Rajon Rondo has been suspended for Game 2 after bumping referee Marc Davis in Game 1.
The Celtics are already shorthanded in the backcourt with Ray Allen battling an ankle injury.
April 2012 Boston Celtics Wiretap
Rondo Could Face Game 2 Suspension For Bumping Referee
Rajon Rondo was ejected from Game 1 and may be suspended from Game 2 after bumping referee Marc Davis.
Rond's ejection came with 41 seconds remaining in Boston's 83-74 loss to the Hawks.
“Obviously I was upset about the call and I said some words to Marc,” Rondo said. “I deserved the first tech, and as I was walking I thought he stopped, my momentum carried me into him – I even think I tripped on his foot. I didn’t intentionally chest-bump him. But that’s what it appears to be.”
Ray Allen Will Need Offseason Ankle Surgery
Ray Allen will require offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.
“I know it’s weak, but I still have pain in it,’’ said Allen. “It feels better. If I could, I would get surgery tomorrow. If it was the beginning of the season, I would have surgery.
“It’s just inevitable, talking to a couple of different doctors.”
Allen underwent the same procedure in 2007 before joining the Celtics.
Ray Allen May Miss Game 1
Ray Allen did very little in Saturday's practice ahead of Game 1 of their series against Atlanta.
Doc Rivers didn't sound optimistic about Allen's availability or effectiveness if he plays.
Allen hasn't played in two weeks due to a sprained ankle.
“I think he’s extremely frustrated,’’ Rivers said of Allen on Friday. “He wants to go for it this year and his body’s not cooperating. For him, he’s done everything right. He came in camp in the best shape of anybody, broke a record on the treadmill. And now his foot is hurting him. And he can’t do anything about it, so that bums him out.
“These things mean so much to them, because they’ve got one, two chances the rest of their careers and you don’t want to blow it. They know the clock’s ticking. But the body is the final decider.’’
Pierce Sprains Left Big Toe
Paul Pierce sprained his left big toe during Thursday's regular season finale.
Pierce briefly went into the locker room before returning to the bench.
Pierce was limited to seven minutes in the game.
Wilcox Plans To Return From Aortic Surgery Next Season
Chris Wilcox watched Boston's Thursday's regular season finale from a baseline seat, his first game back since undergoing surgery for an enlarged aorta on March 29.
Wilcox will be able to return to basketball activities in three months and plans to remain in the NBA.
"I'm feeling good man, I'm feeling a whole lot better," he said at halftime of the Celtics-Bucks game. "It's over with now. (The doctor) told me I got like a couple of more months to get back right and then a month to recover and I'm straight. I've been doing cardiac rehab, so I'm feeling a whole lot better now."
Celtics Prefer Health, Rest Over Homecourt Pursuit
While the Celtics could possibly overtake the Hawks for homecourt advantage in their probable first round series, Doc Rivers prefers getting his team healthy.
“That’s not even a question for me,’’ Rivers said. “I’m taking rest and health over home court.’’
Boston spent the first part of practice on Monday reviewing tape of the Hawks.
Paul Pierce also was choosing health over homecourt advantage.
“You want to be healthy first,’’ Pierce said. “We’re definitely a better home team than road team. Going into the playoffs, if everybody’s healthy, we’ve shown we can beat anybody in the Eastern Conference on their home court, so we’ll take health.
“I think it’s a fine line, because you want to stay in a certain rhythm. At the same time, you want to be rested. Everyone knows how grueling, how physical, how tough mentally and physically the playoffs are. So, I think it’s good to be sharp. We want to be as healthy as we can be going into the playoffs."
Bulls, Celtics Had Been Pursuing Okur
The Bulls and Celtics had been pursuing Mehmet Okur, according to sources.
Both teams were hoping Okur could be healthy enough to contribute during the playoffs.
Okur is unable to play due to a bad back, but he intends to seek an NBA deal in the offseason.
Celtics To Sign Sean Williams, Waive O'Neal
Sean Williams is on the verge of signing with the Celtics.
Williams was waived by the Mavericks on March 22nd and is therefore eligible for the postseason.
To create a roster space for Williams, Boston will waive Jermaine O'Neal.
Allen Now Less Likely To Re-Sign With Celtics
Ray Allen has privately felt slighted by the Celtics over the past few weeks.
Allen was nearly traded to Memphis at the deadline and he has played a bench role since returning from injury following the emergence of Avery Bradley.
Allen will be a free agent this offseason and his odds of returning to the Celtics have diminished, according to the Boston Globe.
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