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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 7:40:52 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1134998&format=textDoc Rivers: We’ll have to be better By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Wednesday, November 26, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Herald File The Celtics [team stats] are 13-2 this season. They were 13-2 at this juncture last year. And we all know how that season ended up. Last November, they were in the midst of a nine-game winning streak and did not lose until game No. 23. This year, they will take a five-game streak into tonight’s game against Golden State. After yesterday’s practice, the notion of this team being better than last year’s team was discussed. “We have to be, eventually,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t know if we are now, and we’re not worried about now. But for us to win it all, we have to be better than we were last year, because everybody else is better.” The playoffs are an infinitely greater test than the regular season, so the absence of veterans James Posey and P.J. Brown could diminish this club, but Rivers sees it differently. “The young guys are growing,” Rivers said. “The young guys who were here (last year) are better (this year). That’s made us better. . . . And (Brian Scalabrine) has been playing terrific. I think he’s really helped our bench get along because that allows Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen) to get a bigger break now.” Pierce wants to let the question of which team is better answer itself. “We’re just continuing with the process,” Pierce said. “We’re taking it one game at a time. You know, last year was last year. There’s better teams in the East this year, better teams in the West, and we’re not looking back. “I think we’re starting to play some of our better basketball. We always have room for improvement.” Perk-y appeal With a suspension for technical fouls looming in Kendrick Perkins [stats]’ future - fairly soon if he maintains his pace - the Celts are trying to get a couple rescinded by preparing a case for the league. Perkins was hit with his eighth technical Sunday in Toronto. If he gets to 16, he will face an automatic one-game suspension. He will receive the same one-game ban for every two technicals after that the rest of the way. The first five technicals cost Perkins $1,000 apiece. He’s now in the $1,500 bracket and is in line for a hit of $2,000 per on Nos. 11-15. The 16th would cost him $2,500, plus the suspension. “I’m concerned,” Rivers said. “But we’re sending a lot of the tapes to the league, because a lot of the double technicals where someone’s saying something to him and he turns around and they get a double tech. That’s to me where the officials have to do their job. . . . So we’re going to try to get them rescinded - a couple. It won’t happen, but we’re going to try. “You want him to be emotional . . . but he can’t allow his emotions to sabotage his performance.” For his part, Perkins doesn’t seem concerned. “I’m just going out there and going to play my game,” he said. “I’m an emotional guy, but it’s not anything I can’t change. I can control it.” Team mourns Rivers and the Celtics were saddened by the passing of Tommy Heinsohn’s wife, Helen. “She was a true player on our basketball team in a lot of ways,” Rivers said. “When you think about what she did last year, having chemo and still making it to games . . . I mean, she was just a courageous lady and will be severely missed.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 7:45:27 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1134997&format=textLeBron James shows NY his stuff By Herald wire services | Wednesday, November 26, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP LeBron James might never have an easier night at Madison Square Garden, whether he plays for the Knicks or not. James scored 26 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers quickly took a charged-up New York crowd out of the game in a 119-101 victory over the Knicks last night. Delonte West added 16 points and Wally Szczerbiak had 15 for the Cavaliers. Fans hoping someday to see James play in New York got to learn how good his team in Cleveland is right now. The Cavaliers turned it into a blowout while James was enjoying his first rest to start the second quarter, and improved the NBA’s third-best record to 11-3. Quentin Richardson scored 22 points and newcomer Tim Thomas [stats], cleared to play after a trade this week, had 16 for the Knicks, who lost for the fourth time in five games. James’ first visit to New York this season came just days after the Knicks made a pair of trades that cleared enough salary cap space for a potential run at him in free agency in the summer of 2010. Wizards 124, Warriors 100 - Coaching his first game of any sort since a spot on the bench in his daughter’s youth league in 1993, Ed Tapscott juggled a few things and guided host Washington over Golden State, breaking a five-game losing streak and avoiding the worst 12-game start in franchise history. Caron Butler scored a season-high 35 points and Andray Blatche had season highs with 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Wizards improved to 2-10. Eddie Jordan was fired Monday and replaced by Tapscott, who had been the team’s director of player development. Mavericks 109, Pacers 106 - Jason Terry scored 29 points and combined with Jason Kidd to key a fourth-quarter run that carried host Dallas past Indiana for its fifth straight victory. Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Kidd finished with 11 points and 13 assists as the Mavericks won their second consecutive home game after dropping their first four. Suns 99, Thunder 98 - Matt Barnes hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 25.7 seconds left to complete Phoenix’s fourth-quarter rally and spoil Scott Brooks’ home debut as Oklahoma coach. Brooks replaced the fired P.J. Carlesimo as coach on Monday. Elsewhere in the NBA - Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will be sidelined for a week to 10 days after sustaining a bone bruise to his left knee Monday night in a loss at Orlando. . . . Charlotte Bobcats top scorer Jason Richardson practiced for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and could play tonight in Toronto. Richardson missed six straight games. . . . Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright was expected to miss at least three weeks after having surgery yesterday to remove debris from his left knee.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 7:52:53 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1134999&format=textScouting report WARRIORS at CELTICS By Herald staff | Wednesday, November 26, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics TONIGHT - 7:30, TD Banknorth Garden. TV - CSN. Radio - WEEI-AM (850). THE NUMBER - 12: C’s wins in their last 16 home games against the Warriors. They have lost four straight at Golden State. WHO’S HURT - For the C’s, there are no injuries to report. For the Warriors, Monta Ellis (ankle) is on the suspended list. WHO’S HOT - For the C’s, Kendrick Perkins [stats] hit 8-of-11 shots on the two-game road trip; Kevin Garnett was 15-for-22. WHO’S NOT - Celtics [team stats] opponents are averaging 89.93 points per game and a 39.7 shooting percentage, both league lows. BOTTOM LINE - The Warriors are in a state of flux after losing Baron Davis in the offseason and trading for Jamal Crawford last week. The C’s will try to get an early jump on Golden State, which played last night against the Wizards.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 7:57:48 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1135027&format=textLeBron James drama will be a long-running show By Johnette Howard / Newsday | Wednesday, November 26, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP NEW YORK — LeBron James didn’t insult anybody by pretending that he hadn’t paid attention to the salary-cap room the Knicks just cleared with two trades Friday, same as he didn’t shy away from debuting a New Yorkthemed sneaker against the Knicks Tuesday night. Nor did he turn down a request that he hold a pregame news conference in a separate room — a departure from normal procedure — though he knew the main topic would be whether he’d jilt Cleveland two years from now to play for the Knicks. The resulting session was like a high-stakes game of 20 questions between James and reporters about his future. No one was nearly as interested in what Cavs coach, Mike Brown had to say about James opting out of his contract in the summer of 2010, even if it made the most sense of anything anyone said all night. No matter who fancies themselves the front-runner for James now, Brown said, "A lot can happen in two years." "July 1, 2010 is a big day," James agreed. James is playing the sweepstakes like an absolute virtuoso. He doesn’t seem to have any fear the constant questions will adversely affect his game or his team. And his teammates say they’re at best amused and at worst realistic about it. "Why would it be a distraction. We still have him," Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Tuesday night and laughed. The Cavs do and they don’t have a grip on James. On the floor, James could lead Cleveland to its third straight Eastern Conference championship round or second trip to the NBA Finals in three years. His willingness to play a beautifully measured game — 26 points — in the Cavs’ 119-101 trouncing of the Knicks underscored one of the many things people love about him: James is leading the NBA in scoring but he refused to turn the game into some personal showcase despite all the hype surrounding his visit. It really was enough for him to just win the game. What James is less committed to is shooting down the notion that he’ll leave Cleveland. He insists on keeping all of that for himself. He could simply refuse to address the topic, you know, and while the drama wouldn’t go completely away, it would still lose a lot steam. Instead, James has chosen a strategy of full engagement. He gives nearly everyone who fancies themselves one of his suitors a little bone now and then to keep the mystery around him building. It’s just good business. Up goes his value. Up, up, up goes his profile. Up goes the boil on the hype and publicity. It doesn’t seem to matter to anyone the guesses of where James is headed will change by Friday. Or next week. Or next month. Already, some of the early handicapping has been downright wrong, some has been patently silly — such as an ESPN.com story said someone "close to James" insisted that James might just go play in Europe for $50 million a year from some unnamed tycoon or Russian billionaire when his NBA