Barros expected to sign 10-day deal
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 4/13/2004
Dana Barros turns 37 today. And the Celtics are giving new meaning to the "many happy returns" part of the traditional birthday wish. Barros is expected to sign a 10-day contract with Boston today, coming out of retirement and returning to the team he played for in the late 1990s. Barros, who has practiced with the team the past month, will be eligible for the playoffs.
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"I'm not signing thinking I'm coming in and playing 20 minutes a game," said Barros, who last played in the NBA with Detroit (29 games) in 2001-02. "I'm looking at it as end-of-the-quarter 3-pointers, stuff like that. I'm not here to try to win any position or anything like that. I'm still here to help Marcus [Banks] and Chucky [Atkins] in whatever they need me to do. If somebody goes down, I'm going to be ready."
The veteran point guard plans to shake off the rust with playing time in tomorrow night's regular-season finale against Atlanta. If his body can handle the rigors of NBA play, fans can expect to see Barros in action for the playoffs.
"I've been doing a lot of work the last couple days," said Barros. "We're going to see how my body feels [today] at practice. We're going to talk to the doctors and trainers. I think it's more like insurance.
"Whatever I've got, they can have it. I think they just wanted one more guard on the roster with Paul [Pierce]'s injury and Chucky sick.
"I was thinking about playing next year, definitely. I was going to use this to stay in shape and continue all summer and see how everything went. I'm still going to continue to work out and think about playing next year.
"I'm nervous, excited, all that. But it will definitely be fun."
Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge also hopes it will be beneficial as the Celtics prepare to face the Pacers in the first round.
"Coaches always want a coach on the floor," said Ainge. "So we're going to give John Carroll a coach on the floor."
Streak ends at 110
After playing 110 straight games -- including the first 80 this year -- Pierce sat out last night against the Heat. Before shootaround in the morning, Pierce decided it would be better to rest his sprained right ankle. He made the decision in consultation with Carroll.
"I haven't really been playing to my potential the last couple games, so it will be good for me to get some rest," said Pierce. "This game isn't really going to make any difference with seeding or positioning in the playoffs. So we just thought as a team it would be best to rest me."
The streak went through his mind, said Pierce, "but in the long run and what we're trying to accomplish as a team, it would be better off. You've got to sacrifice some time."
Pierce injured the ankle last Wednesday, early in the fourth quarter against Miami. The sprain doesn't affect him when he walks, but it hurts when he runs and moves laterally. It becomes particularly sore after games.
But if the playoffs had started last night or the Celtics had needed a win to reach them, Pierce would have played.
"Paul needs to be healthy for us to have a chance to do anything in the playoffs," said Carroll. "If you're weighing his ankle at 100 percent versus team continuity, I think you have to go with health."
All-new episode
Don't talk to the Celtics about backing into the playoffs. Or about being swept by the Pacers. They feel they deserve to play in the postseason and consider it a new start. The fact that the Pacers have the best regular-season record in the NBA doesn't really matter, they say. "We're always the underdogs no matter what we do," said Walter McCarty. "We've played very well in the playoffs, especially against [the Pacers]. We give ourselves a chance. We're not going to roll over and just say, `They're going to beat the crap out of us,' because we believe that we can beat this team. That's our focus going into it. We're going in to win." Added Pierce, "We're in the playoffs and that's all that matters. It's a whole new season now. It feels great."
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 4/13/2004
Dana Barros turns 37 today. And the Celtics are giving new meaning to the "many happy returns" part of the traditional birthday wish. Barros is expected to sign a 10-day contract with Boston today, coming out of retirement and returning to the team he played for in the late 1990s. Barros, who has practiced with the team the past month, will be eligible for the playoffs.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I'm not signing thinking I'm coming in and playing 20 minutes a game," said Barros, who last played in the NBA with Detroit (29 games) in 2001-02. "I'm looking at it as end-of-the-quarter 3-pointers, stuff like that. I'm not here to try to win any position or anything like that. I'm still here to help Marcus [Banks] and Chucky [Atkins] in whatever they need me to do. If somebody goes down, I'm going to be ready."
The veteran point guard plans to shake off the rust with playing time in tomorrow night's regular-season finale against Atlanta. If his body can handle the rigors of NBA play, fans can expect to see Barros in action for the playoffs.
"I've been doing a lot of work the last couple days," said Barros. "We're going to see how my body feels [today] at practice. We're going to talk to the doctors and trainers. I think it's more like insurance.
"Whatever I've got, they can have it. I think they just wanted one more guard on the roster with Paul [Pierce]'s injury and Chucky sick.
"I was thinking about playing next year, definitely. I was going to use this to stay in shape and continue all summer and see how everything went. I'm still going to continue to work out and think about playing next year.
"I'm nervous, excited, all that. But it will definitely be fun."
Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge also hopes it will be beneficial as the Celtics prepare to face the Pacers in the first round.
"Coaches always want a coach on the floor," said Ainge. "So we're going to give John Carroll a coach on the floor."
Streak ends at 110
After playing 110 straight games -- including the first 80 this year -- Pierce sat out last night against the Heat. Before shootaround in the morning, Pierce decided it would be better to rest his sprained right ankle. He made the decision in consultation with Carroll.
"I haven't really been playing to my potential the last couple games, so it will be good for me to get some rest," said Pierce. "This game isn't really going to make any difference with seeding or positioning in the playoffs. So we just thought as a team it would be best to rest me."
The streak went through his mind, said Pierce, "but in the long run and what we're trying to accomplish as a team, it would be better off. You've got to sacrifice some time."
Pierce injured the ankle last Wednesday, early in the fourth quarter against Miami. The sprain doesn't affect him when he walks, but it hurts when he runs and moves laterally. It becomes particularly sore after games.
But if the playoffs had started last night or the Celtics had needed a win to reach them, Pierce would have played.
"Paul needs to be healthy for us to have a chance to do anything in the playoffs," said Carroll. "If you're weighing his ankle at 100 percent versus team continuity, I think you have to go with health."
All-new episode
Don't talk to the Celtics about backing into the playoffs. Or about being swept by the Pacers. They feel they deserve to play in the postseason and consider it a new start. The fact that the Pacers have the best regular-season record in the NBA doesn't really matter, they say. "We're always the underdogs no matter what we do," said Walter McCarty. "We've played very well in the playoffs, especially against [the Pacers]. We give ourselves a chance. We're not going to roll over and just say, `They're going to beat the crap out of us,' because we believe that we can beat this team. That's our focus going into it. We're going in to win." Added Pierce, "We're in the playoffs and that's all that matters. It's a whole new season now. It feels great."
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