Source: Boston. com

Miles making gains with Celtics
Darius Miles made a breakthrough Friday, practicing for the fourth successive day for the first time since undergoing microsurgery on his right knee two years ago. If Miles continues to progress, he could play a major part in the Celtics' eight-game exhibition schedule.

"Before practice, [Miles] was thinking about shutting it down for a day, but he was encouraged to practice and I thought he had maybe his best practice so far," said coach Doc Rivers.

Miles, who turns 27 Thursday, the day after the Celtics play Philadelphia in Amherst, Mass., in their exhibition opener, has not played a regular-season game since 2006 with Portland. He will be suspended for the first 10 games of the regular season after violating the league's drug policy at the end of last season.

"I usually go two or three hard days and take a day off, just to be real cautious with the knee," Miles said. "I wanted to practice every day, if I can. I don't want to miss learning anything. This is my first time playing four days in a row and I felt good. I just kept trying to stretch it and stay loose. I felt better than I did [Thursday]."

Miles was going full speed late in Friday's 2½-hour practice, missing a dunk off the back of the rim in a half-court set, then stuffing on a spectacular fast break. Miles has mostly been used at power forward, often matching up against Glen Davis.
Boston.com