Rivers, Ainge mum on Green's outlook

December, 15, 2011
12/15/11
12:47
PM ET


BOSTON -- Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers suggested the team will offer more clarity on the mystery health ailment affecting swingman Jeff Green on Friday. But as the team practiced Thursday at the TD Garden, they offered a pessimistic outlook.

Green did not pass his physical after inking a one-year, $9 million deal with the team at the start of the offseason. He hasn't been cleared to engage in full-contact work since the start of training camp and has been merely a sideline observer.

Chris Forsberg/ESPN BostonJeff Green, left, on the floor with the Celtics on Thursday. He still has not passed his physical with the team.
"Usually you pass your physical by now," admitted Rivers. "Listen, I’ll give you guys more tomorrow for sure. But I’ve been around long enough to know that if you haven’t passed your physical yet, then there’s something going on. I just haven't found out, but I’ve been around long enough to know there’s something going on."

Rivers pleaded ignorance, saying he had been in basketball meetings all morning and hadn't conferenced with Ainge yet to talk about the latest test results. Ainge admitted more results were in, but wouldn't offer any indication about what was found.

"We will know more about Jeff tomorrow, [he's] completing all tests and all results should be known by tomorrow afternoon," said Ainge. "We’ll wait until then to give you guys all that information."

Pressed on if the early results were good or bad, Ainge said, "It's all based on perspective. But I really don’t want to talk about that. It’s not fair for me to share Jeff’s information right now. So we’ll wait for tomorrow."

Ainge declined all follow-up inquiries on the topic.

Green was on the floor with the team before Thursday's practice at the TD Garden. He got up some shots, but declined media requests.

On Tuesday, Green downplayed any worries about his health.

"I'm all good," he said. "People are spreading rumors, trying to assume that I'm some kind of way but I'm fine."

The Celtics acquired Green, Nenad Krstic and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City at last season's trade deadline in exchange for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.

Chris Forsberg

Celtics reporter, ESPNBoston.com

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