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Glen Davis out six weeks after attack from `friend`

The Boston Celtics had a nice off-season, adding Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Shelden Williams. But power forward Glen Davis is still one of the team’s most important players, even if his minutes may decrease this season.

Unfortunately, due to an off-court incident, Davis won’t be playing basketball at all for a while.

The Celtics announced today that forward Glen Davis underwent successful surgery to reduce and fix a right thumb fracture. The surgery was performed by Celtics Team Physician, Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Dr. Hervey Kimball and Dr. Drew Terrono at New England Baptist Hospital. Davis is expected to miss the next six weeks.

“I would first like to apologize to my fans, teammates, coaches and the entire Celtics organization. I am extremely disappointed that this incident occurred and that it will prevent me from starting the season with the rest of my teammates. My teammates and the entire Celtics organization are extremely important to me and I will do my best to expedite the healing process and be back on the court as soon as possible,” said Davis.

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reports:

Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday that he will be sidelined six to eight weeks after breaking his right thumb while trying to protect himself from a friend who slugged him.

Davis said the incident happened early Sunday morning when Davis’ girlfriend, Jenna Gomez, one of her girlfriends and one of his high school friends were returning to his West Boston home after celebrating Gomez’s birthday. Davis said he and his high school friend got into a heated debate over some “personal issues,” and the friend, who was driving their vehicle, threw a punch at Davis. Davis retaliated by throwing a punch back that broke his hand.

Davis underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the thumb at a Boston suburban hospital.

“I was defending myself,” Davis said in a phone interview with Yahoo! Sports. “I wasn’t just fighting. I feel like I let my team down by breaking my hand. I let my team down trying to defend myself. I have to make better decisions on how I choose my friends.”

Whoever the guy is that fought with Davis, obviously the word “friend” should no longer apply.

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Ray Allen says he is in best shape of career

Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald reports:

When Ray Allen said he entered training camp in the best shape of his career, it was an attention-grabber.

After all, it’s tough to improve your condition when you have 4.5 percent body fat.

“I’m never out of shape, so I don’t really have to get back in shape,” Allen said. “But even getting quicker ahead of the game so when I came in here it was like I could just start getting stronger now and just focus on the small little things I needed to do to get back into basketball shape.”

Allen credits a more intensive running schedule this offseason for his improved conditioning. The difference between this summer and his first two with the Celtics [team stats] is that his ankles finally are healthy.

Lots of NBA players tend to declare things like this quite often, and whether it turns out to be true or not usually remains to be seen. But as is the case with all older players, Allen has to pace himself so that he’s healthy enough to stay atop his game for the entire post-season.

16-1 does not necessarily impress Doc Rivers

When a team is 16-1 it is a safe assumption that they’re pretty good. Actually, more like very good, or great. But Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers judges by what his eyes tell him as he watches the team play, not the win-loss column.

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

“Last year, I kept making a point when we were 16-1 we were horrible, that we were playing horrible,’’ Rivers said. “People were laughing; I believed that. I thought we were and it proved itself a little bit right after that. So you just watch your team.’’

Chemistry becomes a cliché after a while, but making sure roles are clear and every player is comfortable in theirs is a priority.

“A lot of the jobs for guys are new, even some of the guys that have been here, and it’s going to take them time to understand it completely,’’ Rivers said. “And that’s what we mean by, ‘We’ll be better as the year goes on.’ ’’

This reminds me of when the Houston Rockets went on their incredible 20+ game winning streak a while back. Even though they kept winning game after game, there was nothing particularly impressive about the team other than good chemistry and smart, unselfish play. Yet they kept right on winning.

NBA tells bench players stay seated so fans can see

Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.

But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.

The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.

That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.

The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.

“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”

I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.

Bill Walker has right knee surgery

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Bill Walker underwent successful right knee arthroscopic surgery today at the New England Baptist Hospital.

Walker sustained a meniscus tear on the first day of training camp.

Surgery was performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by John Rand, PAC. No timetable has been set for his return.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Walker’s had about 29,500 knee surgeries in his basketball playing days. Yet he maintains crazy hops.

Tony Allen still healing

Boston Celtics shooting guard Tony Allen is taking a while to regain full health.

Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports:

A slower-than-expected recovery from ankle tendon surgery was given as the reason Allen didn’t scrimmage during yesterday’s practice at Salve Regina College.

Add the arrival of swingman Marquis Daniels to the picture and Allen has never been further down the depth chart.

“We were hoping Tony would be able to come along for training camp but he just wasn’t coming along as quickly as we wanted,” general manager Danny Ainge said. “We’ll take it week by week. He’s close. He’ll do things on the court, but he just won’t go live to come out of the gate. It puts him behind everyone until he can play. You have to remember that the most important ability is availability.”

All players need their athletic ability to be effective, but some need it more than others. Allen is one of those guys. So until he’s close to 100 percent he should probably remain out of action.

Warriors sign Mikki Moore

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Mikki Moore to a contract, the team announced today. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that it’s a one-year, $1.3 million contract.

Moore, 33, is an 11-year NBA veteran who owns career averages of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 18.2 minutes per contest in 534 regular-season games combined with Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah, the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle and Sacramento. For his career, he has shot 55.0% from the field and 74.3% from the free throw line. Additionally, he has appeared in 25 playoff games, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per contest.

