With a rash of injuries to their stars, the Celtics are looking to veteran forward Rasheed Wallace to be a leader.

Boston has been without Kevin Garnett (knee), Paul Pierce (knee) and Rajon Rondo (hamstring) as of late.

The Celtics just finished a 1-3 road trip and center Kendrick Perkins says he went to Wallace to request leadership.

"I went to him after the Phoenix game and told him we need him to be the leader right now," Perkins said. "Obviously he can do it. He showed it the last game. We just need him to do it every game -- talking, getting guys under control when things are going bad for us. You have J.R. [Giddens] stepping in and Tony [Allen] trying to run the point, and we just have to stick together."

Wallace said he's fine with the role.

"I try to get them to play their regular game and not be nervous," the veteran said. "The other night, J.R. might have been nervous, but he settled down and played some good defense. He wasn't looking for his shot, and we were trying to get him looking for his shot and take it to the basket more, the same way he does in practice and in one-on-ones. But the young guys are stepping up to the plate.

"It's less talk without Kevin out there, but we're just trying to teach the young guys that on defense, when you talk, it's like (an extra) step or two. It's playing good 'D' and listening."