Pre-Game Minny Interview with Doc

Great news, if true, about Bradley. Of course, practicing with the team isn't the same as being ready to play.








BOSTON -- Celtics guard Leandro Barbosa is active for Wednesday's visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but coach Doc Rivers is hoping to avoid putting him on the floor.


Barbosa is battling an illness that forced him to miss practice the last two days.


"[Barbosa is] going to dress, but I’m going to try not to use him,
if possible," Rivers said. "He’s not feeling great at all and didn’t
look great today [at morning shootaround]. He’s been doing the fluid
thing and all that. He’s going to be in uniform."


For an extra dash of depth, the Celtics recalled rookie swingman Kris Joseph from Maine of the NBA Development League for the second time this week (he was recalled during Rajon Rondo's two-game suspension, only to be returned to Maine on Sunday).


A handful of quick hits before Wednesday's game:


* Avery Bradley (shoulders) suggested he's a week or two away from being cleared for
contact activities. Informed of Bradley's latest timeline, a surprised
Rivers playfully noted, "Is that right? Wow, that’s great to hear. I’m
very happy to hear the news, I appreciate you telling me. Honestly, I
didn’t know that because I don’t check. [Team trainer] Eddie [Lacerte]
will tell us when it’s time, I don’t focus on that stuff with guys being
out. I have to focus on the guys wearing the uniform."


* With Rondo back from his two-game ban, Courtney Lee
will shuffle back to a reserve role. Rivers likes what he's seen from
Lee recently. "Courtney’s been playing well the last six games," Rivers
said. "You notice it more because he was on the floor more, maybe, but
he’s in a good place, he really is. I thought it took him a while, but
he’s got it, you can see it. That doesn’t guarantee great play every
night, but his effort, his positioning defensively, offensively he’s
running the floor -- he’s doing a lot of things for us right now. That’s
been good. We need it, and it’s going to serve us well."


* With his former squad in town, Kevin Garnett
naturally was a popular pregame topic of conversation (even in his
sixth year with Boston). Still Rivers threw out some lofty praise
noting, "I can guarantee that the people in Minnesota, they miss what he
does in the locker room," Rivers said. "They miss what he does on the
floor in practice everyday, his work ethic. He has this ability to give
himself to a team. It’s rare that you see a superstar do that, and he
does that. I mean, he gives himself completely to his team, and just
tells them to use him whatever way, whatever you want. It’s nice to
have. That’s what I think he brings to a franchise, is a star who is
over himself and that’s really good." Later Rivers added, "I don’t know
if everyone understands, even on our team, or publicly, who Kevin
Garnett really is. Just as far as what he’s done, his body of work.
There’s the Hall of Fame, and then there’s the table at the Hall of
Fame. And Kevin Garnett is at the table. Very few people get to sit at
the table."


* With a Yahoo Sports! report indicating the New Orleans Hornets
are contemplating changing their nickname to the Pelicans, Rivers was
asked about having his son, Austin, playing for a team with that
monicker. "I just like that he’s playing on the team," Rivers said.
"Pelicans, Brass -- come up with another name, I’m all for it. It should
be the Jazz."




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