Allen able to go all-out in practice

WALTHAM -- Tony Allen practiced with the team yesterday for the first time since undergoing right knee surgery Sept. 13. By all reports, he looked good, though it remains uncertain when he will be game-ready; he hopes to be back in uniform before Dec. 17, when the Celtics travel to his hometown of Chicago.

Allen indicated that he could be activated Dec. 14 for the game against Indiana, which is preceded by three off days -- ''key days," he said, in his preparation. But another key should come today when Allen sees how his knee responds to yesterday's hard workout.

''I'm a little rusty on the jump shots and stuff, but all that's going to come," said Allen.

''[My knee] felt pretty good. I didn't feel much until it was over. It started stiffening. I did everything 100 percent. I kept my stats and everything, too. I had like 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots. No, I'm just kidding, but I did pretty good.

''The lateral movement is about 60 percent. My explosiveness is about 70 percent. I'm just going to take every day and try to get better."

Allen plans to travel with the team on the upcoming five-game trip, though he will need to make a brief stop in Chicago next Tuesday for his arraignment on aggravated battery charges. The Celtics are scheduled to play in Houston that night.

Coach Doc Rivers was not aware of Allen's travel plans, but he believes it does an injured player good to be with the team as much as possible. Since Allen will be working with trainer Ed Lacerte and team strength and conditioning coaches, he will continue his rehabilitation on the road.

''Tony was great," said Rivers. ''He looked like he hadn't missed a beat. I was more impressed that he actually knew the offensive and the defensive schemes. I guess, not only was he sitting there, but he was paying attention, which is really nice."

A bench Mark

The Celtics' newest bench player, Mark Blount, said he has no problem with his role. Rivers plans to keep the starting lineup as is for the foreseeable future, and that means Blount will get minutes as a reserve while Kendrick Perkins starts at center. Blount played 31 minutes 16 seconds off the bench Monday night against Orlando.

Asked if this will motivate Blount, Rivers said, ''I don't know if it does or not. I just like the presence of Perk to start the games. I like Al [Jefferson] and Mark to be the second-unit rotation.

''That doesn't mean Mark may not start one day and it doesn't mean Al may not start. But right now, the lineup we have and the lineup we're going to go with to start games [includes Perkins]. That's not a punishment or anything. That's just what I like."

Rivers did go out of his way to praise Blount's play in the Celtics' 87-83 loss to the Magic, even though the 7-footer missed a short jumper that could have tied the game late in the fourth quarter and grabbed just 6 rebounds. Blount went out of his way to praise the fans who cheered his return after he was a DNP-CD last Friday against Charlotte.

When asked if he felt the air had been cleared, Blount said, ''What air?"

He added: ''We'll see what happens. To be continued. I'm just happy that the fans we're still out there loving it. The fans of Boston are great. I was enjoying it [Monday] night. They were in there like, 'Mark, let's go.' That's the most important part for me."

When asked if he thought improving his performance on the glass would help him return to the starting lineup, Blount said, ''I can't answer that for you right now. I'm just taking it day by day, coming in here and getting the job done. When the game starts, that's it, just roll with it."

When asked if there was any trade talk concerning Blount, agent Mark Bartelstein said, ''Not right now that I'm aware of. Mark wants to be happy and he'd love for it to happen in Boston.

''I talk to Danny [Ainge] all the time. We're trying to get this thing rectified. We're just trying to put our heads together and get this thing right. Mark wants to be a big part of helping the Celtics win. The last two weeks have been very frustrating."

''As long as they want me here, I'm here," said Blount. ''As long as there's nothing wrong with me, I love to play. I don't have a problem playing.

''I just keep going. I'm a machine, man. That's it."

Sixer sighting

In the Thank God for Small Favors Dept., the Sixers played the Trail Blazers at home last night before they come to the Garden this evening. Getting Allen Iverson in the second of back-to-back games may be the only way to slow him down. Philadelphia was leading the league in points per game with 104.0. They were also tied with the Clippers for third in the league in field goal percentage (47.1). ''My job is just to try and contain [Iverson]," said Delonte West. ''My focus is just all defense." West reported that his left hip pointer was ''nagging, but not to point where I can't play 100 percent." . . . Jefferson made it through about half of practice, leaving because of pain in his left thumb, which he jammed two weeks ago. He also had a headache from a mild concussion he suffered against Orlando that forced him to the sideline. Jefferson said he would undergo a ''head scan" before taking the court tonight but had no doubt he would play.