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Hall of fame assignment for rookie
By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
April 22, 2005
AP - Apr 22, 2:55 pm EDT
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WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Lest Boston Celtics rookie Tony Allen forget the magnitude of his assignment in his first NBA playoff game, his teammates are happy to remind him: Every time the man he is guarding in practice scores a basket, they all yell: ``Reggie Miller.''
``I just want him to understand who he's playing against,'' forward Paul Pierce said Friday as the Celtics prepared for the first-round series against Miller's Indiana Pacers. ``He's playing against one of the deadliest shooters in the NBA -- if not the deadliest shooter; one of the most clutch players ever to play the game. If Reggie Miller gets it going, it's going to be a long series.''
They made their point.
``I've had a pep talk all day from the coaches and the players,'' Allen said. ``They say, 'It's the playoffs. You've got to be ready. You can't make those mistakes.'''
Allen is one of four rookies on the Celtics roster; two others are in their second year. But he is the only one of the youngsters who will start on Saturday and the only one responsible for keeping Miller's NBA swan song from turning into an extended dance mix.
``I always wanted his jump shot. Now I get to defend him,'' Allen said. ``He's a good player. I'm ready to defend him. I couldn't be more excited.''
It showed.
Allen seemed to be bouncing out of his shoes when he spoke, dripping with sweat, to reporters the day before the game. Asked if he thought the rookie might need to settle down for the game, coach Doc Rivers said, ``I'd rather have him bounce.''
``You want him to be wild. I don't like it when he tries to think his way through the game,'' Rivers said. ``He's not going to outthink Reggie -- we know that going in. But he can be a better athlete.''
Allen was the 25th overall pick in last year's draft after leading Oklahoma State to the Final Four and earning honors as the Big 12 player of the year. He started 34 games this year, averaging 6.4 points in 16.4 minutes while frequently giving way to sixth man Ricky Davis.
But Rivers has decided to start Allen for now and put him on Miller, who will retire this year with more than 25,000 points, and only a mandatory waiting period keeping him from induction in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Celtics coach, whose career overlapped nine years with Miller's, knows it's not an easy assignment.
``Reggie's just so darn crafty. That's why Ricky will be on Reggie a lot, too,'' Rivers said. ``He can irritate you, too. Back in our day, he used to just yap the whole game.''
Rivers has already warned Allen to watch out for Miller's talent -- some say trick -- for drawing fouls. On Friday, the coach came right out and asked reporters to write about it in the hopes that the game's referees would be on notice, too.
``You can write that we're worried about Reggie kicking, if you don't mind. So the refs can read it,'' Rivers said. ``Someone's going to touch Reggie and he'll act like someone shot him. He knows all the tricks. Please write that.''
So if the game comes down to a final possession, Rivers will cover Miller with Gary Payton because the officials are less likely to call a foul on him. It would be a matchup of status as much as skills.
``The one thing I've said repeatedly this year with respect to Reggie Miller is never underestimate greatness, especially in a playoff series, and I would say the same thing about Gary Payton,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``He's a guy that has a lot to draw from in terms of experience and in terms of doing great things in big-time situations. He's one of the reasons that they have done extraordinary well this year.''
Updated on Friday
Hall of fame assignment for rookie
By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer
April 22, 2005
AP - Apr 22, 2:55 pm EDT
More Photos
WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Lest Boston Celtics rookie Tony Allen forget the magnitude of his assignment in his first NBA playoff game, his teammates are happy to remind him: Every time the man he is guarding in practice scores a basket, they all yell: ``Reggie Miller.''
``I just want him to understand who he's playing against,'' forward Paul Pierce said Friday as the Celtics prepared for the first-round series against Miller's Indiana Pacers. ``He's playing against one of the deadliest shooters in the NBA -- if not the deadliest shooter; one of the most clutch players ever to play the game. If Reggie Miller gets it going, it's going to be a long series.''
They made their point.
``I've had a pep talk all day from the coaches and the players,'' Allen said. ``They say, 'It's the playoffs. You've got to be ready. You can't make those mistakes.'''
Allen is one of four rookies on the Celtics roster; two others are in their second year. But he is the only one of the youngsters who will start on Saturday and the only one responsible for keeping Miller's NBA swan song from turning into an extended dance mix.
``I always wanted his jump shot. Now I get to defend him,'' Allen said. ``He's a good player. I'm ready to defend him. I couldn't be more excited.''
It showed.
Allen seemed to be bouncing out of his shoes when he spoke, dripping with sweat, to reporters the day before the game. Asked if he thought the rookie might need to settle down for the game, coach Doc Rivers said, ``I'd rather have him bounce.''
``You want him to be wild. I don't like it when he tries to think his way through the game,'' Rivers said. ``He's not going to outthink Reggie -- we know that going in. But he can be a better athlete.''
Allen was the 25th overall pick in last year's draft after leading Oklahoma State to the Final Four and earning honors as the Big 12 player of the year. He started 34 games this year, averaging 6.4 points in 16.4 minutes while frequently giving way to sixth man Ricky Davis.
But Rivers has decided to start Allen for now and put him on Miller, who will retire this year with more than 25,000 points, and only a mandatory waiting period keeping him from induction in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The Celtics coach, whose career overlapped nine years with Miller's, knows it's not an easy assignment.
``Reggie's just so darn crafty. That's why Ricky will be on Reggie a lot, too,'' Rivers said. ``He can irritate you, too. Back in our day, he used to just yap the whole game.''
Rivers has already warned Allen to watch out for Miller's talent -- some say trick -- for drawing fouls. On Friday, the coach came right out and asked reporters to write about it in the hopes that the game's referees would be on notice, too.
``You can write that we're worried about Reggie kicking, if you don't mind. So the refs can read it,'' Rivers said. ``Someone's going to touch Reggie and he'll act like someone shot him. He knows all the tricks. Please write that.''
So if the game comes down to a final possession, Rivers will cover Miller with Gary Payton because the officials are less likely to call a foul on him. It would be a matchup of status as much as skills.
``The one thing I've said repeatedly this year with respect to Reggie Miller is never underestimate greatness, especially in a playoff series, and I would say the same thing about Gary Payton,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``He's a guy that has a lot to draw from in terms of experience and in terms of doing great things in big-time situations. He's one of the reasons that they have done extraordinary well this year.''
Updated on Friday
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