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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:29:52 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1127261&format=textCeltics’ Eddie House quick but in control By Mark Murphy | Thursday, October 23, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matt Stone No one has a quicker release than Eddie House, including future Hall of Fame teammate Ray Allen and any other player whose best weapon is a jumper. “It’s one of the quickest, for sure,” Celtics [team stats] coach Doc Rivers said of his backup guard. “It’s Del Curry-ish. Why anyone would have ever questioned whether he should think shoot or pass first, I don’t know.” But that mentality also became House’s main problem last season, and one of the biggest reasons the Celtics brought in Sam Cassell. House’s decisions generally mirrored his quick release. They were hasty. On the break, he outran his teammates the way some tailbacks don’t wait for blockers. When House finally applied his brakes, his stops were abrupt and his passes were off. But count him as one of those Celtics who were not lulled into a vacation by an NBA title. Rivers has called him one of the surprises of training camp. Kevin Garnett dubbed him and Tony Allen the team MVPs of a 6-2 exhibition season, which House capped with a furious 20-point performance Tuesday in New York. If House hasn’t slowed down - some changes simply are impossible and, in this case, absurd to even consider - he’s at least attempted to amend his thinking. “I think he’s trying, but he’s just so fast,” said Rivers, who gave his team a day off yesterday. “At this point in his life, I don’t see him changing that, but he’s making better decisions.” That, according to House, is his plan - see the floor better. And playing on the same team for a second straight season certainly will help. This is the second time in his career House has lasted more than one year with a team, dating to his first three seasons in Miami. “I worked on some things this summer - ballhandling, being more consistent with my decisions,” House said. “Things like when people leave me alone, to make them pay with my shot. “I think I’ve become more familiar with my role and how to get this team into the offense. I know this playbook better now. I don’t have to think so much.” House was upset with himself for forking over two turnovers against the Knicks, but he finished with only three in eight preseason games. “It’s been a combination of things for me in this training camp,” House said. “When you get more comfortable, you play more slowly. You have to think about where the play should be going, and where a particular guy should be getting the ball.” The proof lies in the response of players like Garnett, who has noted the difference in typically dramatic fashion. “Eddie House and Tony Allen are our MVPs in the way they made a dramatic jump from last year in this training camp,” said the Celtics forward, who like everyone else is at a loss to describe the alteration of pace in House’s game. “I wouldn’t say slow. I’d say it’s more under control. He knows what he’s looking for now. . . . Last year he’d show the same thing in practice, but go into a game and try to do too much. But right now he’s really locked in to what he’s doing, and we’re all benefiting from that.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:36:04 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1127297&format=textRyan Gomes fitting in with Timberwolves By Brian Stensaas / Star Tribune (Minneapolis) | Thursday, October 23, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP In his first season as a member of the Timberwolves, Ryan Gomes got comfortable. The forward, acquired from Boston in the Kevin Garnett trade, played in all 82 games last season for the first time in his three-year NBA career. He also set career bests in games started (74) and rebounds (5.8) and points (12.6) per game. It’s no wonder Gomes wanted to stay. In the offseason, he agreed to a multi-year contract, guaranteeing him $7.3 million through this year and next. The Wolves have an option to keep him after the second and third years of the deal; Gomes has a player option after the fourth; the total deal could be worth $22 million. As of right now, it appears it could be a long-term fit. "I was already traded one time, so I didn’t want to be changing addresses again," Gomes, 26, said. "I think it worked out the best for both parties, and that’s what it comes down to when you’re doing negotiations." His contract secure, Gomes has spent the preseason getting ready to do whatever it takes to get on the floor. At 6-7, he has experience at both forward positions. Though he has proven to be a solid outside shooter, other parts of his game have been just as valuable to the team. Teams shot 47.2 percent against the Timberwolves a year ago, fourth-highest in the league, so coach Randy