The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 45

The Boston Globe E5 West clearec Cristman, Riley will get a look to face TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007 Bull By Shira Springer GLOBE STAFF finite jd iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Bulls thumbnails When, where: Tonight, 8:30, at the United Center, Chi- cago. TV, radio: FSN, WRKO (680). Records: Boston is 18-44 (last in the Eastern Conference), Chicago is 37-28 (third in the Eastern Confer- ence). Scoring: Ben Gordon 2 1.5, Luol Deng 18.7, Kirk Hinrich 16.1. Rebounding: Ben Wallace 10.4, Deng 7.1, P.J.

Brown 4.8. Assists: Hinrich 6.1, Chris Duhon 4.3, Gordon 3.6. Head to head: This is the third and final meeting. Chicago won the first two, including a 94-78 decision at the TD Banknorth Garden Sunday. Miscellany: Paul Pierce had a season-low 2-for-14 shooting performance Sunday against the Bulls (8 points) Deng has shut down Pierce this season, holding him to 8 points each time, while averaging 15.5 himself The Bulls have won five out of their last six, the only blemish a blowout loss to the defending champion Heat.

ilnm nn lir" I haal Delonte West, who suffered a mild concussion a week ago against Houston, says the headaches and dizziness are gone. Riley has performed alongside Parkhurst, who has set standards -at the center back position, since they were at Wake Forest. Daniel Hernandez replaced an injured Parkhurst as the Revolu- 1 tion switched to a 4-4-2 for preseason games last year. Hernandez (groin) is out and Nicol, rather than move outside backs Jay Heaps or Avery John to the central positions, is staying with the three-back alignment, indicating he has confidence in the back line and also in the Revolution's abundance of midfielders. The Revolution lost Jose Can- cela (Toronto FC) in the expansion draft and Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC) to an MLS-record $4 million transfer, but replacements Bryan Byrne, Ryan SoUe, and Thompson have been impressive.

"The biggest thing I can say about them is we would have no problems in playing them, put it that way," Nicol said. "At the present time, we are not saying, This guy has to be "But if we do get a couple injuries and some of them have to play, we won't be overly worried. The only thing they lack is experience, and the only way you get experience is by playing. If they play, it's going to benefit them, and it's going to benefit us, in the long run." Last year, Jfoonan sustained a series of injuries while performing for the US national team, costing him a trip to the World Cup and also limiting his effectiveness in the regular season. Noonan recovered and performed well in the playoffs but again was injured during US training camp in January.

Parkhurst played every minute of every game in 2005, missed the opening two games of '06, but returned to play every minute of 36 successive games, including cup and playoff matches. "We don't really know exactly the extent of the injuries," Nicol said of Noonan and Parkhurst. "But they are problems that can be solved. It's not a situation of these being long-term; we are pretty confident they will be sorted out pretty soon. But they are two important players for us and we would rather have them playing and at 100 percent." By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF Revolution coach Steve Nicol is shifting into an improvisational gear as the team prepares for preseason matches in Mexico this week.

Forward Pat Noonan (groin) and defender Michael Parkhurst (separated shoulder) are returning to Boston for treatment and will be replaced in the lineup by first-year professional Adam Cristman and James Riley. Cristman has been among the training camp surprises, arriving after leading the US Olympic team, in scoring during matches in Japan last month. Cristman's presence near the goal and his scoring instincts have impressed Nicol, who has frequently hit the jackpot in the MLS draft. Asked why he thought Cristman, a Washington, D.C., native who played at the University of Virginia, was available in the fourth round of this year's draft, Nicol said, "I have no idea. He's certainly better than we thought.

He's done great in training. We've had a couple 11-versus-ll games and he's scored goals. He works his socks off and he's done well." First-round picks Wells Thompson, a left-side midfielder, and Amaeche Igwe, a right back, also figure into the Revolution plans this season. But barring injuries to veterans, none of the rookies is likely to be a starter when the Revolution open the season at Chicago April Riley has been a Revolution regular for two seasons as an outside back and midfielder, but will be making his central defense debut in a 3-5-2 formation against AC Inter Playa del Carmen in an exhibition game tonight. "We could go to a 4-4-2 but we prefer not to," Nico! said.

"We'll see how Jimmy does and, if all goes well, great. "This is the time of year when there is not a great deal at stake and we can find out some things. He's played center back for us in a four-back lineup, so he is not in unfamiliar territory. The two seasons he's been here he's grown and matured. He has had a great preseason, he looks strong, quick, his passing has been good and he's on top of his game.

