return to Dallas in a blockbuster trade.

"We're not involved," Johnson said. "Anybody has a right to throw out names. That's a part of speculating. But we're not involved. That's all I can tell [the players]. We like our team and we're moving forward with our team."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x41787098

Celtics 96, Mavericks 90: Major statement

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Photo by Charles Krupa/Associated Press
Boston point guard Rajon Rondo (right) battles Jason Terry of Dallas for a loose ball.
By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
GHS
Fri Feb 01, 2008, 12:45 AM EST

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BOSTON -
With a national television audience tuning in to watch the Celtics play a Western Conference power, a victory last night at the TD Banknorth Garden was going to carry some weight regardless.

But to do it on the strength of defense and hustle, and without injured star Kevin Garnett, made last night's 96-90 triumph over Dallas one of the highlights of a year already filled with plenty of them.

Tied at 90 in the final minute, a critical put-back from Rajon Rondo and rebound, two free throws and steal from James Posey sealed a scintillating triumph on the parquet.

"At the end of the game, you've got to get stops," said Posey, who had 13 points and three steals in 34 minutes trying to fill the Garnett void. "You are competing and you have to be sound on the defensive end. That's what we were able to do. Nobody wanted to give up and get it taken away (from us)."

Ray Allen had 22 of his 26 points in the first half, Paul Pierce had 26 points and six rebounds, Rondo had 12 points and 14 rebounds and Posey and Leon Powe (10 points in 25 minutes) delivered huge contributions off the bench as the Celtics won their second straight with Garnett (abdominal muscle strain) sidelined.

"Winning it without Kevin - any game that we win without Kevin - is important to us," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "It's part of our growth process."

"Everybody had a chance to watch on national TV (TNT) and know that we are more than just me, Kevin and Ray," said Pierce. "They saw the guys who stepped up down the stretch."

Dirk Nowitzki overcame a scoreless first quarter with 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, but never seemed comfortable as the Celtics frantically switched and gave him different looks all night.

"That's all we wanted to do was keep a body on him," said Allen. "Sometimes force him to shoot off the wrong foot, second-guess where somebody might be in our help position. We wanted him to think shot, but then think maybe pass because someone's open and throw the ball the way. At least he would have that on his mind and he wasn't out there picking us over."

Allen was the one picking the Mavericks over in the first half as he struck for 22. On a night when Pierce was selected to his sixth All-Star Game, a snubbed Allen responded to the announcement just prior to the game with a dramatic first half performance that surely made some rethink the curious selection of Atlanta's Joe Johnson.

"I wasn't really thinking about anything different," claimed Allen, who missed Tuesday's game in a Miami with a virus that didn't allow him to eat for two days. "I was just not second-guessing the shot. There are a lot of times that I want to make a play, and I think I have been so much of a playmaker in the past, (but haven't this season). I just wanted to make sure I was aggressive. I just went out there wanting to play (well), and just got everybody going."

Though his hot hand eventually cooled, Allen was part of the defensive effort that helped close out the stunned Mavericks late.

After a pair of Nowitzki free throws pulled the Mavericks even with 58.4 seconds on the clock, Rondo broke free under the basket after a Pierce miss with his 12th rebound of the game to put the Celtics up two. Dallas got a second chance on an offensive board on its next possession and Dallas coach Avery Johnson called timeout with 17.7 seconds left to play.

Jason Terry took the ball to the basket off the break, but Tony Allen forced him into a miss as Posey grabbed the critical rebound. Posey was fouled, went to the line with 10.0 seconds left and buried two free throws for a 94-90 lead.

Posey then made the steal on the perimeter out of a Dallas timeout and hit the clinching free throws for the gut-check victory.

"We know our system and what we are capable of doing," Posey said. "If we do it, we always give ourselves a chance to win games. I am not surprised. We have confidence on everyone on this roster. Guys know what they are supposed to be doing on both ends of the court."

The game was close throughout, with the Celtics up 27-20 after one and the teams deadlocked at 44 at the break. After scoring only four points in the first half, Pierce struck for 13 in the third quarter, including nine of Boston's last 11 as the Celtics hit the fourth up 71-70.

