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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 6:31:19 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1128045&format=textPatrick O’Bryant has to make gains Speed limits flashed By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Monday, October 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Lisa Hornak Patrick O’Bryant now understands the negligible meaning of his starts in the Celtics [team stats]’ first two exhibition games. Beyond being a temporary starter while Kendrick Perkins [stats] recovered from shoulder surgery, the Celtics backup 7-footer is discovering that bench minutes are just as precious. Coach Doc Rivers, while discussing why Leon Powe has earned the right to fill P.J. Brown’s playoff role as the first big man off the bench (starting with tomorrow night’s season opener against Cleveland) shed some light on the challenge O’Bryant faces. “Like we tell him every day, there’s Patrick speed and then there’s Celtics speed,” said Rivers, touching on what was considered to be part of O’Bryant’s problem during his previous stop in Golden State. “Patrick has to earn those minutes. But there’s time. Patrick can get his chance. He’s getting there. But he’s skilled - there’s no doubt about that.” Skill alone doesn’t work, however. Though Rivers doesn’t like the idea of guarding opposing centers over the long haul with a small backup rotation of Powe and Glen “Big Baby” Davis, the nature of the league may actually help. “The great thing is that there are only six (legitimate) 5’s,” he said. “Baby can even keep a guy out of the post better than Leon because of his (low center of gravity). He actually did better against (Cleveland’s Zydrunas) Ilgauskas (in the playoffs) than Leon did.” All in due time Paul Pierce [stats] (19.5 minutes per game), Kevin Garnett (18.9) and Ray Allen (18.7) were all used judiciously in their eight preseason games. But Rivers, who last season attempted to have at least one of the team’s three stars on the floor at all times, would like to ease the load further. “Last year all of their minutes were pretty vital,” he said. “Last year we didn’t cut to the bench early, but that could change now. Their time still could go down a lot sooner.” Family matters Rivers’ two youngest sons - Austin and Spencer - along with Adam Jones, the player for whom Rivers is now a legal guardian, spent the weekend shooting around following practices. Though all three will be on hand for tomorrow night’s ring ceremony prior to the Cavs game, they are following a truly NBA-like travel schedule. “I sent the kids home because they have to go to school,” he said. “They’ll fly in after school (tomorrow) to go to the game. The game will be nice for them, but school’s more important.” . . . Though today’s practice is bound to be intense, Rivers may want to quit while he’s ahead. The last two days of practice were that good. “This was just a great practice,” he said. “But all practices are scary. We just go hard every time, what the hell.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 6:35:15 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1128048&format=textTony Allen must be ‘2’ guard ‘D’, scoring equal parts By Mark Murphy | Monday, October 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Lisa Hornak Tony Allen is undeniably on a roll. He finished the exhibition season as the Celtics [team stats]’ minutes leader (26.8 per game) and second-leading scorer (11.8 points per game) behind Eddie House. He also shot 48 percent from the field, good news for a guard at any time of the year. So, naturally, Allen continued his momentum yesterday during a post-practice one-on-one round-robin that included Ray Allen, Paul Pierce [stats] and rookie J.R. Giddens. After draining a jumper over the latter, he followed up with a pair of powerful moves against Allen and Pierce, and then went back to toast Giddens once more. He finally missed against Allen, who promptly took the ball and easily drove past his namesake. Tony Allen’s real-life challenge is very similar to this sequence. No one doubts that if he comes through as expected as the team’s first wing player off the bench, the reserve unit will have more offensive punch than last season. But Doc Rivers wants it all from Allen. He wants the guard to realize his defensive potential as much as his ability to score, for Allen has the ability to be equally good at both ends. “We’ll see,” the Celtics coach said of whether Allen, who suffered through significant confidence issues while recovering from knee surgery last season, finally erased that problem this fall. “Clearly, when he gets more minutes is when he’s a better player. We have enough data by now that shows that if he doesn’t play enough minutes, he doesn’t perform well. “I have no doubt we’re going to have more scoring off the bench now - it’s going to go up with Tony. But this year Tony can’t just look at it that he can be one of our best scorers off the bench. He has to understand that he can also be one of our best defenders, which he is.” Allen, however, doesn’t want to think of himself in such a naked light - at least not publicly. To hear him tell it, he’s very much in “we” mode with the season opener against Cleveland tomorrow. “It ain’t about me, man - it’s not about me, dog,” he said. “What we need to do is focus on what we do as a collective group. That’s what I’m into.” Confidence will presumably follow from there. “Confidence is cool,” he said. “But I just want to gel with these guys. On offense, to be honest, we still have a lot to work on. And we have to lock down again on defense. But in all of this, I just want to be assertive. “That’s what’s going to help me.” That’s why preseason numbers don’t hold much, if any, weight for Allen. He’s shown brilliance in short stretches before but has never enjoyed consistency or durability. And he won’t get there by thinking about himself. “I’m just grinding, grinding,” he said. “I’m just trying to get better with each practice, from game to game. Just watch tape over and over. That’s what there is to it.