Pierce's finger is on the mend
Paul Pierce worked up a light sweat with some shooting before last night's game against the Raptors and said he will return to practice tomorrow after missing the Celtics' final two exhibition games because of an infected left middle finger that stemmed from a paper cut. Although the finger still looked puffy before Boston's 106-102 loss to Toronto at TD Banknorth Garden, Pierce said it had dramatically improved since he was sent home from New Jersey after Tuesday's shootaround.
"I just had it drained [Tuesday] due to the infection," he said. " I'm going to take care of this infection. I'm taking antibiotics and the swelling went down. I went out and shot on it and it's doing good. But doctors are taking extra precautions until they find out about the infection a little bit more."
Pierce said his finger hurt "for a few days," but the soreness did not reach the point where he thought it was necessary to alert trainer Ed Lacerte until Tuesday morning. Including surgery on his left elbow in early August and a strained left hip early in the exhibition season, the infected finger represents the latest in a string of minor injuries for Pierce. Last season, he played through elbow pain until the end of the season.
"[The infected finger] was sort of weird," said Pierce. "When stuff like that happens, I'm glad it happens in the preseason. I can get it out of the way now. If it was the regular season, this is the stuff I usually play through. But since it's preseason, I'm taking extra precautions. I've played through worse injuries during the middle of the season."
Coach Doc Rivers may have been more relieved than anyone upon learning of Pierce's recovery. When the Celtics return to practice tomorrow after taking today off, they should have their opening night starting lineup (likely Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, and Sebastian Telfair) and key reserves available. Throughout the exhibition season, the Celtics have exercised caution with injuries. As a result, Rivers still has a lot to learn about his team.
"You know they can play, but it's not gone the exact way you'd like preseason to go as far as building chemistry because of [injuries]," said Rivers. "But there's no way around that, it's part of the game."
In contract limbo, guard Tony Allen acknowledged last night he hopes the Celtics will exercise his fourth-year option. Danny Ainge said he is learning toward doing just that, though he admitted after last night's game that "nothing's certain." That contradicted statements Ainge made earlier in the day on WEEI, when he said "yes" when asked if the team would exercise the option, and called the move a "no-brainer."
Ainge and Rivers met at length after the game. The Celtics must reduce their roster by two players before Wednesday's opener.
When asked after the game if the Celtics would exercise Allen's option, Ainge said, "I think so. I'll let you know when we do . . . I'll probably make some decisions by Friday. Nothing is definite. There's a lot of things that we will discuss as a franchise."
The Celtics have until Tuesday to exercise the option. If they do not, Allen would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Watching what happened to former teammate Marcus Banks, who signed a five-year, $21 million contract with Phoenix this offseason, it would be understandable if Allen saw himself in a win-win situation. But that is not the case.
"A lot of people want the security [of having the fourth year picked up]," said Allen. "Do I want it? Yeah, but it's out of my hands. I'm not worrying about any of that. I'm just coming out and playing. If it happens, it happens."
When asked about picking up swingman Luke Jackson's fourth-year option, Ainge repeated that the team had a lot to discuss.
Each team was without its best player with Pierce and Chris Bosh (sore left heel) on the sidelines. Raptors point guard T.J. Ford (sore left hamstring) also missed the game, along with Brian Scalabrine (separated left shoulder) and Theo Ratliff (sore lower back). Scalabrine has full of range of motion in his shoulder, just not the strength he needs. He hopes to return to practice tomorrow. It is uncertain when Ratliff will practice.