"Obviously, we are confident he can do the job." WALTHAM -While the Celtics' defensive scheme will remain largely the same in a rematch against the Chicago Bulls tonight at the CELTICS NOTEBOOK United Center, they will have one more offensive weapon with the return of Delonte West. The team medical staff said West could compete tonight almost a week after suffering a mild concussion from a Dikembe Mutombo elbow in a game against the Houston Rockets. West, who spent 20 minutes shooting around with assistant coaches after practice) said, "I didn't miss any significant time, so I should be ready to go and get back to it. I felt 100 percent. I did have two games off, so I might be slow to get into the flow of things, but you can never be slow effort-wise." Asked whether West would be in the starting lineup tonight, coach Doc Rivers said it was a wait-and-see proposition.

"Either way, I'm just happy to get back to it," said West. "I'm happy the symptoms headaches and dizziness are gone." In other injury news, Ryan Gomes (left foot sprain) will not return this week. He will be reevaluated Friday, but it seems unlikely Gomes will make the trip to the Southwest a back-to-back set at Dallas and San Antonio Friday and Saturday before a game at Oklahoma City next Tuesday. Asked if Gomes would be back next week, Rivers said, "At the earliest." Defense will rest Reviewing tape of the 94-78 loss to the Bulls Sunday only reinforced Rivers's decision to stay with the same basic defensive game plan. "We're making adjustments to it, but we're not changing," said Rivers.

"They only scored 94 points, but their percentage was high 51.4. We did slow the game down, but they scored a lot with the shot clock at 6, 4, 5, but they still scored. We've got to bring the percentages down. If they can score 94 again and shoot a low percentage, I 4 thing. I miss being coached.

I miss all of the things that come with being an NBA basketball player. I just want to focus on getting back." Family section Danny Ainge returned to Boston after yet another college scouting trip, though this one received more attention than usual because over the weekend the Celtics executive director of basketball operations found himself watching Texas star and possible top draft pick Kevin Durant play while sitting next to Durant's mother, Wanda Pratt. "I had no idea," said Ainge, who figured it JIM DAVISFILEGLOBE STAFF out when a sideline reporter approached Pratt for an interview. "It was a total coincidence. It was kind of funny.

It's not unusual. I've found myself sitting next to relatives of players before, but that was obviously more visible." Ainge will travel to Lexington, for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and no doubt will keep a close eye on Ohio State star Greg Oden. And which player's mother will be sitting next to him this time? Not Oden's, but Austin Ainge's. In a coincidence, Brigham Young will face Xavier in the regional. Ainge's son is a senior guard for the Cougars.

Pts. Pel Avg. .793 24.7 .690 15J .897 15.0 .811 12.1 .857 11.6 .784 11.5 .824 9.6 Ret. Art. Avg.

Avg. Sit 37 31 18 35 58 49 28 32 81 9 21 15 M. 11 82 3 10 24 12 20 9 6 0 16 72 18 3 11 297 339 b.i 4.1 11.2 3.1 5.8 3.0 3.8 2.5 1.4 32 12 1.9 4.3 2.8 3.5 1.2 1.7 1.7 4.6 1.7 1.0 3.1 3.2 OS 1.0 12 0.1 0.0 0.2 .833 .612 .676 .783 .521 .678 .750 .667 2.0 .764 96.6 .747 1004 40.6 20.0 414 224 431 467 IIIIJMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllillllllllllllltlMMIilltllllllllllllllllllKllllllllllllMlllllltlltlllllflll think that means we get more shots and quicker shots at the basket." Tony Allen made a welcome appearance yesterday, walking around the court in jeans and a T-shirt as teammates practiced free throws. The guard, who underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn left ACL in January, walked without a limp, having shed the brace he wore for several weeks. Allen expects to be back doing basketball-related activity (catching and shooting) in two months.

"I've been working hard with the training staff," said Allen. "I just started a two-week program where I'm lifting for my upper body. Every time I get a chance to hang with the guys, whether it's in the weight room or to come here and hang with them after practice, I enjoy it I just miss the whole traveling Celtics statistics Avg. Mm. FG M-A 295-681 338-675 161-388 274-562 225-526 133-259 210-495 149-384 115-296 46-122 75-183 84-174 38-79 1-3 15-39 2159-4866 2264-4853 Pet .433 .501 .415 .488 .428 .514 .424 J88 J89 J77 .410 .483 .481 J33 .385 Szczerbiak 28.1 Gomes 31.7 West 30.5 Allen J4.4 Green 20.4 Telfair Hondo 19.7 Ray 11.1 Scalabrine 18.9 Perkins 20.1 Powe ,22.0 Olowokandi .9.7 TEAM242.0 OW 2424 260-328 160-232 113-126 154-190 126-147 105-134 89-108 80-96 79-129 23-34 18-23 38-73 59-87 3-4 2-3 1309-1714 1358-1819 Knicks' boss isn't doubting Thomas Thomas said he was told about it Sunday night.

