The Boston Celtics are stuck between Jason Kidd and a hard place. How do they save themselves? Can they save themselves and who can step up and get the job done?

After appearing to take control of the Eastern Conference finals by seizing homecourt advantage with Saturday's miracle comeback against the New Jersey Nets, the Celtics lacked the will to finish the job on Monday. Now, they go back to the Meadowlands and they go back to trouble.

	Kenny Anderson has averaged 12.5 points and 4.8 assists in the East finals.

The major problem here is the absence of a third major contributor on offense and an absence of an interior defense. When Keith Van Horn and Kidd come calling in the lane, a Celtic big man has to step up and present an argument.

Want to point a finger? Make it two fingers. The Celtics don't have even a quasi-legitimate center. They even lack a big man who can body up. There are no rotations to stop Kidd, no Celtic with the quickness and physical stature to slow Kidd and take away his angles.

Four games into the series, Kidd is averaging a triple-double -- 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.2 assists. He's only a 39 percent shooter, but it really hasn't mattered.

But for the marvelous comeback on Saturday -- it says here it was the mark of the Nets folding in shock rather than the Celtics dominating -- this series could be ending Wednesday night.

So, who can save the Celtics and send Red Auerbach's cigar to the championship round? Who can join Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker in a three-pronged attack and make a difference?

Not Tony Battie, a sliver of a figure (remember when Dan Issel called him "El Busto?"). Not Rodney Rogers, who wants no inside game. Not Eric Williams who has faded badly. Tony Delk's skills are limited and he can't be on the floor for extended minutes.

Well, then, how about Kenny Anderson, the point guard and second-highest salaried Celtic, brought over in a trade by Rick Pitino to play in a style utterly unsuited to his physical stature and will?

Anderson has been a more effective performer in the postseason than at virtually any time since he came to Boston from Portland through Toronto (he never played a game for the Raptors) in the middle of the 1997-98 season.

A better player in Jim O'Brien's more structured system, he's the Celtics' No. 3 scorer in the series, averaging 12.5 points a game. He's also penetrating occasionally, getting and converting make-able jump shots and moving the ball sometimes when they let him have it -- although his assists total (4.8) isn't very impressive.

When Anderson bolted Georgia Tech after his sophomore season, the Nets saw him as their future. He stayed 4½ years across the river from his home in Queens, but the franchise wasn't gaining so they peddled him to Charlotte during the 1997-98 season. Then the Nets showed they had not learned their lesson about immature Georgia Tech point guards and dealt for Stephon Marbury from Brooklyn a year later. He couldn't fool Rod Thorn, who shipped Marbury to Phoenix for Kidd.

Anderson came up a winner, making it to the East finals this season and playing more than 34 games (76) for only the second time in four years. He showed some leadership that had been missing with the Celtics.

He argues it's time. "Hey, look, I'm a veteran player," Anderson said. "I'm a smart basketball player."

Anderson contends that Kidd contributes more because "he's asked to do more for his team than I am." Of course, that avoids the obvious: Kidd, three inches taller and 37 pounds heavier and of a far more generous nature to his game, is asked to do more because he is more capable than Anderson.

	Says Delk: 'Kenny is our leader,' a point that can be argued. But if this is even remotely true, it's time for Anderson to do exactly that -- lead.

Can Anderson adapt his game to Kidd? Will he be asked to help Pierce accomplish the thankless task of controlling the best point guard in the game? Not likely.

Wearing the pride of a New York native like a shirt, he says, "Look, I've played 11 years in this league, and I've played Jason Kidd numerous times. I'm not changing nothing. ... I've been sitting back all year letting Antoine and Paul dictate things. When I'm asked to do more, I do it."

OK, there are enough issues to spread around: