Elite backcourt brought on board

WALTHAM -- They'll meet on the court again, with not quite so much at stake. The last time Delonte West and Tony Allen played on the same floor, they delivered the most drama-filled game of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, an Elite Eight epic that was contested until the final basket, one that sent Oklahoma State to the Final Four and ended a magical run by Saint Joseph's.

Then, they were bitter competitors. Now, they're teammates.

With the No. 24 pick in last night's NBA Draft, the Celtics chose West, a guard who declared himself eligible after his junior year with the Hawks. Minutes later, the Celtics added Allen, also a 6-foot-4-inch guard, with the 25th pick. The Celtics received both picks in trades, the first from Dallas, the second from Detroit.

"This was exactly who we had targeted," Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "We had these guys pretty high up on our draft board, and we're very excited to get them. We feel like we got an All-America backcourt."

West being the point guard, and Allen the shooting guard. Ainge raved about West's ability to run an offense, something he picked up from teammate Jameer Nelson, last season's college player of the year. A smooth shooter who's built like a smaller Tayshaun Prince, West shot 41 percent from 3-point range in helping to lead the Hawks to an undefeated regular season.

"We think Delonte West can play point," Ainge said. "Maybe not in the traditional fashion of point guards, but we think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the game because his decision-making is right up there with the best of the guards."

By taking Allen, the Celtics feel they've uncovered a gem. Sitting in Ainge's living room during Doc Rivers's interview for the Celtics' head coaching position, talk turned to the draft.

"You know," Rivers said to Ainge, "I like that Tony Allen."

"Shhh," Ainge replied. "Be quiet."

"We were on the same page from the beginning," Ainge said.

Rivers, who said he played golf more than scouted during the NCAA Tournament, said Allen was the one player who caught his eye when he did catch some college ball. Allen played a season at Wabash Valley Community College in Illinois before finishing his career with the Cowboys.

"I liked his toughness," Rivers said. "When he got inside the 3-point line, he was almost unguardable. He got to the basket whenever he felt like it. In college, against zones. And I think that's almost impossible."

It might be nearly as difficult for the Celtics' new rookies to see the floor. Allen and West will be thrown into a backcourt mix with Marcus Banks, Ricky Davis, and Chucky Atkins, creating increased competition for playing time. It will also give Rivers an abundance of combinations to choose from.

"There's going to be a lot competition in the backcourt," Ainge said. "I love that. These are tough guys that are going to push the talented guys we have in there right now."

Asked how quickly the pair of rookie guards would contribute, Rivers said, "I'll tell you in a week and a half," referring to the start of summer workouts.

The Celtics almost couldn't pick West, who didn't decide to skip his senior season until last Thursday, the deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft.

"The fact that they selected him in the first round proves it was the right decision," said Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli.

Of course, West won't get a chance to avenge the final game of his college career, the one his new teammate helped spoil. In that game, Allen scored 12 points and West scored a game-high 20.

Now, it doesn't matter so much who won and who lost. The point may be that both players were around last March, both upperclassmen. That alone was rare enough for last night's draft, when a record eight high school players were chosen in the first round.

"We got an All-America backcourt," Ainge said. "I couldn't be more excited."