Boston Celtics Practice Notes for Feb. 9

by Jimmy Toscano on Feb 9, 2011 3:49 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Paul Pierce did not practice with the team today. He called in sick, literally. Pierce has a cold (Doc wouldn't use the word "flu") but is expected to play tomorrow.

Delonte West practiced in full today but is not expected to play tomorrow, although he wants to. He says he's about 85-percent healthy. He's tested the wrist a few times and feels good and hopes to play before the All-Star break, maybe even against Miami.

Not expected to play tomorrow: Shaquille O'Neal, Semih Erden, Delonte West, Marquis Daniels, and Jermaine O'Neal. That means they'll be pretty thin at the SF and C positions. Rivers says he's fine with the 30 minutes that Perkins has been playing lately, so expect to see it again tomorrow especially with these injuries.

Danny Ainge said that he's content with Von Wafer playing the SF position for now because of the uncertainty of Daniels' situation. They didn't have much updated news on Daniels, only that he's home. They should know more by next week.

Ray Allen fielded countless questions about potentially breaking the 3-point record at home against the Lakers. He said that it "feels right" to break it at home in front of everyone. Asked whether or not potentially breaking it against the Lakers makes it any sweeter, he paused and smiled before admitting that it does.

Kevin Garnett has been a hot topic as of late around the NBA in terms of his on-court behavior. Jeff Clark wrote a nice piece calling KG "our jerk" followed by another poster's response, drza44, claiming that we're missing who KG really is. Both are great reads -- check them out. Along those lines, though, Doc Rivers had a few thoughts of his own on if Garnett is being labeled as a "bad boy" today in the NBA:

"Yeah it's amazing. That's fine. I don't think Kevin cares one way or another, we sure don't. Like I said the other day, especially when you hear any coach anything, ask them if they'd trade for him. I got a feeling they'd say, 'Yeah, yeah, we'll take him right now.'"

He also had quite the comparison on how this whole thing has escalated:

"Yeah I just think once it gets rolling then everyone picks on everything. We should call him Lindsay Lohan. It just feels it's snowballing right now, so, whatever. I know Kevin could care less for sure."

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Tomorrow night could be ugly

One center and one small forward does not bode well against the Lakers, nor the heat. It is amazing to me how few players this team has to bring to war right now. Oh well, hopefully Ray will break the record and it will make being at the Garden tomorrow night worthwhile. Definitely not expecting a win, so it will be gravy if they are somehow able to pull it out. However, it is important to remember that this team wil have only 6 dependable players going up against the Lakers — Nate and Von are not dependable — and I don’t think that will be enough to win.

by vinnie on Feb 9, 2011 4:37 PM EST reply actions

yeah I have to agree that I am worried about not having either Shaq or Semih for this.

I expect Jackson will try to really attack the post whenever Perk is sitting on the bench. He will also try to get him in foul trouble as early as possible.

And Paul with the flu …

Ugh. This could be frustrating.

by mmmmm on Feb 9, 2011 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

I'd consider it like the Phoenix game

We’re gonna lose. And if we win, wow… gravy.

by DRJ1 on Feb 9, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

You have a lot of faith. lol

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

agree !

by wayne7779311 on Feb 10, 2011 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

FML

why isnt shaq or erden playing?!?!?! those are surpirses being that erden has always been the fall guy & shaq dosent miss much big games ,i’d let delonte play limited minutes to spread the floor or something sighs

by stylo617617 on Feb 9, 2011 6:12 PM EST reply actions

The C's will "BRING IT"

No excuses needed…. We need to take care of business against the Fakesters and the Lamesters.