contract is up. (A great idea . . . if you like pickled herring). But what is already looking impossible to overstate is just how drop-dead serious and widespread the entire league is positioning for James and the rest of the free-agent class of 2010. No league — forget just the NBA — has ever seen anything like this. An example: Yahoo! [YHOO] Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski recently wrote a fascinating connect-the-dots account detailing how the Detroit Pistons could be a stealth player for James now that general manager Joe Dumars traded for Allen Iverson [stats] because — pay attention now — Iverson’s agent is Leon Rose, the same man who represents LeBron as well as the Pistons’ other guard, Richard Hamilton, whose own contract extension talks heated up after Iverson arrived in a goodwill move by Dumars that will — what do you know? — put a lot of money in Rose’s pockets, not just Hamilton’s. Dumars is also well acquainted with William Wesley, aka "Worldwide Wes," one of LeBron’s other advisers. Got all that? "I’m afraid Dumars has gotten this whole thing wired," one Eastern Conference GM fretted. Then again, didn’t Worldwide Wes make a point to visit training camp of the Knicks — who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday — this fall, too, and chat with general manager Donnie Walsh, for the first time, too? Was that significant? The Nets think they have a shot at James because the rapper/business impresario Jay-Z, who was in the front row at the Garden Tuesday night with his girlfriend, Beyonce, is a Nets minority owner in addition to being James’ good friend. But their new arena in Brooklyn — "my favorite borough," James has coyly said — is on the rocks. The oft-maligned and understandably sensitive citizens of Cleveland took heart when James appeared at a pre-election day rally and said how much he loved his home state, and how "I ain’t going nowhere." Or maybe he is. "I’m so focused on this season and this Cavs team," James said Tuesday night. "At the same time, you have to stay open minded if you’re a Knicks fan." He’s got a secret. Everyone wants an answer. Get ready for two years of this. ___
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 8:04:20 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/26/celtics_dont_have_this_down_to_a_t_just_yet?mode=PFCeltics don't have this down to a T just yet By Julian Benbow, Globe Staff | November 26, 2008 WALTHAM - The first thing you should know about technical fouls is that they're not cheap. They're $1,000 a pop, and that's just the first five. The next five go for $1,500. Five more and you're looking at $2,000 plus a warning letter from the league after No. 12. The 16th is the suspension ceiling, where every other technical costs you a one-game suspension. They also cost you $2,500 each. Kendrick Perkins has eight techs in about a month. Feel free to grab a calculator. But Perkins isn't checking his bank balance. "Yeah they fine me," said Perkins after practice yesterday, two days after a dunk, a yell, and a mix-up with Chris Bosh in Toronto earned him his eighth technical of the season, and a fine total of $9,500. "But I don't really see it like that. It ain't really putting a dent in my pocket." If the league is going to take the money, Perkins said, it will take it. And if the referees are going to call the techs, he said, then they call them. His point is that it's out of his control. "This is what I'm trying to explain to y'all," he said. "I'm not trying to be out there getting techs. It's just something, you get caught up in the heat of the moment. It's something I can't control, but I'm not trying to get techs. I'm not trying to let them take a thousand dollars out my pockets every time." It's not always Perkins's pocket. In all, the Celtics have been called for 31 technical fouls (16 on players, three on the coach, the rest on incidentals). For perspective, Milwaukee is second in the league with 18. Perkins, who was tied with Kevin Garnett for the team lead last year at nine, has more techs by himself than eight teams. Doc Rivers is in a race with George Karl for tops among coaches with three. "I think I had four or five last year," Rivers said, "but I always get them early." Rivers says it's not a concern. At this point, it's more of a distraction. "I'm not worried about it," he said. "We talk about it. But I want our guys to be emotional. We just have to make sure we do it under control." The Celtics have sent several tapes to the league for reexamination. Rivers said, in a lot of cases, Perkins is being whistled for reacting to an altercation he didn't start. "A lot of them are double technicals, where someone's saying something to him and he turns around and they get a double tech," Rivers said. "That, to me, is where the officials have to do their job. I think it's easier to discipline both people instead of saying this guy started it, we're just going to give you a tech." Perkins joked that he wouldn't mind being put in the same category as Rasheed Wallace or Ron Artest. "They're two great players in this league," he said. But they also wear "hothead" labels, and on many occasions they've earned technical fouls on reputation alone. If there's a concern for Perkins, it would be that referees may start to see him that way. "They're either going to like me or they're not," he said. "I'm not saying nothing to them. I'm just going