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The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.

Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Articles out of Boston

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  • #1

    Articles out of Boston

    http://www.boston.com/sports/article...adversity?pg=2


    Pacers fought way through adversity
    By Michael Vega, Globe Staff | April 23, 2005

    After their season began with a sobering shot to the chops, no one seemed to give the Indiana Pacers a chance to duplicate last year's 61-win season, or even a shot to return to the playoffs.

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    Especially not after their eyes had been blackened by L'Affaire Artest Nov. 19 in Detroit, where the Pacers duked their way out of the Palace of Auburn Hills after an ugly late-game brawl erupted when a Pistons fan deposited the contents of his beer cup onto Ron Artest's chest.

    From that inglorious moment, which resulted in suspensions of five Indiana players for a total of 123 games (Artest for the remainder of the season), the Pacers seemed beset with one obstacle after another. There was the manpower shortage, which was further exacerbated by injuries to key personnel, resulting in 29 different lineups. And, oh yes, there was the announcement in late January that Reggie Miller's 18th season would be his last.

    "I don't have any doubt that it injected some more urgency in our situation for this season, and to try and finish it up the right way, on the one hand," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. "On the other hand, it kind of added a certain kind of pressure, which turned out to be a good thing for us." Pressure?

    "Pressure on our team to do well, because it was going to be Reggie's last year," Carlisle said. "I think pressure is what you make of it and it's been a positive thing for us. We've faced a lot of different kinds of pressures this year and it's been one of the pluses that our team has been able to handle a lot of tough situations with dignity and character."

    The Pacers clinched the No. 6 seed by getting their 44th win in a hard-fought, 85-83, victory over the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse, where a sellout crowd of 18,000 turned out to honor its retiring 39-year-old guard.

    The NBA's enforcement staff must have winced when Miller described the Pacers as having "a puncher's chance" in their first-round series against the Celtics (45-37), winners of the Atlantic Division.

    "Obviously, we won't be at full strength, but who really cares?" Miller told reporters after Indiana's regular-season finale. "Everyone starts 0-0. Maybe we can get on another little hot streak like we were on two weeks ago [the Pacers won six of seven to start April]. We've got to find ways to win ballgames. It's going to be tough playing in Boston, but we know we can win there, obviously, if you go by the last two years."

    Ah, but this time around, Carlisle knows the Celtics aren't likely to be felled by a lucky punch. Continued...

    Carlisle says it will be a different Boston team the Pacers will encounter in their third consecutive first-round matchup. This time, however, there's no Artest. There's no Jamaal Tinsley (who is on the playoff roster but is unlikely to play). And there's barely a Jermaine O'Neal, who has played in a great deal of pain since returning to the starting lineup Monday from a sprained right shoulder.

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    Unlike last year, when No. 1-seeded Indiana swept Boston, 4-0, the Celtics will be the team with the higher seed (No. 3) and home-court advantage.

    "This is completely different," Carlisle said yesterday by phone from Indianapolis. "Our team is very different as well, because Tinsley and Artest are not here. Doc Rivers is now the coach and the situations are really somewhat reversed.

    "They are the team that's really had a great year from start to finish and they have home court. Last year, it was the other way around. We know it's a tough series. I think Boston is one of the top five most talented teams in the league, from top to bottom. They really score and they really play well together. It's going to be the ultimate team challenge to try and stay with them."

    The mere fact that Indiana is in the playoffs, for the 15th time in Miller's 18 seasons, is a testament to the club's fortitude.

    "I'm happy for the players and, more than anything, I'm really happy for our fans," Carlisle said. "They've really stuck with us through thick and thin. In the wake of Nov. 19, that following week there was a groundswell of support and Conseco Fieldhouse became a magical place for a week when we won three out of four games, which really set the tone for the remainder of the season. As difficult as that was from that point forward, the fans have never wavered.

    "As shocking as this may sound, we actually are averaging 500 more fans per game this year than we did last year when we won 61 games. I think that's a strong indication of the role our fan base has played in whatever success we've been able to have."

    Then there's the role Miller played. He is, as Carlisle described him, "a rock of consistency," and "a major force over the last six weeks for our team." But can he be counted on to carry the team on his well-worn legs one more time?

    "Reggie Miller is certainly important for us, but no one guy is going to win the series for the Indiana Pacers," Carlisle said. "It's going to take a true team effort just to hang with Boston. I see them as being that good. When you're shooting 47 percent from the field, and you've got five guys averaging 11 or more points a game, and you're averaging 102, you can put the ball in the basket.

    "And those teams are the hardest to play."

    © Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Articles out of Boston

    I love Doc's comments about AJ

    http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celt...rticleid=79851

    Pierce addresses Artest's absence
    By Mark Murphy/ Celtics Notebook
    Saturday, April 23, 2005 - Updated: 01:16 AM EST

    To say he misses Ron Artest would be pushing Paul Pierce [news]'s fondness for his nemesis a little too far.

