01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 15, 2005

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- What just hours earlier had seemed assured became a no-go last night for the Boston Celtics, as the team decided against activating Marcus Banks for the game with the Indiana Pacers.

Banks, who has been shelved since mid-October with a stress fracture in his left tibia, an injury commonly known as shin splints, returned to full practice on Tuesday and looked good enough that Celtics head coach and director of basketball operations Danny Ainge strongly considered letting him play against the Pacers.

In fact, during his weekly appearance on radio station WEEI, Ainge said Banks would play. But just a short time later, Rivers said in his pre-game meeting with the media that the third-year guard would not be playing.

"After yesterday's practice, I was going to activate Marcus, at least I was thinking strongly of doing it. Then, after today, we just thought we'd wait another day of practice," Rivers said. "He looked pretty good. I just think it's probably better to wait."

When he does come back, Banks will add an immediate -- and needed -- defensive presence on the perimeter for Boston. In his WEEI interview, Ainge called Banks one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

"He has something he'll be able to do immediately, and that will be pressure the ball, so to me, he'll have an immediate impact when he plays," Rivers said.

Boston declined to pick up the fourth-year option on Banks' contract in Octocber, meaning he will become a free agent at the end of this season.

As for the team's other injured player, Tony Allen , his status remains a mystery. Allen took part in his first full practice on Nov. 29, 11 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. After that one practice, Allen declared himself game-ready, but three days later his knee was so swollen he couldn't participate in a pre-game shootaround.

"Tony, I don't know the answer (on when he'll return). I just don't. I think it's going to happen, I just don't know when," Rivers said.

Rivers honored

Marquette University announced yesterday that Rivers and Wisconsin businesswoman Kristine Rappe had been elected to the school's 35-member board of trustees.

Rivers is a 1985 graduate of the school, having earned a degree in political science. The school retired his basketball number last year.

"It is a terrific honor. It is so much of an honor I didn't know if I should take it, honestly," Rivers said. "It came out of left field. (Marquette head coach) Tom Crean kind of called me and prepped me for it and I had to think about it. It caught me off guard. It really did. It's a huge honor for me."

Not interested

Ainge was asked if he would ever take on a player like Indiana's Ron Artest , who has requested a trade. While the former Defensive Player of the Year is a gifted player, he also comes with baggage, and Ainge said his young team doesn't have a strong enough personality to successfully integrate someone like Artest.

But Ainge did say that it would depend on the player and his situation, bringing up former Celtic Dennis Johnson. A malcontent in Seattle and Phoenix, Johnson was brought to Boston and gave in to the strong team concept. He was the final piece to the Celts' last two championships, in 1984 and '86.