About seven weeks ago, Mickael Pietrus wasn’t sure if he would ever put on a Celtics uniform again.
Or any uniform, for that matter.
On March 23 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center, Pietrus drove to the basket, collided with Lou Williams and fell awkwardly. He stayed on the court for at least 10 minutes, clutching the back of his head, throwing up. The result was a concussion and it cost him 10 games.
Pietrus returned to this very same arena for Game 3 Wednesday night against the Sixers.
Any concerns?
“No, not really, though I did see the spot on the court where it happened,” Pietrus said. “It’s kind of eerie. I still haven’t watched the videotape of the injury. I’m just happy to be healthy and back in action. There’s nothing like playoff basketball.”
Pietrus was a key factor in Game 2, albeit in a one-point loss. He scored eight points and knocked down a pair of huge 3-pointers.
“I feel really good and I’m confident in my shot,” said Pietrus, who made his Celtics debut on Jan. 11 against the Dallas Mavericks and later played in his 500th career game five days later against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We do have some guys battling through some injuries. If my name is called, I’m confident in my ability to help this team win games.”
More than that, he’s simply happy to be competing at the highest level.
“After that injury, which was really scary, you’re not really sure what’s going on,” Pietrus said. “As I improved physically and saw that I was going to be alright, I felt better. It is a blessing to be playing. I know I was lucky. That’s OK with me. I’ll take it.”
