"I'm working on it, still," Allen said of Tuesday's event. "I'm planning on it. I have all the balls in motion to be there, I have to make some calls. I do have tickets and I plan to be there.

"It rivals Martin Luther King's march on Washington and his `I have a dream' speech - we can only look at it through video and through people talking about it, who experienced it themselves. It's a great day for everybody in this country, it's a small step toward equality in this country. You look at where Barack is now, Jan. 20 is so close to [King's] birthday.

"Just being there, the significance around the world. This is not just an American thing, it's a world thing - it's going to change perspectives of people around in the world, knowing this country is about equality. We have influence all over the world. You look at injustice all over the world. And there's a time for people to stand up and watch and see what's going on and say, hey, over in America we're trying to figure it out, we're trying to make this world a better place."

Allen scored 25 points in the Celtics' 105-85 victory over the Nets yesterday, arriving two hours before the 1 p.m. tipoff for shooting practice.

"It was a little bit later than usual because of our meetings in New York," Allen said. "It does throw me off a little bit."

Allen converted five successive 3-pointers and scored 36 points in a 94-88 win at Toronto last Sunday, failing to find time for his pregame routine because of a 12:30 p.m. start.

Magic man

Coach Doc Rivers believes in the Orlando Magic.

"They're winning games, they're winning them on the road," Rivers said before yesterday's contest. "I think the national public is finally waking up to them. Last year they had the second- or third-best road record in the NBA, as well. Right now, there's nobody in the NBA playing better than Orlando."

The Celtics play host to Phoenix tomorrow, then visit Miami (Wednesday) and Orlando (Thursday).

Frank assessment

Nets coach Lawrence Frank benched the starters at the start of the second half.

"I was just totally embarrassed about our performance," Frank said. "It starts with me and it goes on down to our main players. It was just an embarrassing start to the game, and I decided to go in another direction for today.

"It's hard to fathom. One is, you have to give credit to Boston. Two is, that we have to come up with some answers."

Almost indefensible

The Nets adjusted their defense to limit Paul Pierce, who scored 18 points in the third quarter of the Celtics' 118-86 win Wednesday.

"The way Paul, especially in that third quarter, got off, it was all [Rajon] Rondo - he was penetrating, pick and rolls, drive and kick," Frank said before the game. "It's containing Rondo."

Pierce (13 points) was used mostly as a decoy, but Rondo outdueled Devin Harris at point guard, Allen and Eddie House (13 points) provided the perimeter threats, and Kevin Garnett the inside force.

"You do the best job you can," Frank said of defending the Celtics. "The beauty of their team is they have great balance and their superstars are very, very unselfish. Kevin is a very unselfish superstar - on any night he can go big, but he always gives himself up for the team.

"What makes Boston a fun team to watch is they play both ends of floor. They are a great model for all players, teams, and coaches. They share the ball offensively and they don't have any agenda other than trying to get a good shot. And defensively, they give a great effort and are very consistent. They have guys, when you look at Paul, Ray, and Kevin, and add up their career averages - and yet they take a defensive approach to the game. I'm a big fan of theirs."