Until recently, Chris Wilcox has either been too hurt or too out of shape to contribute much. That was unfortunate because he is one of the few on the team that can play center and we used the mid level exception to pick him up. So it is very encouraging to see him start to come around.
Even though he had 14 points and 6 rebounds in last night's effort, Doc Rivers believes that he really started playing well on Thursday.
Green Street " Chris Wilcox is gaining momentum
The numbers didn’t jump off the page for Chris Wilcox on Thursday night in Orlando. In nearly 19 minutes of action, he only scored four points and collected one rebound during the Celtics comeback win over the Magic. But it was the type of performance coach Doc Rivers felt was critical to getting his injury-riddled big man some much-needed momentum going forward. "He was great," Rivers said. "I thought he was one of the unsung heroes from [Thursday] night. He’s figured out that he’s not going to beat anybody with height so he plays his defense before the guys gets the ball. I thought he had four or five deflections on Dwight [Howard], and before he could get the ball up [Wilcox] already had his hands on the ball."
And it sounds like the best is yet to come with Wilcox as well. Like Paul Pierce was a week or two ago, Wilcox is still trying to get into shape.
Wilcox leads breathtaking effort by Celtics’ bench - The Boston Globe
"I was a little winded,’’ he said, "but it was a good one.’’ Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers: "The last two games, Chris has been - you know, if he could play with an oxygen tank, he’d be phenomenal. He was absolutely dying out there. But he’s still giving us the time and he’s doing everything for us, which is terrific.’’ When he was apprised about Rivers’s playful oxygen-tank remark, Wilcox replied, "Yeah, next time I’m going to go out there with one on my back.’’
If he can get into better shape and fully grasp the role that Doc Rivers wants him to play, I think he could be a very valuable part of our bench rotation going forward.
0 recs | 8 comments
Underestimated
…the conditioning issues going into this rushed and shortened season. The younger , more athletic teams had an earl spurt. We shall see of the Philas can sustain. Meanwhile, it looks like the C’s and finding their legs and their groove….
.
Tenacious D - January 28, 2012
i hope he stays consistent and healthy.
reb0undwins18 - January 28, 2012
i like what wilcox gives us when healthy
id still like the team to add kenyon martin, who will choose his team by the end of the week. hawks, spurs, heat, clippers and knicks are the teams said to be after him.
i know he’s older but he’s a physical inside player who could hopefully give us an inside presence. normally id say dump pavs but his play latelyhas been decent. with stiemsma, basically exposed and doing nothing with his minutes i say cut him add martin for the minimum.
a big man rotation with martin, jo, wilcox, kg and bass would be pretty good and very deep
craziness@analltimehigh - January 28, 2012
lol wat u want him to due he gets fils for standing 5 fett away from a the player plus he looks like he has alot of potetional
EXER123 - January 28, 2012
fouls*
EXER123 - January 28, 2012
my problem with kmart is he is another old guy with bad knees with injuries waiting to happen. wilcox and kg showed we do not need perk to cover superman. we still could use some height.
nazzbo - January 28, 2012
+1
EXER123 - January 28, 2012
K-Mart will go play with his buddy Melo in NY..
Or to a team that will overpay him.
Why would he come here? He’s all about $$$$$$
Pietrus & Cream - January 28, 2012 via mobile
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