Stabbed Celtics Star Returns to Practice

W A L T H A M, Mass., Oct. 11 -- Paul Pierce bounced the ball, bent hisknees, raised his right arm and shot his free throw. Good.

He moved to the right corner, took two steps toward the baselineand shot a 15-footer. Good.

Then he dribbled to his left, stopped and flicked his hand as hesent another jumper toward the hoop. Good.

The prognosis for Pierce’s return to playing soon for the BostonCeltics is very good, considering how, just two weeks ago, he wasrecovering from surgery after being stabbed several times in aBoston nightclub.

“The wounds that hit me could have easily been one inch left orone inch to the right and I probably wouldn’t be here today,” hesaid Tuesday, wearing a hat with the words “Only The StrongSurvive” on the front.

Could Play in Season Opener

One wound was seven inches deep, and Pierce, stabbed in thechest, had lung damage and underwent surgery the day of thestabbing Sept. 25.

A week later, the Celtics began training camp without him. Butsince then, he’s worked out on a treadmill, shot baskets andparticipated in light workouts. Full-scale practices might not befar off, perhaps as soon as Friday after exhibition games theprevious two nights.

He wouldn’t rule out playing in Boston’s season opener Nov. 1 athome against Detroit.

“All the pain is mostly gone,” he said, but “I won’t know how I’m going to react until I get into practice and take a couple ofbangs from the guys.”

Pierce, who turns 23 Monday, averaged 19.5 points and was secondin the NBA in steals last season, his second in the league.

“He’s very close to coming back,” Celtics coach Rick Pitinosaid. “He looks great, feels great. He’s a little winded buteverything else, I think, is almost normal.”

Eager to Return

On Tuesday, facial cuts that were visible when he left NewEngland Medical Center three days after the stabbing had healed. Hesaid he hadn’t known the seriousness of his condition until he hadundergone surgery and already was getting better.