Sometimes players like to be coy and beat around the bush when asked whether or not an injury will keep them out of the lineup. Then there's Ray Allen.

According to Howard Beck via twitter, when asked Wednesday morning whether he would be okay with resting for a game after Doc Rivers broached the idea, Allen had a simple and eloquent response; "hell no."

Well, that takes care of that now doesn't it?

Allen has been struggling mightily this postseason after injuring his right ankle. One of the best career free throw shooters in NBA history is down to the 65 percent range. It's been brutal to watch, but with Avery Bradley done for the remainder of the postseason and a very lackluster bench, Allen has soldiered on.

It will be very intriguing to see how Rivers handles this situation now that Allen has publicly and emphatically shot down the notion of resting him.

For more on the Celtics, please be sure to visit our site Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

According to Yahoo! Sports, winning the Anthony Davis sweepstakes will only help the Brooklyn Nets so much, because Deron Williams will still be on his way out the door.

Brooklyn has been hoping that if a minor miracle happens on Wednesday night in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery and they get the top pick, Williams would stick around with Davis coming into the fold.

However, it seems the only way Williams will remain a Net is with a trade for Dwight Howard, the embattled Orlando Magic center.

Williams reportedly doesn't want to have to wait around for the team to turn into a serious contender in the Eastern Conference, and who can blame him? It's been a tough year and a half for the star point guard, losing tons of games while waiting for a big star to come join him.

Brooklyn needs to make a move and fast, or it appears Williams won't be around to open the Barclays Center in the fall. According to the report from Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, a Davis-for-Howard swap is one the Nets are willing to make -- provided they land the No. 1 overall pick and have that opportunity

-- For more on the Nets, please be sure to visit our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

The 2012 NBA Draft is nearing as the season will come to a close in the next few weeks. With that time comes the mock drafts, and very few are legitimate like the one over at DraftExpress.com.

According to their mock, the Philadelphia 76ers are linked to Terrance Jones out of the University of Kentucky with the 15th pick of the first round.

The Sixers could use a long athletic forward to pair with Andre Iguodala (if they don't trade him). Jones is a 6-foot-9 power forward who would fit in great alongside the other pieces already in place. Elton Brand could be moved to the bench where he could be more effective playing less minutes.

Jones would immediately make the bench deeper and the starters better with his bevy of abilities on the inside.

Also in the second round, the Sixers were mocked to take Kostas Papanikolaou, a small forward from Greece and Nihad Djedovic, also a small forward who hails from Bosnia.

For more on the 76ers, please be sure to check out our blog Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

With the 2012 NBA Draft only about a month away, the mock drafts are starting to pop up.

DraftExpress.com does an excellent job at this, and they've linked the Boston Celtics with center Meyers Leonard of Illinois with their first pick.

With the following selection, the Celtics are mocked to take Evan Fournier, a guard/forward combo from France. In the second round, Tu Holloway from Xavier is being taken by Boston according this write-up.

Leonard would make sense on a few levels. The first is the Celtics' obvious need for a center. Kevin Garnett can play there if he has to, but he's much better suited for the power forward role. Even if Leonard just turned out to be quality depth, that would be a boon to Boston considering its struggling bench.

Fournier is only 19-years-old, but can really shoot and shows considerable touch from the outside. At 6-foot-7, the France native is an intriguing pick in the latter stages of the first round.

Holloway starred at Xavier University for a program that has churned out nice players like James Posey and David West recently. Holloway has always shown a knack for making the big play at the right time, so maybe he could fit in as a key reserve.

For more on the Celtics, please be sure to visit our page Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

The New York Yankees will try to avoid being swept by the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday Night at Angel Stadium.

New York came into the series winners of five in a row before being beaten 9-8 on Monday and subsequently 5-1 on Tuesday evening.

The Yankees will need a solid outing tonight by Ivan Nova. The second year man hasn't been as effective as he was in 2011 when he won 16 games and arguably was the second best pitcher on the team behind CC Sabathia.

Nova is 5-2 but has an inflated ERA of 5.46. In his last start he pitched a decent game against the Oakland A's, giving up three runs in seven innings. In his two outings before that, Nova allowed 10 earned runs in just 11 1/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds.

