Celtics Bench Key To Success

BOSTON (AP) – When Paul Pierce and Boston's other starters need

a rest in the NBA finals, they can watch their replacements with

confidence, just as they did two years ago against the same

opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston's key backups have changed since then. The importance of

their contributions hasn't.

The Celtics return to practice Monday after two days off and

have the same starting playoff five for Thursday night's opener at

Los Angeles that they had the past two years.

But substitutes Rasheed Wallace, Glen 'Big Baby' Davis, Tony

Allen and Nate Robinson all have made big contributions.

In 2008, when the Celtics won their 17th championship, the key

bench players were James Posey, P.J. Brown, Leon Powe, Eddie House

and Sam Cassell.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)