Posey started the fourth with a 3-pointer on a kickout from Powe, but the Mavericks responded with the next eight before a Rondo turnaround stopped the run. The lead changed four times, and there were five ties, in the quarter as the gap between the teams remained within three points before Posey put the game away in the final seconds.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1998150586

Megliola: Improbable journey to the NBA

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Photo by Charles Krupa/Associated Press
Celtics guard Ray Allen is defended by Dallas guard Jose Juan Barea.
By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff
GHS
Fri Feb 01, 2008, 12:41 AM EST

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BOSTON -
The scholarship offers didn't exactly drown Jose Juan Barea.

The slightly built kid from Puerto Rico got only two: University of New Orleans and Northeastern. "That was it," says Barea. No doors were being kicked in at the Barea home; no sweet talk was whispered in his ear.

He chose the school on Huntington Avenue. "It seemed like a good fit," says Barea. He was a point guard, a kid for who the game could never move fast enough. Everything seemed to move fast in Boston. "Even the train past my apartment."

There was only one drawback for the kid who had taken his high school senior year in Miami. "The weather was cold. That was the hardest part."

Barea's game warmed up Matthews Arena and Cabot Gym. He had a sensational career for the Huskies, and the dream never left him. He could take his game even further. The NBA. Oh really?

"He just said, 'You know what, I'm going to make the most of this,"' says Michael Crotty, a basketball guru who coaches the AAU Middlesex Magic and is the father of Celtics director of player development Mike Crotty. Both Crottys followed all of Barea's games at Northeastern. Barea was determined to be the next Husky to make it to The Show (latest stop: the Garden last night). He used former NU great Reggie Lewis as inspiration.

Baera averaged 21 points, 8.4 assists 4.4 rebounds his senior year, not bad for a point guard a shade under 6 feet. He went to the Las Vegas Summer League where every NBA team camped out, looking at the obvious college blue-chippers and hoping to find something useful under a rock. The Dallas Mavericks took an interest in Barea. So did the Golden State Warriors. The long shot might get his chance. Both teams called him about signing as a rookie free agent.

He signed with the Mavericks in 2006. "I played better for them (in the summer league)." He liked their style, up tempo, and a lot of pick-and-rolls. He played in the preseason, but there were no guarantees he'd actually make the big club.

But with a couple of guards injured, Barea got plenty of playing time in the preseason. Still, "they only had one roster spot left," says Barea. He was nervous. One day, at a practice in San Antonio. Mavs coach Avery Johnson announced that Barea had made the team. "I kinda smiled," he says, "then when I got to my room I jumped up and down."

He sat and watched most of last season, getting in 33 games. He started just one. He had plenty of time to study the other point guards. "One night we were playing at Phoenix and both of our point guards had foul trouble," says Barea. "I had to go in and guard Steve Nash. That's when it hit me. 'I'm in the NBA."'

Barea knew he had to put in extra effort every minute he was on the floor, in games and practices. He had a 16-point game against Utah.

In the Mavericks' first home game this season, Barea went off for 25 points against Sacramento, shooting 9-of-11, making all four of his 3-pointers and all three of his free throws. He also had five assists. It was an aberration, of course. He's getting about nine minutes a night and is averaging 4.4 points. Last night, Barea got those nine minutes and had four assists in the Celtics' exhausting 96-90 win at the Garden.

He knows what it'll take to get more playing time. "I'm trying to get better at defense," he says. "You've got to really want it. I'm learning some tricks." His height, or lack of, is an imposing problem on defense. The offensive skills are there.

All he did was play sports as a kid in Puerto Rico. He had two older brothers, and his mother coached tennis and volleyball at the University of Puerto Rico. "We were a sports family," says Barea.

Volleyball and baseball ("I was a second baseman") were his sports of choice before basketball got a grip on him in high school. He played at Miami Christian High as a senior so college scouts could get a better look. Northeastern worked out fine. He was a star.

"He told (Northeastern coach) Ron Everhart 'I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it to the pros,"' says Mike Crotty Sr. "The first time I saw him, he was a sophomore. He had tremendous (shooting) range, and had a real depth for the game. I'd watch him run the floor and he'd see things three or four steps ahead of everybody. He was a joy to watch. He's kinda quiet. Leadership came from his game."

