Pierce done for season

The last two weeks have been almost like a death watch. The official notice came from Doc Rivers. The Celtics coach announced that Paul Pierce has played his last game of the 2006-07 season.

It wasn’t exactly a stunning development, given that Pierce had not played since going 53 minutes in the team’s double-overtime victory over Orlando on March 28 and had hinted that he might have to stop playing to rest his aching body (elbow, foot, general weariness.) Pierce’s injury-ravaged season will result in him having missed 35 games when everything comes to a merciful conclusion in six days. Before Wednesday's game against Philadelphia, the Celtics are 3-27 in the games he has missed.

Rivers noted that the Celtics will not have another practice for the rest of the season so it seemed pointless to him to him to bring back Pierce for the last few games. ‘‘I just think it’s dangerous and not smart to do,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t think it makes any sense.’’

Asked to comment, Pierce refused. A team official said Pierce would speak Friday before the Bucks game.

Rivers said the decision came after he, Pierce and basketball operations chief Danny Ainge met before Wednesday’s game. Pierce earlier this season missed 24 games due to a stress reaction in his lft foot. This latest period of inactivity was due to soreness in his left elbow, the same elbow that bothered him last year at this time and necessitated summer surgery.

Pierce will finish the season averaging 25 points a game, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Rivers said he expected Pierce to return next season ‘‘healthier, and maybe fresher and just as good, if not better, than he was this year. In my opinion, we’re going to be a good team next year, a much better team, and we need Paul to be there.’’

More injuries
Delonte West and Al Jefferson are also close to being shut down for the rest of the season, Rivers said. West said he hoped to play Friday night, but he always says he hopes to play in the next game. Tge Sixers game was the fourth straight game he has missed with his latest malady, a sprained left ankle. He has might eight other games due to back woes, a concussion and a sprained toe. Jefferson missed his fifth straight game with a bruised left knee. He also missed seven games in November recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Jefferson said he was still day-to-day. Rivers said both players were free to accompany the team to Florida whether they play or not. ‘‘We’re going to Miami. I’ve got a feeling they’ll all want to go,’’ he said.

Rivers and some Celtics are scheduled to be at Fenway Park for Thursday afternoon’s game representing the team as the Red Sox honor the late Red Auerbach. The weather could make that moot

Ainge said he will decide Friday on whether to re-sign Kevinn Pinckney to a second, 10-day contract. ‘‘I’ve liked what I’ve seen, but I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do,’’ he said.

Ainge also said that he would make the pitch to ownership that it give Rivers a contract extension. ‘‘Yes. We want to keep him here and he wants to stay,’’ Rivers said. Ainge said the matter will be taken up at the end of the season, although Rivers’ agent, the estimable Lonnie Cooper, already has made contact with the club seeking the extension.