4/21/1988
If you're waiting for Bill Walton to return, don't, as they say, hold your breath.
According to team physician Arnold Scheller, time is running out on the Walton comeback bid. Big Bill last scrimmaged with the Celtics two weeks ago today. He experienced pain in his left foot and has restricted himself to therapy ever since.
"Bill challenged his foot two weeks ago," Scheller said. "He did well in those practices, but he had a flare-up of pain in the foot. We started him on some anti-inflammatories, and he showed improvement. But the major thing has been the joint mobilization he's undergone with (trainer) Ed (Lacerte) and (orthopedic physical therapist) Dan Dyrek. Now he's on a plateau, and it's not a situation where you want to push it. It's hard for Bill because he's dealing with peer pressure, management pressure and the competitive pressure he's put on himself."
Scheller emphasized that the holding pattern in no way implies that the surgery performed on Walton's left foot wasn't successful, in medical terms. "The best way to describe what was done," said Scheller, "is to say that his foot was taken apart and put back together. We ran tests to verify that the bone is healing. The problem here is tenderness in the soft tissue surrounding it."
The doctor believes Walton's foot will enable him to perform successfully in the 1988-89 season. "But as far as this season is concerned," Scheller concluded, "we're cutting it as close as we can."
It is not inconceivable that Walton's name will be placed on the active player list for the playoffs. The Celtics have until midnight Sunday to make the final decision.
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