Measure of success? Just point to the stars

NEW ORLEANS - At this point last year, Paul Pierce was mending, the Celtics were tanking, and only Gerald Green, dunking machine, wore a Boston uniform at All-Star Weekend.

A year later and, well, wow! A mended Pierce is one of three Celtics players who can put "All-Star Game '08" on his résumé, joined by Ray Allen and the injured Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain). Doc Rivers, who heard "Fire Doc" chants a year ago, is coaching the Eastern Conference team. Rajon Rondo is participating in tomorrow night's game between rookies and second-year players and will be coached by Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau.

Outside of the obvious stars, coaches and players alike generally point to team success as the barometer for All-Star selections. The Celtics have had the NBA's best record all season and they have been rewarded a presence unlike any since the team was last a serious championship contender 20 years ago.

Allen, for instance, was a late pick by commissioner David Stern, taking the place of Washington forward Caron Butler. This will be Allen's eighth All-Star Game and, for the first time, he's going as a contributor on the best team, rather than the best player on a decent team.

"I think there is so much speculation on who is going to make it, who didn't make it, snubs, whatever you want to call it," Allen said. "We spoke about individual accolades, and the great thing about this team so far is we didn't care who did what on this team and everybody is contributing in some form or fashion and it hasn't mattered what we've done individually, and that's why we've had so much team success."

It won't be all partying and basketball for the fellows, although there will be a lot of that.

This afternoon, more than 2,500 people attending All-Star Weekend will participate in one of 10 service projects in the city, which is still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Pierce and Rivers will be at one of those projects, a Habitat for Humanity. Allen will be at another, Rondo at a third. Garnett will do charity work for adidas along with some other players, including Tim Duncan and Chauncey Billups.

"To me, that's what this weekend is all about," Rivers said. "New Orleans needs it. If you look at all the cities in America that needs an All-Star Game, New Orleans is it."

Rivers is making his first trip to New Orleans since a year after Katrina, when he took his son, Austin, to an AAU basketball tournament. Back then, he got a firsthand look at the damage and said it was "night and day" from what he had seen in television coverage.

"We were staying downtown and it was really the only place alive," Rivers said. "And that was really sad. It's interesting because it's such a festive city in that one area. But then you take a half a mile drive and there is zero lights, no life, nothing. I just thought, 'What a hell of a contrast.' Half a mile away there are people partying, drinking. And the other half [a mile] there was nothing, no lights. I found it to be depressing to me. It was so close to the hurricane that you knew they had a lot of work to do. It was a year and a half ago, I assume that it was better. But clearly every picture you see, there is a lot of work to do. I think these events are needed."

The Celtics will not have a presence on Gimmick Saturday, which involves the dunk, 3-point shot contest, and assorted other made-for-TV events featuring the likes of Justin Timberlake. Both Eddie House and James Posey had hoped to be invited to the 3-point contest, but neither got the call.

On Sunday night, Pierce will have company as a Celtic for the first time since he and Antoine Walker were on the team together.

"Well, if it was up to me, I'd rather rest," Pierce said. "It's a long season, but I'm there to represent the Celtics and it's always an honor to do that.

"I'll go out there and hold my head high and represent them the best that I can."

Giving chase

As well as the Celtics are playing, the Pistons come into the All-Star break with a 10-game winning streak and are only four games behind Boston in the loss column. And the Pistons have played four more road games . . . An NBA official said Garnett is not expected to attend today's media session, which is mandatory for players who are in the events. (Michael Jordan used to take the fine and play golf.) Garnett is not expected to be fined because he is injured. He also is not expected to be at tomorrow's Eastern Conference practice . . . Glen Davis had an MRI yesterday at New England Baptist Hospital and it revealed a strain of his left quadriceps muscle, as well as a small bone bruise in his left knee. He was on crutches after Wednesday's game. Davis had hoped to be in New Orleans and possibly catch his alma mater, LSU, play Kentucky Saturday, but he remained in Boston to get treatment. There was no further word on Brian Scalabrine's strained right groin . . . Mark Lindsay, the referee who tossed Knicks coach Isiah Thomas Wednesday, is in his first season as an NBA official.

Peter May can be reached at p_may@globe.com.