Tony Out Two Months

Thumb surgery.

So I'm clearly not TA's biggest fan, but this hurts a bit. We're used to playing without him - we've gone 12-3 in games he's missed this year - but he's still our only experienced backup wing player, and our best defender off the bench.

Fortunately, Gabe Pruitt has shown that he can be a contributor, and Tony is scheduled to be back for the playoffs, so we don't absolutely need to go out and make a trade. The only thing I worry a little about is wear and tear on Pierce and Ray Allen. Pierce is averaging 37 minutes per game this year, a full minute more than last year, and Ray is averaging 36 a night, just slightly more than last campaign. Neither has missed a game, either. That's already more minutes than most Celtics fans would like to see these guys play, and now they stand to see the floor even more.

The injuries to Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine have led Doc to play rookie and D-League callup Bill Walker some. Hopefully he continues to get some minutes spelling Pierce.

VIEWING ALERT: Tonight at Utah, 10:30 p.m. Eastern on TNT.