Baker back in mix after suspension
HOUSTON -- The three-game suspension imposed on Vin Baker officially ended last night. But Baker won't take the court until shootaround tomorrow in preparation for the Bucks game that night.
Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge notified coach Jim O'Brien yesterday that Baker would meet the team in Milwaukee. Shootaround at the Bradley Center probably also will be the first time O'Brien talks with Baker since the suspension.
In all likelihood, Baker will not play tomorrow night. Since his suspension, Baker also has missed two practices and three shootarounds.
"I guess the first chance I'll get to see him on the court will be at shootaround in Milwaukee," said O'Brien. "I really don't have any plan to utilize him in Milwaukee. We've been practicing and playing and we'll just have to let him get back into the scheme of things.
"I don't have any choice [but to play it by ear]. It's pretty much wait and see, see how Vin is performing in practice and the time that he gets in games. If he earns a lot of playing time, he's going to get it." Needless to say, Baker will have to show vast overall improvement before he earns significant minutes. As Baker suffered through a relapse of alcoholism, his playing time and productivity decreased dramatically.
"It wasn't just defense," said O'Brien. "You've got to post. You've got to score. You've got to make shots. You've got to run the court. You've got to play basketball."
Doling out minutes Don't expect Ricky Davis to find a place in the starting lineup any time soon. The trade acquisition from Cleveland will have to play better defense before O'Brien trusts him with significant minutes.
When asked if Davis could adjust to a role coming off the Boston bench, O'Brien said, "I certainly hope so, probably. I think he's doing a pretty good job. He understands that defense is what we concentrate on. I know he's a great offensive player. I met with Ricky [Friday] and I really believe that at some point in time we'll get to where he's playing 30 minutes and Jiri [Welsch is] playing that and Paul [Pierce is] playing about 36 or 37.
"But that all depends on how each one of these guys is playing defense. It takes a while to understand our system, but I thought [Ricky] showed that he can really get out there and pressure the basketball. He's very, very quick and it can be bothersome, but we just have to make sure that he understands how effective he can be. If he can be that bothersome on the weak side, then he'll earn plenty of minutes and I think he'll be very, very satisfied with his playing time."
Davis notched 5 points and 5 assists in 22 minutes in the Celtics' 97-93 win over the Rockets last night.
Perkins is hungry The Celtics were assured of at least 70 supporters among the Toyota Center crowd last night. That was the number of tickets Kendrick Perkins handed out to friends and family from his nearby hometown of Beaumont, Texas.
The Perkins contingent came, despite the fact the rookie center is on the injured list with right knee tendinitis and did not play.
Given the glut of big men Boston now has, O'Brien does not expect Perkins to see much playing time for the rest of the season.
"We have depth at the 5-spot, so I don't know if Kendrick is going to get much of a look this year," said O'Brien. "In the short term, he's under a couple layers of centers. But in the long run, he's got a great work ethic and I think he's going to be a heck of an NBA player."
For now, Perkins enjoys making practice as competitive as possible. So far, Perkins has seen action in only two games for a total of six minutes. He is averaging 3.5 points per game and 1.0 rebound.
"I've got to be OK with it," said Perkins of the limited playing time. "There's nothing I can do about it. I've got to stay positive and keep working hard, knowing that one day it will pay off. I really just go at the players [in practice] to make them keep working hard. They can't slack up because they know I'm there and I'm hungry for playing time."
Ainge in the booth When the Celtics wrap up their season series against Houston Jan. 14, Ainge will work the second quarter of the Fox Sports Net telecast. He will share some of his observations and plans for the team . . . O'Brien watched film of Houston with a fair amount of admiration for the defense Jeff Van Gundy has installed during his first season in the Bayou City. The Rockets lead the league in defensive field goal percentage, allowing opponents to shoot 39 percent from the floor. "Anybody that's No. 1 in the league in field goal defense should be admired," O'Brien said. "Jeff has always done a fantastic job of coaching the game and his teams are always stingy defensively." . . . Jumaine Jones went through shootaround without any problem and was available last night, despite reinjuring his right shoulder during practice Saturday. He did not play, though, because of a coach's decision . . . Adrian Griffin was a familiar face on the Houston bench, though he is on the injured list after right knee surgery.
3-point land The Rockets set a season high with 12 3-pointers made, surpassing their high of 11 set Thursday at New York . . . Boston tied a Houston opponent season high with 11 3-pointers . . . Houston's Cuttino Mobley tied a season high with eight assists . . . Boston's 12 steals marked the most in a Houston game since Utah registered 13 Dec. 3 . . . Walter McCarty scored a season-high 21 points and tied a Rockets opponent individual season high with five 3-pointers.
