With Marquis Daniels injured, Von Wafer stands alone as the Celtics’ only backup small forward. There’s just one problem: Doc Rivers doesn’t think Wafer can handle the role.

“He’s not big enough to be that guy,” Rivers told WEEI, later adding, “When Paul goes out, somebody’s going to have to guard LeBron. We don’t have that someone.”

Looking at Wafer’s stats — not to mention his thin, 6’5″ frame — Rivers has a point. Wafer hasn’t played much small forward this year, but did play a fair amount in ’08-’09 with the Houston Rockets. During his time at small forward that season, according to 82games.com, Wafer surrendered a PER of 19.5 to his opponents (well above the league average PER, 15). Compare that number to 14.9, the PER Wafer’s opponents registered when he played shooting guard that season. Wafer clearly had more trouble defending larger players.

There is another side to the story, though. Wafer actually played much better offensively when playing small forward. His own PER rose from 14.3 as a shooting guard to 19.7 as a small forward, meaning Wafer’s Net 48-Minute Production improved when he moved to small forward. Of the three most common lineups featuring Wafer at small forward that season for the 53-29 Rockets, each outscored its opponent.

Of course, Wafer’s role is different now. He’s unlikely to provide scoring binges like he did for Houston that year, because the shot attempts just won’t be there. In Boston, Wafer has to carve his niche with strong defense and solid, rather than spectacular, offensive play. Wafer’s new role in Boston could make his inability to defend small forwards more troublesome, as his offense is less likely to make up for his defensive deficiencies.

Given that he doesn’t feel Wafer can handle the league’s larger small forwards, Rivers has already begun to make defensive adjustments.

“We’re going to have to do something,” Rivers told WEEI. “We worked on it today and I’ve been here seven years and you’ve seen me trap probably 10 times. We’re going to have to start trapping, which weakens your defense. I hate it. But we worked on it today and we’re going to work on it every day until we get another [small forward].”

One effect of Marquis Daniels’ injury is already rearing its ugly head. The Celtics are changing their entire defensive strategy because they don’t think Wafer can adequately fill Daniels’ role.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Brotherly love. The Celtics watch as Marquis Daniels lays motionless on the floor.

Paul Flannery, WEEI – “He was released from New England Baptist Hospital on Monday and has full use of his motor skills. ‘He’s in good spirits, all things considered,’ Daniels’ agent Mark Bartelstein said. ‘He’s frustrated because he wants to play, but he’s a lot better off than he was on Sunday.’ There are so many variables when it comes to Daniels, who suffered a bruised spinal cord on a play that featured limited contact with Orlando’s Gilbert Arenas. After the game, the Celtics revealed that Daniels has had spine issues in the past and it was those issues that caused him to leave Game 5 of last year’s conference finals. There’s no current timetable for Daniels’ return — he could be out a month or two, or he could be out longer. As team doctor Brian McKeon noted Sunday, the treatment for spinal issues primarily involves, ‘observation and time.’ ‘It’s going to be a process,’ Bartelstein said. ‘We’re going to gather as much medical information as we can.’ While Daniels recuperates, the Celtics are in a bit of a bind. Their depth at the wing was already thin, and now it’s basically down to Von Wafer.”

Kirk Minihane, WEEI – “Last summer, I asked an NBA coach who — among other coaches and players– was the most disliked player in the NBA. ‘Kevin Garnett,’ he said without blinking. Who, I wondered, was second on the list? ‘Everyone else is tied,’ he deadpanned before walking away. … Here’s the thing, though: Garnett — to his eternal credit — has no interest trying to rehabilitate his public image. None. … You know why? Because he doesn’t care what you think, what I think, what players and coaches from other teams think and he sure doesn’t care what Spike Lee — who has directed exactly one passable movie since Garnett entered the NBA in 1996 — thinks. … Is Kevin Garnett a punk? No. He doesn’t try to seriously injure anyone, he doesn’t bitch if the Celtics win but he scored six points, he plays hurt, he cares only about winning, all that stuff. Is Kevin Garnett a dirty player? I think that’s getting closer to the truth. One thing is for sure: He doesn’t care either way. And neither should you.”