Witt-man has stressed defense all preseason. One of Gomes’ jobs so far has been to maintain defensive sharpness. "He’s been one of our best team defenders," Wittman said. "And that’s what this team is going to have to do. We don’t have a lot of individual lock-down guys." Gomes knows his numbers might not always show up on the scoreboard. But he’s fine with keeping foes off it, too. "Some guys come into this league and are bona fide scorers, some are playmakers," Gomes said. "You have to find your niche and do what your coach asks you. "Some nights it’s not going to be a scoring night for you. But after the game if your (role) was to be a defender or whatever the case may be, as long as the coaching staff is happy with what you did, you can live with yourself even though it maybe wasn’t a productive night on offense." Gomes’ team-first philosophy was relayed to 12-year veteran Kevin Ollie, currently fighting for a roster spot as the Wolves’ third point guard. Ollie almost sounded proud to be sharing the court with a young player proclaiming these sentiments. "That’s what makes him efficient on the basketball court," Ollie said. "He’s a point guard’s dream. He gets the ball and shoots it, gets us a lot of assists. And his team defense is straight desire." Even with a defensive-minded approach at times, Gomes will have his scoring nights. Whichever role it might be as the season wears on, Gomes relishes the opportunity to be versatile. "First and foremost, I want it to be a healthy season and again get in all the games," Gomes said. "Starter, coming off the bench, defense, posting up — whatever it entails. I’m glad to be back, glad a deal got done for me to play here."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:37:39 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/10/23/are_they_on_pace?mode=PFAre they on pace? Now the sole leader, Bird tries to rebuild By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | October 23, 2008 INDIANAPOLIS - Larry Bird is known as one of the NBA's all-time fiercest competitors. So it was no surprise that when asked recently about his struggling Indiana Pacers, he succinctly responded, "Most people in my situation would say, 'Why would I need this?' It's a challenge for me and I want to make the best of it." Bird won three NBA titles and three MVP awards with the Celtics, and his No. 33 hangs in the rafters at TD Banknorth Garden. "Larry Legend" also owns an Olympic gold medal, is considered one of the top players in NBA history, played in the NCAA championship game, and was the consensus college player of the year in 1979. But although his basketball résumé is loaded with accomplishments, as president of basketball operations of the Pacers he wants to build them back into a title contender. "With all the things that went on here, one of the low points of my professional career was seeing this franchise take the hits it has in the press and the players do the things that they've done," said Bird. "Turning this around will be one of my biggest accomplishments and biggest challenges I will face." Bird coached the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000 and joined the front office five years ago. And with a talented squad that included Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, and Ron Artest, the Pacers were expected to make a run at the championship in 2004-05. But on Nov. 19, 2004, the Pacers' championship dreams were dealt a blow and their franchise endured a black eye that still hasn't gone away. Artest, O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Anthony Johnson, and David Harrison fought with fans during a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills. With Artest suspended for the rest of the season, Jackson for 30 games, and O'Neal for 25 (reduced to 15 on appeal), the Pacers went from contending to an early playoff exit. Since then, they have had numerous off-court issues, no playoff appearances the last three seasons, and averaged an NBA-worst 12,222 in attendance last season. Forward-center Jeff Foster, who has been with the franchise since 1999, described the fight at the Palace as "a tough situation and obviously led to a downward spiral." "[Our arena] was packed and everyone around town loved us. Over the last two or three years, things have been really bad. A lot of things have happened off the court that have turned the fans of this city against us. They haven't wanted to come to the games and support us." Said Bird, "We're past that as a franchise. It's unfortunate it happened. Most of the guys that were involved in that are gone. We're just turning a new page and starting a new team, and hopefully, we can be competitive." The Pacers have slowly turned that page by trading Artest (2006), Jackson (2007), and O'Neal (2008). Regarding players with off-court problems, Harrison (who received a five-game suspension while with the Pacers for violating the