Ratliff Careful Not to Rush Back

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The sight of Theo Ratliff shooting free throws yesterday was enough for Celtics coach Doc Rivers to stop in mid-sentence.

?Wow, that?s the first time I?ve seen him on the floor in a while,? said Rivers of a player who is stacking up as the missing piece in the Celtics? plans. ?But there?s no upgrade in his condition right now. How he responds (to treatment), I don?t know.?

The problem, and the hindrance, is a herniated disc in Ratliff?s lower back.

The 33-year-old center recently had his back examined by a chiropractor. Ratliff then heard some familiar words - the problem will take time to cure.

As such, without the talented defender available, the Celtics will probably open the season against the Hornets tomorrow at the Garden with Kendrick Perkins starting in the pivot. Michael Olowokandi will likely be serving as the backup center.

Considering that Ratliff hasn?t practiced for two weeks, that promises to be the Celtics? inside look for the foreseeable future, unless Rivers puts a small lineup on the floor more frequently than he has promised.

?He?s a center, so getting him ready is a little different,? said Rivers, who has voiced concern over the length of time it may eventually take to work Ratliff back into the flow. ?But he knows what he does, and what he has to do. But getting back into things is going to hurt us a little bit even when he comes back.?

Ratliff knows this much - he?s not having surgery.

?Surgery isn?t necessary for me, because it?s not affecting the (sciatic) nerve,? he said. ?Doc actually had the surgery, and he?s talked to me about that. He had a tingling in his legs. That?s not the case with me.?

Caution very much is the shot-blocker?s concern, however.

?It?s getting better, so we?ll see how it goes,? he said. ?But when I come back, I want to be out there on the floor for a full season - not just a couple of games before I have to stop playing again.

?But I?m able to do more and more every day,? he said. ?It?s always a pain for me to sit and watch from the sideline - especially for me, because I love being out there so much.

?But right now I have to calm (the back) down, and I have to strengthen it. This is the first time I?ve had to deal with my back, and it?s something that you don?t want to rush.? </div>

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