Mike Bresnahan, LA Times – “Before the Lakers even think about their rematch with Boston, they have a two-hour surprise awaiting them. They’ll watch edited video of their fruitless loss to the Celtics just a handful of days ago, a painful, yet, they hope, productive investment toward their game Thursday in Boston. There wasn’t much to like about Jan. 30 from their perspective. Kobe Bryant gave them an ‘F’ for team defense. Ron Artest got kneed in the thigh and then was run ragged by Paul Pierce (32 points). The Celtics shot 60.3 percent, their third-best accuracy ever against the Lakers.”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “In his attempt to become an NBA point guard, Bradley is starting from scratch. He played only one year at Texas, not exactly a stretch of time that prepares a point guard for NBA conditions. In that respect, the D-League is slightly better for Bradley’s education. ‘I’m definitely, definitely starting from scratch, but the D-League for me is a step above college, and then going to the NBA is the next step,’ he said. ‘That’s how they have it set up and you can see why. In the D-League, I felt like I was in college again, and now the players are better up here (in the NBA). But when my name is called I’m going to come in with that swagger to my game.’ … ‘A lot of (the D-League) was getting playing time, getting the rust off my game, and being put into situations that I can be fit in,’ he said. ‘This point guard situation is important — bringing the ball up the court, being pressured. I have to take chances and try different things out. I could do that, and work on my game. It makes me feel more comfortable now being up here, because I’ve been working on those things.’”

Greg Payne, ESPN Boston – “Kendrick Perkins played a season-high 35 minutes, 25 seconds in the Celtics’ 94-89 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night — little more than 24 hours after logging nearly 33 minutes in an ultra-physical victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday afternoon. Don’t expect to hear any complaints out of Perkins though, who’s publicly lobbied for more minutes ever since he made his season debut two weeks ago after rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in his right knee in Game 6 of last year’s NBA Finals. After playing a then season-high 28 minutes in the Celtics’ 109-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday, Perkins said in a postgame sideline interview: ‘I wanted to go 30 [minutes].’ … The Celtics’ continuous struggles on the second half of back-to-backs will be well chronicled after Monday’s loss, particularly after so many of Boston’s players put forth such sluggish play. Perkins, though — with such little support behind him — played above all of that chatter. On a night when possible fatigue and a lack of focus served as obvious culprits in Boston’s loss, it was Perkins who played as if neither should ever serve as a passable excuse for an uninspiring defeat.”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “‘Everybody’s dealing with injuries on this team and we’re no different from it,’ said Kevin Garnett after the Celtics went with just 10 healthy players in a loss to Charlotte Monday night. ‘Quis is probably a lot more hard on us right now, just because it was so sudden . . . We’re just hoping he’s all right, and everybody has to carry a load . . . and go forward.’ Coach Doc Rivers has used eight starting lineups this season, but he said the injuries haven’t brought him to a boiling point yet. ‘I never think that way, I never have,’ Rivers said. ‘You’ve got to keep rolling. I really try not to live in the past or in the what-ifs. I tell our guys that all the time. We’ve just got to keep playing and finding a way.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “Boston entered Monday night’s loss to Charlotte Bobcats with injuries to swingman Marquis Daniels, centers Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal and Semih Erden and reserve guard Delonte West. With the returns of Jermaine O’Neal and Daniels uncertain, there has been speculation about the Celtics adding another player. [Kevin] McHale said he believes the Celtics have enough depth. ‘I’m a big Marquis Daniels fan, I like him, it was tough injury and scary seeing that whole thing but I think the Celtics what they have going for them is a ton of depth,’ he said. ‘All of a sudden Delonte West is going to come back and I really like West’s game. He plays with other great players so well. With the Celtics as they lose one guy they gain another guy. And I don’t think they have to make a big trade.’”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “Ray Allen sees the problem being much broader than simply placing the blame on the scheduling gods. He sees a Celtics team that, at times, relies more on its name than its game to be successful. ‘In our locker room, we always have to remember that we’re not superior to any team because we’re the Celtics or because we think we’re good or we have All-Stars on our team or whatever the case may be,’ Allen said. ‘What makes us better is because . . . we’ve proven what we have done. Anything going forward, we have to prove that.’”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

I’m okay with Von Wafer.

Doc Rivers said yesterday that, depending on the length of Marquis Daniels’ absence, the team would look into adding another small forward. “We have to get another ‘three’ let’s just be serious,” Rivers told the Boston Globe. But me? I’m okay with Wafer. Not as a star, or even a starter, mind you. But filling Marquis Daniels’ spot, backing up Paul Pierce and playing 19.1 minutes per game? I can dig Wafer in that role.

