"The recovery process has been rough for Paul Pierce. The Celtics captain is not only struggling to play himself into shape, but basketball shape.

Deprived of a conventional training camp because of a bruised heel, the C's captain is using games as his gauge. And right now, he has only a sketchy idea of when his game will return to a recognizable regular-season level.

"It's hard to put a number on that. I don't know," Pierce said. "I'd probably say a couple of weeks. I definitely see a difference now. I'm a step faster than I was a week ago."