Big Baby back on the shelf – now with more ambiguity!
December 29, 2009 by admin
Renowned endocrinologist and author Deepak Chopra once wrote, “It is the nature of babies to be in bliss.”
If we accept that as true, what does it mean for the Celtics when their resident infant is overweight and incapacitated? Have the Celtics transgressed against nature? Were ankles simply never intended to carry such onerous weight? Is Ronny Turiaf still pissed about what the C’s did to his Lakers in the ’08 Finals?
Chalk this one up as more bad luck for a Celtics squad already reeling from injuries to role players and stars alike.
According to the Globe’s website earlier today, Big Baby, who sustained an ankle injury last night, could be sidelined for a while.
Per boston.com:
The Celtics have some good news and bad news following Monday’s 103-99 loss to Golden State on the injury front.
The bad news: Glen Davis left the arena on crutches and told reporters he has a sprained right ankle. He was wearing a protective boot and said he couldn’t walk without aid. He could be out for an extended period. He didn’t sound positive. X-rays were negative.
Davis sprained the ankle in an ugly collision with Golden State’s rugged Ronny Turiaf, during which Davis was called for the offensive foul. Turiaf landed awkwardly and fell on Davis’s ankle.
“I sprained the ankle before [as in last season], so hopefully I’ll be back soon,” he said. “I can’t walk. If I can’t walk, I can’t run.”
The good news: Rajon Rondo tweaked his left hamstring but said it won’t cause him to miss any time. Rondo said he was hurting in the fourth quarter but still managed to drop 30 points with 15 assists and 3 steals.
Update: In contrast to that report, the Globe’s blog was updated a little while ago with the following bit of input from Danny Ainge:
Celtics vice president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Tuesday afternoon that he doesn’t believe the sprained right ankle suffered by Glen “Big Baby” Davis is as serious as first feared. Davis got mixed up with Golden State’s Rony Turiaf with 9:52 left in the game when Turiaf landed on his ankle.
Davis left Oracle in arena wearing a protective boot and walking with crutches.
“I haven’t heard anything, which means nothing is serious,” Ainge said. “I sent (trainer) Eddie (Lacerte) a text and I haven’t heard anything and usually that means it’s not much.”
As usual, there are differing reports from various sources, which means we can either guess at who to believe or play the waiting game. Regardless, Baby’s seems certain to miss at least a few games, if the protective boot and crutches are taken at face value.
It’s a testament to what’s been going on with the Celtics during this road trip that the “good news” in the article is, in fact, simply the absence of bad news. Big Baby being out for a bit isn’t going to help the C’s struggles, but I don’t think it’s a huge blow, either. He’s still working himself into shape, and Shelden Williams has been doing an adequate job in his absence. But it is disappointing to have to move the hypothetical date when we get to see a fully healthy C’s squad even further down the line.
Luckily, this is a deeper team than last year’s model. But as I suggested in my Christmas Eve post, the W’s and L’s that come in Pierce’s absence aren’t going to fully encompass where the Celtics are at. Don’t let the win at Orlando or the losses out on the Left Coast fool you: we’re watching a work in progress. Any statements regarding the team’s playoff outlook are best put on ice.
That having been said, for a guy who looked to have slimmed down at the end of last season, young Mr. Davis looks like a behemoth out there. Perk’s slimmed down frame doesn’t help matters much. It’d be nice if Big Baby could take this latest injury absence as an opportunity to get on the Subway Diet, or subscribe to the Taco Bell Fresco Menu, at least.
The main thing I’m taking from the last two nights? Don’t mess around with beards. Baron and Turiaf have killed Boston. God help the C’s the next time they take on Deshawn Stevenson and the Wizards: we could have a bloodbath on our hands.
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December 30, 2009 at 11:08 am | MD
Count me in on the SWilliams bandwagon. Baby has completely blown the chance to make an impactful season in returning the Green to Banner 18. More importantly to him, it was an opportunity to build on the last couple years and prove to the NBA he deserves to get paid. I wish it was otherwise but until he gets his act together and gets into shape, despite how hard it might be. He should in no way take away minutes from Williams.
The most important point in this article was about beards. Baron Davis actually directed his final shot in by using the force through the tiny hair follicles on his beard. It did, in fact, resemble a tentacle monster guiding the ball into the net through metaphysical telekinesis.
Take notice NBA. Baron Davis is a Jedi Master.
December 30, 2009 at 6:54 pm | Nick Gelso
lol– Good observations MD.