Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
Celtics guard Tony Allen appears to be well on his way back from the second knee surgery of his career. He told The Sun that he hopes to be able to play in one of the Celtics preseason games next month.
“I might be back for preseason camp, hopefully I‘ll get to play a few games,” said Allen, who spent the off-season in the Waltham area rehabbing at the Celtics training facility. “I don’t want to come back too early, but I’m at full strength. Not at 100 percent, but lets say 70 percent. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. My rehab was great and that’s all part of strengthening and conditioning myself to get to the tip-top notch shape.”
Allen had anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery along with cartilage repair to his left knee in January.
In 2005-06 he worked his way back from surgery on his right knee following the 2004-05 season (his rookie season).
“Basically, my mindset was getting healthy,” Allen said. “I didn’t think about the previous injury or nothing. I was just focusing on this injury. By my going through that injury it did make me mentally tough for this one, but I wasn’t thinking about the last one.”
There have been some murmurings that Allen, who was the team’s best one-on-one defender, may even see time at the point guard position as opposed to the small forward or shooting guard spots he primarily manned last season.
He says those conversations haven’t been had with him yet.
“It’s really just a big old hoopla right now,” Allen said. “I haven’t gotten word from anybody. So I’m just basically trying to get healthy, and that’s my biggest concern. I'm happy about the new teammates I have and I‘m looking forward to just contributing.”
Allen and former Celtic and two-time NBA Champion Cedric Maxwell visited Hudson, N.H., today. They dedicated a basketball court in the driveway of a Hudson family who won an essay contest, and they also held a free basketball clinic at the Hudson Community Center.
John Collins has the story for The Sun.
(Click the link below for a couple other odds and ends from Tony Allen as camp approaches.)
Allen appeared in 33 games in the 2006-07 season, averaging 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. The 6’4” guard had set or tied career-highs in 12 statistical categories.
The Celtics roster has had considerable changeover since Allen last suited up. Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and Allan Ray are all gone.
Along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics have added Eddie House, Scot Pollard, James Posey, Jackie Manuel, Glen Davis, Gabe Pruitt, and Brandon Wallace.
strong>Tony Allen on the Celtics’ off-season moves: “I’m excited about it. Coming into this organization, I knew it was a business. Anybody can get traded. People get traded every day. I’m excited about this year. I’m looking forward to seeing my new teammates and just getting healthy.”
Allen on going overseas for preseason: “I’ve never been overseas before. This will be my first time going and I’m looking forward to that.”
“I’m just looking at getting a whole lot of rest, getting ready for the practices that are ahead of us, and hopefully, getting into enough shape where I can play in one of those games over there.”
Comments (1)
It would be Great to see Tony Allen in a few pre season games to get ready and warmed up for the season and all, BUT the most important things is for him to make sure he is 100% Healthy for the Regular season and for him to NOT come back to early!
Posted by Shappy | September 16, 2007 11:04 PM
Posted on September 16, 2007 23:04