I’m not going to discuss Wafer’s stats — which, for the most part, aren’t pretty (and get even worse when you look at Wafer’s most commonly-used five-man units, which are all being outscored by their opponent) — because he’s only played 8.1 minutes per game, hardly enough time to develop a rhythm and play up to one’s potential. There’s another reason not to value Wafer’s season-long statistics — he started the season like The Puppy Who Lost His Way (“Whoa, whoa, whoa. The part of the story I don’t like is that the little boy gave up looking for the boy after an hour.”), and has only recently begun to settle into Boston’s system on both ends of the court.

With each passing day, Wafer’s play becomes more solid. He dribbles into the paint now, and I no longer hold my breath for the 30% chance that he’ll do something stupid. I actually trust him with the ball now, and — coming from a guy who once rooted for Stephane Lasme to outlast Wafer for a roster spot — that’s a big step. Wafer takes mostly good shots, and, though his three-point shooting percentage is below The Rajon Rondo Line, actually provides an outside threat that Daniels can’t. Teams need to defend Wafer outside the arc. When Daniels plays, they can sag off him and pray he shoots.

Wafer has even developed his defense to the point where he’s no longer a liability. Nobody’s ever going to compare Wafer to Thabo Sefolosha or Bruce Bowen, but that’s okay. The Celtics don’t expect him to be that type of defender. As long as he can do a decent, energetic job and stay away from any foolish mistakes, Doc Rivers (and I) will be okay with Wafer’s efforts. It’s only if Wafer’s a piece of swiss cheese that his defense becomes a problem, and he hasn’t been swiss cheese since far earlier this season. Of course, Daniels occasionally defends the opposition’s best player, which means Wafer could have to defend those same players. And viewing Wafer trying his hand at stopping Kobe Bryant isn’t exactly my idea of a fun afternoon. But I digress.

I understand Daniels’ value in Boston. He refuses to take bad shots, provides matchup nightmares against smaller opponents (and Kyle Korver), and generally offers a calming presence akin to a nightly glass of wine with dinner. Daniels doesn’t often score in double figures. His stats rarely blow you away. But he’s solid, takes pride in his defense, cuts intelligently to the basket, and — maybe most importantly, his versatility allows him to play three positions. Wafer, on the other hand, could never chip in as a backup point guard. Not in a million years. But with Delonte West poised to make his return shortly, Wafer shouldn’t ever have to.

I’m not saying Wafer as Boston’s only backup small forward represents an ideal situation. Obviously, I’d love it if the Celtics could scoop up a veteran small forward (say, Carmelo Anthony? — just kidding) to spell Pierce. But veteran small forwards aren’t exactly crawling all over the place. The C’s could find a way to trade for Richard Hamilton, sure… but then they’d be saddled by his “$12.65 million in 2012-’13″ contract. They could pick someone up from the D-League, sure… but, well, players are presumably in the D-League for a reason. Also, signing a current free agent (or D-Leaguer) would require waiving someone currently on the roster.

The Celtics don’t have much roster flexibility, and very few assets to use in a trade. But if Von Wafer finds himself in Marquis Daniels’ role for the next month or two, count me in. It’s not perfect, but it works. For the time-being, at least.

Never in my life have I so loudly heard 20,000 completely silent people.

Marquis Daniels banged his head against Gilbert Arenas’ shoulder and slammed to the floor like a felled tree. He laid motionless on the court, and the TD Garden crowd feared the worst. Doc Rivers immediately rushed to Daniels’ side, asking Arenas not to touch Daniels’ body. Rivers knew it was bad. The silence was eery — 20,000 people hoping, praying, for one man’s health.

“No player wants to be in that position,” said Kevin Garnett. “No human being wants to be in that position. Difficult moment.”

To say the least. A stretcher was carried onto the court, and the Celtics all surrounded their teammate. Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins knelt beside Daniels. The rest of the Celtics circled closely, all watching intently as their brother’s basketball future — for those fearsome moments — seemed unsure.

“When I saw his face,” said Ray Allen, “it was the scariest feeling because it was almost like he couldn’t do anything. It’s the risk we always run, but for that moment it just seemed like ‘let me go to the hospital and let me do what I need to do to see that he’s all right.’ Because basketball is the last thing on my mind.”

