CLEVELAND – Sam Cassell insists that of all the big shots he’s swished in his 15-year pro career, not one sticks in his mind.

Of all the wins in his 124 career playoff games, Cassell won’t brand any of them his favorites.

“All of them are special. I don’t have one particular moment,” Cassell said before playoff game number 125 last night. “I made a lot of big shots but I don’t look at it that way. It’s a team effort. It’s about bringing it each and every night.”

Last night was not a good one for Cassell or the Celtics. They lost Game Three of the playoff series to Cleveland, 108-84. Unlike other games in these playoffs, Cassell wasn't able to provide a spark off the bench as he managed one point (0-for-6 shooting) in 18 minutes.

Cassell wears two NBA championship rings on his hand thanks to his supporting actor role next to big man Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston back in 1994 and `95. Those were the 6-foot-3 guard’s first two seasons in the league but the playoffs remained a special place for Cassell as he bopped around the NBA. The Celtics are the sixth team he’s joined in time for the post-season. Four times he’s averaged more points in the playoffs than during the regular season.

“I understand playoff basketball. I don’t get too high or get too down,” Cassell says. “I just understand what’s at stake and try to do what I can to make my team successful.”

Danny Ainge knew all about Cassell’s playoff past. When Cassell was released from his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in early March, the Celtics were the team he wanted to play for. Cassell is a former teammate of Kevin Garnett’s (with Minnesota), was friendly with several other Celtics and saw a team ready to make a legitimate championship run. Once he finally joined the team, Cassell stepped into a reserve role behind point guard Rajon Rondo and prepared himself for the playoffs.

“Before I got here, this team had won 55 games. They were good already so I didn’t have to do a whole lot,” he said. “I had to understand the terminology we use around here, the plays and get comfortable with the guys. So I think I’m in a comfort zone now where the guys understand what I’m going to do when I come into the game.”

Just as everyone assumed, Cassell has shown up in the playoffs for the Celtics. He scored in double figures in three games of the Atlanta series and bailed out the Celts in Game One against Cleveland. With both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen struggling, Cassell nailed two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. His two free throws with 52 seconds left snapped a 70-70 tie and helped the Celtics survive, 76-72. In Game Two, Cassell came in early for a struggling Rondo and scored all nine of his points in the first half for Boston’s convincing 89-73 victory.

“He’s just good in the playoffs in general,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He was pretty big in a couple games, at home at least, against Atlanta. The guy has made big shots in his life. It’s not going to bother him if he has to take one.”

Cassell has seen more minutes in this series than the Celtics would like. Rondo struggled defensively early in Game Two and he played poorly out of the gate last night as Delonte West shot the ball over him early on and the Celtics’ offense had no flow in the first quarter. Rivers was hoping for a big bounce-back game from Rondo to combine with Cassell’s play.

“One night it’ll be Rajon, one night it’ll be Sam. The night we’re looking for is when it’s both. That would be terrific,” he said.

Cassell has taken an instant-offense role with the Celts but he usually plays with several other reserves and not the team’s leaders. Rivers had Cassell on the floor with three other reserves and Paul Pierce to begin the second quarter last night. “That’s Doc Rivers. Like he always says, we always have to be ready,” said Cassell.

Boston’s starters dug an ugly 32-13 hole after the first quarter and while Cassell and the reserves helped mount a bit of a push, the Cavaliers held a commanding 52-45 lead at the half. Cassell and his fellow bench players know they’ll be counted on again in this series and you can be sure that the veteran guard will be ready to take some more big shots.