Northeastern assistant coach Frank Martin (he's at Kansas State now) followed Barea's high school career very closely. He judged Barea by his heart, not his height, says Crotty.

Barea, who writes a blog in Spanish for Mavs.com, is the long shot spitting in the eye of the odds so far. It's a precarious way of life. But it's the life he's dreamed of. Never know where Huntington Ave. might lead you.

[FLCeltsFan]

aol.nba.com/celtics/news/blog/post-ups.html

Postgame Wrap Up
The Pats aren't the only ones with a perfect record. The Celtics are 13-0 against the Western Conference after tonight's 96-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Doc Rivers made a point of praising the three-headed monster that the Celtics threw at Dirk Nowitzki tonight, noting that Dirk had to work for all of his 31 points.

"I thought Scal, Leon and James did an absolutely terrific job on Nowitzki," Rivers said. "They took him down to late-second clock shots every time, which took them out of their transition game and made it a half-court game."

Rivers explained the Celtics overwhelming points in the paint edge by the absence of Devin Harris. Rondo seemed to get to the bucket whenever he wanted to, and Rivers said that was a matchup the team liked before the game. "We felt going into the game that was an area we wanted to take advantage of with [Rondo's] speeed."

Rondo finished with 12 rebounds (six offensive!), and none were bigger than the one he stole from Nowitzki with 18 seconds to play and flipped in off the glass for a 92-90 lead.

Check the audio archive for more reaction from Pierce, Allen, Rondo, Posey and Powe...

Live Game Blog
96-90 Celtics, FINAL: Posey steals a Nowitzki-bound pass and falls on it at midcourt, then goes to the line to sink two free throws.

94-90 Celtics, 10 seconds: Jason Terry's floater came up short and Posey grabbed the rebound and went to the line.

92-90 Celtics, 17.7 seconds: Rondo, who has 12 rebounds (!) tonight, stole a rebound from Dirk Nowtizki under the basket and then finished with a reverse layup to put the C's up by two.

90-90, 58.4 seconds: Powe just fouled out on a loose-ball in the rebounding action against Dirk. He finished with 10 points, one assist and four boards.

90-88 Celtics, 3:02/4th: Paul Pierce had just four points in the first half, but he's 7/12 in the second half and has 26, after he just went to the line on a late whistle.

84-82 Mavs, 5:57/4th: Leon Powe is getting an education trying to guard Nowitzki. When Powe has challenged him up close, Nowitzki's gne ot his arsenal of upfakes, jab steps and gotten Powe to reach in. Powe's got five fouls and we'll be shocked if he doesn't end up using them all.

77-74 Mavs, 8:39/4th: A few World Champions are seated courtside; Bill Russell, Jonathan Papelbon and Coco Crisp are all taking in the action tonight.

71-70 Celtics, End of 3rd: Despite Dallas' matador defense, they've managed to keep the score close here in the third. Dirk scored 17 on 5/7 shooting in the quarter running his total up to 24 points. He's certainly bigger in person than he appears on TV, and also moves much smoother than his elbows would lead you to believe.

As for the points in the paint story, 20 of the Celtics first 22 points in the third came in the paint. So while they weren't finishing inside early, the continued to attack the hoop and it paid off...

58-50 Celtics, 6:32/3rd: The Mavericks are hoisting threes and not having much success with it, as they're 2/16 from three-point land. Meanwhile, much like the Miami game, the Celtics continue to get into the paint. Rondo appears to be able to get wherever he wants to go against the Mavs' defense, but he just picked up his fourth foul. Of the Celtics' 14 points in the quarter, 12 have come in the paint.

Avery Johnson said in today's Dallas Morning News that his team tends to settle for jumpshots on the road, and that certainly seems to be the case tonight. Unofficially the Mavs are 7/7 in the paint, but the rest of their attempts, 12/39 are from the perimeter.

44-44 Halftime: A strong half for Ray Allen (22 points, 9/11 shooting), but Josh Howard (17 points) wasn't too shabby either.

34-31 Celtics, 5:20/2nd: The Celtics are getting into the paint but not finishing very well once they get there. By our unofficial count, they are 6-13 on high percentage shots in the paint.

27-20 Celtics, End of 1st: Apparently Ray Allen took that All-Star snub personally. He's poured in 15 first quarter points on 6/7 shooting, and seems to have a little more hop in his step and lift in his "J".

