Ray Allen

By Christopher L. Gasper, Boston Globe columnist Whenever the best-point-guards-in-the-NBA debate -- a polarizing topic that raises voices at barbershops, office cubicles and places of bibulousness while turning the closest of friends into intellectual combatants -- is conducted, the strongest point made against Rajon Rondo in comparison to his peers is his lack of consistent points. Rondo's contemporaries like Chris Paul (the man he was nearly traded for), Deron Williams, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker not only have to deliver the ball, but deliver points on a...

There is no reason for the Celtics to be embarrassed about their current state. Plenty of championship-caliber teams - if that's what they are - struggle with lower seeds during playoff runs. Saturday's Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers will serve as an opportunity for those on the roster who have faltered so far to make amends, and for the Celtics to rid themselves of an opponent that eventually will be an Eastern Conference power if things progress as expected. This series is a classic case of old versus young, where the young takes chunks out of the old's psyche and pride,...

WALTHAM - The routine is paramount. People don't understand that. They see Ray Allen, his head meticulously shaved, his jersey tucked carefully into his shorts, his socks pulled up to precisely the same length, and they are drawn to his silky jumper. Can you blame them? It is so smooth, so fluid, so seemingly effortless. Everyone wishes they could shoot like Ray. They tell him that all the time. They are envious, they say, of his God-given talent. "An insult," says Allen. "God could care less whether I can shoot a jump shot.

There is no reason for the Celtics to be embarrassed about their current state. Plenty of championship-caliber teams - if that's what they are - struggle with lower seeds during playoff runs. Saturday's Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers will serve as an opportunity for those on the roster who have faltered so far to make amends, and for the Celtics to rid themselves of an opponent that eventually will be an Eastern Conference power if things progress as expected. This series is a classic case of old versus young, where the young takes chunks out of the old's psyche and pride, exposes the old's warts,...

He cannot remember what was in the contest jar - balls or jellybeans or other objects - but Celtics guard Ray Allen clearly recalls the prize he received as a first-grader at his Oklahoma elementary school. "I won three books," Allen said with a smile. "I remember I felt so proud that I won those three books, those books were mine. " Allen traces his love of reading to that moment, and it continues today, as he uses the pleasures of a good book to ease the boredom of long road trips or soothe a particularly bad loss.

PHILADELPHIA - Ray Allen led the Celtics in scoring 12 times in the first 45 games of the season. Ankle injuries have slowed Allen since, but he was resilient in Boston's 82-81 loss to the 76ers Monday night. Allen scored 17 points, the first time he has led the team since March 19. Allen should not be expected to be at full strength, but this performance had to be encouraging as the Celtics prepare for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Wednesday night. In Game 2, Allen displayed confidence in his shot and durability.

PHILADELPHIA - No, Rick Pitino, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish didn't come walking through that door here Wednesday night to lead the Celtics to a critical victory. But Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and even Paul Pierce sure did. As a result the men in green toyed with the upstart 76ers, spotting them an early 7-point lead before turning it on. A devastating stretch in which the Celtics hit 22 of 30 shots turned Game 3 of this series into a 107-91 rout in which they led by as much as 27 points.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff The Celtics won Game 5 against Philadelphia convincingly Monday night, grabbing hold of the series at a crucial pivot point. It's their series to win Wednesday in Philadelphia, or allowing for a blip, Saturday at home in Game 7. There was a jovial mood around TD Garden Monday night. Brandon Bass set a career playoff-high with 27 points, and fans got to see Bass flash his shy smile on the podium in the postgame press conference.

WALTHAM - There was a reason for the Celtics' defensive struggles in the second half of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night. Coach Doc Rivers stuck with his small lineup down the stretch, hoping to boost the offense. The result was an offensive boon for the 76ers, especially forward Andre Iguodala, who scored 8 points in the final 3:11 of the Philadelphia win. Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Avery Bradley, and Rajon Rondo could do little to stop Philadelphia in the fourth quarter.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff Ray Allen, who has missed the past three games with a sprained right ankle, participated in shootaround this morning in Waltham and is a game-time decision for tonight's game against the Utah Jazz. Allen's return would allow Avery Bradley to return to the bench. Allen began experiencing soreness before Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the latest of his ankle issues. He tweaked the ankle in the March 12 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and also missed three previous games this season with ankle discomfort.

