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Doc On Ray Allen In Game 2: 'I Don't See It Right Now'

BOSTON (CBS) – Even if Rajon Rondo is suspended for Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics will not rush guard Ray Allen back from a lingering ankle ailment.

Allen sat out Boston's 83-74 Game 1 loss to the Hawks on Sunday, the 10th straight game he's missed with the injury that will require offseason surgery to remove bone spurs.

Allen was back on the floor prior to the team's practice at Georgia Tech Monday afternoon, but head coach Doc Rivers said he isn't expecting to have the 36-year-old guard back on Tuesday.

Read: Hawks' Ivan Johnson Calls KG 'A Dirty Player'

"If Ray is not ready, he's not ready," Rivers said. "One thing I don't do -- I'll never do it, and maybe I'm wrong in it -- I don't ever put a guy out if he isn't ready. I just won't put him on the floor."

"If Ray told me he could play and [trainer] Eddie [Lacerte] said he didn't think he could play, Ray would not play. That's just the way it is," said Rivers. "He said he felt a little better, but I don't see it right now."

Boston has survived without Allen this season, touting a 16-4 record without the veteran guard. However, after going 0-for-11 from beyond the arc on Sunday, the Celtics could certainly use Allen's long-range shooting.

Read: Time For Rondo To Smarten Up

With Allen, and Rondo, likely out for Tuesday night's Game 2, expect Avery Bradley to play the point (with Paul Pierce running the show as a point-forward) and Mickael Pietrus to slide into the two-guard spot.

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