Shooting guard Raja Bell wants to tough it out without being a liability, and the Charlotte Bobcats probably need him to have a realistic shot at the NBA Playoffs.
Yesterday was a day of optimism for both sides, with Bell hoping he can play with a torn ligament in his left wrist and put off surgery that would sideline him as long as four months.
"I'm going to (sit out) for another week to see if it continues to progress as it has, then I'll probably wind up playing," Bell said after practicing with his non-shooting hand heavily taped. "If it doesn't, then we'll go back to the drawing board."
Bell was injured trying grab a loose ball in an exhibition game Oct. 18. He sat out the final two preseason games after tests revealed the torn ligament. Bell got a second opinion from a Chicago hand specialist who told him if he can withstand the pain, he can play.
"I'm pretty encouraged," Bell said. "It's feeling a lot better than it did. I still have some hurdles to clear with it, but I feel good."
Bell will sit out today's opener in Boston, and Coach Larry Brown said Stephen Graham will start ahead of rookie Gerald Henderson, adding: "I'm not afraid to play Gerald Henderson, but I don't want his first NBA game chasing Paul Pierce and Ray Allen around right off the bat."
Also, Tyson Chandler, still trying to get in playing shape after returning from offseason ankle surgery, was encouraged after practice yesterday. Still, Brown said that Chandler isn't ready to play 35-40 minutes, meaning Nazr Mohammed will get more playing time.
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