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 6:40:23 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/10/27/obryant_is_seeking_a_role_in_big_picture?mode=PFO'Bryant is seeking a role in big picture By Julian Benbow, Globe Staff | October 27, 2008 At the start of the exhibition season, there was a chance Patrick O'Bryant's long frame and offensive skills could land him a role as the Celtics' backup center. There's still a chance, but yesterday, two days before the team opens the season against Cleveland, O'Bryant was practicing with the third team, with Bill Walker and Brian Scalabrine his company in the frontcourt. Leon Powe and Glen Davis worked with the second unit as the backups for Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Even if coach Doc Rivers believes O'Bryant has potential, he is comfortable going with players he knows from a season ago. "It's just the other two guys are playing better," Rivers said about O'Bryant. "I don't need Pat to do anything. He's got to outplay the other two guys. It's like we tell him every day, there's a Patrick speed and a Celtics speed, and we're trying to get him to the Celtics speed all the time. But he's getting there." Powe and Davis competed last year with P.J. Brown for minutes in the frontcourt, and then O'Bryant arrived over the summer. "For me it's team," Powe said. "But I'm going to come out here every day competing. It don't matter to me. When you step on the court, I'm competing like I ain't got a spot. But as far as competition, it's good for the team, good for each other, because it helps you." Rivers criticized Davis for poor performances early in the preseason. In eight games, Davis finished with the highest foul total (29) and was third in turnovers (14). But he took it as motivation, tying O'Bryant for second in rebounding. "Doc has a way of casting his characters," Davis said. "He casts the big three for a starring role. I'm just a role-player. I'm just a guy on the side of this movie that we're shooting." All the backup big men will figure out their roles as the season progresses. "I'm trying to stay in the rotation," O'Bryant said. "Obviously we'll see how hard I've been working on opening night with who's out there and who's not, but I think I've been working hard." At the ready Despite not having played in any exhibitions, Sam Cassell said he's ready to play, making the likely point guard hierarchy Rajon Rondo, Eddie House, and Cassell. The 15-year veteran said he's gotten all the reps he needs in practice and that the preseason is extra work when you've been around as long as he has. "If you ask the guys about me, I'm playing well," said Cassell, who's put the same post move on everyone from Ray Allen to Austin Rivers, son of the coach, in post-practice goof-off sessions. "Preseason at my age really doesn't mean [anything]," added Cassell. "Doc uses preseason to see what guys like Gabe [Pruitt] can do in extended [minutes]. To play four guards would be difficult" Cassell said he's developed his rhythm in practice. "If you watch our practices, we go after it," he said. "It's totally different than the games. But from practicing against these guys . . . I'm practicing against three All-Stars." Many have tapped Cassell as one of the best candidates to eventually become a coach. Cassell says he's hearing that call, but in the end he always adds "one day." Ringing in Scot Pollard will be on hand for tomorrow night's ring ceremony, and the Celtics are working out the details to get Brown to town. With New Orleans tipping off at Golden State Wednesday night, new Hornet James Posey won't be in attendance, despite being a crucial piece on last season's title team.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 6:44:14 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/10/27/oneal_a_rapturous_raptor?mode=PFO'Neal a rapturous Raptor Ex-Pacer is happy, says he's healthy By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | October 27, 2008 Jermaine O'Neal was just seconds into hearing the news he'd been longing for when his mom called on the other line. Sure, the six-time NBA All-Star was talking to his agent about the details of a trade from the struggling Indiana Pacers, but the agent had to be put on hold for a bit. The new Toronto Raptors center couldn't wait to click over and celebrate with his mom about his new beginning. His emotions spoke volumes. "My mother told me she just saw it on TV," O'Neal said. "I'm not a very emotional person, but I just started tearing up. "That's what I was looking for. We needed a new start." Just five years ago, O'Neal was widely considered one of the NBA's top five players after averaging at least 19 points and 10 rebounds for three straight seasons. The NBA's 2002 Most Improved Player finished third in the 2004 Most Valuable Player voting behind Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan and ahead of Kobe Bryant. Even with future Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and Ron Artest as teammates, O'Neal had become the face of the Pacers after leading them to a league-best 61 wins during the 2003-04 season. Indiana was considered a strong contender for the Eastern Conference title entering the 2004-05 season. But O'Neal's time as a superstar began coming to an end Nov. 19, 2004, when he, Artest, and Stephen Jackson were among those Pacers who fought with Pistons fans at a game in Detroit. Artest was suspended for the rest of the season, Jackson for 30 games, and O'Neal for 15. While the Pacers still made the playoffs that season, they didn't contend for the title. Indiana hasn't been an NBA power since, has missed the postseason the past two years, and is now playing in front of dwindling and disillusioned crowds that it's fighting to win back. "As an organization, we went from thinking about actually putting together a team that is going to win to actually putting out a team for image purposes. It was hard," O'Neal said. Injuries, most notably to his left knee, have limited O'Neal to fewer than 52 games in three of the last four seasons and he had surgery at the end of the '06-07 season. He said in the middle of last season that his left leg was swollen from his knee to his ankle. His '07-08 averages of 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds were his lowest in seven seasons. In hindsight, O'Neal wishes he had surgery again on his knee instead of playing on it. But with the needed rest now, the 30-year-old says he hasn't felt this good mentally and physically in three or four years. Outside of taking his wife on vacation for a week, O'Neal said he spent the entire offseason working out in Las Vegas. "People say that I've lost a step," O'Neal said. "But if you take anyone's best leg away in this game, see what kind of production they have. My production on one leg is better than most guys with two. I wasn't comfortable anymore playing that way." O'Neal got his long-awaited wish for a trade when he was dealt to Toronto June 25 with a second-round pick (Nathan Jawai) for guard T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and a first-round pick (Roy Hibbert). The Raptors are hoping that O'Neal and three-time All-Star forward Chris Bosh can be a duo that can push the Raptors to become an NBA power. O'Neal said he can be the player who was an MVP candidate again. The 6-foot-11-inch, 260-pounder averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 21.8 minutes while participating in all eight exhibition games for Toronto. "I just wanted to think just about basketball and address my personal and physical issues and just get better," O'Neal said. "I got an opportunity to go to a team that I actually wrote down on my [wish] list. I got the opportunity to go a classy organization. Great people. Great fan support. "[The Raptors] have a president in Brian Colangelo I've talked to more than I talked to [the Pacers' Larry] Bird in five years. You feel wanted." O'Neal and Bosh showed how effective they could be together during a 93-89 exhibition win over the Clippers Oct. 18. Bosh had 26 points and 11 rebounds while O'Neal added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, however, believes the key for success this season is the production from the rest of the team. With Ford done, there will be pressure on point guard Jose Calderon to produce as the starter. It will be interesting to see how forward Andrea Bargnani, the top pick in the 2006 draft, responds to coming off the bench because of O'Neal's arrival and being asked to go inside more. The Raptors are hoping for a breakthrough season from athletic forward Joey Graham, and they have a talented baby-faced rookie floor general in Roko Ukic, a dead-eye deep shooter in Jason Kapono, and two solid swingmen in returnees Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. "Two or three or them are going to have to step up," Mitchell said. "They can't just sit back and think that because we have Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Bosh they don't have to continue to grow and get better. One of those guys is going to have to step up and be a double-digit scorer for us." Whether O'Neal is the one-legged big man he has been recently or an All-Star caliber player again remains to be seen. But if things go well, the Raptors could compete with the Celtics and 76ers for the Atlantic Division crown and make some noise in the postseason. "I told Mr. Colangelo that I don't know what it's going to be this year," O'Neal said. "But [there's] going to be a difference. "Obviously, I'll have a better feel what me and Chris can do on the floor together when we play a little bit more together. But all in all, the first or second round isn't an option for us. "I didn't come here to get to the playoffs and get eliminated. I came here to get a championship."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 6:47:22 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/10/player_profile_13.htmlPlayer profile: Kendrick Perkins Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff October 26, 2008 12:26 PM This is the 14th 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 on Tuesday. Kendrick Perkins Kendrick Perkins reacts after a call went against him in Game 3 against Cleveland. