Tony Allen might not be back from an injury to guard Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the NBA finals begin Thursday in Boston, Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said Monday.
“It doesn’t look good,” Rivers said. “He couldn’t get through even the walk-through portion.”
Allen, a 6-foot-4 guard, had some success against Bryant during the regular season but injured his Achilles’ tendon in a post-practice pickup game during the Eastern Conference finals and hasn’t played since.
Allen started the regular-season game against the Lakers in Boston on Dec. 30 – one of just 11 games he started this season – and helped hold the NBA MVP to 22 points on 6-for-25 shooting.
“He’s played good in two games against the Lakers,” Rivers said. “But if he’s not healthy, he’s not healthy.”
• Miami center Alonzo Mourning, whose season ended when he suffered severe knee and leg injuries in a game in December, said that if his body gets healthy, he would like to play one more season.
“I still, in my mind, feel I can contribute,” he said.
Mourning, 38, averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 25 games this season.
• The Orlando Magic signed General Manager Otis Smith to a multiyear contract extension. Terms were not disclosed.
• Will Flip Saunders be back as Detroit’s coach next season? A person with knowledge of the situation said Pistons President Joe Dumars and owner Bill Davidson will meet “really soon,” and questions about Saunders’ future should be cleared up. The person stressed that Saunders has not been given any assurance he’ll be back.
Saunders has one year remaining on the four-year deal he signed in July 2005.
If Saunders does not return, assistant coach Michael Curry is the top candidate thought to be in line to replace him. Last month, the Pistons would not allow Chicago to interview Curry for the Bulls’ coaching job.