league's anti-drug policy) and guard Shawne Williams (arrest on a marijuana charge) are gone, and guard Jamaal Tinsley is on the trading block and not practicing with the team. Ex-Celtics coach Jim O'Brien was hired May 31, 2007, to replace the fired Rick Carlisle. The Pacers have forward Danny Granger to build around and during the offseason added guards T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack, plus heralded rookies Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert. "It's very frustrating," said Bird. "Some of the individuals we had were very talented. We knew we had a strong team. But sometimes you have to give up talent to get the right kind of people." Said Foster, "Unfortunately for our team, a lot of those changes had to be made because the fans wanted to relate to those people and didn't want them around." Another change was that Bird became the primary decision-maker when president and CEO Donnie Walsh departed in April to become the Knicks' president of basketball operations. Walsh hired Bird to eventually become his replacement. With Walsh and Bird both on the job the last five years, Bird acknowledged teams and agents were sometimes confused about whom to talk to. The two also didn't always see eye to eye on what to do with the team. But with Walsh's departure, the Pacers are now completely Bird's challenge. "[Donnie] was the man in charge," Bird said. "Now I have my opportunity, so let's see what I can do. Donnie had his opportunity for a lot of years. And not only was he was a great basketball man, but a great man, period. I admired him. I learned a lot from him. But we just had different styles. Now I get my opportunity to do what I want to do with the team. "It ain't going to happen overnight. We have a plan. We have to stick to it. In two or three years, we'll have a team that is going to compete at the highest level." In the hopes of winning fans back, Bird invited about 800 season ticket-holders to his home in the offseason. The Pacers also held their first draft-night party this year, have placed advertisements in local publications and Sports Illustrated, and rented billboard space in Indianapolis. The Pacers also didn't raise season-ticket prices and offer about 8,600 single-game tickets for $25 or less, by far the most of the teams in the Central Division. Bird, however, knows it's going to take more than changing the roster, shaking hands, and keeping tickets prices low to get the fans back. It's going to take wins, and the Pacers aren't expected to be a playoff team this season. "We have to win games. We know that," said Bird. "Our community has really disengaged with us. We understood our problem. We're fixing it. We're putting a team out there that plays the game the way they'd like to see it played. "It's going to take some time. They're not going to come back overnight. But hopefully over a period of time, they'll start getting confidence in this franchise and start supporting us again."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:38:54 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/10/23/lakers_popular_choice?mode=PFLakers popular choice League GMs pick them to win title By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | October 23, 2008 The NBA's 30 general managers agree with the bookmakers - the Los Angeles Lakers are favored to win the NBA championship this season. The Lakers were predicted to win the title by 46.2 percent of the GMs in a survey by NBA.com. The Celtics were named by 19.2 percent and New Orleans by 11.5. The totals reflect "a pool of respondents," according to the website. The Lakers are also slight favorites to win the title on most betting lines. Last year, San Antonio was favored to win the championship and the Celtics were the choice to win the Eastern Conference; the Lakers, who fell to the Celtics in the Finals, received zero votes in the preseason poll. The Spurs, picked to win the title five successive times, starting in 2003-04, received 8 percent of the votes this time. Cleveland's LeBron James was named MVP favorite and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant of the Lakers was second. The Celtics' Kevin Garnett was selected best leader (51 percent). Garnett was also chosen best defensive player (44.4 percent), followed by the Rockets' Ron Artest (22.2), Bryant (11.1), and the Spurs' Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan (7.4). Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (19.2 percent) was tied with Artest and Bowen behind Bryant (26.9) among perimeter defenders, and Rondo was among those receiving votes as the best at defending passing lanes. The Celtics' Tom Thibodeau was named best assistant and point guard Sam Cassell was second to Eric Snow in the voting for "which active player will make the best head coach someday?" The Celtics had one other "best" - Ray Allen (61.1 percent) among "pure shooters." Paul Pierce, MVP of the Finals, was named among the vote-getters in only one category - taking a shot with the game on the line, along with Washington's Gilbert Arenas and James, far behind Bryant (88.9 percent). The Utah Jazz are projected to have the strongest home-court advantage (44 percent), followed by the Celtics (25.9). Mike D'Antoni of the New York Knicks was named the coach running "the best offense." A bad break? According to the New York Post, Cassell was overheard at courtside of the Celtics' 101-90 victory over the Knicks Tuesday saying, "That West Coast fast-break stuff isn't going to work here." The Celtics dominated the contest, their final game of the preseason, Garnett setting the defensive tone and the team following coach Doc Rivers's plan to play a post-up game. Eddie House (20 points) benefited most from the strategy, roaming the perimeter to line up quick-release jumpers. The Celtics also wanted to set the tone for the regular season and make up for a sloppy performance in a 104-97 loss to the Knicks earlier in the preseason. Both teams' competitive instincts were on edge, judging by a first-quarter verbal exchange between House, who was on the bench, and the Knicks' Stephon Marbury, who was matched with Allen. Marbury called House "a bum," according to reports. House replied, "Don't worry about me; you better worry about Ray Allen." Marbury: "You're nothing. You're caught up in basketball. Get caught up in life." Remembering Mangurian Harry Mangurian acquired the Celtics by trading franchise rights with John Y. Brown (who got Mangurian's Buffalo Braves) in 1978, and was the owner for the 1981 NBA championship season. But Mangurian, who died this week at age 82, might not have become involved with the Celtics if a bid to buy into the NFL's Tampa Bay franchise (along with Jack Nicklaus) had been approved in 1974. Mangurian was heavily involved in thoroughbred racing and invested in the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:42:24 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/10/player_profile_9.htmlPlayer profile: Glen Davis Email|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff October 22, 2008 02:49 PM This is the 10th in a series of profiles for all 15 players on the current Celtics roster. We'll profile at least one player each day leading up to the season opener. Glen Davis Glen Davis yelled after he scored a hoop, and was fouled on the play, against the Spurs. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) Born: Jan. 1, 1986 Height: 6 feet 9 inches. Weight: 289 College: LSU Years pro: 1 Acquired: Drafted No. 35 overall by Seattle in 2007 (rights traded to Celtics, along with Ray Allen, for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the rights to Jeff Green). 2008/2009 salary: $711,517 Signed through: 2008-2009 Last year's numbers: 4.5 ppg, 0.4 apg, 3.0 rpg in 13.6 minutes Strengths: Glen Davis knows how to use his body. That may seem obvious, but the second-year forward, who could have played football at LSU, pushes his weight around with the best of them. He uses his low center of gravity to carve out space, and the result is that he can flat out finish around the rim, even against players much taller than him. Weaknesses: It's a shock to no one that Davis has issues staying in shape. He came to training camp a little heavy, and Doc Rivers used that, and his perceived lack of effort in a preseason game against the 76ers, as a chance to publicly criticize Big Baby: “I didn’t think anybody played poorly,” Rivers told assembled media after the game. “Well, actually I did. I thought Baby played poorly, honestly. I thought he turned the ball over, was going too fast, didn’t set a lot of picks. So he’s got to have a better (stretch) from this point to the start of the season than he has from this point since the start of training camp.” The motivational tactic seems to have worked, as Davis saw more minutes the rest of the postseason. But even last night, Rivers said his "bigs" needed to get in the gym to get in better shape, even on the team's off days this week. What to expect: Davis and Leon Powe make up an energetic big-man tandem that must annoy the heck out of opponents. They're both a handful. Davis needs to stay in shape, and he needs to stay motivated, because he's got Powe and Bill Walker to compete with for minutes. But expect his minutes to increase to around 18 per game, and expect his scoring and rebounding to go up as well. It's hard not to like the energy he brings to the club, and it appears he's morphing into another one of Danny Ainge's late-draft steals, a guy that can contribute on a winning team.