Thursday, March 20, 2008

Ray Allen looking good for tonight

The chances of Ray Allen playing tonight are 75 percent in the estimation of Celtics coach Doc Rivers. The sharpshooter was participating in today’s shootaround at American Airlines Center.

Rivers and Allen both stressed that he won’t go unless he’s fully recovered. Allen has missed the last three games with a jammed left ankle.

“I’m not going to play a guy unless he’s 100 percent,” Rivers said.

Allen said: “There’s no rush. You don’t have to rush.”

The NBA-leading Celtics have done pretty well without Allen, winning in San Antonio and Houston this week. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce aren’t the only ones making up the difference.

“You have to pick up the slack when one of your guys is down,” Allen said. “Nobody is trying to do too much.”

Role players such as centers Leon Powe and Glen “Big Baby” Davis, guard Eddie House and forward James Posey have stepped up. Boston recently added veterans P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell, who’s already showed off his big, um, shot-making ability with that late 3-pointer to beat the Spurs.

“We’re just a bunch of guys trying to do the smart thing, play together and play hard every night,” Rivers said.

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