Say happy birthday to Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce

Jeremy Lin proved two of Jordan’s points during the pre-season game of the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers held on October 10 at Shenzhen, China. In regards to Rivers’ injury, Rivers is listed “day-to-day” as he was hit in the mouth by rookie, Branden Dawson’s elbow in practice on Friday.

As bad as the injury situation looked then, with both players missing the preseason game in Shenzhen, it appears things are looking up for the Clippers. Rivers was immediately taken into surgery after five of his teeth were knocked out. Initially, Austin Rivers thought he’d need to wait until Thursday to be reevaluated, but he healed quickly and was able to go through practice with contact Tuesday. “We’re born on the same day, so I think we’re both the same guy”, Rivers said.

While Batum is the overall better player among the four newbies mentioned to have joined the Hornets basketball organization, Lin, because of his popularity in Asia, has instantly made the Hornets a very popular team in countries like China and Taiwan. I’m so grateful to the fans here in China that have supported me over my career. I didn’t really appreciate her until I got older.

In fact, there were even reports earlier saying that Hornets head coach Steve Clifford may decide on playing starting point guard Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin together to give his team multiple pick-and-roll options the way the Warriors are doing it. That would also provide the team with plenty of looks from the three-point area.

Those Celtics days are planted firmly in their rear-view mirror now, but given Doc’s nepotistic tendencies and a quasi-self-destructive weakness for nostalgia, Pierce became the latest in a long line of Rivers’ retreads to hop on board the Clippers ship this summer. We’re both Libras, so Libras kind of clash.

“I was in the zone after the first 3-pointer went in, I felt all the shots would go in”, Lin said. “We go back and I’ll talk to our trainer”. “It’s so different now from the time when I played”.

There’s no question Paul, who was wearing a covering around just the injured left index finger, wants to be on the court in Shanghai and believes he will be.