WALTHAMThe Boston Celtics have only had three days of practice, and players are already starting to miss action.
Rajon Rondo suffered a right ankle sprain about halfway through Sunday's practice, and did not return. Fellow starter Paul Pierce suffered a right heel injury that kept him off the practice floor for the second straight day.
While both injuries are considered minor, the C's were once again unable to have enough bodies in practice to even do any 5-on-5 work.
This has left head coach Doc Rivers little choice but to do a lot more 3-on-3, and 1-on-1 work with players in addition to pick-and-roll defense using four players.
"You can still have a practice," Rivers said. "The problem is, we haven't had a scrimmage yet at all. It's three days in a row now we haven't been able to go up and down with five-on-five, with your players. That's three days in camp that we've missed already."
It has created a considerable amount of day-to-day uncertainty, which is why the C's have scheduled Monday's practice later in the afternoon in hopes that the yet-to-be-cleared paperwork will be done in time for those unable to practice to be on the floor.
"Right now, as far as I'm concerned, we haven't started camp yet," Rivers said.