A first test for Celtics

WALTHAM -- There is one certainty about tonight's exhibition game between the Celtics and Cavaliers: It will not be an offensive showdown between Paul Pierce and LeBron James. Other than that, anything goes.

``We're just trying to see where we are," said Pierce. ``We've been playing against each other for the last week, so we're trying to see where we are as a team, if we can take some of the things we've done in practice and institute it into the game. We had a great camp, and now it's on to fresh meat."

After seven days of practice in which the coaching staff placed an emphasis on playing defense and up-tempo basketball, the Celtics can test what they learned. Coach Doc Rivers will be looking at how different combinations of players work together. Following practice yesterday afternoon, Rivers said he did not know who would start, other than Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak. He was also unsure how many players would see playing time; could be 12, could be 10. Those left out of the rotation against the Cavaliers will take the court against the Raptors tomorrow night in Toronto.

``I'm just looking at everybody," said Rivers. ``Obviously, some guys are trying to make the team and some guys are trying to make the team better. Paul and Wally will start. Other than that, we're going to mix it up. "

Expect to see Delonte West and Rajon Rondo at both guard positions while Sebastian Telfair sticks to point guard. Brian Scalabrine, Pierce, and Szczerbiak could see time at both forward positions while Rivers will try to keep Ryan Gomes at power forward.

``I just want him to stay comfortable," said Rivers. ``There's going to be a time when we're going to need him to act like a [small forward], but I don't want to screw him up. He's so comfortable right now in where he's at. Honestly, he could do either [position] because he's so comfortable and he has confidence. But I don't want to take the chance."

Rivers will keep a close eye on Szczerbiak as he works his way back from left knee surgery. Tony Allen, also coming back from knee problems, could be similarly restricted in his playing time. But Rivers has not been told by the medical staff to limit the minutes of West. The point guard appears completely recovered from the strained lower back that kept him out of practice until Saturday.

Pierce said he was impressed with how West played in recent practices, and with the skill of all the point guards. But he will be more interested in how the Celtics perform defensively tonight.

``The main focus of our training camp has been our defense," said Pierce. `` Obviously, we want to continue to execute on offense because we want a better offensive team. But we understand what our weaknesses were from a year ago, and it was our defense and our rebounding.

``It would be nice to go out there and play a solid defensive game and rebound the ball well and get a few fast-break opportunities. We're going to try to push the tempo with the quickness of our guards and make them play the way we like to play."

Rivers would like to make the roster size more manageable sooner rather than later. With more exhibition games and less practice time, the players who will make the team need repetitions.

``I could care less about the opponent," said Rivers. ``I'm going to look at us and how we play. You look at the opponent as far as what they're running and defensively because we play these teams [Cleveland and Toronto] early in the [season] as well.

``The tough part about my job is I've got to look at the individual performances. That's tough because there are going to be some guys who aren't going to be in this gym and that's too bad because they've all played hard. But that's just life in our sport."

COURT REPORTER: For early reports from Celtics camp, go to boston.com/sports/celtics_blog