Opposing Nova will be Ervin Santana for the Angels. Santana has had a brutal time of it this year, with a 2-6 record and a 4.45 ERA. Many have expected Santana to emerge as a dominant pitcher in the fourth spot of the rotation behind Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and C.J. Wilson, but it just hasn't happened.

In Santana's only start against the Yankees this year, he was tagged with a loss after surrendering five runs in six frames.

TV: ESPN2

Time: 10:05 p.m. ET

For more on the Yankees, please be sure to check out our blog Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

The New York Mets will try to make it two in a row and take their series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

The Phillies took the first game before New York struck back last night in a rain-filled affair. If the Mets can find a way to win once again, it will mark the first time this season that they're seven games over .500. Not bad for a team many thought would lose 90 games.

Dillon Gee will toe the rubber for New York, looking for a second consecutive good outing. In his last appearance, he struck out nine and only allowed one run in a seven inning effort against the San Diego Padres.

Gee has been maddening this season with a 4-3 record but also a 4.89 ERA. The arsenal of weapons is there for Gee to become a very solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher, but the consistency has been lacking.

He'll be opposed by one of the best in Cliff Lee. However, Lee is still searching for his first win on the year. Lee has pitched excellently which is shown by his 2.82 ERA.

Unfortunately for him, his run support on most nights is embarrassingly pathetic.

TV: SNY

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

The Philadelphia Phillies will try to take the rubber game of their series with the New York Mets on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

The Phillies took the first game behind an eight run onslaught before losing 6-3 last night. Philadelphia needs a win in the worst way with the news coming down yesterday that Roy Halladay will be going on the disabled list for six to eight weeks.

Cliff Lee will be taking the mound and incredibly, searching for his first win on the year. Lee has pitched very well to the tune of a 2.82 ERA. Unfortunately, his run support on most nights have been absolutely non-existent.

Opposing him for the Amazin's is Dillon Gee. Gee has been underwhelming and very inconsistent this season. His 4-3 record doesn't accurately reflect his sub-par performance as well as his 4.89 ERA does.

However in his last start, Gee pitched great against the San Diego Padres, giving up only one run in seven innings while striking out nine.

Philly has to get something going to continue its winning ways of late. With a victory, the Phils would be 6-2 in their last eight contests.

TV: CSN

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

When the ping pong balls stop jumping around, Anthony Davis will know what the future holds for him.

It will most likely be the greatest player (and the worst owner?) of all-time if the percentages hold true. He'd be headed to Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery.

Of course, the percentages are far from a sure fire bet. If you remember, the Chicago Bulls had less than a one percent chance to land Derrick Rose out of Memphis, but that's the way it worked out.

Unlike most years, the draft is chock full of real talent through the first ten selections or so, but the big prize is Davis, the freshman sensation from the University of Kentucky.

It's always fun to watch the team executives who are forced to sit there after abject failure the prior year, desperate to keep their jobs while wishing for that oasis that is the number one selection.

The lottery is always great theater, unless you're the unfortunate soul or fan base who should take the top pick but ends up with the fifth selection.

Here is a full list of the percentages each team has for the first overall selection:

Charlotte Bobcats: 25.0%

Washington Wizards:19.9%

Cleveland Cavaliers: 13.8%

New Orleans Hornets: 13.7%

Sacramento Kings: 7.6%

Brooklyn Nets: 7.5%

Golden State Warriors: 3.6%

Toronto Raptors: 3.5%

Detroit Pistons: 1.7%

Minnesota Timberwolves: 1.1%

Portland Trail Blazers: 0.8%

Milwaukee Bucks: 0.7%

Phoenix Suns: 0.6%

Houston Rockets: 0.5%

TV: ESPN

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

For more on the NBA Draft Lottery, please be sure to check out SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

By tonight, Anthony Davis will know what kind of clothes he needs to buy.

It will most likely be some shorts and a few new t-shirts if the percentages hold true. He'd be headed to Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats if all goes according to plan on Wednesday night in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery.

Of course, things don't always turn out as the percentages would predict. Only a few years ago, the Chicago Bulls had less than a one percent chance to land the number one overall pick but did exactly that when Derrick Rose was the marquee name.

This year, the draft is stocked with legitimate talent through the first ten selections but the big prize is Davis, the shot-blocking machine out of Kentucky.

