It's obvious that injuries have taken their toll on the Celtics' starting lineup. The core guys are still healthy, but the effects trickle down — Shaquille O'Neal is forced to start every game, for instance, and Ray Allen is forced to play more minutes than he might like.
With Jermaine O'Neal and Delonte West out, and a few others banged up, the C's have had to tweak their rotation. The starters have felt that pinch.
But so has the second unit — there are no O'Neals on that backup front line anymore, and with no West, the guard rotation is all out of whack.
It's up to Glen Davis, the 24-year-old forward in his fourth season, to lead the way for a Celtics bench that's had to overcome adversity.
"It is my responsibility," Davis said. "I'm the most veteran guy on this second group. I've been here the longest, I've played the longest with this group of guys, I know the system the best. That's the way it is. It's my responsibility to get the second group in order."
Davis enjoyed a rare practice with the starting unit Monday, filling in for the absent Shaquille O'Neal. Scrimmaging against him in the white jerseys were center Semih Erden, forwards Luke Harangody and Marquis Daniels, and guards Von Wafer and Nate Robinson. That's a group that hasn't had a lot of time to grow together, and now they've got to do it on the fly.
"A lot of us haven't played together a lot," Davis said. "Semih hasn't played a lot with me. Luke hasn't played a lot with me. Delonte West was in, and now he's out. We've just got to get on the court and get some practice in, we'll be fine. We haven't been playing well. We're a young group, and we need work. That's what it's about. We need work."
Davis is still young and still growing himself, but he's got his coach on his back every day, providing the tough love he needs to improve. Doc Rivers' relationship with his young star has helped him become a leader on the Celtics' bench.
"It's annoying sometimes, because Doc is Doc," Davis admitted. "He does what he wants to do, but it's for the best of the team and also for myself. If I want to be successful, the way he runs the system and the responsibility he puts on me is great. He's like, 'Hey, one day you could be running this team, and you do what it takes to make that happen.' And that's the way I look at it."
For the moment, Davis can settle for running the second unit. He's handling that job well.
