01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 26, 2006

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- What began as a conversation with Doc Rivers about why he activated Ryan Gomes for last night's game with the Wizards turned into a mini-rant from the Celtics head coach regarding his feelings about the inactive list.

"Before the season, I really liked the inactive list, and now I've kind of changed on it a little bit," Rivers said. "I still like it; I just think everyone who is healthy should be able to put a uniform on. I don't understand why we need to play that game. I think, if you're paying for 15 players, then why can't 15 players have a uniform on? I think a lot of coaches feel that way.

"Every night, you have to go to a guy and say, 'You're not going to play tonight, and you're going to dress tonight.' The teams who want to carry 15 [players] should dress 15; the teams that want to carry 13 should dress 13. I'm sure there's a reason; my guess would be that the teams who don't like carrying more will say the other teams have an advantage."

Gomes has been inactive all month, as Rivers has opted to go with second-year forward Justin Reed. But Reed's minutes, like Gomes' earlier this season, have been inconsistent.

"No, it's not anything deep," Rivers said, when asked why he decided to flip Gomes and Reed. "[Gomes] has been playing well in practice, the few that we've had, and I just wanted to put him in a uniform, to be honest. It's not like either [Gomes or Reed] is pulling away from the other guy."

Gomes said being in uniform "is an opportunity. That's what I take it as. If you're in uniform, you have an opportunity to play."

But, he didn't play last night.

Gomes, the rookie from Providence College, has been on the inactive list since Jan. 4, but has not played in a game since Dec. 31, when he played two minutes in a road win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Artest coming to town

Controversial forward Ron Artest finally got his wish yesterday, getting traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Sacramento Kings. The Pacers will get sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic in exchange.

Artest -- whose many misdeeds include breaking Michael Jordan's ribs in a 2001 pickup game, smashing video equipment after a 2003 loss to New York, asking for time off to promote a rap album and, most famously, charging after a Detroit fan and inciting a brawl in November 2004 -- publicly demanded a trade last month. The Pacers fined him and placed him on the inactive list, and he has not played a game in six weeks.

Rivers, for one, is glad to see the ordeal over, even if Artest's first game with the Kings will be tomorrow night against his Celtics.

"I'm glad that it's over, honestly. I'm glad it's over and I'm glad for the league that it's over," Rivers said. "I think our league has made some pretty good strides, and when you have that kind of stuff . . I don't think that's good for our league. I'm just glad we can move on. Let's talk about Kobe's 81 [points in a game on Sunday], let's talk about [Hornets rookie] Chris Paul, let's talk about Shaq."

Here and there

Washington center Brendan Haywood had 14 first-half points, just two off his season high. . . . Four members of the New England Patriots coaching staff were in attendance last night. Newly elevated offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, running backs coach Ivan Fears, defensive line coach Pepper Johnson and special teams coach Brad Seely were sitting four rows behind the Celtics' bench.

smanza@projo.com / (401) 277-7340