Celtics Play Waiting Game at Center

NEW YORK - The Celtics are not planning any roster moves to shore up their dwindling corps of centers. Even with Theo Ratliff (bulging disc) and Michael Olowokandi (torn abdominal muscle) out, Danny Ainge said yesterday he’s willing to hang on until Al Jefferson returns from his appendectomy.

It doesn’t hurt that, with last night’s 122-118 win over the Knicks, they’ve now won three straight.

“First of all, we’d have to cut somebody, and we don’t want to do that,” said Ainge. “Then you’d have to get somebody in and teach them the system. We’re hoping Al will be back soon, and it’d take a new guy until then just to learn the stuff.”

Ratliff, meanwhile, made the trip here with the Celts to see Dr. Andrew Fischer, a doctor of rehabilitative medicine. Ratliff is seeking to alleviate his back pain, but it’s doubtful you’ll be seeing him in uniform any time soon.

“I’m going to back down and see him a couple of more times,” Ratliff said. “This is going to help.”

Among the treatments is injection therapy, in which small amounts of fluid are put into key areas.

There were unseen benefits when the Celtics starters were allowed to remain on the bench for the entire fourth quarter Friday as the subs ran away from Portland.

“It was good to be able to get that rest in a back-to-back,” said Paul Pierce. “I probably was fresher at the end (last night).”

Pierce had 19 points in the last quarter against the Knicks.

New York moment: In the first minute, a fan saw Szczerbiak on Steve Francis and yelled, “Yo, Francis, he can’t guard you.”

“I know that,” Francis replied before getting outscored by Szczerbiak, 20-18.

Pierce isn’t happy with the Knicks these days. The club is still dealing with roster and salary cap issues, but with Larry Brown gone, the scene is less dramatic.

“I used to love checking up to see the latest news on them,” said Pierce with a laugh. “I haven’t got the latest update, but it seems like it’s calmer now.

“The soap opera’s dying down around here. The year before that we had the Lakers with Kobe and Shaq, and then we had New York. What are we going to do without those two soap operas?

“Maybe I should start something,” he added with a mischievous look. “Maybe I should slap Perk (Kendrick Perkins). No, I ain’t touching that man. He’ll choke me out. But we’ve got to start something on this team.”

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