It's always fun to watch the lottery with the suspense building the whole time. The team executives are basically desperate to hold onto their jobs after failing miserably and praying for that top pick.

The lottery is always a good time, unless you happen to be the guy who should draft first but ends up with the fifth selection.

Here is a full list of the percentages each team has for the first overall selection:

Charlotte Bobcats: 25.0%

Washington Wizards:19.9%

Cleveland Cavaliers: 13.8%

New Orleans Hornets: 13.7%

Sacramento Kings: 7.6%

Brooklyn Nets: 7.5%

Golden State Warriors: 3.6%

Toronto Raptors: 3.5%

Detroit Pistons: 1.7%

Minnesota Timberwolves: 1.1%

Portland Trail Blazers: 0.8%

Milwaukee Bucks: 0.7%

Phoenix Suns: 0.6%

Houston Rockets: 0.5%

TV: ESPN

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

For more on the NBA Draft Lottery, please be sure to check out SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

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Per NBCSports.com, outfielder Ryan Sweeney was activated off of the disabled list today after suffering a concussion.

The Boston Red Sox should be thrilled to get Sweeney back into the fold. The team has been absolutely riddled with injuries especially in the outfield. In fact, seven different outfielders for Boston have made a trip to the DL at one point or another this season.

Sweeney was playing very well before getting injured. The right fielder was hitting .311 and really providing a nice spark while the team was trying to find its way.

Manager Bobby Valentine isn't wasting any time getting Sweeney back into the swing of things, putting him into the lineup today against the Detroit Tigers. However, Sweeney will be in center field, where he has only started six games all year. He'll be batting seventh in the order.

To make room for Sweeney, Che-Hsuan Lin was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket.

For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to visit our blog Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

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After a grueling season, the Manhattan Jaspers took home the 2012 MAAC Baseball Championship on Sunday at Joe Bruno Stadium.

Manhattan was able to defend its MAAC crown by taking care of business against the Canisius Golden Griffins in 11 innings, 3-2.

Taylor Sewitt was the big story of the day. After relieving starter Matt Jordan with the bases loaded and nobody out in the first inning, Sewitt pitched a shutout after allowing a two-run single (the runs were charged to Jordan).

Kyle Murphy earned the clutch RBI in the top of the 11th on a single back up the box to put the Jaspers ahead for good.

Not surprisingly, Sewitt was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player in large part to his incredible effort on the MAAC's biggest stage. In the tourney, Sewitt pitched 22 innings, all in elimination games and never surrendered one run.

That's truly the stuff of legends, and it has Manhattan in the NCAA Tournament.

For more on the MAAC Baseball Tournament, please be sure to check out out StoryStream for all the latest news and notes.

In the end, maybe Dan Wheldon was at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday afternoon.

Wheldon, who was the winner of the prestigious race last year before his tragic death in October, was surely watching when Dario Franchitti took the checked flag for the third time in the Indy 500.

Franchitti was followed to the finish line by Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan, both very close friends of Wheldon.

"I think a lot of us that were close to Dan, you know, you wanted it that little bit more," Dixon said. "I guess maybe in the back of your mind, you figured he would probably help you out today, too. I think in that situation, seeing how it lined up with the top three, three of Dan's friends, it was a tough one."

It was a fitting way for a bittersweet day to end.

"Everybody up there was a friend of Dan's, and that about sums it up. Everybody loved him," Franchitti said with bagpipes playing behind him on the P.A. system.

Marco Andretti finished 24th in the race, never really being much of a factor in the afternoon.

Here's a full rundown of how the race concluded with every position noted.

For more on the Indy 500, please be sure to check out our StoryStream for all the latest news and notes.

It's down to the final two in the Men's Lacrosse season.

Loyola (MD) and Maryland will square off in the 2012 Men's Lacrosse National Championship Game on Monday afternoon for the right to be crowned.

Most expected the Greyhounds (17-1) to be in this position heading into the tournament. Loyola is ranked No. 1 and showed why in the first round, crushing Canisius 17-5. However, the games have much tighter the last few weekends, beating Denver 10-9 and Notre Dame 7-5 en route to the title game.