18-17 Mavs, 2:44/1st: Foul trouble is the theme of the first quarter. Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo and Scalabrine all have a pair of first quarter personals.

9-8 Mavs, 7:30/1st: Ray Allen looks crisp after sitting out Tuesday with the flu, scoring six of the Celtics' first eight points. Meanwhile, Brian Scalabrine started again at power forward but picked up two quick fouls guarding Dirk Nowitzki.

Pregame Media Access - Pierce In, Allen Out for All-Star
Paul Pierce will make his sixth career All-Star appearance in New Orleans, but for the meantime, Ray Allen will stay at six as he was not on the list of Eastern Conference reserves that was revealed at 7 p.m. tonight live on TNT.

That said, Allen could still be named to the team as a replacement if any of the Eastern Conference players can't make the game because of injury. That list could include Kevin Garnett, who will miss his third straight game tonight and could potentially be held out until the All-Star Break or later.

Doc Rivers, who will coach the Eastern Conference team, said he was disappointed that Ray was snubbed, noting that he's had to learn a new system and sacrifice some of his offense by playing alongside Garnett and Pierce.

As for Pierce, who did not make the game last year largely thanks to an 18-game losing streak and injury woes, found out that he'd made the team officially when TNT made the announcement and said that it was an honor to be named to the game but called it "crazy" that Allen wasn't on the team.

"It's an honor to represent your team in the All-Star game, but I thought Ray should have been there also," Pierce said, noting that he thought Allen should have been selected over Atlanta's Joe Johnson. "I think honors like this are based on how your team is doing. No knock on Joe Johnson, he's definitely an All-Star and he's put up great numbers and he's definitely a great talent, but I think it has a lot to do with what you do as a team."

Johnson's Atlanta Hawks are 18-24 and in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.

Asked who he was looking forward to playing with in the game, Pierce joked, "I haven't even thought about it. It's only been two minutes."

Also named to the team today from the Eastern Conference are Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Caron Butler, Richard Hamilton, Antawn Jamison and Joe Johnson.

We've got more reaction from Ray, Paul and Doc in the Audio Archive.

KG Out Tonight, Ray Allen Available
The update from today's shootaround in Waltham is that Kevin Garnett is out for the third straight game, but Ray Allen went through the morning workout and is available for tonight.

Scot Pollard (left ankle) is also out of action for tonight.

Also, All-Star reserves will be announced at 7 p.m. tonight on TNT. We hope to have reaction from any Celtics named to the game in the pregame notes here in the Post Ups Notebook.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=7205

Pierce Picks Allen Over Johnson

By: Jessica Camerato Last Updated: 1/31/08 8:56 PM ET | 328 times read



Adjust font size:Paul Pierce was surprised when he learned of the All Star Team reserves on Thursday night. He didn't seem that surprised that he made the team, though. Rather he was surprised that Ray Allen didn't … and Joe Johnson did.

"I think honors like this is based on how your team's doing," Pierce said. "I felt like he should have been over Joe Johnson. That's just my opinion, though. I'm looking at their record, they're not a .500 team. I think in this case, I think you should be at least a .500 team or better."

Johnson may be the leader of the Atlanta Hawks but it's about wins and losses to Pierce. The Celtics are 35-8, the Hawks are 18-24.

"I thought Ray should have been on there also based on record and what we're doing with the team-wise," Pierce said. "He's very important to what we're doing."

Pierce added, "No knock on Joe Johnson, he's definitely an All Star. He's definitely put up numbers and he's definitely a great talent in the NBA. But I think it also has a lot to do with what you do as a team also."

Celtics and Eastern Conference All Star Team head coach Doc Rivers was surprised by the voting as well.

"Obviously I'm disappointed that Ray didn't make the team because I thought that he sacrificed the most for our team. I just thought the coaches should see that and everyone should see that," Rivers said. "We talked about role players and sacrifices -- Ray's a star but he's sacrificed things for our team to play well and he didn't get rewarded for it. That's too bad."

As for Allen, he said he'll use the break to go on vacation with his family. There was a look of disappointment on his face but he tried to see the big picture of the league.

