Celtics Prefer Busy Schedule to Piston's Rest

Celtics to Battle for the East Tonight. That overtime work Monday showed that, like his Celtics teammates, he had plenty of energy left after two intense seven-game series. And the usually smooth shooter was regaining his rhythm.

Whether the Pistons still have theirs after a six-day layoff will become evident in Tuesday night's opener of the Eastern Conference finals.

"I would rather have the rhythm'' of regular competition than extra rest, Allen said, "because (with) the rhythm you don't have to guess from one day to the next'' how you'll play.