| | Associated Press
WALTHAM, Mass. -- Paul Pierce bounced the ball, bent his
knees, raised his right arm and shot his free throw. Good.
He moved to the right corner, took two steps toward the baseline
and shot a 15-footer. Good.
|  | | Boston's Paul Pierce says he now knows he needs to be more careful off the court.
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Then he dribbled to his left, stopped and flicked his hand as he
sent another jumper toward the hoop. Good.
The prognosis for Pierce's return to playing soon for the Boston
Celtics is very good, considering how, just two weeks ago, he was
recovering from surgery after being stabbed several times in a
Boston nightclub.
"The wounds that hit me could have easily been one inch left or
one inch to the right and I probably wouldn't be here today," he
said Tuesday, wearing a hat with the words "Only The Strong
Survive" on the front.
One wound was seven inches deep, and Pierce, stabbed in the
chest, had lung damage and underwent surgery the day of the
stabbing Sept. 25.
A week later, the Celtics began training camp without him. But
since then, he's worked out on a treadmill, shot baskets and
participated in light workouts. Full-scale practices might not be
far off, perhaps as soon as Friday after exhibition games the
previous two nights.
He wouldn't rule out playing in Boston's season opener Nov. 1 at
home against Detroit.
"All the pain is mostly gone," he said, but "I won't know how
I'm going to react until I get into practice and take a couple of
bangs from the guys."
Pierce, who turns 23 Monday, averaged 19.5 points and was second
in the NBA in steals last season, his second in the league.
"He's very close to coming back," Celtics coach Rick Pitino
said. "He looks great, feels great. He's a little winded, but
everything else, I think, is almost normal."
Tuesday, facial cuts that were visible when he left New
England Medical Center three days after the stabbing had healed. He
said he hadn't known the seriousness of his condition until he had
undergone surgery and already was getting better.
"What's up?" Pierce said with a smile as he spoke with
reporters for the first time since a brief meeting upon his release
from the hospital.
He wouldn't discuss what happened in the nightclub after which three
men were arrested, but said that as a public figure who might evoke
jealousy, he might have to be more careful. The nightclub where he
was stabbed is in the theater district, a relatively safe place at
night.
"I'm just kind of anxious to get back on the court, tired of
watching practice," Pierce said. "I'm not going to force myself
back any faster than I have to."
His physical recovery has been swift and he doesn't think
overcoming the mental trauma will be tough.
"I grew up in Inglewood, Calif., and I've seen some of the
worst things happen, even though they never happened to me,"
Pierce said. "I've had close friends die. I've had family members
die. ... I think a situation like this will be easy for me to put
behind."
Pitino doesn't plan to rush Pierce.
"He's just about ready to do anything right now. He's a quick
healer, but we're being overly cautious," Pitino said.
Pierce knows he also must be cautious when he goes out, perhaps
hiring security personnel to protect him. But he doesn't
second-guess his decision to go to the nightclub where he was
stabbed.
"You can't really do that," he said. "If you always look back
and say 'I wish, I wish, I wish I didn't do this,' then what kind
of life are you living? Things happen for a reason. It's
unfortunate that it did and I just have to live with it.
"I'm just trying to put it behind me and focus on basketball,"
he added. "That's what I came to Boston to do and that's what I
want to do."
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ALSO SEE
Celtics exercise 2001-02 option on Pierce's contract
Celtics open camp without Pierce
Police arrest third suspect in Pierce attack
Pierce leaves hospital, eyes return to court
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Paul Pierce is ready to get on the court, and much smarter off of it.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Paul Pierce never felt his life was on the line.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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