Practice notes

Some quick headlines from today's practice:

* Coach Doc Rivers announced that Chris Wilcox will be out 3-4 weeks with an ulnar collateral sprain in his right thumb. Wilcox injured the thumb last Tuesday in Chicago and has not played in either of the past two games. Part of the reason Wilcox hasn't played is due to the injury, and also due to his recent defensive struggles. Down goes one big man.

* When asked if the team was going to make a move to acquire a big man, Rivers responded, "You would think, but obviously that’s the one position where they don’t grow on trees. They actually grow. We just have to be patient. Obviously, we need another big with Chris being out. I don’t know if we’re going to get another big on this trip." This sets them up to acquire the one big that I want, right?!?!

* Jeff Green returned to practice today after bruising his left cheek and having some of his teeth chipped after taking an elbow from Ersan Ilyasova on Friday night. He sported a shiner under his left eye at practice today. "It's cool; added to my character," said Green. "Just another bruise that I've got to fight through." Maybe this will wake him up and get him on track. Green passed the concussion test on Friday night, fully participated in practice today, and is expected to be ready to go on Tuesday in Brooklyn. When asked if he would wear a protective mask, Green responded, "No, I'm not wearing no mask. I ain't hiding it. Everybody sees it; everybody knows what it is. Nothing's broke, so I don't have any reason to wear a mask."

* Fab Melo chipped in a triple-double last night with the Maine Red Claws. He scored 15 points, pulled down 16 rebounds, and blocked a D-League record 14 shots. When asked if there would be a potential call-up on the horizon, Rivers responded, "I haven’t talked to anyone that thinks he’s ready to come up yet," said Rivers. "There might be your answer." That's that.

* Kris Joseph was recalled from Maine today and will join the team on it's upcoming road trip. He started in last night's game and had 10 points and 7 rebounds in 37 minutes.

* Leandro Barbosa missed Friday night's game due to personal reasons and will not be with the team in Brooklyn on Christmas day. He is expected to join the team for the final three games of their road trip.

* Speaking of that road trip, there's a chance that Avery Bradley might make his season debut on that trip. He will travel with the team, but it's still uncertain as to if he will play. "I think there’s a chance," said Rivers, "but I don’t know what the chances are. I haven’t talked to anybody. The fact that he went through, again, today’s practice great ... I don’t know, I just try to stay out of that. Because he’s close and I don’t want anyone feeling like I’m pressuring them -- Avery or, more importantly, the doctors. Because Avery wants to play. I guarantee he wants to play the next game. But that’s something that I try to stay away from."