Boston Celtics reserve centre is expected to miss up to a month with ulnar collateral sprain in his right thumb…
When the season started the Boston Celtics were considered to be one of the most complete rosters in the league. They nearly had all their bases covered, and were considered as the next best thing to Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference.
The season has however been a disappointment for them so far. There is a definite lack of chemistry in the team and most importantly, which has always been the identity of the team, has been sluggish.
One of the players who have been struggling on the D this season is Chris Wilcox and it now seems that he has a whole month to figure out his play. According to the Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, Wilcox could miss up to four weeks
due to a right thumb strain;
"Chris is out; he's out for a while," Rivers said after the team's practice on Sunday. "I don't know how long, but the first report I got was three to four weeks."
Wilcox did not play in the last two games for Boston and his absence will add to the pressure on an already thin front court which lost Darko Milicic at the start of the season. Rivers will have to keep relying on shorter players
like Jared Sullinger and Brandon Bass to do the post work alongside Kevin Garnett, who could also see some increase in his minutes. The shortage might also force the C’s to go shopping for a big. They will however be tempted to struggle their way to January
7, after which they can hire free agent bigs on ten day contracts.
"You would think, but obviously that's the one position where they don't grow on trees. They actually grow," quipped Rivers, when asked about the possibility. "We just have to be patient. Obviously, we need another big with Chris
being out. I don't know if we're going to get another big on this trip."
There is also an option of bringing back rookie Fab Melo from the D-League, but when asked Rivers didn’t seem too convinced;
"I haven't talked to anyone that thinks he's ready to come up yet," said Rivers. "There might be your answer."
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