toledoblade.com --

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Rasheed Wallace hasn't been able to extend defenses with his 3-point shooting as much recently.

The 6-foot-11 Wallace is shooting 30.5 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs, and just 20 percent in the Eastern Conference finals. Entering Game 4 last night at the Palace, he was mired in a 3-for-26 slump.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders attributed Wallace's struggles from long range in this series, in part, to his matchup against Kevin Garnett, the league's defensive player of the year, and the jockeying that takes place between them through the course of the game.

"Sometimes what happens, you get later in the year, your legs aren't quite there," Saunders said. "He's put in some extra time in practice shooting. He understands he needs to get that going to ease some pressure and make the rest of his game flow a little bit more."

It won't work for Wallace to simply try to get things going inside because of Garnett.

"We've gone to him early and Garnett has gotten somewhat aggressive and pushed him out a bit," Saunders said. "He's just not going to get plain, easy, open looks on K.G. He's going to have to do both."

ASKING AROUND: Several of the Celtics' players have been asked if they think Pistons guard Chauncey Billups looks healthy after Billups missed some time in the conference semifinals with an injured hamstring. Most answer with a politically correct statement that he's playing well, but Celtics guard Rajon Rondo seemed to be a bit more honest.

"I don't believe Chauncey is 100 percent," Rondo said. "Like I said [Saturday], I don't think nobody in the postseason right now is 100 percent."

MOVIN' ON UP: Before this year Celtics coach Doc Rivers had never coached in a playoff series past the first round. Now that he's coached Boston to two series wins, he said the rounds don't feel that much different.

"It's the same. It's about adjustments and getting guys ready," Rivers said. "You learn every day. I hope I never stop doing that. Most of the things, it's not any different. Each time you go to a series, that opponent has different problems you have to try to solve. Other than that it's the same."

DRIBBLES: Boston has yet to trail a series in the postseason. ... Richard Hamilton became the all-time Pistons leader in playoff games played last night, surpassing Bill Laimbeer by appearing in his 114th game. He matched a team record in Game 3 by making all 16 of his free throws.