Notebook: Early on, Allen worthy choice for NBA MVP

Ray Allen for MVP? Perhaps, but don't expect the Sonics guard to lobby on his own behalf. When asked who's deserving of early consideration, Allen mentioned Dirk Nowitzki, Tim...

By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter

Ray Allen for MVP?

Perhaps, but don't expect the Sonics guard to lobby on his own behalf.

When asked who's deserving of early consideration, Allen mentioned Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Dwyane Wade.

"I don't put myself in that category because it's a respect thing," he said. "Somebody else has to do that. One of those guys or the guys who do the voting. That's not for me to say."

Allen is having the best season of his nine-year career, increasing his scoring average to 24.2 points, which is sixth best in the NBA and 4.2 higher than his career average.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said Allen is deserving of early consideration and also mentioned Steve Nash and LeBron James.

Yesterday's game at a glance

Player of the game: Paul Pierce led all scorers with 22 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He also collected six rebounds.

Play of the game: Pierce raced down a loose ball late in the fourth quarter, drove past Luke Ridnour and powered in a dunk over Vladimir Radmanovic, who was a step slow rotating from the opposite side of the court. The basket gave Boston an 87-80 lead.

Key matchup: Ridnour was no match for Gary Payton, who finished with a season-high 21 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Payton also had a team-high five assists. Ridnour finished with a season-low two points on 1-for-11 shooting.

Key statistic: The Sonics converted a season-low 32.6 percent of their field goals.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m. Tuesday, KeyArena

Kevin Garnett, the reigning MVP, and two-time winner Duncan, are also perennial candidates.

"It hasn't shaken itself out yet and it won't but you're seeing some guys putting themselves in that discussion," Rivers said. "What Ray Allen is doing for them is just being a leader with his offense. ... And you can't discount their record, so yeah, I think you have to think about him and the MVP award right now."

Roster moves

The Sonics placed center Robert Swift on the injured list with a right hip sprain and moved guard/forward Damien Wilkins (right knee patella tendinitis) to the IL to make room on the active roster for guard Ronald Murray and center Vitaly Potapenko.

Coach Nate McMillan said he has no plans of changing the starters or tinkering with the nine-man rotation.

"I talked to Ron and Vitaly and they both know this team is playing good basketball," he said. "They have to be patient."

McMillan had planned to find minutes for Murray by instituting a four-guard rotation.

"We will eventually get to that (a four-guard lineup)," McMillan said. "Will that be tonight? I don't know. Will it be Tuesday night? I don't know."

Potapenko was slated to start the season and McMillan said he believes in the idea of starters not losing their jobs when it's obvious that they were going to start.

Potapenko was battling with Jerome James for the spot.



BOSTON
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts

LaFrentz	22	4-5	0-0	0-7	1	4	9
Welsch	29	3-9	3-3	1-4	6	3	9
Blount	37	5-8	1-2	1-8	3	4	11
Payton	37	10-16	1-3	0-4	5	2	21
Pierce	35	7-13	6-7	1-6	1	4	22
Davis	35	4-9	1-3	0-3	3	0	9
TAllen	23	4-9	4-7	2-6	0	5	12
Banks	13	1-2	0-0	0-1	4	3	2
Jefferson	4	0-0	0-0	0-1	1	1	0
McCarty	5	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	3
Totals		39-72	16-25	5-40	24	27	98

Percentages: FG .542, FT .640. Three-point goals: 4-15, .267 (Pierce 2-5, McCarty 1-1, LaFrentz 1-2, Davis 0-1, T.Allen 0-1, Payton 0-2, Welsch 0-3). Team rebounds: 14. Team turnovers: 18 (12 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Blount, Davis, T.Allen). Turnovers: 18 (Blount 6, Pierce 4, Welsch 2, Davis 2, T.Allen 2, LaFrentz, Payton). Steals: 5 (Davis 3, Pierce, Payton). Technical fouls: None.



SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts

Evans	17	1-3	0-0	5-10	0	2	2
Lewis	42	7-16	3-6	1-6	0	4	19
James	14	2-4	0-0	0-3	0	2	4
RAllen	42	5-23	6-6	1-5	6	2	16
Ridnour	32	1-11	0-0	1-3	4	3	2
Radmanovic	34	5-11	1-2	0-4	2	5	13
Daniels	26	3-10	4-5	0-0	2	2	11
Fortson	24	4-7	8-12	6-11	0	6	16
Collison	9	0-1	1-2	1-2	0	2	1
Totals		28-86	23-33	15-44	14	28	84

Percentages: FG .326, FT .697. Three-point goals: 5-26, .192 (Radmanovic 2-5, Lewis 2-6, Daniels 1-3, Ridnour 0-2, R.Allen 0-10). Team rebounds: 12. Team turnovers: 13 (3 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Lewis, James). Turnovers: 13 (Ridnour 3, Lewis 2, Evans 2, R.Allen 2, Fortson 2, James, Daniels). Steals: 9 (Lewis 5, Radmanovic 3, R.Allen). Technical fouls: None.