    But the Celtics captain, who said earlier this season that he thought Artest got a raw deal with a season-long suspension for his part in a Nov. 23 brawl at Detroit, had actually come to enjoy their head-to-head battles over the last two years. Artest's absence from tonight's playoff opener between the Celtics and Indiana Pacers at the FleetCenter certainly means the atmosphere won't be the same for all involved.

    ``He brings a little more flavor to a series,'' Pierce said. ``I'm sad that he's not going to be there. He brought the best and the worst out in me.''

    When asked what he expects in terms of coverage from the Pacers in Game 1, Pierce just shrugged. Last year, without the options now at his disposal, Pierce generally drove into a brick wall.

    ``It was frustrating,'' Pierce said of the Celtics' four-game sweep at the hands of the Pacers. ``I remember going out there, and it was like they were saying, `We're not going to guard anyone but you, Paul.' It was like there was no one else on the court. They played good team defense. Indiana has always been a good defensive team.''

    That much isn't likely to change.

    ``It's tough to say how they'll do it,'' Pierce said. ``They'll probably start Stephen Jackson on me. (Pacers coach) Rick Carlisle comes up with a number of different defensive schemes, though it's probably nothing I haven't seen before.''

    Backup plan works

    You may not recognize the name, but pay attention to the Pacers' Anthony Johnson.

    Normally a backup at the point guard position, Johnson has been pressed into starting duty as the result of a debilitating foot bruise that has kept Jamaal Tinsley out of action.

    ``I coached Anthony Johnson,'' Doc Rivers said of a player he once had with the Orland Magic. ``If you go into a big series, you want him on your team. He's a foxhole kind of guy. The other night they're playing, and he just starts making these big shots. (Dennis Johnson) was like that - a guy who wouldn't make a shot for three quarters, and then just start making big shots.''


    vote for Carlisle

    No team even came close to the Pacers this season in terms of players lost to injuries and, of course, suspensions. Indiana lost 309 player games to injury and illness. Another 126 games were lost to suspensions.

    Little wonder that many - Rivers included - believe that Carlisle deserves a serious bid at his second coach of the year award.

    ``Oh, he's a better coach, a terrific coach,'' Rivers said of any comparison between him and Carlisle. ``It would be tough for me not to vote for him this year.

    ``I don't know of anyone who had more obstacles thrown in the way than them this season. They're a heck of a team.''

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    • #3
      Re: Articles out of Boston

      http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...ts_tall_order/

      Tall order for rookie
      Celtics' Allen matched up with Miller
      By Shira Springer, Globe Staff | April 23, 2005

      WALTHAM -- The door to the Celtics' doghouse swung wide open shortly after the team clinched the Atlantic Division title and home-court advantage, said Tony Allen.

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      After being banished to the bench for inconsistent play late in the regular season, the rookie shooting guard is back in the starting lineup for the playoffs. Not only that, coach Doc Rivers has entrusted him to help guard Reggie Miller.

      The Celtics hope Allen can use his energy, athleticism, and toughness to contain Miller, who almost single-handedly led the Pacers to the playoffs by averaging 19.1 points per game during March and 17.4 in April.

      To make sure Allen keeps his priorities straight (i.e. defense, defense, defense), his teammates shouted "Reggie Miller" every time the rookie was scored on in practice. That was in addition to the constructive criticism from the coaching staff and veterans.

      According to Rivers, Allen "improved hourly" during the two days of practice between the regular-season finale and tonight's Game 1.

      Suffice it to say, Allen has heard it all and then some. As a result, no Boston player seemed more eager for the start of the postseason -- and the end of all the pre-Game 1 talk -- than Allen.

      "The coaches and them have been on me, so right now, it's just buckling down and getting more focused," said Allen. "I'm going to just stay on [Miller], be like a pest on him. I've been watching the acting that he does a lot. I know he likes to flop a lot. You've got to be ready for all the little veteran tricks. [My teammates] have just said, `Try to stay out of foul trouble. Contain him. Contest all shots. Don't leave him open. Know where he is at all times on the court.'

      "It sounds easy, but I know it's a big task for me and I'm ready to step up to the challenge. I'm ready to go in and make a name for myself, but most importantly help my team do whatever we can do."

      Allen admitted carelessness on defense put him in the doghouse, and he knows he cannot lose focus on the defensive end in the postseason.

      And the Celtics know they cannot expect to average 101.3 points per game as they did during the regular season (46.8 percent for field goals). They recognize the maxim that defense wins championships.

      "[Our offense] is going to have to change," said Gary Payton. "We can't throw up 100-something on their squad. I don't want to have that every night. That's going to beat us down.

      "So, what we're going to do is try to play defense. If we can keep them in the 80s, we'll be fine."
      a veteran of 12 playoff runs over his 15-year career, Payton knows what the Celtics must do to defeat the Pacers. With that in mind, Rivers plans to use Payton to guard Miller, complementing the efforts of Allen and Ricky Davis. Payton has a big enough name that Rivers believes the referees won't call cheap fouls on the veteran point guard in a matchup with Miller.



