Post by FLCeltsFan on Oct 28, 2008 8:16:20 GMT -5
www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkn_celtics_sidebar_28_10-28-08_RQC2VUH_v8.3d4be5e.html
Celtics’ Cassell reflects on glory of 3rd NBA title ring
07:47 AM EDT on Tuesday, October 28, 2008
By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer
Boston veteran guard Sam Cassell has his sights set on winning a fourth NBA title ring this season.
The Journal / Glenn Osmundson
WALTHAM, Mass. — Sam Cassell is the only player on the Boston Celtics roster to know what to expect tonight when the Celtics are given their NBA championship rings prior to their battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cassell is the only Celtic to have gone through that experience.
Drafted out of Florida State University as the 24th overall pick in 1993 by the Houston Rockets, Cassell helped the Rockets win back-to-back championships in his first two NBA seasons.
“It was electric in the building,” Cassell said. “Everybody was excited that we won the championship. We were excited just coming to the arena. We couldn’t wait for the game to start. All of the momentum you have and all of the excitement you have to get the ring was great.”
Cassell told his teammates to enjoy the moment but then to get focused to play the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It’s going to be a fun time, especially for guys like Ray [Allen], Paul [Pierce] and Kevin [Garnett],” Cassell said. “Those guys took so long to get the ring and just to have the announcer call their name out and greet the commissioner and then get their box with their ring in it that is going to be a special moment for those guys and a special moment for me too.”
Cassell said that he wore his championships rings the nights that he received them, but has never worn them since. He keeps them in a safe-deposit box. This ring will have a different meaning to him than his previous two NBA championship rings, he said.
“When I first got into the league and I won, I didn’t know too much about the NBA game,” Cassell said. “My first two years I won championships so it has been a 13-year state where I didn’t win and I understand the importance of reaching that goal of winning a championship now.”
Williams improves Cavaliers
The Celtics will face a new and improved Cleveland team tonight.
The Cavaliers signed highly-touted point guard Mo Williams in the offseason. “Mo Williams, that is a big pick up for them,” Rivers said. “He gives them another guy that can create his own shot and I think that is important…They are absolutely a better basketball team (than they were last year).”
As good as Williams is, the Cavs will still run their offense through superstar small forward LeBron James.
The Celtics are expecting James to play tonight the same way he played in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which Boston won, but James scored 45 points.
“You expect LeBron’s best every night,” Pierce said. “He’s been an MVP candidate since he’s been in the league. He’s one of the more consistent players in the league. He’s one of the most feared players in the league.”
James said that the Cavs have the right pieces to make a run at the NBA championship when the two teams played on Oct. 10 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, and that watching the Celtics receive their rings tonight will add to his motivation of winning an NBA title.
roblee@projo.com