"Every year it seems like I'm in this predicament where I sit back and wait whether I'm chosen or not," Allen said. "It's been a privilege every time I've made it. I've been glad to make it. I've always said any time I don't make it, you can always make a case for other players in this league. There are so many guys who are having good first halves of the season."

[FLCeltsFan]

Pierce picked as a sub

By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[e-mail]





BOSTON— Paul Pierce will join Kevin Garnett at the NBA All-Star Game, but Ray Allen will not.

The NBA coaches voted Pierce as a reserve, but left out Allen, it was announced last night.

Garnett, who led the fan balloting, will start for the Eastern Conference. It will be his 11th All-Star appearance — second among active players to Shaquille O’Neal’s 14 — and his first as a Celtic. No Boston player has started an All-Star Game since Larry Bird in 1990.


This will be Pierce’s sixth All-Star appearance, tying him with Tom Heinsohn for 10th most as a Celtic.

Bob Cousy and John Havlicek each played in 13 All-Star Games as Celtics, one more than Bird and Bill Russell. Bird was voted an All-Star on two other occasions, but didn’t play due to injury. Heinsohn also missed one game because of injury.

Pierce leads the Celtics in scoring (20.1 ppg) and his 5 assists a game are the second most of his 10 years in the NBA. The coaches voted Pierce an All-Star reserve five years in a row before he missed last year’s game with a “stress reaction” in his left foot.

“It’s an honor always to represent your team in the All-Star Game,” Pierce said. “I thought Ray should have been on there also, based on our record and what we’re doing with the team. He’s very important to what we’re doing.”

Pierce pointed out that the Pistons had four All-Stars — Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace — two years ago when they had a similar record (40-8) to Boston’s this year.

This year, Billups and Hamilton, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Washington’s Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson joined Pierce as Eastern Conference reserves. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix, Chris Paul and David West of New Orleans, Carlos Boozer of Utah, Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, and Brandon Roy of Portland made it for the West.

When Pierce heard that Johnson made it over Allen, he said, “That’s crazy.”

Johnson, a former Celtic, ranks 18th in the NBA in scoring at 21.2 ppg, well ahead of Allen’s 18.0, but he is the only All-Star reserve from either conference playing for a team with a losing record.

“I think you should at least be a .500 team or better,” Pierce said. “No knock on Joe Johnson — he’s definitely an All-Star, he’s definitely put up numbers, and he’s definitely a great talent in the NBA — but I think it has a lot to do with what you do as a team also.”

Pierce apparently forgot that he was voted an All-Star reserve in 2004 and 2006 even though the Celtics had losing records.

Allen has been voted an All-Star Game participant seven times, including each of the past four years, but has had trouble adjusting this season to not being his team’s main scorer. Entering last night, Allen was averaging his fewest points in nine years and shooting 41.8 percent, the worst of his 12-year NBA career. On the other hand, he has helped the Celtics to the league’s best record.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed that Ray didn’t make the team,” coach Doc Rivers said, “because I thought he sacrificed the most for our team. I thought coaches should see that and everyone should see that. We talked about role players and sacrificing. Ray is a star, but he’s sacrificed things for our team to play well and he didn’t get rewarded for it. That’s too bad.”

Allen took the high road, saying he looked forward to spending time with his family and going on vacation. He refused to knock the selection of Johnson.

“Joe, he’s got great numbers,” Allen said, “and he’s been good for the last three or four years, so you can’t go wrong either way. I won’t by any means look at it and say who should and who shouldn’t be on there because I think everybody who makes it is definitely deserving.”

Allen scored 26 points in his return to the lineup last night after missing Tuesday’s win at Miami with the flu. Ankle and neck injuries slowed him earlier this season.

“I’m still coming down from it,” Allen said of the flu. “From a strength perspective, I’m better, but obviously I haven’t done much.”

Rivers will coach the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference on Sunday, Feb. 17 in New Orleans.

The NBA’s assistant coaches voted Rajon Rondo on the sophomore team for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Feb. 15 of All-Star weekend. Twelve other Celtics — including Pierce, Antoine Walker and Al Jefferson — have played in the Rookie Challenge, but Rondo will join Delonte West as only the second Celtic to play for the sophomore team. West played for the sophs two years ago.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.telegram.com/article/20080201/NEWS/802010595/1009/SPORTS

Rondo board saves Celtics

KG misses a big victory

By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[e-mail]






BOSTON— The Celtics waited half a season to see how they would fare against one of the Western Conference’s elite teams.

