Post by BCHISTORIAN on Dec 10, 2005 13:04:15 GMT -5
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/09/AR2005120902244.html
Gerald Green is a long way from the comforts of home in Houston -- his mother's home cooking, his father's heavy-handed guidance and his three prized pit bulls -- and a very long way from being the player who wasn't good enough to make his high school team as a freshman and a sophomore
Ever since I played basketball, I always played. Even though I'm not playing, I'm not suiting up, either," said Green, who has been on the inactive list in all but one of the Celtics' 19 games this season. "So, it's kind of like I've got three steps to make. Actually, I got four steps to make. First, I got to suit up. Then, I got to play. Then I got to start. Then, I'm trying to be an all-star. I want to be one of the greatest players. It's some steps for me."
ambitions are good since they make us strive for something. gg just wants to be the best. and because he has all the tools it's music to my ears
Green was expected to be drafted anywhere from third to No. 10, but he had to hold back tears as he watched team after team look over him until the Celtics snatched him with the 18th pick. "I felt stranded," Green said. "Boston rescued me."
Ainge said he won't rush Green until he bulks up and gets a better understanding of the game. "We didn't want to draft high school kids and make stars out of them right away," Ainge said. "Our game plan is the same. Teach him to be a pro. Teach him a work ethic. He wants to be good. He doesn't understand what that is, like all high school kids. We're very happy with where Gerald is. The only time we would lose favor with Gerald is if he stops doing his work, if he's satisfied with making it in the league. He's been the exact opposite."
Perkins, who said his first season was equally frustrating, has preached patience to Green. "Everybody that goes out of high school ain't going to be a LeBron or a Dwight Howard. Sometimes you got to wait your time," said Perkins, who has connected with Green since the two hail from Texas
He has used his bench time as motivation to work harder. The energetic teen is hardly ever at rest. He'll sometimes do pushups while watching film. "The way he shows frustration is coming in for another workout," Crotty said. "So, he can be frustrated all year, because he's going to get better and better."
Green said he often speaks with his AAU coach, Rick Nelson, whose 6 a.m. training sessions have been credited for helping Green rise up the ranks in high school basketball. "I tell him, 'Remember you belong there. Your day is coming.' " Nelson said. "This has been going on since high school. He always had to wait. But at the end of the day, he always prevailed and he always comes out on top."
Before getting hurt, Green had proven to be a feisty competitor. His youthful exuberance has made him the team's adopted little brother. "I haven't seen him back away from something he doesn't know or a challenge at all," Crotty said. "To have that, paired with a great attitude, that's what excites me the most. Not the fact that I could stand over there and he could broad jump over me and dunk the ball. That's exciting too, but I feel lucky to have been around him when he was younger, because I really believe he's going to be a special player and everyone will know who Gerald Green is."
Rivers hopes that Green's "never lose" attitude will make Rivers look like a fool one day. "I love prove-it-the-coach players. I told him, 'When I put you on the [inactive] list, I hope you prove it was the worst mistake I ever made,' " Rivers said. "I hate the guys that say, 'I'm a year away.' How do you know that? I don't want him to say, 'I'm not ready yet.' I don't want him to say, 'I'm not good enough yet.' I want him to say, 'I am good enough. I am ready. I'm just going to keep pushing it and prove it to the coach.' "
Gerald Green is a long way from the comforts of home in Houston -- his mother's home cooking, his father's heavy-handed guidance and his three prized pit bulls -- and a very long way from being the player who wasn't good enough to make his high school team as a freshman and a sophomore
Ever since I played basketball, I always played. Even though I'm not playing, I'm not suiting up, either," said Green, who has been on the inactive list in all but one of the Celtics' 19 games this season. "So, it's kind of like I've got three steps to make. Actually, I got four steps to make. First, I got to suit up. Then, I got to play. Then I got to start. Then, I'm trying to be an all-star. I want to be one of the greatest players. It's some steps for me."
ambitions are good since they make us strive for something. gg just wants to be the best. and because he has all the tools it's music to my ears
Green was expected to be drafted anywhere from third to No. 10, but he had to hold back tears as he watched team after team look over him until the Celtics snatched him with the 18th pick. "I felt stranded," Green said. "Boston rescued me."
Ainge said he won't rush Green until he bulks up and gets a better understanding of the game. "We didn't want to draft high school kids and make stars out of them right away," Ainge said. "Our game plan is the same. Teach him to be a pro. Teach him a work ethic. He wants to be good. He doesn't understand what that is, like all high school kids. We're very happy with where Gerald is. The only time we would lose favor with Gerald is if he stops doing his work, if he's satisfied with making it in the league. He's been the exact opposite."
Perkins, who said his first season was equally frustrating, has preached patience to Green. "Everybody that goes out of high school ain't going to be a LeBron or a Dwight Howard. Sometimes you got to wait your time," said Perkins, who has connected with Green since the two hail from Texas
He has used his bench time as motivation to work harder. The energetic teen is hardly ever at rest. He'll sometimes do pushups while watching film. "The way he shows frustration is coming in for another workout," Crotty said. "So, he can be frustrated all year, because he's going to get better and better."
Green said he often speaks with his AAU coach, Rick Nelson, whose 6 a.m. training sessions have been credited for helping Green rise up the ranks in high school basketball. "I tell him, 'Remember you belong there. Your day is coming.' " Nelson said. "This has been going on since high school. He always had to wait. But at the end of the day, he always prevailed and he always comes out on top."
Before getting hurt, Green had proven to be a feisty competitor. His youthful exuberance has made him the team's adopted little brother. "I haven't seen him back away from something he doesn't know or a challenge at all," Crotty said. "To have that, paired with a great attitude, that's what excites me the most. Not the fact that I could stand over there and he could broad jump over me and dunk the ball. That's exciting too, but I feel lucky to have been around him when he was younger, because I really believe he's going to be a special player and everyone will know who Gerald Green is."
Rivers hopes that Green's "never lose" attitude will make Rivers look like a fool one day. "I love prove-it-the-coach players. I told him, 'When I put you on the [inactive] list, I hope you prove it was the worst mistake I ever made,' " Rivers said. "I hate the guys that say, 'I'm a year away.' How do you know that? I don't want him to say, 'I'm not ready yet.' I don't want him to say, 'I'm not good enough yet.' I want him to say, 'I am good enough. I am ready. I'm just going to keep pushing it and prove it to the coach.' "