West is paired with Rondo

CHICAGO -- As expected, Delonte West returned to action last night against the Bulls at the United Center, a week after suffering a mild concussion. The point guard said he suffered no ill effects from recent workouts, no repeat of the headaches and dizziness that plagued him after his head met a Dikembe Mutombo elbow last Wednesday.

In a somewhat unexpected twist, West started beside Rajon Rondo for a smaller, quicker backcourt than the pairing of Rondo and Gerald Green that started against the Bulls Sunday in Boston.

"I've done it before," said coach Doc Rivers. "I didn't actually like it before because I didn't think Delonte adjusted to it very well. I think he has now. It gives us a little quickness.

"It was a tough matchup for Gerald, guarding Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng. You can just go down the list. It was tough for him. We love to try to put him on bigger guys."

West thought the switch would make a positive impact, helping Paul Pierce and Al Jefferson get better shots than they did Sunday.

"We're two guards that can create out there," said West, who went 43 minutes and had 19 points. "Rondo is a young player in this league that is highly talented. He definitely creates shots for players. I don't mind being the beneficiary of some of those passes."

The players in green at United Center looked like a playoff-bound team capable of making a serious postseason run. But upon closer inspection, those were the Bulls wearing special-edition St. Patrick's Day uniforms.

The uniforms were almost identical to the ones the Celtics traditionally don on the road, and they had everyone -- players, coaches, and fans -- doing double-takes.

At least the Celtics could blame this poorly conceived marketing move for a few of their 14 turnovers.

"I wouldn't be shocked to see us pass to them a couple times," said Rivers prior to the game.

The Bulls even had white shamrocks on their warm-up T-shirts.

"When I walked out on the floor, [assistant] Clifford [Ray] was standing down there talking to one of the Bulls coaches and I didn't think anything of it," said Rivers. "I assumed that was us. Then I looked up and said, 'Wow, that's strange.' But this is a big St. Pat's city.

"It's pretty funny. Maybe they're wishing us luck. If not this season, then maybe in the draft. Who knows?"

The Celtics, Bulls, and New York Knicks all will wear festive green uniforms this week in recognition of St. Patrick's Day. Since last night was Chicago's only home game this week, it was the only opportunity to showcase the uniforms to the home crowd.

Still, the NBA may want to rethink the idea of any team wearing green uniforms and shamrocks when playing the Celtics.

"I just caught a glimpse of them," said Chicago coach Scott Skiles in his pregame news conference. "They're not my favorite. I'll leave it at that."

Rivers weighed in on the possibility of NBA officials calling technicals on players who flop, an idea that has been bandied about for years. "It's been talked about since I've been a coach," said Rivers. "It was talked about when I was a player. I flopped a ton. Some people can do it well and some people can't. I think it's part of the game. The guys who get away with it are pretty good at it. But usually the guys who get away with it are pretty good defenders as well, and that's just part of their arsenal. I know they've talked about giving techs like in soccer. I don't think it will ever happen. Quite honestly, I hope it doesn't happen because it just gives the official something else to call. We have enough rules for them now." . . . After suffering from a heart arrhythmia last week, Malik Allen was available for the Bulls, though he did not play. "I thought he looked good this morning, and he said he felt really good," said Skiles.