The Terrapins are a far bigger surprise. Maryland (12-5) is unseeded but yet finds itself in this position. After squeaking by seventh-seeded Lehigh in the first round 10-9, the Terps crushed No. 2 John Hopkins 11-5 and No. 3 Duke 16-10 to reach today.

Maryland is looking to erase the pain of losing last year's championship game to Virginia. It won't be easy considering the Greyhounds have only one loss on the year.

The championship will undoubtedly go to Maryland, where in the state it rests is still a matter of contention.

TV: ESPN

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

For more on the Lacrosse Championship, please be sure to check out our StoryStream for all the latest news and updates.

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With OTA's underway and the fans starting to look forward at the 2012 season, predictions are running rampant. There are always obvious contenders and cellar dwellers that take up about half of the league. Then you have the x-factors. The Kansas City Chiefs for many are one of those teams.

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Not often do you see a gold glove first baseman somehow find himself ambling around in the outfield. Then again, we are talking about the Boston Red Sox.

After going to right field for only the sixth time in his great career, Adrian Gonzalez will again be back out there with the return of Kevin Youkilis shuffling the deck.

Not much in the way of changes for Wednesday's affair, sans a different catcher and Marlon Byrd taking a day off in favor of Scott Podsednik.

Without further adieu, the lineups for today's 12:35 p.m. ET game:

Mike Aviles, SS

Dustin Pedroia, 2B

David Ortiz, DH

Adrian Gonzalez, RF

Kevin Youkilis, 1B

Will Middlebrooks, 3B

Daniel Nava, LF

Scott Podsednik, CF

Kelly Shoppach, C

Manager Bobby Valentine has to be hoping for some better production than last night, which only yielded only run off of Brian Matusz. With a win, the Red Sox can climb back to .500.

The chances the Philadelphia 76ers see a Game Seven just got better.

According to SB Nation's Gethin Coolbaugh, Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has said he doesn't believe Avery Bradley will be available to play Wednesday night in Game Six against the Sixers.

Bradley's continued absence could be a serious blow after being such a crucial cog in their success throughout the entire season, including the playoffs. Bradley is one of the best defensive players in the league, capable of shutting down just about any guard one-on -one.

The loss of Bradley for tonight's game could put a lot more of the onus on Ray Allen to produce some extra minutes.

Boston was able to win Game Five rather easily without Bradley, but it will become a tougher task as the series drags on and becomes more of a grudge match. A shoulder injury is always tough to figure, considering the amount of stress it goes through in a normal NBA game.

Philly needs to take advantage of this while Boston is still trying to reshuffle its rotation.

For more on the 76ers, please be sure to check out our blog Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

The Boston Celtics job just got a little bit tougher.

According to Gethin Coolbaugh, head coach Doc Rivers has stated that he doesn't believe Avery Bradley will be ready to play on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers,

Bradley would be a major loss after being such a bright spot through the entire season, including this playoff run. He's one of the best on-ball defenders in the game and without him, could put a lot more stress on Ray Allen to play some extra minutes.

Boston was able to win Game Five in convincing fashion without Bradley, but it will become a tougher task with each passing game. A shoulder injury is always tricky to deal with, considering the amount of stress it goes through in a typical NBA game.

Bradley is doubtful for Game Six while his return date is still very much in the air for a team with aspirations of a title.

For more on the Celtics, please check out our site Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

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Maybe Allen Iverson isn't totally putting the NBA in his rear view mirror.

While his playing days are surely a thing of the past, Iverson is showing support for his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, on a night where they can use all the help they can get.

Iverson, according to Tzvi Twersky via twitter, will be in attendance for Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics.

Related: Video of Iverson pumping up the crowd and being interviewed during the game.

Of course it goes without saying what a legend Iverson is in the city of brotherly love. While he was never able to capture a championship, he brought the Sixers to an NBA Finals despite having one of the worst supporting casts of all time.

In case you were wondering or in need of a refresher course, here's the starting lineup for Philly in Game One of the 2001 NBA Finals:

C: Dikembe Mutombo

PF: Tyrone Hill

SF: Jumaine Jones

G: Aaron McKie

G: Allen Iverson

Just for that, Iverson deserves a warm and very long starting ovation at the Wells Fargo Center tonight when he's shown on the big board.

For more on the 76ers, please be sure to visit our blog Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.