The wait was well worth it.

Boston finally played one of the best of the West last night and beat the Dallas Mavericks, 96-90, at the Garden even though Kevin Garnett was out with a strained abdominal muscle.


Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored 26 points for Boston. Rajon Rondo collected 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, including the biggest one of the game.

Rondo somehow outjumped Dirk Nowitzki, who is nearly a foot taller, to grab the miss of a Pierce jumper, and laid the ball in to give Boston the lead for good, 92-90, with 42 seconds left.

“He didn’t box me out,” Rondo said, “so I went up under him and I got the rebound. We both had it. I was the shorter guy, but I came down with it.”

Rondo wasted no time taking the ball right back up to the basket.

“I just wanted to get it back up quick,” he said, “before the defense recognized I that got the ball because I’m sure they probably did think he had the ball.”

“Rajon, over the last three games, I think this is the best stretch of his career,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

After a timeout, Jason Terry missed a drive for Dallas. James Posey, who scored 13 points off the bench for Boston, made two foul shots, then stole the ball and made two more to end it.

The Celtics snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Mavericks, their longest skid against any opponent.

“I think everybody had a chance to watch on national TV,” Pierce said of the TNT broadcast, “to know that we are more than just me, Kevin and Ray.”

The Celtics led by 10 in the third quarter, but fell behind by five early in the fourth, a period that featured four lead changes and five ties.

The Celtics don’t play again until they visit Cleveland on Tuesday. They may have Garnett back by then.

“We’re confident,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics executive director of basketball operations, “that it’s not a long-term issue and I don’t really worry about it. We’ve got other players.”

You never know, though. Manny Ramírez of the Red Sox missed a month last summer with a strained oblique, an abdominal muscle.

Nowitzki took advantage of Garnett’s absence to collect 31 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, but he made only 2 of 5 shots in the fourth quarter. Posey, Leon Powe and Brian Scalabrine took turns guarding Nowitzki and had plenty of help.

“When one of our scorers got the ball,” Nowitzki said, “they really sent a big guy over. Sometimes, even a little guy was hanging around in the paint. They really packed the strong side. By us not shooting the ball well from the outside, we really couldn’t make them pay the way we wanted to. If we made a couple more threes, it might have been a different story.”

Josh Howard scored 19 and Terry had 13 for the Mavs, who made only 4 of 22 3-pointers. Dallas played without starting point guard Devin Harris (left ankle bone bruise) and top sub Jerry Stackhouse (strained right hamstring).

The Celtics came in 12-0 against Western Conference teams, but hadn’t played Dallas, Phoenix, New Orleans or San Antonio. They’ll host San Antonio on Sunday, Feb. 10, in a game that has been switched to 1 p.m. so ABC can televise it nationally.

Pierce scored 13 points in the third quarter, including two foul shots in the closing seconds to put Boston ahead, 71-70. Nowitzki had 17 in the quarter.

Rondo drove for back-to-back baskets to put Boston on top, 58-48, early in the second half, but soon afterward he was called for a charge and went to the bench with his fourth foul. The Mavericks scored the game’s next 11 points to take a one-point lead.

Allen, back after missing Tuesday’s game with the flu, scored 22 points in the first half, half of his team’s total. Allen said neither his All-Star snub nor playing Dallas were his primary motivation.

“I look at the first half of the season and I feel like there’s so much more I could have done,” Allen said. “The second half, I just want to be better than the first half. I know how I’m capable of playing.”

Celtics legend Bill Russell watched from the front row, but looked out of place sitting right next to the Mavs’ bench. Other faces in the crowd included Jonathan Papelbon and Coco Crisp of the Red Sox.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/SPORTS/802010392/-1/SPORTS

AT THE GARDEN: Islander Allen more than a survivor
February 01, 2008 6:00 AM
BOSTON — On a night when the sellout crowd at TD Banknorth Garden had its DVRs set for the long-awaited season premiere of "Lost," it was the Celtics' Ray Allen who was on the island when it came to the announcement of the All-Star reserves before the game. With Paul Pierce now set to join Kevin Garnett and head coach Doc Rivers in New Orleans, that meant Allen was one of The Others.