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) Born: Nov. 10, 1984 Height: 6 feet 10 inches. Weight: 280 College: None (Clifton J. Ozen HS, Texas) Years pro: 5 Acquired: Drafted No. 27 overall in 2003 (traded from Memphis, along with the draft rights to Marcus Banks, in exchange for the draft rights to Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones) 2008/2009 salary: $4.1 million Signed through: 2010-2011 Last year's numbers: 6.9 ppg, 1.5 bpg, 6.1 rpg in 24.5 minutes Strengths: Perkins, as evidenced by his trademark scowl, is the muscle on the team. He's a very good rebounder and the best one-on-one post defender on the roster (KG is the best help defender). Need proof of Perk's value? Pao Gasol (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Lamar Odom (20 points, 11 rebounds) had their best games of the Finals in Game 5, when Perkins was out with a shoulder injury. It may not show up on the stat sheet, but Perk intimidates the heck out of opponents. Gasol ran scared from Perkins in the Finals. He simply couldn't match up with his physical play. Weaknesses: Injuries have been a problem for Perkins, with the left shoulder being a trouble spot. The injuries have an impact on Perk's conditioning -- he needs to be healthy in order to stay in shape. He was in great shape last season, but he didn't see much game action this preseason, so it might take him some time to get into game shape. What to expect: Perkins is a bargain, by NBA standards, for a big man (consider Samuel Dalembert is signed for more than $30 million over the next three seasons). Perkins knows his role is to rebound and defend, and he does both well. He's limited on offense, but he rarely tries to do too much. His health is a key for the Celtics, who don't have a proven option behind him. If he can stay on the court, expect Perkins to be his usual, steady self again this year.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 8:43:59 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1561465665/Celtics-notebook-New-start-for-Ray-AllenCeltics notebook: New start for Ray Allen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Oct 27, 2008 @ 02:30 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — The surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankles was performed in April 2007, seven months before the start of a new NBA season. For Ray Allen, the pain never really left him throughout the 2007-08 season with his new team, the Boston Celtics. “They bothered me the whole time,’’ said Allen. “It was just a matter of me going into the season and trying to work it out. “When I had surgery and started rehab, the doctor said I was going to have pain and soreness. At the time, I was in Seattle (with the SuperSonics). When I came here, it was tough to say I wasn’t going to do training camp. It was full steam ahead, and I just had to deal with what I was working with.’’ Allen sat out a pair of games in mid-December with a sore ankle, but he played through any lingering pain. There were times when Allen, one of the top marksmen in the league, struggled with his outside shot. He averaged 17.4 points (the lowest total since 1998-99) and his shot had problems from long range early in the playoffs. Allen found his groove against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Getting through training camp and the early part of the season was a struggle as Allen dealt with the ankle pain, but he was too excited about being with a new team to take it slow. “It was too much not to want to be part of,’’ said Allen. “It was a work in progress. Now I feel a lot better. It was a new challenge for me. “The incisions, four on each ankle, all of them were sore. I’d run up and down the floor, and you feel them aching all the time. Whatever scar tissue is in there is gone. Now it’s prevention and doing the small little rehab technique necessary.’’ Pierce loses weight: Paul Pierce reported to camp about 7 pounds lighter than his weight (235 pounds) last season. “I ate better this summer,’’ said the Celtics captain. “I changed things that I ate in the past. It’s helped me, especially when you have a knee injury. “When you win a championship, it just motivated me to work even harder because I know it’s going to be harder to defend.’’ When told that the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs are the popular picks to win the title, Pierce said, “Expectations aren’t there. Maybe we can sneak up on people.’’ One to go: The Celtics will have one final practice today before Tuesday night’s opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Banknorth Garden. … The championship rings, which will be presented prior to the game, will arrive at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, R.I., Tuesday at noon. Former Celtics guard Jo Jo White will deliver the rings to Boston from there. … The Celtics will be wearing special championship-edition uniforms for the opener, and legends from past title teams will be on hand for the raising of the banner.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 9:03:24 GMT -5
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 9:42:45 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1245754519/Rondo-makes-his-point-with-CelticsRondo makes his point with Celtics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photos Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press Celtics guard Rajon Rondo proved his doubters wrong last season. By Jim Fenton GateHouse News Service Posted Oct 26, 2008 @ 04:23 PM Last update Oct 26, 2008 @ 04:24 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — He heard the same question all the way through the Celtics’ sensational regular season and into the playoffs. Can the Celtics win a championship with an inexperienced second-year point guard like Rajon Rondo? The answer turned out to be yes as Rondo was part of the franchise’s first title team in 22 years last season. Three months after the Celtics took care of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, Rondo reported to training camp and was greeted with a tongue-in-cheek inquiry from a reporter. “So, can the Celtics win a championship with a third-year starting point guard?’’ was the question. “It’s going to be tough for a third-year starting point guard,’’ replied Rondo, trying to keep a straight face. “He doesn’t know much, and he’s kind of inexperienced. But I think they’ll have a chance.’’ Rondo laughed, knowing he won’t have to deal with the questions of inexperience after helping the Celtics climb to the top of the NBA. There were rough patches that he hit along the way, sometimes in the postseason, but the 22-year-old Rondo made more than enough strides to be a quality contributor. He averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 77 regular-season games, then 10.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals in the playoffs. More important than the numbers was the fact Rondo grew up as a point guard and learned how to play alongside All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The improvement of Rondo should continue in the 2008-09 season, which begins Tuesday night when the Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Confidence-wise, I think he’s better,’’ said Garnett. “I think he knows what to expect out of the guys on the floor with him. “He’s very comfortable with the players now. He’s giving directions. He’s a lot more comfortable with his role being the point guard and telling guys what to do. “I think we respect him more for speaking up and telling us what spots to be in and just direction. If anything I can pick out that stands out about Rondo is that he’s become more mature and more of a leader, and you need that from your point guard.’’ Having a year like the 2007-08 season under his belt qualifies as an education that few young players receive. Rondo, who started 25 games as a rookie, was put in the lineup with the three All-Stars and had to keep the ball moving. Like most young players, Rondo had his dips, and he struggled on the road in the playoffs. For the most part, though, it was a highly successful season for a player who has a bright future in the NBA. “I think it’s all confidence,’’ said Allen. “His talent has been there, but now he knows what is expected of him on the floor. “Most of his questions have always been what’s going to happen in the playoffs, how are the referees going to be, what are the crowds going to be like. That was always an unknown. “He’s been through it now and he knows what to expect. He knows all the players in the league. He knows what he needs to do to get better. Knowing that gives him all the confidence in the world.’’ Rondo carries himself with a quiet confidence, and he is now driven to build on the championship season and make the most of the remaining years he’ll be with Garnett, Pierce and Allen. “I’m still hungry,’’ he said. “I want to be the best point guard in the league one day. My coaching staff believes in me and the Big Three believes in me and the rest of my teammates believe in me. “I am going to keep working hard, regardless of what I have accomplished so far. I can’t say enough about hard work pays off, and I’m not going to stop working hard.’’ The lessons that were learned throughout the regular season and the playoffs will come in handy as Rondo looks to bring his game up another notch. Teams challenged Rondo to hit open shots, and sometimes he struggled. Making sure he is not a liability on offense in that regard is a top priority. “I’m just going to continue to learn,’’ said Rondo. “I learned about composure and being consistent in the playoffs, that each game you have to come out mentally ready to play. “I have to be mature on the road, have better road games. Going through all that probably helps me a lot. I’ve been there, done that now. There’s still things to learn. You don’t learn everything in one playoff, even though I won a championship. I’m still a young guy.’’
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 27, 2008 9:43:19 GMT -5
emuss.blogspot.com/2008/10/celtics-had-group-of-guys-who-were.htmlCeltics had a group of guys who were willing to be coached Sports Illustrated's NBA Preview issue has a good story by Ian Thomsen about how the Celtics have demonstrated how "that in this era of the luxury tax and immature lottery picks, the poor can get rich quick, provided they're shrewd in remaking their rosters." Boston's top three players -- KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce -- were all over 30 when they led the Celts to the NBA title last season. "What they did tells you that if you get everybody committed and on the same page, you can focus on the team things," says Phoenix coach Terry Porter, who in Shaq, Grant Hill and Steve Nash has three players 34 or older. "Doc did a tremendous job, but more important, the players took some ownership and policed themselves. They stayed on each other and stayed focused on the task at hand." From the beginning, Doc Rivers and his staff emphasized defense. Of course, a lot of teams do that. The difference is, according to the article, that Boston's leaders bought in. "The biggest trick, which the Celtics did, is to get their best players to buy in," says Bucks coach Scott Skiles, who plans to invoke Boston's example to change the culture of his offense-first franchise. "That's going to be one of the challenges from the beginning, to convince some of the guys that if we really want to do something, we've got to build off our defense. And I think we will." The article ends with a great quote from Doc Rivers: "I had a group of guys who were very willing to be coached and weren't stuck on who they were. I hear guys say they want to win it, but I think what they're really saying is, I want to win it as long as I can keep doing what I do. I had three stars who said they wanted to win and they would change to do it. I don't think you get that a lot."
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