For starters, Battie is back

"It could just be bone-on-bone bruising," said Battie. "Right now, I feel fine. I don't think it's limiting right now. I haven't felt any effects of it. But I do see the swelling. It's just swelling sitting right in front of the knee.

"We just took a day off, kicked up the anti-inflammatories to bring out the swelling, so it should be fine. I think it's part of the process [of coming back from surgery]. I hope that's what it is. I'm sure that the trainers and the doctors will keep a special eye out for it. I hope it's nothing to be overly concerned about right now."

Battie finished with 6 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in 27 minutes.

Sorting it out Coach Jim O'Brien continues to spend the early portion of the season figuring out his rotation. So far, that has meant a lot of playing time for Paul Pierce (38.1 minutes per game) Vin Baker (31.9) and Mike James (31). They are the only Boston players averaging more than 30 minutes per contest. And that's just fine with O'Brien.

"I'm happy [with how the playing time has been allotted] because I'm the one that makes the decisions, so I'd be crazy not to be happy with it," said O'Brien. "I don't think I'm playing anybody too much. It's what Paul should be getting, between 36 and 38. Vin's a 30-minute player. We have not totally put out hands around the [small forward] spot. We're trying to let guys prove themselves at that spot, trying to give [Jumaine Jones] a good look. The best players will end up playing within the month and playing the most."

Last night, Jones got his second start at small forward and was held scoreless with four rebounds in 15 minutes. O'Brien does not have a timetable that he plans to stick with as far as when that position will sort itself out. He wants to give Kedrick Brown (9 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes), Eric Williams (17 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes), and Jones all "a good, fair look." O'Brien wants enough statistics and enough video to make the right decision about which player deserves the most minutes. And the rotation may change throughout the season.

"I don't really anticipate any time this year that our 3 spot will be 100 percent definitely established from game to game," said O'Brien. "I don't think that's a big deal with our team."

Easing back in While New York coach Don Chaney wants Antonio McDyess on the floor, don't expect the forward to return until Friday against Detroit at the earliest. McDyess has undergone three knee surgeries over a 19-month period, the last in April to repair a fractured left patella. In all likelihood, McDyess will be in uniform when the Celtics face the Knicks next Monday at the FleetCenter. "I'd like to have him on the floor," said Chaney. "It doesn't matter what the situation is. It'll be nice just to have him back. It could be [Friday]. It depends on how he plays, how he responds. I think one scrimmage will not be enough. Two would be sufficient. But three will give him not only an opportunity to feel comfortable on the floor but also to feel comfortable in what we're doing. He wants to go. But you have to keep him focused as to where he is and not rush into it." Although McDyess has not complained of any knee pain, Chaney said the forward "hasn't truly been tested." . . . O'Brien on the Knicks' record: "I don't think it's indicative. I think the East in general, there are a lot of teams that have not gotten off to a good start that could just work you real good if you don't come ready to play at the highest level, if you don't expect their best. When all is said and done [the Knicks] have as good a chance of competing for a playoff berth as four or five or six other teams." . . . Although Raef LaFrentz has not felt much improvement in his right knee tendinitis, he remains optimistic it will clear up over the next three games. "I have good days and bad days," said LaFrentz. "Is the rest going to help? Hopefully, it will help. But as far as when we can see the results, I don't know." Last night, LaFrentz missed the second of at least five games on the injured list . . . Celtics rookie Marcus Banks set a career-high with six assists . . . New York's Kurt Thomas dominated with 17 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass.