WALTHAM - The sight of Paul Pierce [stats] and Rajon Rondo [stats] - both walking through some late-practice plays yesterday with the first unit - was inevitable.
Pierce, recovering from two surgical procedures to drain an infection in his left knee, generally needs a bulldozer to pull him off the floor. Rondo, suffering from a strained left hamstring, comes from the same stubborn school.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Pierce is counting himself in for tonight’s game against the Heat in Miami. If his plan takes form, it will be Pierce’s first game after missing the past five. The Celtics [team stats] are 2-3 without him.
Rondo, according to coach Doc Rivers, is less certain and likely will be a gametime decision.
“Paul looked good,” Rivers said. “Rondo you couldn’t tell because he didn’t do too much. I think he’ll go, but I wouldn’t write that down in pen for sure. Paul probably will go . . . so just getting one of those guys back, I would be very happy.
“I’m more worried about our timing. I’m not worried about Paul as far as health. (Trainer Ed Lacerte) and the doctors know best, and they wouldn’t let him go out there if he wasn’t right. I’m more concerned that him and Rondo haven’t practiced in five days - Paul even longer - and then go play a team that played pretty well (Monday) night. But they have to be out on the floor at some point, and if they both can play, they’re going to play.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we play the game sloppy.”
Should both play, expect to see them immediately.
“In both of their cases they would have to start,” Rivers said. “In Rondo’s case he would be warm. What we don’t want is to go down that road where we’re concerned about taking him out. We want to make sure he’s just able to play.”
Pierce has little doubt about his own availability, even if by his own admission he’s not in top form.
“I got a good practice in today, felt pretty good. Probably not 100 percent, but it’s getting better,” Pierce said. “I got a chance to run last couple of days on the treadmill. I shot every day, rode the bike every day, so I’m as confident as I’m going to be. It’s just a matter of the swelling going down. I have a lot more flexibility than I have in the last few days. I saw some flashes today.”
Even at this, Pierce admitted that his practice performance was basic, with few if any high points.
“I went through the meat and potatoes of it,” he said. “I talked to the doctors, and the side effect is if it swells again. So I’ll continue to get treatment, take pills and go from there.”
Pierce attempted to dispel any notion that he is rushing back because the team is shorthanded.
“Not at all,” he said. “I’m coming back because I feel good. You know Kevin (Garnett is) going to be out, and maybe Rondo will play, I don’t know for sure. But I don’t feel pressure at all to come back out here. I wouldn’t do that to myself. I would do that to my body at this point in my career.
“I’m just a little stronger. I’ve tried to work on my quads, my calves, getting all of those things stronger. If you don’t get that flexibility, your muscles shut down. Strength in those areas takes pressure off.”
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