PHILADELPHIA - Celtics coach Doc Rivers is fond of calling the NBA a "make-miss league. " But the Celtics and 76ers turned it into a "miss-miss" playoff game Wednesday night, the Sixers heating up enough in the final quarter to take an 82-75 victory. The Celtics shot 33.3 percent from the field, somehow staying in contention until the final minutes, in setting up Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden on Saturday. "We didn't have it," Rivers said. "They played with a lot of energy and a lot of energy from the building.

PHILADELPHIA - The Celtics are not expecting to have Avery Bradley for the rest of the playoffs because of a left shoulder injury, a source close to the shooting guard said Wednesday. Asked for a percentage about Bradley having played his final game this season, the source said in the "high 90s. " The source said it's "highly likely" Bradley's left shoulder would pop out again - it has popped out twice in the series against the 76ers - and playing would put him at risk of "serious structural damage.

PHILADELPHIA - Celtics coach Doc Rivers is fond of calling the NBA a "make-miss league. " But the Celtics and 76ers turned it into a "miss-miss" playoff game Wednesday night, the Sixers heating up enough in the final quarter to take an 82-75 victory. The Celtics shot 33.3 percent from the field, somehow staying in contention until the final minutes, in setting up Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden on Saturday. "We didn't have it," Rivers said. "They played with a lot of energy and a lot of energy from the building.

PHILADELPHIA - The Celtics are not expecting to have Avery Bradley for the rest of the playoffs because of a left shoulder injury, a source close to the shooting guard said Wednesday. Asked for a percentage about Bradley having played his final game this season, the source said in the "high 90s. " The source said it's "highly likely" Bradley's left shoulder would pop out again - it has popped out twice in the series against the 76ers - and playing would put him at risk of "serious structural damage.

PHILADELPHIA - Before this Eastern Conference semifinal series started, 76ers coach Doug Collins described the Celtics as one of the league's best third-quarter teams. The Celtics have confirmed that reputation in three of the five games. In their three victories, they have outscored the Sixers, 82-57, in the third quarter. In the Celtics' defeats, they have lost the third-quarter battle, 49-28. The playoffs are all about moves and countermoves. And third quarters have been all about adjustments.

Celtics guard Avery Bradley is officially out for tonight's game with a shoulder injury, according to coach Doc Rivers. Rivers said he could not offer further details about how long Bradley might be out. "I think we're going to just keep saying day to day, but I really don't know," said Rivers. "It's a hard injury anyway with the shoulder involved. " Rivers said guard Ray Allen is good to go, but he cautioned against expecting a speedy recovery for either player. "Ray and Avery, they're just not going to get better," said Rivers.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Celtics guard Avery Bradley was present at the team's shootaround this morning in Waltham, but it was unclear if Bradley shot around or stood around as his team prepared for Game 5. Bradley is a game-time decision tonight, and he's been day-to-day for some time now. This is something that isn't going to go away as long as the Celtics are alive this postseason. We're back in Boston for Game 5, but Celtics fans probably didn't expect the series to be tied after a blowout win in Game 3 and a great start for the Celtics in Game 4. The Sixers have played two to three...

Guard Ray Allen participated in the Celtics' shootaround Friday and was expected to be available to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Allen, recovering from an ankle injury, would return to the starting lineup, according to coach Doc Rivers. Allen has missed four successive games.

PHILADELPHIA - Celtics guard Avery Bradley traveled with the team in preparation for Game 6, but his status for Wednesday night's contest has not been determined. Bradley, who has been dealing with a left shoulder injury, missed the Celtics' 101-85 win over the Sixers in Game 5 Monday night at TD Garden. Ray Allen regained his starting spot in place of Bradley. "He's an extraordinary defensive player," Allen said of Bradley, "but I just tried to stay in my lane and do what I'm capable of and be a part of the defensive unit.