Stevens: Rest may come into play
Rest is generally a dirty word around these Celtics, but after watching his weary team barely get past the Orlando Magic last night, 117-116, at the Garden, coach Brad Stevens admitted that he may have to deploy some minutes management over the last six games of the regular season.
“We’re talking about all of that stuff and looking at all of that stuff,” Stevens said. “I feel really good about where we are in the big picture. And our trainers and strength/conditioning guys and everyone else is talking with the guys on a day-to-day basis to make sure they feel really good. It’s not just what you’re doing in a game. So I feel really good about where we are from that standpoint.
“Obviously, we need Avery ( Bradley) back and we need him healthy, but the rest thing will come into play if it needs to.”
Bradley was out with a reoccurrence of a stomach illness so severe the first time around he spent a night in the hospital. He was at home last night.
“I don’t know for sure,” Stevens said of Bradley’s availability for tomorrow’s game in New York against the Knicks. “I think the thought right now would be that that’s likely. But we’ll see how Avery feels (last night) and (this) morning. He just needs to get to feeling better. Part of that is getting your appetite back and just feeling fresh again.”
Deep thoughts from Amir
The scouting report on Amir Johnson has changed. When the Celtics center turned one of his eternally creaky ankles early in the first quarter, it was because the Magic’s Nik Vucevic fouled him while defending a 3-pointer.
“I’m a little sore, but I’ll be fine. I never thought the day would come when I roll my ankle on the 3-point line. It’s tough,” Johnson said. “That’s my first time (getting fouled while attempting a 3-pointer). I’m usually down in the paint but I guess guys are running me off the 3-point line now. … I told Vucevic, ‘Just let me shoot that. You didn’t have to run me off.’ I guess guys are starting to do that now.”
Johnson, who made the night’s biggest stop by contesting an Elfrid Payton miss just before the final buzzer, played 19 minutes. He was unsure of his status for tomorrow.
“I’m gonna see how it feels in the morning,” Johnson said. “I’ve got it wrapped up right now. I’m gonna wake up early and get some treatment and see how I feel. But it’s fine right now.”
Few ideas on Zags
Gonzaga coach Mark Few maintained contact with two Celtics types, Stevens and excited alum Kelly Olynyk, as his team prepared for the first NCAA Final Four in school history, and tonight’s national semifinal against South Carolina. Stevens, who led Butler to two championship games, discussed the dragging pace of Final Four week with Few.
“I just talked about my perspective and then what our team did to kind of get away from it. Because it’s a really long week. By the time Saturday’s games tip off, you’re like, ‘Can we please just play the game.’ ”