to go out there and play my game." In talking about the fouls, Rivers found himself rehashing a lot of the things he said a week ago about players talking on the court. He doesn't necessarily view it as a bad thing. For one, it's an easy indicator of emotion (see: Garnett). It's also one of Paul Pierce's favorite tactics. "I use it to frustrate my opponent," Pierce said. "Sort of like something Larry Bird used to do in the day or Michael [Jordan] and a lot of those guys." And in a way it's becoming sort of a Celtics hallmark. "That's how we are," Perkins said. "We've been like this since last year. That's how we play. Guys are going to try to get at us, so we're going to get at them first." But the downside is what Rivers calls "emotional sabotage." The concept is simple: being so emotional that you let it ruin the way you play. The talking hasn't hindered Perkins's game, but it has distracted people from how well he's played. He's ninth among Eastern Conference centers in rebounding (7.3) and assists (1.3), and second to Dwight Howard in the East in blocks (1.93). And even though the Boston offense isn't built for him to do a ton of scoring (4.9 shots a game), he's still hitting 57 percent of the shots he's taking. The techs, the fines, and the aftermath are out of his hands. The only real answer, Perkins said, is self-control. "I'm going to change," he said. "But there's nothing I can do about it now. They already issued the techs out to me. It ain't like I can go get them back."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 8:05:51 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/26/team_ok_but_pierce_has_better_idea?mode=PFTeam OK, but Pierce has better idea By Julian Benbow, Globe Staff | November 26, 2008 WALTHAM - According to their record, the Celtics are as good as they were last year at this point. According to Paul Pierce, that's not necessarily good enough. The league is better this year, which, by his estimation, means they have to be better as well. "Last year was last year," said Pierce. "It's better teams in the East this year. It's better teams in the West. We're taking it one game at a time. We're not looking back at what we did last year because it's a different team." Despite a tough stretch of scheduling and an offense that lagged behind their smothering defense, the Celtics have a 13-2 record that is the best in the Eastern Conference. The offense is averaging 101.6 points since beating Atlanta, 103-102, Nov. 12, and Kendrick Perkins said it's starting to get where it needs to be. "Our defense's been there," he said. "But it seems like offensively we're starting to really get it down pat. We're moving the ball, guys are taking their shots, guys are finishing around the basket. It just feels good right now." Even if they're on par at the moment, the ultimate goal is to be better than they were a year ago. "We have to be, eventually," said coach Doc Rivers. "I don't know if we are now. We're not worried about now. But for us to win it all, we have to be better than we were last year, because everybody else is better." Heinsohn's wife dies Before practice broke at HealthPoint, Rivers gathered his players at midcourt and said a word of respect for Helen J. (Weiss) Heinsohn, wife of Celtics Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn, who died yesterday in Newton after a battle with cancer that spanned six years. Rivers called her a teammate and said one of last season's inspiring sights was seeing her at games while she was fighting through chemotherapy. "She's just a courageous lady and will be sincerely missed," Rivers said. The fire drill The firings of NBA coaches P.J. Carlesimo (Thunder) and Eddie Jordan (Wizards) not even a quarter of the way through the season struck a familiar chord with Rivers, who was cut loose by the Orlando Magic after a 1-10 start in 2003. "I'm amazed," he said. "I got fired after 10 games, too. It's the same start, and I had ton of injuries, and it's amazing." Carlesimo had the Thunder (average age: 25) off to a 1-13 start, while the injury-plagued Wizards, who had made the playoffs four straight years under Jordan, were 1-10. "One team's extremely young, and they want him to play the young guys, but it's his fault somehow," Rivers said. "And Eddie's been a terrific coach. No way the Wizards should have made it to the playoffs last year. "And Eddie got that team to the playoffs and they just forgot about it." Charity stripes The Celtics Women's Group will partner with Cradles to Crayons, a local nonprofit group, for a holiday coat drive during tonight's game against Golden State. Fans can bring new or gently used children's winter coats to the Garden for donation. Dropoff stations will be set up outside the turnstiles on Level 2. Coats can also be dropped off during regular business hours at the Celtics sales office at 226 Causeway Street . . . Ray Allen restarted a tradition that began during his days in Seattle, providing full Thanksgiving dinners to 275 families in Roxbury, complete with turkey, stuffing, dinner rolls, salad, green beans, dessert, and the not-so-traditional vitamin water. He was among several Celtics in the giving spirit. Sam Cassell and Perkins served a Thanksgiving meal in Dorchester with the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. And Patrick O'Bryant brought dinner and prepared dessert for teens at the Home For Little Wanderers.