Wafer Expects to Be Back In Two Weeks - West Expected Wednesday

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Wafer expects to be back in two weeks
E-mail | Print | Comments (0) Posted by Gary Washburn Globe Staff March 13, 2011 05:24 PM
By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

Celtics swingman Von Wafer was watching players workout before Sunday's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kinesio tape wrapped around his right calf. He has not begun basketball activities but said he should be able to return to action in two weeks, giving his club much-needed depth.

Wafer strained his right calf during the Celtics' 107-103 win over the Golden State Warriors on March 4 and tonight will be the fourth consecutive games missed. Wafer said the injury is just a strain and he is starting to feel less discomfort.

"It's the best I've felt in a long time, so I'm thinking like two weeks," he said. "The sooner the better, I just want to get back. (The doctors) already knew what it was when they saw it."

Wafer said he is not lamenting the injury, which occurred when he was playing a more significant role off the bench than earlier in the season.

"I'm just going on with my life the same," he said. "I am just dealing with the hand I was dealt. No sense of getting frustrated. That ain't going to change it now. I'm just trying to get back. I think two weeks and a few days. But I don't see it being more than three weeks."

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West (sprained ankle) hopes to return Wednesday

March 13, 2011, 10:51 pm

By Jessica Camerato
CSNNE.com

BOSTON - Delonte West didn’t think it would take this long. Not a sprained ankle. He figured that would be a matter of days, not weeks.

West has been patiently anticipating his return since suffering the injury during a team walkthrough on February 27. Weeks later, he expects the wait to be coming to an end.

“I should definitely be a go for Wednesday [against the Indiana Pacers],” he said on Sunday.

West was able to participate in court work for the first time on Sunday prior to the Celtics-Bucks game. He still felt soreness, though, and was putting more pressure on the opposite leg during shooting to compensate. Being cautious, he did not think he would be ready to play against the Bucks or the following night against the New Jersey Nets.

“There’s still a little bit of soreness in there,” he said. “I still don’t have my explosiveness, being able to push off of it. I can gingerly go through drills, but there’s not any putting that game pressure on it. So a few more days should be sufficient.”

West (6.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.3 apg) had only played in three games since returning from a broken right (non-shooting) wrist when he sprained his right ankle. He realizes the time off has helped heal his initial injury, for which he still undergoes physical therapy and strengthening exercises to increase flexibility and work out scar tissue.

“The one blessing about this whole thing is I get more time to rest and also strengthen [my wrist],” he said. “I feel good. I haven’t even looked to put the brace on in the last week or so. I know (Celtics trainer) Eddie Lacerte is going to be on me in a minute -- I’ll be wearing it Wednesday. But it feels strong, I’m not even really favoring it right now. That’s the one positive about this ankle sprain.”

West, who missed the first ten games serving a suspension, says he has stayed even keeled coping with his limited playing time. But when he does return, there is no hiding his enthusiasm for helping the Celtics against the Bucks

“It’s about putting myself in the position to help this team out in any way possible,” he said. “I think my ability to defend small and quick guards can help out some with my size, and also timely shooting, being able to spread the floor. We have a lot of that, but I’m able to open that floor up for our scorers. I’m looking to contribute more than just one aspect of the game.”
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