Neither he nor Dolan provided any contract details, other than that Thomas would keep both jobs. "I feel good that the uncertainty about my professional situation is cleared up," Thomas said after practice. "But again, the most important thing is that we keep our team moving forward and we stay focused and continue to try to get into the playoffs." Thomas added the coaching duties to his other role in June after Dolan fired Larry Brown following one season. But along with the job came the ultimatum, though Dolan never publicly said what the Knicks needed to do this season to demonstrate the "significant" and "evident" progress he sought. Turns out wins and losses weren't the most important thing.

"The players getting better, the hard work, the heart that they showed, counted to me more than the won-loss record," Dolan said. "We wouldn't be sitting here today if we had the same record but the team did not show that it had the heart." By Brian Mahoney ASSOCIATED PRESS GREENBURGH, N.Y. Isiah Thomas delivered "evident progress" sooner than needed. Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan planned to wait all season before deciding on Thomas's future with the Knicks. But when New York fought through a few recent injuries to move into playoff position, Dolan concluded he no longer needed to wait.

So have gave Thomas a multiyear contract extension yesterday, nine months after he warned the Knicks coach and team president that the team needed to show improvement this season or he'd be out of a job. "My thinking was that it was going to go the whole season," Dolan said. "But in the last few weeks I've just become absolutely convinced and I think they've shown, they've done what we asked them to do. And I felt mat now is the time to do it." The announcement comes with the Knicks having climbed into eighth place in the East-em Conference. Dolan said he reached his de-; cision sometime in the last 10 days, and 5W 1 3 pi? MARY ALTAFFERASSOCIATED PRESS Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has a multiyear contract extension.

received Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at fdettapagbbe.com. v4 FILEJIM DAVISGLOBE STAFF Advertise and see how The Globe's Classifieds will work for you. 617 9291500 die Boston dMobe The Piilse of Boston A.N, Washington is latest receiver to sign on HIIIIIIIIIMIIIMIMIIIIillUHItlllllllltllllllllMtlllMlllllllltlMflllllllllllirHIIIIIIMIflMIIIII Kelley Washington's statistics James Riley (left) will try to rise to the challenge in his debut as a Revolution central defender in a 3-5-2 formation. Pec Yds. Avg.

La, TD 2003 Cincinnati 16 22 299 13.6 51 4 2004 Cincinnati 16 31 378 122 28 3 2005 Cincinnati 7 10 101 10.1 18 1 2006 Cincinnati 5 9 115 12.8 22 1 Tolab 44 72 893 12.4 51 SPORTS LEISURE PATRIOTS Continued from Page El under the $109 million salary cap. That likely means the team's free agent activity will slow considerably after the frenzy of the last 11 days. The 6-foot-3-inch, 218-pound Washington has played four seasons with the Bengals but has not broken through, playing only 12 games the last two seasons and making only 19 catches. He did total seven touchdowns and 53 catches over his first two seasons, but he fell out of favor with coach Marvin Lewis. Some media observers felt Washington, who was limited by a hamstring injury in 2006, distanced himself from teammates.

Still, Washington generated early interest on the free agent market, mainly from the Dolphins, and to a lesser degree from the Titans. He visited with the Patriots at free agency. Meanwhile, the offseason activity sheds a cloud of uncertainty over Troy Brown's future. The 14-year veteran, who is a free agent, has said he is taking a wait-and-see approach to free agency. As for Washington, he will be reunited with Stallworth, his former teammate at the University of Tennessee.

Washington was a third-round pick in 2003, Stall-worth a first-rounder in 2002. "The way we see it, and the way I think the Patriots see it, is that they are perfect complements to each other," Speck said. In a statement released by Speck, Washington said he was "happy to be a part of such a great franchise" and "excited about contributing to the New England Patriots." Mike Reiss can be reached at mreissglobe.com. BOAT SLIP, for saleseas rent Spinnaker Is. vacht Club Hull.

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"Kelley got a positive impression when he visited," said Chad Speck, Washington's agent. "There is an opportunity to contribute at receiver, and another factor was the chance to play with one of the greatest quarterbacks, to ever play the game, who is in the prime of his career." Considered a physical presence more than a separator, Washington, 2 7, joins a revamped receiving corps that includes Stallworth, Welker, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, Bam Childress, Kelvin Kight, and Jonathan Smith. Jackson, the team's second-round pick in 2006, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the AFC Championship game, which seems to have contributed to the team's targeting of receivers in TARTAN 37 1982, exc cond, loaded, radar. GPS, auto pilot. S74.900.

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