Injuries limit Pierce, Bass against Nets

CSNE - A. Sharrod Blakeley

Paul Pierce finishes with 18 points after leaving and returning with a turned ankle

BROOKLYN, NY — Even before Thursday's 115-85 win over the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was planning to sit some of his core players in the C's final two preseason games.

He may not have a choice after injuries limited the playing time of Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass.

Pierce left in the second quarter with a left ankle injury after he nailed a 3-pointer and landed on the foot of Brooklyn's Gerald Wallace.

After going to the locker room with trainer Ed Lacerte shortly before the half ended, Pierce returned in the third and went on to score seven of his 18 points which tied teammate Courtney Lee for game-high scoring honors.

Although Pierce still had a noticeable limp as he left the C's locker room following the win, Rivers isn't sure how serious his injury is.

"He tweaked his ankle, or he thought we were going to practice tomorrow," quipped Rivers. "It's one of the two, I'm not sure yet. But I think he tweaked his ankle. But I am suspicious."

As for Bass, Rivers said, "I don't know if it's bad. We just couldn't take any chances."

Bass missed the final six games prior to last season's all-star game due to swelling in his right knee -- the same knee he aggravated on Thursday. During those six games without Bass, the Celtics' lone victory came against the Chicago Bulls who were without Derrick Rose.

His injury occurred in the second quarter. But unlike Pierce, the C's elected to keep him on the bench for the remainder of the game -- a place that he and Pierce may have been in these final two games even if they didn't get hurt.

"This is the hardest game they'll play. I can tell you that," Rivers said. "And maybe the last game (for them in the preseason). They may play one good half. The New York game … we gotta play somebody. But a lot of them are not playing in that game. They already know that. They knew that before this game. And then we get seven days or whatever, to work and get prepared for the start of the season."

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Now that this team knows what it's capable of and how to make it happen, I'm happy. Doc, you have my permission to do anything you want in the last two games. But could I make just one request? Give Kris Joseph at least 20 minutes in at least one of those two games. Not 20 minutes with Melo, Kurz, Downs and Collins. Twenty minutes with veterans surrounding him.

I don't believe Kris is the kind of player who can distinguish himself within a group of neophytes. But I think he's the kind of player whose game is seriously elevated when he's part of an otherwise veteran combination.

Sam

Sam,
I couldn't agree with your request more.
Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen. First, Doc will focus on breakin LB in. Second, the probability of KJ playing with the starters or some of the starters is very very low. Let's say PP is DNP and JG is in foul trouble, I think Doc'd rather use CL at 3.
OTOH, Doc can pull a "mad scientist": sit PP, play JG as a starting SF and KJ as his backup. I hope.

AK