Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 18, 2006 20:37:44 GMT -5
Here is an article on Gomes from ESPN...
Ryan Gomes remembers how he fidgeted in front f the TV as David Stern called name after name... after name... after name. Eventually the guaranteed contracts of the first round passed by without stopping to call on the All American from Providence.
"I worked out for 18 different teams," Gomes says. "I was starting to wonder if I was going to get drafted."
Sixteen teams passes on the 6'7" forward in the second round as well, before Boston grabbed him at no. 50. The Lakers skipped over Gomes 3 times, so they had no one to blame but themselves as they watched the 23 year old score a then career high 19 points and snatch 19 rebounds for the Celtics in a 112-111 win at Staples last month.
That victory capped a short but sweet West coast swing for the C's and Gomes. The 3-1 week was not bd for a team that opened the trip with a 4-20 road record and handn't picked up back to back away wins all season. And the star turn - Gomes averaged 14 ppg and 10.5 rpg - was not bad for a player who logged a total of 16 minutes in December. "Ryan is an aggressive force," says Coach Doc Rivers. "He's been a crucial part of this run."
the run, 8 wins in 12 games, started when Gomes was made a starter on Feb 10. Before then the Celtics had lost 7 of 8 and two of their young big men Jefferson and Perkins were out of the lineup more than they were in.
Now, afer spending much of the first 3 months of the season collecting DNP-DC's, Gomes continues to make up for lost time. He's notched 17.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg in March.
"He makes things happen," says Rivers. Those things include working the offensive boards, clogging the middle on D and providing the C's with maybe their most consistent low post threat since Kevin McHale. Gomes is hitting nearly 60% from the field over the last 2 months. His play is a big part of the reason Boston is still in the playoff hunt. And isn't it interesting that the resurgence of Pierce didn't start until the rook got some consistent PT.
"I knew it was a long season and that I had to keep working hard," says Gomes. "You never know when your number is going to get called."
Draft night taught him well.
Ryan Gomes remembers how he fidgeted in front f the TV as David Stern called name after name... after name... after name. Eventually the guaranteed contracts of the first round passed by without stopping to call on the All American from Providence.
"I worked out for 18 different teams," Gomes says. "I was starting to wonder if I was going to get drafted."
Sixteen teams passes on the 6'7" forward in the second round as well, before Boston grabbed him at no. 50. The Lakers skipped over Gomes 3 times, so they had no one to blame but themselves as they watched the 23 year old score a then career high 19 points and snatch 19 rebounds for the Celtics in a 112-111 win at Staples last month.
That victory capped a short but sweet West coast swing for the C's and Gomes. The 3-1 week was not bd for a team that opened the trip with a 4-20 road record and handn't picked up back to back away wins all season. And the star turn - Gomes averaged 14 ppg and 10.5 rpg - was not bad for a player who logged a total of 16 minutes in December. "Ryan is an aggressive force," says Coach Doc Rivers. "He's been a crucial part of this run."
the run, 8 wins in 12 games, started when Gomes was made a starter on Feb 10. Before then the Celtics had lost 7 of 8 and two of their young big men Jefferson and Perkins were out of the lineup more than they were in.
Now, afer spending much of the first 3 months of the season collecting DNP-DC's, Gomes continues to make up for lost time. He's notched 17.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg in March.
"He makes things happen," says Rivers. Those things include working the offensive boards, clogging the middle on D and providing the C's with maybe their most consistent low post threat since Kevin McHale. Gomes is hitting nearly 60% from the field over the last 2 months. His play is a big part of the reason Boston is still in the playoff hunt. And isn't it interesting that the resurgence of Pierce didn't start until the rook got some consistent PT.
"I knew it was a long season and that I had to keep working hard," says Gomes. "You never know when your number is going to get called."
Draft night taught him well.