Final answer: Pierce not on Team USA

Despite how well Paul Pierce has played in the NBA Finals, USA Basketball reiterated that it isn't going to add him to its Beijing Olympics team, managing director Jerry Colangelo said yesterday.

Pierce was among the long list of core potential players originally named in 2005. But since he didn't participate the past two years because of injuries, he won't be asked to wear red, white, and blue this summer.

The fact that Pierce is battling a right knee strain and the US team is expected to have talented forwards such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Tayshaun Prince didn't help Pierce's cause, either.

Even so, Colangelo has strong respect for Pierce.

"He's had an incredible year," said Colangelo in a phone interview. "But he wasn't able to participate the past two years. As a result of that, it's one of the circumstances that is unavoidable. His talent and his year speak for itself; that's the only reason. I'm just trying to be consistent."

Pierce has said he is supportive of USA Basketball and plans to attend the exhibition game in Las Vegas against Canada in late July.

USA Basketball plans to announce its 12-member Olympic team Monday in Chicago. Chauncey Billups pulled out of consideration for a spot on the team, according to the Associated Press.

Story gets blogged down

When Ray Allen left the Staples Center after Game 5 Sunday night without talking to the media, the Celtics stated he was attending to a family medical situation, and out of respect for his privacy, there would be no further details.

But when inaccurate reports surfaced on the Internet stating that Allen's teen-aged daughter Tierra had been hospitalized because of diabetes, the Celtics felt they had no choice but to clear it up. The truth is that Allen's youngest son, Walker, had a health issue that warranted a trip to a Los Angeles hospital, and while he is still having tests, there is no major concern right now.

A Celtics official said Allen and his daughter were upset by the false reports, which seemed to be coming out of Los Angeles. One website that reported the false story Monday was TheLakersNation.com. The website, which is not operated by the Lakers, removed the entry yesterday while giving a half-hearted apology to Allen and his family.

The website stated, "A few nights ago, we posted an entry about Ray's daughter being diagnosed with diabetes [multiple radio stations in the LA area were reporting this]. Well, it turns out that story was inaccurate due to the limited amount of information regarding the situation. However, either way, we here at TheLakersNation.com still send out our best to Ray Allen and his family whatever the circumstances are."

Through a Celtics spokesman, Allen said yesterday he would talk only about basketball, not his family situation.

Coach Doc Rivers expressed his disappointment with the erroneous website report.

"The problem is, to me - and this is where I get into the blogger thing - people write anything on the Internet and it's read and then it becomes fact when it's not, unfortunately," said Rivers. "Nobody checks. There are no checks and balances and it hurts us all. That's the problem."

School honors

Celtics rookie guard Gabe Pruitt will be going back to Los Angeles this weekend to be honored with the retirement of his jersey number at Westchester High School (not far from LAX) during a charity all-star game at the school Sunday. Pruitt said Westchester is also retiring jerseys from Pistons center Amir Johnson and ex-Nets guard Hassan Adams. Lakers guard Trevor Ariza already has had his jersey retired. "That's an honor," Pruitt said. "I always wanted to get my jersey retired somewhere." Pruitt must return to Boston by early July to participate in a Celtics minicamp.

Guards in the lineup

World champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. had two mammoth bodyguards behind him during two Finals games in Los Angeles. Considering that the Staples Center floor had countless A-list celebrities without bodyguards visible, it seemed odd that a man who is considered the best boxer in the world needed protection . . . Why didn't Celtics mascot Lucky dunk last night? He is nursing a right shoulder injury . . . Lakers game regular Denzel Washington smiled brightly when Allen's name was mentioned to him before Game 5 in Los Angeles. The Academy Award winner described Allen as "one of my three sons." They were in the 1998 film "He Got Game." . . . Some NBA referees have worked more than one game during the Finals, but, oddly, veteran Jimmy Clark, considered one of the best among players and coaches, hasn't been on the floor for any . . . Outside TD Banknorth Garden during the Finals has been a giant replica of the Larry O'Brien Trophy, part of an NBA display. In Los Angeles, the NBA had to repair the replica mammoth trophy and its displays because of wind damage.

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com