Ray Allen back in the house, briefly

It was a different turn on the classic kiss-off line. Thursday night at KeyArena was supposed to be all about Ray Allen but instead it seemed to be all about everybody else. Allen, the killer shooting guard, had in effect packed the often-unpacked Seattle SuperSonics facility for a smooch-fest with fans and several of his old teammates. Mainly he was there to show why his Boston Celtics are 24-3 (after the visitors' 104-96 win that leaves the not-so Supers at 8-21). The Celts have been riding along just fine on the backs of the so-called Big Three: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Allen. Instead, fans saw the Big Two. Pierce led everybody with 37 points; Garnett had 23, with 14 rebounds. Allen? He had just 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting, plus a rebound and three assists. Allen had a sole bucket during the second half, as Seattle pressed the Celtics but succumbed during the fourth quarter: the typical scenario so far this season for the Kevin Durant-led locals (the 19-year-old had 25 points). It wasn't exactly classic Ray, since he averaged mid-20 points a game during his four years in Seattle and is pushing 20-per for Boston. But in the aftermath the former Sonic was a Stoic, refusing to complain or explain about his sub-par performance. And why not keep it shut? Even though every club in the league seems to present its best when the formerly long-suffering Bostons show up in their towns, this Celtic contingent looks like a cinch for the Eastern Conference finals and maybe the championship. And even on an off night, Ray Allen looks as though he knows it.