      The trio should have their hands full, though Rivers cautioned that his team cannot forget about the "Stephen Jackson problem." The shooting guard was forced into duty as a small forward with the season-long suspension of Ron Artest.

      During the 22 games Jermaine O'Neal missed with a sprained right shoulder, Miller or Jackson led Indiana in scoring in all but one game.

      O'Neal can also expect to see multiple Boston defenders. The power forward returned to the Pacers' lineup with three games left in the regular season, so expect him to shake off the last bit of rust and gain momentum as the first round progresses.

      Rivers preferred not to contemplate a Game 7 with a fully reintegrated O'Neal on the floor. Until then, the Celtics will use a mix of big men, including Antoine Walker, Raef LaFrentz, Kendrick Perkins, Al Jefferson, and Mark Blount, to try to contain O'Neal.

      "[O'Neal] is one of those rare bigs who is athletic enough to go around you, but has enough size to shoot over you," said Rivers. "He has great post moves and he's also good off the post. So, he's a tough matchup.

      "The key for us with Jermaine is to fight him for every inch of position on the floor. The one thing we saw that was a constant last year in the playoffs and the two games he played against us [this season] was we allowed him to post where he wanted to post. The second thing is I think we have to change coverage. I don't think we can guard him the same way, force him one way, double-team him some, put different guys on him. He's too good to guard one way."

      Above all, Rivers wants the Celtics to stay patient on defense, to recognize the Pacers will run their offense, move the ball, and use a lot of the shot clock. Rivers said it was vital for the Celtics to remain alert for the entirety of the Pacers' possessions. Patience is also a key on offense, as Rivers expects Indiana to take away Boston's first and possibly second options.

      "We have to fight what we were in the past this entire series," said Rivers. "We have to stay with what we've done well."

      Otherwise, the door to the Celtics' doghouse may swing wide open again and it could get quite crowded.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Articles out of Boston

        http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celt...rticleid=79852

        Celtics on guard for Reggie & Co.: Rookie Allen eager to hound Pacers vet
        By Mark Murphy
        Saturday, April 23, 2005 - Updated: 09:43 AM EST

        Tony Allen literally bounced off the practice floor yesterday, higher than even Tigger could fathom, with visions of Reggie Miller jump shots in his hyperactive imagination.

        ``I was a Reggie Miller fan growing up,'' the brimming Celtics rookie said. ``I always wanted his jump shot. Now I have to defend it.''

        Allen, after reams of videotape and talk from his elders, has also been warned - ad nauseum, probably - about the legendary shooter's tricks.

        Perhaps the most notorious was playing on the Celtics' locker room wide-screen TV during the Pacers' season-ending win over Miami Wednesday night. Miller, covered by Damon Jones, went up for a 3-pointer and sent his famous can-can kick into the Heat guard's mid-section. Jones, naturally, got called for the foul.



        ``He's like an actor - he likes to flop,'' Allen said of what he's learned. ``I have to be aware of all those veteran tricks and stay out of foul trouble. I just have to stay on him - be like a pest on him.''

        Now that Miller has embarked on his retirement tour, those whistles aren't going to fade. When the Celtics open Game 1 of their first-round series against the Pacers tonight at the FleetCenter and Allen starts in his first-ever playoff game, the rookie's handlers will be looking for early signs of Miller mischief.

        Doc Rivers knows from first-hand experience. Miller, at 39, is old enough to have actually polished his act against the Celtics coach.

        ``Not so much anymore, but back in the day he'd get to you just because he was never quiet,'' Rivers said. ``He used to yap the whole freaking game. But the big thing about him was the kicking - just like you saw in the Miami game the other night. And they called it. But you have to give it to him. He's good.''

        So was Rivers, again back in the day.

        ``It was known on (1-on-2's) that I would flop, but the thing was that I would still get the call,'' he said. ``But the difference with (Miller) is that he's one of the few guys out there who can do this on offense. Most floppers will do it on defense - but Reggie's great at it with the ball. You'll see it (tonight). Someone will barely touch him and he'll fall like he's been shot. [continue]

        That's why it's going to be a real challenge for someone like Tony to stay focused on him and try not to fall for anything. If we end up in a final possession and they have the ball, that's why Gary (Payton) would be the one to guard him, because they would call something in that situation.''

        Pitted against Miller's renowned craftiness, however, Allen's excitable nature isn't necessarily an undesirable or vulnerable quality.

        ``I'd rather for him to bounce,'' Rivers said. ``Tony is so wild, you want him to be wild out there. I don't want Tony to go out there and think his way through a game.

        ``Tony has already been on a big stage - he played great in the Final Four last year, and that gives me confidence about what he can do now,'' he added. ``Tony will guard Reggie a lot - a scary thought. Reggie is just so damned crafty, and because of that Ricky (Davis) will take him, too. But all of our vets have been getting on Tony all week, getting him ready.''

        In preparation the last two days, the other Celtics shouted ``Reggie Miller'' every time Allen's assignment - be it Davis or Paul Pierce [news] - scored.

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