Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine has been cleared to practice with the team tomorrow and could play as soon as Thursday night, according to Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Scalabrine has suffered three concussions this season and has not played since Feb. 23 at Denver.
almost 3 years ago
Jeff Clark
46 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Awesome News
Go Scal! Gotta wonder though how much he is going to bring to the table having missed so much time.
Gotta love Scals
He is really going out on a limb to help his team right now. If he can get back to what he was doing early this year, playing the Posey role in the small lineup, we just might be able to win a couple rounds despite our ultra thin front line.
His ability to hit the three and stretch the floor from the 4spot is a game changer. This force Chicago to adjust their D when he is out there.
Just in time!
Now that leon is out, we need someone other than moore off the bench. I saw Scal shooting around at halftime of the last regular season game, he looked pretty good. I hope he’s ready to go.
I am scared
This playoffs are very physical and there is a lot of bodies flying around, I don’t want anything happening to Scal
we really need scal
but i am very nervous about him on the court right now. concussions are no joke. i hope they find something that he can wear to add protection. 3 concussions in a few months is a scary thing.
Good for Scal..
You gotta know the competitor in him is relishing the chance to get back into action, especially considering Powe is out for the season and WE REALLY NEED HIM. Good for Scal.
That said, I’m not exactly expecting very much from him. He hasn’t played in over 2 months, he probably is not in good shape, and very rusty to boot. But he’s probably better than Mikki even with that said.
And let me just echo what Doc said a couple weeks ago: the best thing about Scal playing is that you don’t have look at his clothes. Did anybody see what he was wearing last night? It was an absolutely terrible ensemble, capped off in crapitude by a bright red(!) sweater underneath his blazer, which just about matched his hair! Seriously, is Scal color-blind? Dude needs a makeover, pronto!
by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Apr 21, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions
I wouldn't expect
much from Scal for a while. He’s got to be seriously rusty. He’s an upgrade of Less is Moore though.
by The Real Large James 2 on Apr 21, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions
gotta agree here
he’s not going to be very sharp, regardless
he might know where to stand on the floor though, which is an upgrade on Moore right now
we’ll see
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
all scal has is fundamental skills. not playing for awhile doesn't erode you much, know what I mean?
i would be worried his jumper will be off but i wouldn’t expect his defensive timing to be missing.
Go Scal.....
Hard to believe, the majority of C’s fans wanted him out of here after his first year in Boston. Now we’re looking for him to be a savior.
The well is runnung dry!
Ironic……………isn’t it?
Scal was the whipping boy of all for the past couple of years.
They say you don’t miss the water till the well runs dry.
H - E - L - P
They need all the help they can get…Scal will provide some of that.
Thanks Scal!
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk
Protection
I’m just throwing this out there, but is there any kind of concussion protection that Scal can wear in the game? I guess I’m picturing some sort of wrestling helmet that covers the vital head areas. It would look weird, but Scal don’t give a crap about that anyway.
by ShakersJacobson on Apr 21, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions
Seriously bad idea
He had 3 concussions. He’s supposed to be out for the season. And he’s not going to be the difference anyway.
The way this season is going, this could be the next horror story. Don’t like this one bit…
i agree
this is called seeing the trees and missing the forest.
the celts are not going to win it all without KG (and now Powe). so you decide to bring scal back just to eke by the bulls.
bad decision by scal and the entire organization. let him get better for 2009-2010.
Your concern is commendable
But, seriously, the Cs will not bring back Scal unless he’s medically cleared. So don’t worry about.
by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Apr 21, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right, one would think, but
…that presumes that they don’t make mistakes. Problem is, if this report is true, it sounds like they’re about to make one. All 3 major neuro/sports organizations have guidelines that clearly state: 3 concussions = end of season. I don’t see how they can clear him. (Unless they want to call the post season another “season”… that would be so weird.) If he plays, he will be in danger. I don’t see why he should take that risk.
Which protocols are you refering to?
There are a few of them and some are more restrictive than others., there is a lack of agreement especially about how to manage the return after subsequent concussions. But all of them are generally very conservative and each case is an individual case. Brian Scalabrine has certainly been asymptomatic for several weeks and he’s playing basketball, not football or boxing. He’ll be perfectly fine.
Cantu's, et al
Robert Cantu, the Cs’ neuro doc, has published guidelines which specify that after 3 concussions of any severity in one season, athletes should not play for the rest of that season. There are no exceptions for “individual cases”. Most other guidelines agree, especially if the grade is 2 or higher.
Scal might be “perfectly fine”, if he doesn’t get hit in the head again. If he does, he could suffer permanent damage, or worse.
It would be amazing to me if he is allowed to play this season. The risk/reward ratio is extremely high. It’s just too crazy.
Yeps
But Cantu’s guidelines are like 20 years old or something: there are other protocols and more recent ones. I think Scal only had two grade 1 concussions – that’s what was publicly said anyway. If he’s been asymptomatic for 6 weeks, he can play. And there are always individual exceptions, that’s stressed even on Cantu guidelines.
And look, you’re being overdramatic. The risks of suffering permanent damage or worse due to another concussion are associated with the second-impact syndrome, which is not only extremely rare and has a much higher rate of incidence on teenagers, but, essentially, is a complication that results from athletes returning before symptoms have subsided. Scal is at no risk of SIS; merely at a higher risk of suffering another concussion. But with that he’ll live the rest of his life; just like anyone else who has suffered from previous concussions (like myself and billions of other people around the world).
