Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 28, 2009 7:32:08 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1148330&format=text
Brian Scalabrine’s head takes hit
Out with concussion
By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
Photo by Matthew West
The Celtics [team stats] began the season wondering what they were going to do with Brian Scalabrine. Now they are trying to figure what to do without him.
The all-purpose frontcourt player went down with a concussion at practice yesterday - his second serious hit to the head in three days - and is out for at least tonight’s game against Sacramento. Scalabrine was taken to New England Baptist Hospital for observation.
“He went down pretty hard, and he got hit in the head,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He had a mild concussion. I don’t know if he was out, but he was close. So he’ll be out probably for quite some time because of that would be my guess. I’d say you rule him out for at least a week, maybe longer. I don’t know that; I’m just assuming concussions . . . two in (three) days can’t be good for you.”
Scalabrine got caught on the chin by a Dirk Nowitzki elbow Sunday against Dallas. He stayed in the game but was held out of Monday’s practice because of a sore neck and headache. He was battling for a rebound yesterday when he was hit by Patrick O’Bryant.
“He couldn’t get up,” Rivers said. “He’s responding now, but he doesn’t feel great. Light bothers him and everything else.”
Said Ray Allen, “He went down and he just stayed down and kind of looked disoriented. It is disappointing because I know he has been playing well.”
“It’s a tough one because he’s playing great,” added Rivers, whose club got a gambling talk from the league after practice. “And with the way we’ve been spreading the floor, losing him now is a tough blow.”
Scalabrine started the first five games of the Celtics’ current eight-game winning streak, subbing for Kendrick Perkins [stats] (sore left shoulder). He maintained a strong place in the rotation when Perk returned.
Tony ready
Tony Allen, who’s missed the past 11 games with a strained right ankle, practiced yesterday and should be available tonight.
“Tony looked good actually,” Rivers said. “He ran well, moved well. He told me he’s in terrible shape, and that’s what he was concerned about. He said, ‘After three minutes I was dying out there.’ I said, ‘Well, we’ll play you three minutes in stretches.’ With Scal being out now, Tony may have to play (tonight). We don’t want to have to throw him out there and play him too much. My concern with Tony - and it’s almost the same thing with Kevin (Garnett) last year with his stomach - is I don’t want to bring him back unless he’s going to come back and stay healthy.”
No four score?
After calling coaches to make a pitch for his players as All-Star reserves, Rivers said it might be tough for the Celts to get four representatives on the Eastern Conference team. Garnett was voted in by the fans as a starter, and reserves will be announced tomorrow.
“I feel good that three will be on for sure,” Rivers said. “But you can’t assume that. Our Big Three will be on. I can’t imagine anybody not putting Paul (Pierce) and Ray on. Then it’s up to what they want to do with (Rajon) Rondo.”
Marbury speaks
Stephon Marbury appeared on ESPN yesterday and pretty much stated what the Celtics are thinking, that all talk of him coming here or moving elsewhere is moot because he can’t get out of his contract with the Knicks.
He talked around a question about whether he has a commitment from the Celts should he get bought out in New York (the Herald reported yesterday that while the club is interested, sources insist it has made no guarantees). . . .
The Celts pounded the Kings, 108-63, in December, their lone win on the western swing. They expect a tougher test tonight.
“Because you beat them by 45, they’ll know that,” Rivers said. “People have memories in this league, and they absolutely will be ready. I don’t care if you’re a good team or a bad team or an average team. Every team has pride. They’ll come in and they’ll want to show that was a fluke.”
