Life's a comedy. 人生如戏.

Pre-NBA Finals

(01 June 2010/8:32 AM)

Injuries reports of Boston Celtics.

Rajon Rondo & Rasheed Wallace of Boston Celtics limited in practice.

Rajon Rondo hit the deck hard, grimacing after being fouled. Glen Davis played through dizziness from a concussion. Rasheed Wallace put up with a painful back.

The Boston Celtics needed some time off.

That is just what they got, with a five-day break between games before starting the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rondo was floored by Jason Williams while driving to the basket during Game 6. He landed awkwardly on his back.

“He’s going to be OK,” Rivers said. “I’m more concerned with Rasheed, honestly. Rasheed got tight. You could see it.”

Paul Pierce is another player who needs a respite from the battering he took in the physical series with the Magic.

“I’ve got a couple injuries that I kind of want to cure. Just minor stuff like foot, back, stuff like that,” Pierce said. “But nothing major for me, you know. Running into Dwight Howard really doesn’t help your body."

Paul Pierce excited to return to NBA Finals, hometown

Celtics guard Paul Pierce will face the tough defense of Lakers guard Ron Artest.

Paul Pierce is excited to return to the NBA finals and his hometown for the next round in the league's greatest rivalry.

Boston's best player isn't exactly thrilled that Los Angeles' welcoming committee includes Ron Artest, a physical, tenacious defender.

“He likes to bang you,” Pierce said Monday, “grab you, hold you, pull your shorts down. He's going to try anything.”

One of the most storied rivalries in all of sports --- the Lakers vs. the Celtics

Dynasty vs. Dynasty

The crowd for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will see the newest installment of a rivalry that goes back more than 50 years — to the 1959 finals when Boston swept the Minneapolis Lakers in four games. The franchises clashed in six finals in the ‘60s. Then came the ‘80s and three Larry Bird-Magic Johnson championship rounds, two of them won by the Lakers.

It took more than 20 years for the teams to match up again in 2008 when the Celtics captured their NBA-high 17th title.

Another championship would mean “everything,” Pierce said. “Hopefully, it can move me up the ranks as one of the top Celtics players of all time and maybe in NBA history.”

The Celtics, without injured Kevin Garnett, were eliminated in the Eastern semifinals last year and the Lakers beat Orlando in the finals. Soon after, Pierce said he was on the West Coast walking his dog in his neighborhood when he saw Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson in a convertible at a stop sign.

“I just said congratulations to him,” Pierce said. “I think he probably mentioned something (like) ‘See you in the finals next year.'”

Now that series is just a few days away.

“I think both teams are happy they're playing the team they're playing,” Rivers said. “I think it's exactly the way we envisioned it during training camp and it's probably the same way they envisioned it."

Labels: NBA PRE-2010 FINALS

Yet another entry by WEN SHENG.