Perhaps intended as a warning to Boston, LeBron James indicated that he would respond to the Celtics' physical play if they try to exacerbate his elbow injury.

"That?s fine," James said. "I know a lot of those guys have injuries, too, so I?ll be fine."

Mike Brown thinks the Celtics will play their normal aggressive game.

"They?re a physical team anyways," Brown said. "Whether the elbow?s there or not, their mind-set is to be physical coming into the series."

LeBron James underwent further evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health last evening by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker and Dr. Mark Schickendantz. He was re-examined, with x-rays and MRI reviewed.

James has a strain of his right elbow and a bone bruise of his olecranon. He will undergo daily treatments and revaluation and a repeat MRI will be performed next week. It is not anticipated that he would miss any playing time.

"The best thing about it is there's no structural damage," James said. "The docs have given me clearance that I can't hurt it worse and I can go out and play. Maybe it's a strain in the muscle or the tendon."

Doc Rivers does not expect the Cleveland superstar to be hampered.

"He's fine," Rivers said. "If he goes three or four games and shoots left-handed only, then I'll believe it's hurting. We'll be ready for the LeBron we've seen all through the playoffs."

James said he will be ready for the Celtics on Saturday.

"I'll be ready for Game 1 and I'll be a productive player."

But he won't take any unnecessary chances.

"If I am limited during the game, then I'll be smart about it," James said. "That's what I was able to do in Game 5. I was very limited in shooting long-range shots, so I started going to the hole in the fourth quarter."

Ray Allen is one of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history, but he missed a number of key shots from the charity stripe in crunch time against the Heat in Game 4.

Allen converted one of two attempts at the line with 2:35 remaining in Game 4 to pull Boston to within four points (96-92), but missed a pair with 1:50 remaining that could have closed the gap even further.

Allen told reporters Tuesday night that he didn't add extra foul shots to his workout routine before Game 5.

"I didn't get any extra shots in," Allen said. "I got the same number that I normally do."

He added that he got to the arena around the same time as usual, about three-and-a-half hours before tip off.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is taking the blame for Celtics captain Paul Pierce's game-winning jumper in Game 3 on Friday night.

Spoelstra made the decision not to foul Pierce on the final possession.

Miami had a foul to give heading into the final play, during which Pierce hit the game-winning basket in Boston's 100-98 victory.

"It's on me," Spoelstra said.

Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Wallace was fined for comments made to the media on April 19.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade said following Tuesday night's Game 2 loss to the Celtics that he needs more help from his teammates.

Wade scored 29 points, but Boston dominated Miami 106-77 to take a 2-0 lead in the first round series.

"We don't win unless everyone is playing well," Wade said. "I don't care if I score 50, we don't win the ball game. It takes more that that to beat this team. I got confidence in my guys. They struggled tonight."

Wade went 11-for-18 from the floor, but the rest of the Heat missed 40 of their 58 shot attempts.

"One player can't win it," Wade said. "We need everyone who comes in to be positive and have a positive input. We've got a couple guys who are struggling right now. As we always do as a team we're going to stick together. That's the only reason we're here now, the only reason we have success."

Celtics guard Ray Allen, a veteran of 13 seasons, remembers a time when a well-placed elbow was commonplace in the NBA.

Before Tuesday night's Game 2 between the Celtics and Heat in Boston, the veteran commented on the difference in the game today.

"The league is a lot softer," Allen said less than 72 hours after teammate Kevin Garnett elbowed Miami's Quentin Richardson in the final moments of Game 1.

Garnett was suspended one game for his actions in Boston's victory.

"The slightest little touch and you're at the foul line," Allen said of today's game. "It's like you have to be tricky."

Allen then gave a perfect example of how the NBA has changed over the course of his career.

"Reggie [Miller] would grab my hands and throw them one way while going the other way," he said, adding that he was expected by referees and coaches to defend such a move.

"That's what made guys so great at what they did."

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra downplayed the absence of Boston's Kevin Garnett prior to Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Garnett was suspended for one game by the NBA after elbowing Quentin Richardson in the final moments of Game 1.

"I don't think it matters either way," Spoelstra said of Garnett not playing. "They've beaten us without him."

The Celtics defeated the Heat 112-106 in Miami on Jan. 6 without Garnett.

"We're familiar with them," the coach added in reference to Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace, who were expected to take Garnett's minutes.

Spoelstra added that he didn't feel the Celtics would change their game plan even though they'd be without their future Hall of Fame forward.

"They'll stick with what they do," he said, adding that Boston would force Dwyane Wade and Co. to go "East and West" without putting "too much pressure on the rim."

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett wasn't surprised when he received a one-game suspension in the wake of Saturday night's Game 1 against the Heat.

Garnett elbowed Miami's Quentin Richardson as teammate Paul Pierce lay on the court late in the fourth quarter.

"No, I wasn't surprised at all, to be honest," said Garnett.

"I told my man, [Celtics vice president of media relations] Jeff Twiss, when we were talking that I just want my message to be done, and all of this to be over with. My message here is: Whoever it is, my teammates, [Celtics coach] Doc Rivers, or anyone in the organization, I want them to know I got their back.

"The elbow wasn't deliberate. The league does what it has to do to set the tone. I respect that. It's time to move on and get back to a wonderful series."

Garnett was then asked whether Richardson should have received more than a $25,000 fine.

"You know how it goes," said Garnett. "The person that usually instigates something is not the one that usually gets the penalty. But it's over. It's what it is. We've both been dealt with."

Celtics reserve Glen Davis is ready to help the team by bringing back "Ticket Stub" in Game 2 against the Heat.

Boston star Kevin Garnett has been suspended for Game 2 after he elbowed Miami's Quentin Richardson in the final moments of Game 1.

Davis coined the nickname for himself last postseason when he was forced into a larger role due to Garnett's absence due to injury.

"Well, if Kevin's out, I have to bring back the Ticket Stub," said Davis. "You all know the Ticket Stub, you all saw the Ticket Stub last year. If [Garnett is] gone, I've got the Ticket Stub right in my back pocket and I can bring it out."