He was a backup generator

Come playoff time, it's expected that Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson, and Jermaine O'Neal will carry the offense for the Indiana Pacers. Last night, however, a backup point guard buried two of the team's biggest stretch-run shots in its 82-79 win over the Celtics.

"This is what you live for," said Anthony Johnson. "I've never really had an opportunity to play crunch-time minutes. This is an opportunity and I relish it."

With starting point guard Jamaal Tinsley sidelined with a bruised left foot, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle designed two fourth-quarter plays for the 30-year-old Johnson, who nailed both shots and also scored a basket early in the period. Johnson led the Pacers with 6 fourth-quarter points (3-for-5 shooting after an 0-for-4 third quarter), disregarding his designated title.

"I know I'm a backup point guard," said Johnson, who twice signed 10-day contracts with the New Jersey Nets during the 2001-02 season. "I know if Jamaal was here, he'd be the starter and I'd be the backup. There's no discrepancy on what I am, but at the same time, I have to step up and be the starter. You can't have the mind-set of being a backup when you're playing with the first unit. You have to be aggressive. I have to run the ball club."

It's not a responsibility -- especially in the playoffs -- that Johnson is used to wielding. He's heard the criticism from prospective employers. Can't shoot. Can't play important minutes late in games. Wouldn't be able to quarterback a club.

Last night, he proved them wrong. Johnson, who averaged 27.7 minutes per game during the regular season, played 37, including 10 in the fourth quarter when the Pacers outscored the Celtics, 18-10.

With his team trailing, 78-74, Johnson drove into the lane and hit a tough turnaround to halve the deficit. And with the score tied at 78-78, Johnson drove into the lane and hit a layup to give the Pacers the lead for good.

"It was huge," said center Dale Davis of Johnson's fourth-quarter performance. "He's been playing well for us. Reggie and Jermaine can't do everything by themselves. It's going to take help from everyone."

Johnson (9 points on 4-for-14 shooting, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) acknowledged that he probably wouldn't have had the guts to hoist such crucial shots earlier in his career. Furthermore, Carlisle most likely wouldn't have had the confidence to give him the ball -- especially with Miller, Jackson, and O'Neal being the primary options. Johnson even air-balled a 3-point attempt at 5:19 of the fourth quarter, which prompted Carlisle to pull his point guard for a quick rest.

However, Carlisle put the 6-foot-3-inch Johnson back in, recognizing he could turn the corner on defender Gary Payton. On the first of his two late baskets, the Pacers ran a high pick-and-roll (what Johnson called a screen-rescreen) with Dale Davis clearing out Payton. As Johnson entered the lane, Ricky Davis stepped between him and the basket, but the Pacer put a quick spin on his defender and hit a turnaround jumper to cut Boston's lead to 78-76 with 2:22 remaining.

After Jackson tied the game with a baseline jam and Antoine Walker missed on the other end, Indiana went to Johnson once again. With Johnson holding the ball, the Pacers set a double screen at the top of the key, freeing the point guard to drive into the paint. Davis and Walker, who were covering Miller (28 points) and O'Neal (20 points), chose not to leave their hot-shooting men to challenge Johnson. He took advantage of the clear lane for an uncontested layup and an 80-78 lead with 1:09 left. The Pacers didn't trail again.

"Once you find yourself out of the league and you watch games on TV, you know you have to be confident and aggressive no matter how bad you're shooting," Johnson said. "When things aren't going your way, you still have to believe in yourself. I've seen guys that run from the ball, and that's something that irks me. I would never attempt to do that."

Last night, the Celtics wish he had.