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 6:43:53 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x76323128/Celtics-A-general-disrespectCeltics: A general disrespect -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mike Fine/Gatehouse News Service GHS Posted Oct 23, 2008 @ 01:24 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's understandable that when the NBA general managers conducted their annual survey last fall that they might have been a bit wary of the Celtics, who'd been reconstructed in such a humongous way. It's just that one might think the defending champs would get a little more respect this year. The general managers do have the Celtics going to the Finals again. But defending successfully? That would be a no. More than 46 percent of the GM's say that the Lakers will beat the Celtics, who got only about 19 percent of the vote. Tough to believe after what the Celts did to LA in June. The Celts did get a little Eastern love, garnering 85 percent of the votes to win the Atlantic Division and 74 to win the Eastern Conference. There were few other Celtics entries, though. Kevin Garnett received 26 percent of the votes as the best power forward in the NBA - about half that of San Antonio's Tim Duncan. And Garnett was tops as the best defensive player, at 44 percent - about twice that of Houston's Ron Artest. Ray Allen was the runaway winner as the best shooter, at 61 percent, which is pretty puzzling because you'd think the general managers would see that he's also pretty inconsistent. He also finished second as the best to move without the ball - 69 percentage points behind Detroit's Richard Hamilton. Paul Pierce received a quick mention as a player you'd want to shoot with the game on the line. Kobe Bryant ran away with that category. Rajon Rondo also got a brief shout-out for his defense, tied for second as the best on-the-ball defender and getting some notice for his work in the passing lanes. The Celtics also got an honorable mention as the funnest team to watch. The Knicks finished ahead of them. So who really took part in this poll? General managers or a roomful of monkeys? The Celtics finished second as the team with the best home-court advantage, behind Utah. The general managers aced that one. In the end, there's only one thing that matters: how the Celtics feel about the Celtics, how their management feels, and make no mistake about it, Director of Operations Danny Ainge feels darned good. "I couldn't be more excited or optimistic," he said at a Comcast SportsNet luncheon yesterday. Now, perhaps Ainge was just trying to pump up the team, given that he was speaking at a sponsors event, but he also seems genuinely pleased despite the loss of James Posey and P.J. Brown, and the fact that other experts don't seem quite so enamored with his team. The big issue, of course, is repeating the championship run, which is something that hasn't happened since the Lakers did it for three straight seasons, from 2000-'02. Ainge says he's even pleased that some don't give his team a chance to repeat. Classic bulletin board material, after all. "This year I'm even more optimistic," he said, adding that while his main concern last season might have been how Garnett, Allen and Pierce would jell, this year that's not a concern at all. At the same time, he has utter confidence in Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, while other such as Leon Powe and Glen Davis have come miles from their humble beginnings. He's seen how players have responded to the challenge. Pierce, he said, came to camp 10 pounds lighter. "He's at his rookie weight. He's dunking the basketball. You never saw him doing that." Rondo, he says, was in the gym two days after winning the title. "He does that all year." Ray Allen, he says, isn't coming off double ankle surgery. Tony Allen seems to have finally shaken the mental and physical aftereffects of knee surgery. Ainge barely has a bad word to say about anybody. "My biggest concern is dealing with expectations. Last year was a magical season. It's important for us to make sure we're not counting on winning 66 games. The one thing I'm not afraid of is a letdown. I think winning is addictive. Our guys are hungry. They want to win. I have no fear of a letdown."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 7:25:42 GMT -5
news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1127221&format=textCeltics: Signs point to win By Inside Track | Thursday, October 23, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | The Inside Track Photo by Angela Rowlings If the Boston Celtics [team stats] don’t repeat their NBA Championship win this season, it won’t be because they took their eye off the ball, reports Green Team titan Danny Ainge . “These guys are hungry and prepared,” Ainge told the Track at Comcast SportsNet’s tip-off lunch yesterday. “ Paul Pierce [stats] came into training camp 10 pounds lighter, Rajon Rondo [stats] was in the gym at 10 a.m. with the strengthening coach the day after we won the championship. “If these guys don’t win another championship, it won’t be because they’ve been the toast of the town,” said the basketball boss, who won a pair of championships