Dan Savage of OrlandoMagic.com and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel are reporting J.J. Redick suffered no lingering effects from his first practice in nearly a month and will play for the Magic in tonight’s opening game against the Hawks.
Redick has been fighting a sore lower abdomen since March 11 after tweaking the injury during shootaround before Orlando’s loss to Golden State. Redick missed the last 17 games of the season as he tried to work his way back from the injury — even visiting a specialist in Vancouver to get a firm diagnosis on the injury. He was injured when he went to close out on a shooter during shootaround the morning before the game.
Redick practiced fully with Orlando on Friday for the first time since the injury and reported no lingering problems this morning.
The Magic went 11-6 without Redick in the lineup, occassionally looking choppy on offense (especially from the bench). Redick is unsure how his legs will feel as he plays his first game in nearly a month off the court, but he is going to give it a try.
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The Celtics are expecting to have Delonte West back from a right ankle sprain for Game One on Sunday against the Knicks. Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reported West moved his best since the new year in practicing fully on Friday.
Shaquille O’Neal is a different story. He is still questionable for Game One. O’Neal participated in walkthrough, but the team held him out of the contact portion of practice Friday. The Celtics are hopeful that O’Neal will be available at some point during the series.
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Manu Ginobili of the Spurs is still doubtful for Sunday’s Game One against the Grizzlies with a sprained right elbow. Gregg Popovich seems confident though that Ginobili will be available at some point during the series. George Hill would start in Ginobili’s place if he is unavailable.
Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reported Ginobili worked on cardiovascular conditioning and strength training while his teammates practiced Friday.
