by By MARK MURPHY , The Boston Herald

Kendrick Perkins, representing the green team, missed the first attempt. Rookie Lester Hudson, representing the white team, hit his first for the win.

No money was passed.

``Yeah, I took it all,'' said coach Doc Rivers, who probably earned that cash after watching his team shoot 18-for-32 from the line during the past two games.

``There are two problems here - the obvious one of accuracy, but also an issue of not getting to the line enough.''

Beyond that, the Celtics are relying more on the 3-point shot and simply are not attacking enough.

``We're causing other teams incredible problems,'' Rivers, who continues to endorse the added 3-pointers, said of the Celtics' increased shooting range. ``But I do agree that we need to get to the line more. Whoever is struggling, they just don't have a rhythm at the line.

``We just have to get better at it. A lot of that is fatigue, too, but some of it has to do with no practice. You just have to work on it. Your free throw average is what it is, but it also depends on who is getting fouled.

``The year Miami won the title they had a bad free throw percentage,'' Rivers continued. ``But part of that was because (Shaquille O'Neal) was the one always getting fouled late in games.''

Paul Pierce, currently shooting 85.7 percent from the line and leading the team with 42 attempts, said there is only one avenue to free throw success.

``You have to practice,'' said Pierce, who said he tries to make 50 free throws each day. ``It's repetition. It's all about concentration. If you only go to the line two times a game, it's all about making those two free throws. Eddie House doesn't get to the line a lot, but he still shoots 80 percent. That's because of his concentration.''

Age-old dilemma

Allen Iverson's troubles in Memphis, with the aging star weighing retirement against the prospect of coming off the bench, highlight the crossroads that most NBA players in their early 30s have to face.

``It depends on the player - you can or you can't do it,'' said Rasheed Wallace, who has made that transition in his first year with the Celtics .

Wallace, though, can't speak for his former Detroit teammate.

``I haven't talked with him since this summer,'' Wallace said after yesterday's practice. ``But I'm pretty sure that it's tough for him.''

The key to moving from starter to reserve, according to Wallace, is accepting the decline in one's abilities.

``I've already accepted that I can't jump no more,'' he said. ``I'm not as athletic as I used to be.

``But when you lose that step or two, you have to pick up that step or two in your head. It's an adjustment, but one that I've made before. It depends on the mentality of that person. It can be an advantage or a disadvantage. You have to be able to step into a game and catch that flow.''

Walker tests legs

Bill Walker, recovering from knee surgery, ran through his first full practice yesterday.

``He's ready to practice - he was just one of the guys out there today,'' Rivers said. ``I don't know that he's ahead of schedule. He's done everything on schedule, because Eddie (Lacerte, the team trainer) told me that this was the day he was going to be ready.'' . . .

Reserve forward Brian Scalabrine, who has struggled with back spasms during the past four days, was given the day off to rest his back.''

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