Submitted by admin on Thu, 2006-11-09 08:00. ::
OSTON -- If you were looking to pull something positive out of the first three games of the Celtics season, one could have pointed to third-year forward Al Jefferson. At 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, he was showing signs of the trimmed down and improved player he was advertised as in the preseason.
But as has been the case with Jefferson for the better part of two seasons, he was not allowed to enjoy his prosperity very long. When he showed up for the team's shootaround in Waltham yesterday morning he complained to trainer Ed Lacerte about stomach pain, and Lacerte was concerned enough to send him to the hospital.
Within hours, Jefferson underwent an appendectomy at New England Baptist Hospital that is expected to sideline him a minimum of two to three weeks.
"It's a tough loss for us," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers before last night's game against Charlotte, "but it is even more for Al. Every time he starts to play well, something happens and he's out."
Jefferson's second season was essentially lost to injury when he was slow to recover from a sprained ankle suffered on the first night of training camp. He then suffered another sprain in January. After the pain from the second injury inexplicably lingered for more than six months, Jefferson underwent surgery this summer where bone spurs were discovered in the ankle.
Within days he was back in the training room. By September he was back on the practice floor saying he was as fit and pain-free as he could ever remember.
Theo Ratliff, making his season debut after missing most of camp and the beginning of the season with a herniated disc in his back, got the start last night with Kendrick Perkins coming off the bench. Veteran Brian Scalabrine was also on the active list for the first time this season, with rookie Leon Powe taking his place in street clothes.
While second-year power forward Ryan Gomes is the player most likely to see additional meaningful minutes in Jefferson's absence, he said the whole team will have to respond.
"It's sad to see one of our better players go down like that," he said. "Everyone else has to step up now. I don't think it is more pressure on me, or Delonte (West), Paul (Pierce), Wally (Szczerbiak), Kendrick. I think it is on the whole team to do some of the things he was doing until he gets back."
Gomes shared his coach's disappointment that such a setback happened to a player who dedicated so much time this offseason to getting off to a fast start.
"It hurts to see that," Gomes said, "He was working on his game all summer -- losing weight, doing the right things. Then something like this has to happen."
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