Ray flippin' Allen

Did anyone like the J.J. Barea-Ray Allen match-up from last night?

Ray flippin' Allen.

Maybe the Dallas Mavericks should sit down and just come up with a game plan to slow down, stop, kidnap or poison Allen.

He's killed the Mavs no matter where he's gone, even on bad Bucks and Sonics teams where he'd go for 40 while his teammates combined for 30.

Thursday night was no different. Sure, Paul Pierce was good late. Rajon Rondo was good. But Allen just plagued them all night inside and out. Frankly, a guy that skinny going to the hoop is disgraceful.

Nonetheless, it was a 96-90 loss with the Mavs throwing out their D game (passionless, to say the least) without Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse and an inability to keep their big guys on the court. The Celts are trouble, but their by no means head over heels better than anyone.

Thoughts:

1. I hate the small-ball line-up for the Mavs. Hate it. It would behoove all Mavs' opponents to go small just to see what happens.

2. Leon Powe should worry Celt opponents more than anyone. You know what you get from Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Allen. But Powe playing well makes them a diffrerent team. He sure loves him a pump-fake to jump on, though.

3. Give Dirk a little credit. His shot didn't go early so he got to the line and kept the Mavs within whistling distance all night.

4. Has DeSagana Diop gotten a big rebound all year?

5. The Mavs "won" the rebound battle, but it didn't seem they could get the big stopper rebound at the end. For about the fourth quarter, in fact.

6. Is it me or does Nowitzki seem so-so on defense the entire game, but in a tight one in the fourth quarter, he's good for a block? Or two?

7. Then there was Nowitzki's in ability to keep a rebound from 5-1 Rajon Rondo.

8. So, will Rondo's playground moves stick in the NBA? If so, why don't more players do them? The pass fake forced Dirk to foul him in the fourth.

9. No matter if you're anti-Jason Kidd trade or not, there are definite doubts about this Mavs team.

10. If Brian Scalabrine is it behind Kevin Garnett, the Celts are screwed.