"Every year, it seems like I am in this predicament, to sit back and see if I am chosen or not," Allen said. "I've always said any time I don't make it, you can make a case for other guys in the league that are having a good first half of the season."

His coach wasn't as diplomatic.

"I'm disappointed Ray didn't make the team," Rivers said following the announcement. "I thought he sacrificed the most. Coaches can see that, everyone can see that. He made sacrifices for our team, and he didn't get rewarded for it. That's too bad."

But the question entering the game wasn't as much if Allen still had his All-Star form, but rather how the Celtics could compete against one of the NBA's elite teams, especially sans KG. Sure, they'd amassed a nifty 35-8 record, but how many of those wins were against teams with a viable shot at a championship?

Well, you can only blame the schedule makers for waiting until the final hours of January to bring such an opponent to Boston. For the Celtics themselves, that question was already answered weeks ago. The rest of the NBA world was still waiting for proof.

With Garnett out indefinitely with an abdominal strain, the Celtics had to face a streaking Mavericks team down one-third of their big three. Dallas entered the game having won four straight games, and seven in a row against Boston.

Allen kicked off Thursday's game with a 15-point first quarter, including scoring five of the Celtics' first six field goals. After struggling to find his shot in the past few games, and sitting out Tuesday's win over Miami with a stomach bug, Allen rediscovered his jumper and connected on nine of 11 shots in the first half en route to 22 points. He finished with 26 overall, and must be in the conversation when it comes to replacements for injured players (including Garnett, who is rumored to possibly be on the shelf until after the break).

And Allen wasn't the only one to turn in an All-Star-caliber performance. Point guard Rajon Rondo, selected to play in the Rookie/Sophomore game at All-Star weekend, turned in a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four assists. And reserve forward Leon Powe, who at 6-foot-8 has thrived in the backup center role for better than a week now, had 10 points and four rebounds.

And, adding to that the tenacity of Kendrick Perkins and the outside shooting of James Posey (13 points), the Celtics don't just have three players capable of winning a championship. They have a championship-caliber team.

Just ask Bill Russell, the ultimate champion, who was in attendance at the Garden last night. Or Red Sox stars Jonathan Papelbon and Coco Crisp, seated at courtside.

Down the stretch, it was the play of Posey — who likely will never reach All-Star status himself, but who continuously makes the plays that would be worthy of the honor — that brought home the win.

After Rondo scored on a reverse lay-up on the put-back of his own missed shot to make it 92-90 with 17.7 to play, Posey grabbed the rebound off a Jason Terry miss and was fouled by Devean George. He hit both his free throws, and then stole the ball away on the Mavs' next possession, getting to the charity stripe again on a foul by Dirk Nowitzki. After nailing both free throws, the Celtics had a 96-90 win as time expired.

One down, two more to go.

If the Celtics can show they can compete with San Antonio (Feb. 10) and Phoenix (Feb. 22), then perhaps they'll finally be taken seriously among those skeptics who still question their viability.

That's not to say that the Mavericks whom the Celtics could potentially meet in June will look the same as the team they defeated Thursday night. The buzz around the Mavericks right now is the possibility of acquiring the Nets' Jason Kidd, who got his start in Dallas. The trade proposal is rumored to also involve Portland, with Dallas ending up with Kidd and giving up guard Devin Harris, forward Brandon Bass and veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse. Although Mavs coach Avery Johnson shot down those rumors at Thursday's pre-game shootaround, it's still out there.

Meanwhile, the Celtics' chances of acquiring veteran help at the point guard position are dwindling. It appears the recently-bought out Damon Stoudamire is headed to San Antonio, and another possibility, 5-5 Earl Boykins, signed with Charlotte.

The addition of Kidd to the Mavericks would make them an instant favorite, but if Allen and the supporting cast can have more games like Thursday night's and get back a healthy Big Ticket, the Celtics will remain right up there as well.

Even if they're not all recognized as among the league's best individual players, they're still the league's best team.

"I don't look down on my season, or the season anyone else on this team is having," Allen said.

But after a performance like the one he had, it's time to rescue Ray Allen from that island.