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 8:08:29 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/26/warriors_thumbnails/Warriors thumbnails November 26, 2008 Email| Print| Single Page| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size – + Discuss COMMENTS (0) When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at TD Banknorth Garden. TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850). Scoring: Stephen Jackson 21.6, Corey Maggette 17.2, Andris Biedrins 16.6. Rebounds: Biedrins 13.9, Maggette 5.1, Kelenna Azubuike 4.5. Assists: Jackson 6.3, C.J. Watson 3.8, Maggette 2.4. Head to head: This is the first of two meetings. Last year, Boston and Golden State split the season series. Miscellany: The Warriors are in the midst of a five-game Eastern road trip and have lost the first two . . . Guard Jamal Crawford, acquired from the Knicks for Al Harrington last week, made his Golden State debut last night against Washington, collecting 9 points and 7 assists in 29 minutes . . . Shooting guard Azubuike had been day to day with a right knee injury but played 33 minutes last night.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 8:11:00 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1596740580/Celtics-Technical-difficultiesCeltics: Technical difficulties -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Young/Associated Press Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (left) has already amassed eight technical fouls this season and is in danger being suspended if he keeps accumulating technicals. By Jim Fenton/Gatehouse News service MetroWest Daily News Posted Nov 25, 2008 @ 10:30 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — They are leading the NBA in victories, fewest points allowed per game and lowest field-goal percentage by opponents. There is one other category the Boston Celtics are first in through the opening month of the season - technical fouls. The 2008-09 Celtics, who have been whistled for a league-leading 19 technicals in 15 games, must be making constant-complainer Antoine Walker proud. Center Kendrick Perkins tops the NBA with eight, costing him $1,000 apiece. Walker was first in the league with 23 technicals during the 2002-03 season, his final full year with the Celtics. Paul Pierce is tied for fourth in the NBA with three techs, the same number called on coach Doc Rivers. Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe have two apiece while Eddie House has one. The Celtics have been hit with at least one technical foul in all but four of their games entering tonight's matchup with the Golden State Warriors at the TD Banknorth Garden (CSN, 7:30 p.m.). Seven of the calls against the Celtics - including four on Perkins - have been the result of double technicals after confrontations with opposing players. The Celtics, with teams trying to knock off the defending champions, have been involved in some chippy games already. "We initiate a lot of the noise talking," said Perkins. "That's just how we are. We've been like that since last year. That's how we play. Guys are trying to get at us, so we're going to try to get at them first." Trash talking took place during last week's win over the New York Knicks with Quentin Richardson being front and center. Leon Powe and Zach Randolph, who has been since traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, were hit with double techs. "I use it to get in my opponent's head," said Pierce. "I don't use it to start anything. I use it to frustrate my opponent, sort of like what Larry Bird used to do in the day and Michael (Jordan) did. I use it more as a tactic. I'm not out there trying to fight anybody or cause any commotion. It's a strategy I use. "I use it in practice sometimes and Coach gets mad at me. It's nothing personal against the other guy. I like everybody in the NBA." Perkins has had conflicts with Jermaine O'Neal of the Toronto Raptors, Johan Petro of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets and Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers. With eight technical fouls, he is halfway to the limit which triggers an automatic one-game suspension. According to NBA rules, players receive a warning letter after their 12th technical foul and are suspended for a game after the 16th tech of the season. After that, a one-game suspension is issued for every two technicals. "I'm concerned," said Rivers. "We have to do a better job. You want him to be emotional, but you don't want him to have what we call 'emotional sabotage.' That's what happens at times. He has to be able to be emotional, but he can't allow his emotions to be sabotaged." Rivers said the team is trying to get some of Perkins' technicals overturned by the league. The latest came when he got tangled up with Toronto's Chris Bosh while running back on defense after a dunk on Sunday afternoon. "A lot of double technicals where someone's saying something to him and he turns around and they give him a double tech, that to me is where the officials have to do their job," said Rivers. "I think it's easy to just say, 'Double technical,' instead of saying, "This guy started it, we're just going to give you a tech.' "We're going to try to get a couple rescinded. It won't happen, but we're going to try." The Celtics, who play 10 of their next 14 games at home, have built a reputation around the league for cockiness, and Garnett's style has had a lot to do with that."I like the aggression," said Ray Allen. "It's like getting a three-second call on defense. You'd rather be leading the league knowing that everybody is coming to help as opposed to nobody is every getting in the lane. It's the same thing with technicals. You know guys are out there and passionate and playing hard. "But we've got to be smart about it. We don't have to prove that we're tough. We just have to prove that we're good."