with the Celtics in the ’80s, but not back to back. “You have to fear the competition,” said Ainge. “San Antonio, L.A., Cleveland are all better this year. But our guys are hungry.” Celtics play-by-play man Mike Gorman said Kevin Garnett told him that “if you win one NBA title some people think it’s a fluke. We have to win two or three.” According to an NBA.com text message - that arrived via Blackberry during Ainge’s Q & A - hoop GMs are predicting that the Celts will win the East this season, but that the Lakers will take home the NBA trophy. “That’s good stuff,” said Ainge. “Keep those expectations realistic. I like that.” BTW, Sports Illustrated’s prognosticators this week have the Celtics swiping the Eastern Conference title from the Cavs, but they predict that KG & Co. will fall to the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. The Track must now consult our Ouija Board . . .
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 23, 2008 8:42:46 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x76323132/Ainge-vows-that-Celtics-won-t-have-a-letdownAinge vows that Celtics won’t have a letdown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photos Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press Danny Ainge promises there will not be a letdown this season by the World Champions. By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Oct 23, 2008 @ 02:02 AM Last update Oct 23, 2008 @ 02:32 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BURLINGTON — The first text message arrived during the third quarter of Game 6 in the NBA Finals last June. Danny Ainge was seated courtside, watching his Boston Celtics demolish the Los Angeles Lakers for their first championship in 22 years, when he heard from a former teammate. Larry Bird sent along his congratulations to Ainge, the team’s executive director of basketball operations, with the rout still in progress. By the fourth quarter, as time was winding down in what would be a 131-92 victory over the Lakers, Ainge received a text message with good wishes from another ex-teammate with the Celtics, Kevin McHale. That was the start of a long string of congratulatory words Ainge and the Celtics would receive over the course of a few months. Everywhere they went, it seemed, there were celebrations and pats on the back for ending the title drought. After riding high throughout the offseason, the Celtics now face the task of trying to repeat, something the franchise has not done since 1968-69 when Bill Russell led the way. There are questions as to whether the Celtics will be as hungry and whether they can withstand having a bull’s eye on their backs during an 82-game regular season that opens Tuesday night at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ainge has watched the Celtics through training camp and eight preseason games and says the hunger is still there for a team not satisfied with winning just once. “Winning is addictive,’’ said Ainge Wednesday afternoon at a Comcast SportsNet preseason luncheon. “Our guys are more hungry. They want to keep winning. I have no fear of a letdown. “The reason for (not winning again) is San Antonio, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Detroit. They’re really hungry teams. But we’re really hungry, too. We have the talent and the drive to do it again. “Paul Pierce won and had the taste of victory and success that he’s been craving for so long. But he came back (this season) after losing 10 pounds and getting down to his rookie weight. Rajon Rondo, two days after we won, he was in the gym with the strength coach, shooting. “These guys are prepared and in great shape. Whatever happens, it won’t be because we had a letdown.’’ Ainge was a Celtics guard when they won championships in 1984 and 1986, but they were unable to go back-to-back on either occasion, losing in the NBA Finals to the Lakers. Injuries were part of the reason the Celtics were sidetracked, but it is a long road after playing deep into the previous season. With leaders such as Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen and the emergence of Rondo, Ainge has a positive outlook about this group. “I’m more confident than last year because everybody is better,’’ said Ainge, whose team will return to practice Friday morning after two idle days. “Rajon Rondo is more confident. Ray Allen isn’t coming off double ankle surgery. Everybody looks better. “My biggest concern is dealing with expectations. It was a magical season (last year). It’s important for us to make sure we’re not counting on winning 66 games (again). The objective is to win the championship. We couldn’t be more optimistic or healthy.’’ Ainge was told that a survey of general managers by NBA.com has the Lakers defeating the Celtics in the Finals next spring. “We want that,’’ said Ainge of the prediction. “Let everybody pick everybody else.’’
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