"It's obviously a tough break. Tough break, not for our team, but for Leon," Rivers said after yesterday's light workout. "I told our guys that those are days as a coach that are very difficult because he just does so many right things.
"He played three minutes with a torn ACL on the floor. He didn't come out. He kept playing. It just says so much about Leon Powe the person. Forget the playoffs and all that stuff. That is just a tough injury for a kid who has done everything right.
"That makes no sense. It's a tough, tough moment."
Powe has a history of major injuries to his knees, specifically the left one, dating to his high school days in the Bay Area.
He had reconstructive surgery on his left knee in the spring of 2002 after his junior season at Oakland Tech High School. He also had reconstructive surgery on his left knee and bone graft surgery during his sophomore year at Cal.
This year, Powe missed 10 games from March 18 to April 8 with a right knee sprain and returned to action April 14 against Philadelphia.
Powe, 25, who will be a free agent this offseason, averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 17.5 minutes during 70 games in the regular season.
Rivers said Powe was not at the practice facility yesterday; the coach told him to "take some quiet time for himself."
"It's tough," said Rivers. "You know the whole circumstances with the contract year and all that stuff. It's just a lot of bad things. That's part of the sport. It's a tough one.
"We talked a little bit. There is not a lot you can say. The game, when you talk to him at that moment, is not as important as life. I don't think people understand that sometimes. They put their careers on the line every time they go on the floor."
Said Celtics forward Glen Davis, "Tough break. He's very competitive. I think what he needs to focus on right now is getting healthy."
