LaFrentz adjusts to bench role

TORONTO -- When removed from the starting lineup, a player can handle the demotion one of two ways: sit on the bench and sulk, or show why he deserves a more consistent role.

Raef LaFrentz has never been one to complain about his situation, though it has been far from ideal this season. So after being replaced in the starting lineup by Kendrick Perkins last night -- returning to the bench for the first time since early January -- LaFrentz proved his value.

He played a key part in last night's 124-120 victory over the Raptors. With Paul Pierce (2 for 10) again struggling from the floor and in early foul trouble, LaFrentz led the Celtics in scoring at halftime, logging 16 of his 20 points, hitting 6 of 7 from the floor. LaFrentz spread the floor with his 3-point shooting (5 for 7), and finished with 8 rebounds.

But the impressive totals in 26 minutes off the bench had nothing to do with LaFrentz looking to prove something.

''What's new?" said LaFrentz. ''Adjusting to a different role. What the hell's new? That's all I've got to say.

''Why would I expect anything different from this group of coaches? It's not about being happy or being sad or being mad or whatever. I'm going to go out and play basketball whenever I'm out there, if I'm out there three minutes or if I'm out there 40 minutes. I'll leave the other junk for people to figure out.

''They use me when they need me, then the rest of the time they develop the youth. That's the pattern. I'm not letting it drive me crazy. Once upon a time, I would have been a different bird. But now, it is what it is. Why would I expect more?

Coach Doc Rivers said, ''He's a pro. I don't think anyone likes being taken out of the lineup, even though it's late in the year. But he accepted it and came in and he did what we needed him to do."

''I trailed the play and knocked down some threes," said LaFrentz. ''That's all that was. No big deal."

Much to the relief of the Celtics, Canadian customs officials let Gerald Green into the country. As you might remember, Green threw down a spectacular half-windmill dunk in the closing seconds of Boston's 110-96 win March 22 over Toronto at the TD Banknorth Garden. That dunk was the subject of much criticism, at least by members of the Canadian media. Before the rematch, there was talk about how players would never let a dunk like that happen in the good old days -- say, when Rivers was playing. ''Now it seems like things are allowed," said Rivers. ''When he went down and did it, did I want him to do it? No. Did I think he was going to do it? I thought there was a damn good chance something crazy was going to go on because I saw him running. But I also saw the other guys not running to defend the play. That's where I think things have changed. We would have run down just to undercut him. I don't mind the chatter about it. I think it's good for Gerald." . . . Tonight's game against the Wizards at the Garden will tip off at 7 p.m., half an hour earlier than usual. It was originally scheduled for broadcast on ESPN, but it is on FSN . . . Former Celtic Eric Williams feels his future with the Raptors is in limbo. He hopes Toronto finds a role for him, but said: ''I'm just trying to get through [this season] the best I can," said Williams. ''I could do this for the Celtics, sit on the bench, knowing that I have a lot of other things going on there."