Ainge in China, has much to do at home

No word on whom Danny Ainge sat beside during his latest scouting assignment. But it is probably safe to assume that the Celtics executive director of basketball operations didn't strike up a conversation. Not for fear of another $30,000 fine from the NBA, but because of a language barrier.

Ainge returned to China Sunday for a second up-close-and-personal look at Yi Jianlian. He also evaluated the progress made by Wang ZhiZhi. While college stars Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are drawing all the attention stateside, Ainge watched Yi play for the Guangdong Tigers against ZhiZhi's Bayi team in the Chinese Basketball Association championship series.

Scouts regard the 7-foot Yi as the best Chinese prospect since Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, and his stock keeps rising. If he enters this year's NBA draft as widely expected, Yi could become the second Chinese player taken in the first round after Yao. Most mock drafts list Yi among the top 10. Although he has the height of a center, scouts consider Yi more of a power forward and generally praise his shooting and shot-blocking ability.

As Ainge continues to scout Yi, the most challenging part will be figuring out just how talented and skilled the big man is against competition that doesn't measure up to other leagues. When Ainge returns to the US, he'll have the equally challenging (and ongoing) task of evaluating talent on the Celtics.

There will be some tough choices for the organization in the months ahead.

Asked if this was the point in the season when personnel decisions were made, coach Doc Rivers said, "Yeah, for us, it's been all season.

"One of the goals coming into the season, that I said the first day, was we wanted to be able to identify who we wanted, who we thought were going to be core guys, and who to build this team around. I think that's kind of playing itself out."

Some players have stepped up and impressed on the floor recently. Al Jefferson and Rajon Rondo come to mind.

During the final few weeks of the season, Rivers plans to try a few different strategies (though "nothing big," he said). The most noticeable will be putting players at different positions. For example, Allan Ray has seen some time at point guard recently.

The bigger changes will take place during the offseason.

Though the players hope to defeat the Bobcats tonight at TD Banknorth Garden, a glimpse at the standings shows that a victory could mean poorer odds for securing the No. 1 pick. Entering last night (when Charlotte played Cleveland), the Celtics trailed the Bobcats by four games for the third-worst record in the NBA . . . The Celtics did not practice yesterday because of their late return from Oklahoma City. They will hold a late afternoon shootaround at the Garden today . . . The Celtics will welcome back Brian Scalabrine tonight after he missed the recent three-game trip to be present for the birth of his first child . . . Monday's 106-88 loss to the Hornets dropped the Celtics' winning percentage back under .300, after their St. Patrick's Day win over the Spurs took it from .292 to .303. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other season in which the Celtics had a winning percentage under .300 after the 60-game mark was 1996-97, when they finished 15-67 (.183) . . . The first 5,000 fans through the doors tonight will receive a Ryan Gomes bobblehead.

Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com.