“We’re happy to add a veteran with Mikki’s experience to our squad,” said General Manager Larry Riley. “He’ll provide additional depth at the center position for our team and we think that is important, especially when you consider the number of injuries that we had last season. He’s played a significant role on a couple of teams in recent years and that experience will prove beneficial for us when he is called upon during the course of the season.”

Last season, the seven-foot center appeared in 70 regular season games with Sacramento (46 games, 20 starts) and Boston (24 games), averaging a combined 3.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. He also appeared in 10 postseason games with the Celtics, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.6 minutes.

In the two years prior to last season, Moore posted arguably the two best campaigns of his NBA career. In 2007-08, he appeared in all 82 games for Sacramento, making 79 starts, and averaging 8.5 points and a career-high 6.0 rebounds in a career-high 29.1 minutes per game. The previous season (2006-07) with New Jersey, Moore appeared in 79 games (55 starts), averaging a career-high 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26.4 minutes, while shooting a career-high 60.9% from the field.

Mikki (pronounced MY-key) will wear uniform #33.

Ed Pinckney joins 76ers broadcast team

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, the leader in local sports coverage, today announced that Ed Pinckney has joined the 76ers broadcast team as color analyst. Pinckney will work alongside Marc Zumoff for all 76ers broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ed back home and to have someone with his credentials join Marc Zumoff, providing Sixers fans with one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA,” said Comcast SportsNet Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Monihan. “Ed’s experience in the NBA, combined with his broadcasting experience and background as a player and coach at Villanova, will provide the insightful analysis and unique perspective that Sixers’ fans have come to expect from our talented crew.”

“I am extremely excited to be back in Philadelphia and to be a part of the Comcast SportsNet family,” said Pinckney. “I am honored to work alongside Marc Zumoff, and to share the passion and excitement that we both have for the Sixers with the fans of Philadelphia.”

“We are excited that Ed Pinckney will be returning to Philadelphia to join Marc Zumoff on our Sixers telecasts in order to provide fans with one of the most experienced, knowledgeable and talented broadcasting tandems in the NBA,” said Sixers Senior Vice President of Business Operations Lara Price. “It seems only fitting that the city in which he won a National Championship while at Villanova University now welcomes him back as a member of Comcast SportsNet and the Sixers family.”

While playing for Villanova, Pinckney led the Wildcats to the 1985 National Championship with a 66-64 upset of the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas.

Pinckney played 12 years in the NBA, including one as a Sixer during the 1995-96 season. Following his retirement from the NBA in 1997, he joined the Miami Heat’s radio and television broadcasting team. He then spent four seasons at his alma mater as an assistant coach and most recently served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pinckney also served as a Sixers Postgame Live analyst for two seasons.

Pinckney will join Zumoff for all Sixers broadcasts. Zumoff enters his 16th season as the Sixers television play-by-play announcer and his 28th as a part of the 76ers broadcast team.

Discuss the team on the InsideHoops Philadelphia 76ers forum.

Cavaliers sign Leon Powe

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed free agent forward Leon Powe to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not released. It may be a two year deal for the league minimum. We’ll post more info on that later today.

Powe, 25, played in 70 games (seven starts) this past season for the Boston Celtics and averaged 7.7 points on .524 shooting and a career-best 4.9 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. In his seven starts, he averaged 14.3 points on .576 shooting, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 25.9 minutes per game. The 6-foot-8 forward recorded career highs in scoring (30), blocks (5) and assists (3) and added 11 rebounds in 41 minutes versus Memphis on March 13th. He scored in double figures on 25 occasions and notched five double-doubles during the season. He experienced a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee during Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls in the First Round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs and missed the remainder of the playoffs. In 189 games (14 starts) during his three seasons in Boston, he has career averages of 6.6 points on .523 shooting and 4.2 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.

“Leon is a high quality player and person. His tough, gritty play has already contributed in big playoff games during his young career,” Ferry said. “As he continues to work rehabilitating his injury, we would look to hopefully see him return towards the end of the season.”

The California native played 23 of his 25 career postseason games during the Celtics’ run to the 2008 NBA Championship. He averaged 5.0 points on .493 shooting and 2.7 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game in the 2008 postseason, including a 21-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.InsideHoops.com editor says: Assuming he’s healthy, Powe is a fantastic addition to any bench in the league.

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Celtics re-sign Glen Davis

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has re-signed forward Glen Davis to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details later today.

“Glen has been a big part of our success for the past two years and we are very excited to have him back,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Davis, a 6’9”, 289 lbs, forward has spent two seasons with the Celtics and had a breakout 2008-09 season in which he averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The former LSU Tiger continued his breakout campaign in the 2009 playoffs during which he averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Davis made 16 starts during the 2008-09 regular season and averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game.

“Big Baby” scored a career-high 24 points against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 21, 2009. Davis also hit the biggest shot of his career to date when he nailed a game-winning jumper against the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to send the series back to Boston tied 2-2.

During the First Round of the 2009 playoffs against the Chicago Bulls, Davis averaged 18.1 points and 6.7 rebounds.