Shira posts some thoughts on the first day of Training Camp. There were a couple of minor health issues during practice. Telfair felt his back stiffen during practice and Gomes had a strained groin muscle and so both didn't participate in the wind sprints at the end of practice. And then there was Delonte who is still resting his sore back. Both Telfair and Gomes expect to participate in tomorrow's practice.

Some intriguing highlights from all the mixing and matching included Tony Allen taking on rookie Rajon Rondo. Undrafted free agent Akin Akingbala impressed those in the gym by taking a hard charge from center Dwayne Jones. Near the end of practice, the Green team consisted of Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and Ryan Gomes in what could be a glimpse of the starting lineup Doc Rivers hopes to use opening night. That version of the Green team scrimmaged in the halfcourt against a White team comprised of Rondo, Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson, perhaps the players Rivers hopes will separate from the pack and become the rest of the rotation.

Of the big men doing sprints, Michael Olowokandi and Brian Scalabrine looked impressive, leading the pack for a couple sets. Meanwhile, Pierce found running up and down so easy he finished running backwards.