By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- History has proven that Ray Allen and Eddie House are two of the better 3-point shooters in the NBA, but this season both sharpshooters have struggled with their 3-point shot.

Allen is only knocking down 27.1 percent of his shots from behind-the-arc, and House has is only connecting on 21.9 percent of his 3-point shots so far this season.

Boston coach Doc Rivers believes that they will break out of their shooting slump soon.

"They're human so they are going to have [bad] nights," Rivers said. "I've seen Larry Bird miss two free throws in a row. It happens...The great thing about them, and this is a great lesson for our group, is [on Thursday] at [about] 8:30 [a.m.] Ray was in the gym practicing.

"He was already there shooting and that's what shooters do. They shoot it out. And the next guy was Eddie. They were shooting away and I told our young guys who showed up at 11:15, `that's why they are who they are. They take their craft seriously and that's why they are great shooters.'"

For his career, Allen has knocked down nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers, and House has connected on 38 percent of his 3-point shots.