Blount to take show on road

It was a performance worthy of a curtain call. Mark Blount saved his best playoff effort for the Celtics' last postseason game, finishing with career playoff highs in points (21) and rebounds (13) in Game 4. Ordinarily, those numbers in a losing effort would be a silver lining a team could build upon during the offseason.

But not in this case.

In all likelihood, there will be no curtain call for Blount in a Boston uniform. Unhappy with the instability of the organization, Blount will exercise his option and test the free agent market.

"I just wanted the Boston fans to know that I'm going to work," said Blount following the Celtics' 90-75 loss to Indiana yesterday at the FleetCenter. "Hopefully, in the last game, they'll appreciate it."

Blount hopes other teams around the league can appreciate his talents enough to pay a substantial amount for his services. Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said the Celtics want to re-sign Blount and remain hopeful they can do so. Ainge might be less hopeful if he heard Blount talk about his plans.

"I'm going to test free agency and let [my agent] Mark Bartelstein do his job," said Blount. "That's it. [Bartelstein] has told me he's been talking to a couple of people. I'll give him a call in the next couple of days and find out who they are. [I'd be interested in] anybody who's winning and wants somebody that can play defense and rebound."

Man of steal

With a playoff career-high five steals, Reggie Miller showed there is more to his game than 3-pointers that make Spike Lee cringe. Miller helped the Pacers log a franchise playoff record 19 steals.

"You know I was jealous when Ronnie [Artest] got Defensive Player of the Year," joked Miller. "Throughout my career, I have never really gotten credit for it. What bigger stage to show your ability than in the playoffs?

"I think I was in the right place at the right time. The Celtics were trying to get the ball up quick and trying to throw it ahead and I was anticipating a lot and came up with some good steals. Defensively, this is the best we've been tuned in [during] the series."

Looking for rest stop

Time is now on the Pacers' side as they await the winner of the Heat-Hornets series. Indiana could face a week layoff, which is just fine with the players who are thinking about rest, not rust.

"Obviously, getting rest and getting your body healthy enough so you get the opportunity to train a little harder as far as weight training and then get stronger [is important]," said Jermaine O'Neal. "We want the Miami-New Orleans series to be dragged out, let them beat up on each other and we come in fresh and strong and healthy."

Words of praise

Nothing inspires generosity of spirit like winning. Following the Pacers' four-game sweep of the Celtics, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle complimented his counterpart, John Carroll.

"As a former Celtic, I can tell you that this franchise is headed in the right direction," said Carlisle. "A lot of people don't realize that Raef Lafrentz is sitting out and he is going to certainly help the team a lot next year. They've been through a turbulent year, a lot of upheaval with the roster. For them to get into the playoffs to me was a show of unity. I thought John Carroll, to get into this situation, did a marvelous job of keeping this team together.

"When you're always referred to as the interim guy, that's got to be one of the hardest situations to be in, and he handled the team and the entire situation with great integrity and dignity. I'm sure the franchise will take care of him somehow."

Makeup call

Shortly after praising Carroll, Carlisle met up with rookie Brandon Hunter in the hallway just past the Pacers locker room. The two joked around, further showing how much the air had cleared between Carroll and Carlisle since Game 1. Carlisle thought Hunter might have been inserted into Game 1 to rough up his star, O'Neal. Upon seeing Hunter, Carlisle said, "I know you're not a thug. Congratulations on a good year and good luck this summer." . . . Ainge returned from Bilbao, Spain, to catch Game 4, claiming he left the continent early because the player he went to scout, Pavel Podkolzine, broke his hand . . . It was the sixth time in franchise history the Celtics were swept in a playoff round . . . For the first time all series, Boston outrebounded Indiana (46-31), outscored Indiana in the paint (34-24), and tallied more second-chance points (9-5) . . . O'Neal received second-team All-NBA honors, while Artest was named to the third team with the lowest vote total (90 points). Paul Pierce did not earn All-NBA distinction, finishing the voting with 68 points . . . Chucky Atkins left with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter and did not return.