With Daniels laying on the floor, not moving, the game didn’t matter as much. Or, at all. As long as Daniels looked so defenseless, as long as everyone in the TD Garden feared Daniels could be paralyzed, the game was secondary. Daniels was dealing with something far greater, his life as he knew it in jeopardy. When Daniels finally raised a thumb to signify that he could move, the crowd exhaled. An ovation followed Daniels as he left the court, but the ovation wasn’t joyous. It was the nervous clapping of a crowd still worried about its fallen soldier.

As weird as it felt to return to basketball, the game must go on. Rivers didn’t use the ensuing timeout to draw a play. It didn’t feel right, so instead he told his players, “Just go play.” And they did. Most Celtics said Daniels’ injury energized the team, providing a spark that had been absent before Daniels went down. Rather than sulk the rest of the afternoon while worrying about Daniels, the Celtics re-focused.

“If you ever have a family member and something ever happens to them, you don’t feel right,” said Paul Pierce. “And we’re around each other so much — plane, bus, we even go to each other’s houses — so it’s like we created this bond with one another and when something bad happens to him we all feel for him but the rest of us try and rally together, and that’s what you kind of saw in those two injuries.”

Thank God, Daniels’ injury was diagnosed as a bruised spinal cord. He has already regained function of his body, and should return to the court in a month or two. He was released from the hospital today, and was reportedly in good spirits. The crisis, which weighed so heavily on the fans who all feared the worst, was averted.

For a few minutes, we thought Marquis Daniels might have made his last cut through the lane. We thought he might never post up a smaller, mismatched defender again. Far more importantly, we thought he might have walked his final step. When we saw the thumbs up, we at least knew Daniels could move. 20,000 spectators could finally breathe.

One or two months is a long time to miss. Daniels won’t return until sometime around the beginning of the NBA playoffs. But that sure as hell beats the alternative, doesn’t it?

Marquis Daniels’ neck injury has been described as a bruised spinal cord. He did not sustain a concussion, but still will likely miss one or two months.

“We’re getting all the tests now at [New England Baptist Hospital] and we’ll have more information tomorrow,” said Celtics team doctor Brian McKeon.

McKeon said Daniels, who fell motionless to the floor during Boston’s game against the Orlando Magic, has “returned to near full function.” Danny Ainge noted that Daniels has had “a couple of episodes throughout his career” where he experienced tingling in his body and arms.

“I think he was scared when he was out on the court because he couldn’t really move there for a short period of time,” said Ainge. But by the time Ainge saw Daniels, the fear had passed.

“He just wanted to know the score of the game,” said Ainge. “It was about halftime when I was there and [he wanted to know] how we were playing. He had talked with his wife and with his mother. He was fine.”

He was fine, and he had returned to “near full function”. But he’ll miss one or two months, nonetheless.

Rajon Rondo dribbled baseline, and passing didn’t even register as a thought in his mind. Dwight Howard awaited him in the paint, and Rondo would normally look to find an open shooter on the perimeter. But this wasn’t “pass-first, pass-only” Rondo. This was “Jack the Ripper” Rondo, a cold-blooded, aggressive point guard with murderous eyes and an indomitable will to end human lives. Rondo rose to dunk, rather than passing. And though the Magic fouled Rondo and knocked him on his ass, Jack the Ripper bounced right back to his feet. The message was sent. The Magic weren’t stopping Rondo. Not on this day.

The Celtics fell behind early, and Dwight Howard was playing in video game god mode. Lefty hooks, spin moves both ways, crowd-silencing alley oops; Howard had his entire offensive repertoire on display, and the Celtics couldn’t stop him. (Wait — he has an offensive repertoire?) But the Celtics kept doing what they do. They single-teamed Howard all night, allowing them to close out on shooters (Orlando shot 3-24 from the arc) and limit everything non-Howard.

The Celtics also used a brute physicality. Every time Howard rose for a shot, he was bumped. Every time Hedo Turkoglu came around a screen, he was bumped. Every time Ryan Anderson received the ball down low, he was bumped. Jameer Nelson recently talked about how the Celtics wanted to “bully” the Magic when the two teams played. And that’s what they did today.

The win would feel a lot better, of course, were it not for Marquis Daniels’ neck injury. Daniels went down hard, as if knocked out cold, after hitting his head against Gilbert Arenas’ shoulder. He lay on the ground motionless for a minute or two, while the TD Garden crowd held its collective breath. A stretcher arrived to lift a still-motionless Daniels off the court, as the Celtics kneeled in support around their felled teammate. On his way off the court, Daniels lifted his thumb into the air, and the crowd sighed with deep relief. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was able to move all extremities. Keep him in your prayers.