Boozer reveals ligaments torn

Carlos Boozer is tired of talking about his turf toe, but the pain isn't going to subside any time soon.

Boozer revealed that ligaments on both sides of his right big toe were torn as a result of the injury suffered in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Pacers.

"It's not broken," Boozer told the Tribune. "Thank God all the bones are good."

There are three levels of turf toe: Grade I, which involves stretched ligaments; Grade II, which is a partially torn ligament; and Grade III, a complete tear of the ligaments and joint capsule, with a possible dislocation. Boozer wouldn't say exactly which grade his was, but he did his best to explain the pain.

"The doctors said on the scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being the worst; it was a 3," Boozer said.

As for suggestions he should sit for the rest of the Hawks series to prepare for the conference finals, Boozer laughed.

"I'm going to play," Boozer said. ``I'm doing what I can to help my team win. And my teammates and my coaches want me out there."