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 26, 2008 9:27:22 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1596740638/Celtics-center-Patrick-O-Bryant-wants-to-get-on-the-court-more-oftenCeltics center Patrick O’Bryant wants to get on the court more often -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mike Fine The Patriot Ledger Posted Nov 25, 2008 @ 11:19 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — The Golden State Warriors will be at the Garden Wednesday night, and Celtics center Patrick O’Bryant is hoping for an opportunity to do his thing against his old team. Then again, O’Bryant would like to have the opportunity to do anything against any team. He’s not getting any playing time and, yes, he would like to play a larger role with his new club. “Definitely, and it’s not even because of Golden State,” said the third-year pro who is averaging only 4.4 minutes in five appearances. “It’s because I want to play. I want to be a bigger part of this team right now, but I guess Doc (Rivers) doesn’t feel comfortable with me yet, but I’m going to keep working and try to earn that comfort over the next couple of weeks or whatever it takes.” Bryant said Rivers hasn’t spoken to him about his early tenure with the team. “I think he’s the kind of coach … he wants me to figure it out,” O’Bryant said, “and I just have to pick up on his little cues. When he’s yelling at me in practice about something, I’ve got to take that and think, maybe this is why I’m not playing as much as I’d like.” The reason O’Bryant isn’t playing is because Rivers doesn’t think the 22-year-old 7-footer has the fire in the belly that many of the other players have. While Rivers says that “other players are playing in front of him,” it’s obvious that once O’Bryant falls in line, he will earn that time. “He’s starting to pick it up. He’s still got some ways to go there, but he’s much better than he was early in the year. It’s a different culture. We practice hard, probably harder than most teams, and I don’t think he was used to that.” O’Bryant, out of Bradley, became the ninth overall draft pick by the Warriors in 2006, signing a two-year, $4.3 million contract, but on Sept. 7 that year, before his first training camp even began, he broke his right foot and wasn’t activated until January. Over the next two years, during which he played only 40 games, he made nine trips to the disabled list, mostly because the team had no room for him. He became a free agent last summer and signed a two-year, $3.12 million contract with the Celtics. “It was the best fit,” he said. “(I had) players like Kevin Garnett to learn from. It’s a good situation.” It might be if he could get on the floor. He said it’s not a matter of digesting a new system, which is “easy to learn.” He just needs to get on the court to implement it. “I always feel like I can come in and contribute somewhat so I was definitely thinking, I’m going to come in and get some good minutes right away, but it’s something you’ve just gotta work your way into. “I always want to play. I’m not getting paid to sit on the bench. I’d rather get paid to play the minutes so I definitely am disappointed with myself and wish I could play a lot more.” Yet, there have been only five brief appearances, and he didn’t even dress for six straight games. That could be tough on a pro’s ego. “I try not to let ego things come in the way,” he said. “I haven’t established myself in the league so I really have no right to have an ego about playing.” He has to allow his strengths to speak for themselves, if only he had the chance. “It’s just backing up Perk (Kendrick Perkins) and KG a lot, just being a seven-foot defender,” he said. “Leon (Powe) and Baby (Glen Davis) are great defenders but sometimes 6-8 isn’t tall enough to guard the Yaos and Shaqs and people of that height, and just blocking shots and getting some rebounds.” He feels this is a terrific situation. “I love it here. Great town, great fans, everybody on the team’s great. It’s very teamlike, almost like a brotherhood.” “He just has to wait his turn and keep working,” Rivers said. “He’s doing that.” Around the rim Rivers says the team has been sending tapes of Perkins’ technical foul violations to the NBA office, contending that he’s being targeted by refs. “We’re going to try to get a couple rescinded,” he said. “That won’t happen.” … “I’m not trying to be out there getting techs,” said Perkins, who has eight, halfway to a mandatory one-game suspension. “I get caught up in the heat of the moment. It’s not something I can control. I’m not trying to let them take a thousand dollars out of my pocket every time but it is what it is.” The eight T’s have cost Perkins $9,500 ($1,000 each for one through five, $1,500 each for six through 10) … Rivers reminded everyone to give some thought to Tom Heinsohn, who lost his wife, Helen, to cancer this week.
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