It's getting hard to keep up with your imagination
Maybe you should publish your own guidelines. And your version of reality. Here are some facts:
- Scal had 3 concussions. Note: The last one was probably a grade 3 (symptoms longer than 7 days, per Cantu’s 2001 guidelines).
- Scal was still having headaches as little as ~3 weeks ago (Mar 29, per Herald).
Cantu, CMS and AAN all recommend ending the season after a 3rd concussion.
- We’re not talking about SIS, a catastrophic event. We’re talking about a 4th concussion and the damage that may cause.
- These guidelines exist for a reason. They may be conservative, but they should be, because you’re dealing with very serious consequences if you’re wrong.
Whatever… what we say here won’t make any difference. If he plays, I hope nothing happens. I also hope everyone involved… team, Scal, and his docs… all have very good insurance… and not just medical.
Even if he was a high impact addition
this flat out scares me. That’s no picnic out there and we don’t need a martyr.
by Thruthelookingglass on Apr 21, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Stay healthy Scal
Walker and Tony will play more, the C’s will have to play small ball
also
now we don’t need to ? docs substitutions…
not many soldiers left.
It will be a miracle if we get past DA bulls.
We need to see more Walker and Allen.....especially
Once in for all we need Tony Allen to step up and play (consistently) like the player he’s supposed to be. Scal will be a non factor, why risk your health/life buddy? Not worth it this year. Get better my friend.
If the Cowboys could only play like a team with passion and unity like my beloved
Boston Celtics, I would be happy.
by Captain Comeback on Apr 21, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions
What do you want, Tony to sub himself into the game?
Doc needs to start playing TA pronto. We can’t defend at all on the perimeter right now and yet our best perimeter defender isn’t getting off the bench. What am I missing? Don’t come at me with how you don’t trust him on the offensive end. It’s about the defense right now…we’re scoring just fine.
by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Apr 21, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
i actually think he will help
he can body up on miller and he can hit the 3….
by celticinorlando on Apr 21, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions
He’s too small to body up on Miller and the fewer jumpers he takes the better off we are.
He can do a more than servicable imitation of Garnett on the pick and roll. Scal is a solid position defender.
by Finkelskyhook on Apr 21, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Great news!
Anyone think we should start Scal on Thursday? I know we shouldn’t rush him with all the concussions he’s had but this next game is a must win IMO.
Nah, no Scal in the starting lineup
No, I don’t think you can start Scal in this game on Thursday. I still think you keep BBD in the starting lineup and then use Scal as the second guy off the bench. Unfortunately he really hasn’t done anything since February so he is going to be on the rusty side. Even a rusty Scal is important, because if BBD or Perk gets in foul trouble we’re going to need another big man off the bench. In fact I would not be shocked to see Mikki Moore foul out of the game on Thursday, with his increased minutes and his propensity towards fouls, I can’t imagine him staying in the game long.
by celticspride003 on Apr 21, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Horrifying
3 concussions is no joke, either get him head gear or dont push it
http://www.popsci.com.au/files/imagecache/article_image_small/files/articles/Puma%20Scrum%20Cap.jpg
"....you can't handle The Truth"
Exactly right
If he’s not in a helmet of some kind, something is wrong.
All the fans who were sarcastically jeering Scal earlier in the year … and now he could be a vital piece of the puzzle. Go Veal!
"People don't understand, if you can't live the rest of your life off one year in the NBA, you can't live off 21." -- Keon Clark
Fab
I could see a Celtics logo on that thing!
He should bust it out.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk
that would be tremendous.
I’m really nervous for Scal.
When Perk was asked what he thought of Howard winning the gold medal this summer, he responded: "What’s his impression of me after I won a ring?"
Don't do it, Scal
Doctors know too little about concussions. The “doctors cleared him” is no sure thing. Scal will go. He’s paid big money and is a responsible guy and a good teamate. Doc and Danny should say “No”.
But what style headgear?
The veal in a Bruins goalie mask would be cool ;)
Yes he plays, coming off the bench for BBD, IMO.
High BBIQ, with lenth and some bulk as well as fouls to spare, of course we need him to play!
Go Veal; He was actually contribuiting quite well earlier this year.
Indefatigable on Defence defines these Celtics~
This series
I hope I’m wrong, but this series has already been labeled ‘physical’. And they’regoing to send out a guy who’s been off the court for months with 3 concussions? I don’t see the upside.
I remember the ugliness that feel over the team after Reggie Lewis’ death. Scal isn’t the face of the franchise, but he’s a well liked player and the father of a young family. Keeping him out until he’s fully healthy seems like the only plan of action.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on CelticsBlog
Related FanShots on CelticsBlog
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- LeBron James hints that he’d like to be welcomed back as a Cleveland Cavalier
- The Phoenix Suns refuse to dismantle their team because of … we can’t tell
- Video: Matt Barnes is legitimately upset with former coach Mo Cheeks
- Yao Ming discusses Jeremy Lin as eloquently as you’d expect
- Paul George (and Jeremy Lin, essentially) will highlight this year’s Dunk Contest
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
