Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Boston Celtics announce that forward Wally Szczerbiak is scheduled to undergo season ending ankle surgery on Thursday March 8, 2007. The procedure will be performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon at New England Baptist Hospital.
“You kind of knew it when he went down in the Sac (Sacramento) game that it was pretty much over,” Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. “I mean, I didn’t know, but that’s the assumption. Right when you hear “second opinions,” that’s means you know that probably means he ain’t going to play anymore this year.”
The Celtics expect him to be 100 percent after recovering from the surgery, according to Rivers.
In 32 games this season, Szczerbiak is averaging 15.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game. Szczerbiak has missed 24 games this season due to injury (all but one game due to ankle sprains).
DJ honored at the Garden
he Boston Celtics will honor the late Dennis Johnson at their home game against the New York Knicks on February 28 at the TD Banknorth Garden. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a special pin honoring the Celtics legend.
The Celtics will present a tribute video highlighting Johnson’s stellar career prior to tip-off. The team will also show clips of memorable moments in Johnson’s career during timeouts.
“The entire Celtics organization is greatly saddened by the loss of Dennis Johnson,” said Rich Gotham, Celtics Chief Operating Officer. “On Wednesday night, we will provide our fans with the opportunity to remember DJ and celebrate his great life and career.”
Prior to tonight’s game at the TD Banknorth Garden, New York Knicks president of basketball operations and head coach Isiah Thomas recalled competing against the great Celtics teams of the 1980s and Johnson as a member of the Detroit Pistons.
“Even when we were trying to catch them, following them around trying to emulate the things that the Celtics were doing and the Lakers were doing, he and C.K. (Jones), Larry (Bird), Kevin (McHale) were always extremely kind to us and extremely kind to me,” Thomas said. “He’ll be missed. I don’t know if it was Danny (Ainge) of Kevin, but I recall one of them saying that it’s said that he’s gone now and it makes us remember how great a player he was. I wish he had got the recognition for how great a player he was when he was still alive.”
Thomas also said that Johnson is “most definitely” a Hall of Famer.
Knicks limping into the hunt
New York enters play today just two spots out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Steve Francis (knee) did not make the trip to Boston, and Jamal Crawford (ankle) is likely out for the remainder of the season. The team’s leading rebounded David Lee (ankle) will also be out of the lineup tonight. Nate Robinson is also battling the flu.