Catching Up On Quotes And Anecdotes

Bill Walker on his injury:

"[The recovery process] is going to be one of the easiest rehabs I’ve had. Of all my injuries, this is going to be the easiest one."

Doctors have told Walker, who turns 22 on Friday, that recovery will take 6-8 weeks, but Walker has a shorter period in mind until his return to the court.

"Four weeks," he said, jaw set, during a visit to the team’s Waltham practice facility for treatment. After so many interruptions to his pro basketball career, Walker’s frustration level could understandably hit an overflow level.

"It gets a little frustrating, but I can’t control it," he said. "Whatever happens, I just have to keep a clear head and get through it."

Doc, talking about where he wants this defense to be:

"We want to be a great defensive team," Rivers said on NBA TV. "We felt the last two years we have been. There’s another level that we can get to. … When you talk football and you [ask who is] the best defensive team to ever play, you think Chicago Bears. You think ’85 Bears. Well, we want to be in that argument some day."

Doc discussing Shelden Williams:

Asked yesterday what was expected of Williams, who joined the Celtics as an unrestricted free agent in August, Rivers replied: "Very similar to Baby’s role - terrific 15-foot shooter, can pop, he’s strong, can really rebound. That’s his role. He’s still trying to find his way. He’s been really robotic, so far, because he’s trying to learn the offense and figure out what we’re doing and figure out how he fits into that.’’

Doc on Marquis' Daniels:

"Of all the guys who guarded Paul, I thought he did one of the best jobs," said Rivers.

But there’s more.

"High basketball IQ, multidimensional," Rivers said. "I mean, he can do so many different things. He can play the 2 and 3 for us. And he may be our best defender at the 1, 2 and 3. Rondo is the best (guarding point guards), but he’s right behind him.

"I didn’t like coaching against him. And when you don’t like coaching against a guy, you try to get him."

Ray Allen wants to stay in shape:

Ray Allen spent post-practice time in a shooting competition with Brian Scalabrine, then ran sprints by himself.

"I told myself during the summer that I was going to be in the best shape I’ve ever been in,’’ Allen said. "I start the season off and play pretty well. But I like to be in good shape, and that doesn’t mean just to be able to score the ball, but to be able to have my body in front of me on defense, have my legs strong, and starting off the season where I’m not feeling that early-season fatigue.

... and sheds light on his injury during the playoffs last season:

"My hamstring was bothering me, but it was something going on in my lower back," Allen said yesterday. "You get toward the end of the season something is going to be wrong with you, and that’s what that was. You get the trainer to take care of it and once the game starts you just push it forward. Ben Gordon was dealing with his hamstring, and as you get older you learn not to talk about it."

... and finally, shares his thoughts on signing an extension:

[T]hough Allen would prefer to get a contract extension signed as soon as possible, he’s not going to let that desire get in his or his team’s way.

"Naturally you have thoughts, but you just stay focused on what you have to do each day," Allen said. "Everyone has thoughts about security and your kids’ future. You think about how you’re going to live in 10 years or whatever, but it’s the present that you’ve got to take care of.