And I bet a few more players show up than expected.

by David Henderson on Feb 9, 2011 6:24 PM EST reply actions

I hope so

Man this is making me nervous. I want them to win so bad and bring it so bad that when or if they win everybody can stop with the speculation about the Celtics not being title contenders. If they beat both the Lakers and the Heat, they will shut everyone up and in my opinion show how strong this team can be. These injuries are hurting their chances of showing their full potential. I just hope and pray that they can win, they deserve to and if or when they do win, they’ll be no excuses needed.
Nate, Von, Luke, Avery needs to show up . BBD needs to too and Rondo needs to come full force along with KG and Ray. This game can prove whether or not this team can survive and withstand the injuries.

by JoT on Feb 9, 2011 6:40 PM EST up reply actions

+1 David

keep the faith.

by kuekuatsheu on Feb 9, 2011 10:51 PM EST up reply actions

Tomorrow and Sunday can get ugly!

I don’t know guys?

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 6:48 PM EST reply actions

Beating the good teams is not their problem it is the 2nd half of back to back games that are hurting them

by NoraG1 on Feb 9, 2011 6:53 PM EST reply actions

+1

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

But they need some extra bodies to compete with LA.

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

Beating the good teams will be a problem with the players they have available

Once center is not going to get it done against the Lakers, I don’t think.

by vinnie on Feb 9, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

Jeff Clark = Wuss Wuss

Hopefully Jeff doesn’t turn on Ray during this classic moment.

This is gut check time for the Celts our little taste of humility with us being shorthanded and will win or lose provide us with some insight to the post season.

If you are going to Eagle, Colorado just get a massage.

by Big George on Feb 9, 2011 6:57 PM EST reply actions

Regular season has yet to prove much about the post season, at least not for the championship caliber teams. Two different things.

by NoraG1 on Feb 9, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Sooner or later Doc and Danny are going to realize that injuries are going to catch up.

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure they realize it.

by mmmmm on Feb 9, 2011 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

the word "duh" comes to mind

by kuekuatsheu on Feb 9, 2011 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

huh?

Faith and Sports - an essay by Jeff Clark

by Jeff Clark on Feb 9, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

agree, huh?

by Jimmy Toscano on Feb 9, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

+1

confused

by mmmmm on Feb 9, 2011 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

Translation??

Hopefully Jeff doesn’t turn on Ray during this classic moment. {like he turned on KG?}

This is gut check time for the Celts {STOP}
Our little taste of humility, with us being shorthanded {STOP}
~~and will~~ {Whether we} win or lose, {this should} provide us with some insight to the post season.

And… I disagree with every single part of that. (Assuming I got it right. Who knows? lol)

by DRJ1 on Feb 9, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

+1 for tackling that

by kuekuatsheu on Feb 9, 2011 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

Phil Jackson only plays about 3 OR 4 reserves...

Shannon Brown – Not a problem
Lamar Odom – Might be a problem?
Steve Blake – Not a problem
Luke Walton – Not a problem

by KWW on Feb 9, 2011 7:43 PM EST reply actions

possibility

might see Doc get creative and put Bradley on Kobe to stick by him. Kid’s got arms long enough to play taller than he is. could save some energy for Ray and PP. More worried about the situation with the bigs

by slamtheking on Feb 9, 2011 8:55 PM EST reply actions

If Bradley sees any time tonight, it is likely going to be a blowout game

by vinnie on Feb 10, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

wow that is a thin lineup

if the fakeshow loses to half a squad they will make a big trade.

by kuekuatsheu on Feb 9, 2011 10:48 PM EST reply actions

come on Shaq gut out a big 6 minutes again

and i can hear it now “Delonte, Delonte, Delonte”

by kuekuatsheu on Feb 9, 2011 10:52 PM EST reply actions

The next two games are BIG

Get excited folks!
The Heat are 1/2 game back. This week could be a turning point of the season. We’re going to war with only 6. But if we can gut out these two games and win both, it will be Huge! First and third quarters will be big. If any if our top six get in foul trouble early we’re screwed-UNLESS someone unexpected steps up with a BIG game.
Two wins here, will be Epic-first place in the East and the Fakers srambling for answers.
Tonight is one of those nights when the players need the crowd to rise up and carry them. I can hear the roar already. What if we’re down by 5 at half and Shaquille suits up and cones out to start the third?
There’s no time for excuses. Come on- get ready-it’s the Lakers!

by Green Banner on Feb 10, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions