Celtics Chemistry Builds on European Trip

http://www.boston.com/sports/2012/10/08/celtics-experience-success-and-adversity-develop-chemistry-european-journey/fxgbYYL4ycTUXy37PEJ6kN/story.html







MILAN — The Celtics return to normalcy Tuesday, back in Boston after
their European journey. They have three more weeks to prepare for their
season-opening showdown with the Miami Heat.





That preparation was made more important by a rather distasteful loss
to Fenerbahce Ulker Friday in Istanbul, a 97-91 defeat that exposed the
fact that even though the Celtics are laden with talent, if they are
lackadaisical or lack focus they will be out-executed.



They spent the first half attempting to showboat and entertain the
fans at the Ulker Sports Arena and then the reserves spent the second
half trying to rally, but they were hindered by a bunch of turnovers.



On Sunday in Milan, the Celtics were more focused against Emporio
Armani Milano in their 105-75 win. Rajon Rondo was brilliant with 17
first-quarter points and the team was able to entertain the fans with a
dominant win.



The games allowed the Celtics to regain the chemistry created by
their workouts in Waltham that began in early September. Rondo organized
those sessions and several of the team’s newcomers and rookies showed
up at the Sports Authority Training Center eager to build cohesion so
there wouldn’t be such a long learning process during the preseason.



“We’re a month and a half into this process,” guard Jason Terry said.
“And it was all [Rondo]. He’s the leader of this team. And him bringing
us together meant a lot because, as you can see, our chemistry is
pretty good out there, guys knowing where to be and when to be there.
We’ve still got a ways to go. But as far as a lineup, this is a deep
team.



“I think on a nightly basis, and I’m not Doc [Rivers] by any means,
but there is the ability for us to play different lineups. The NBA game
is all about matchups.”



Said Rondo: “Our chemistry has developed so early because we came in
Sept. 4. I’ve been working with [Terry], I’ve been working with Fab
[Melo] as far as pick-and-rolls offensively and defensively, and right
now, each game we just want to try to get better and it’s only been two
games but I think we’ve made strides.”



What Rivers was able to do in Istanbul and Milan was mix and match
lineups. He is like a teenager playing with an ­iPhone in terms of his
versatile roster. The Celtics’ added depth allowed him to place rookie
Jared Sullinger in the starting lineup Sunday; starting power forward
Brandon Bass scored 11 points off the bench.



The Celtics know they didn’t face versions of the Washington
Generals. Boston had trouble containing Fenerbahce Ulker’s Romain Sato,
and also stopping Fenerbahce’s pick-and-roll offense. EA Milano may have
made the game more competitive if it had converted more than 9 of 30
3-point shots.



“[We take away] a lot, these teams are very, very, very good,”
forward Jeff Green said. “Shooters all over the floor, they move the
ball very well. They get up and down the floor. There’s a lot of teams
in the NBA that do that, so we’ve just got to take what we learned and
make the best of it.”



Off the floor, the Celtics bonded over team dinners, sightseeing
trips, and appearances at NBA Cares events. The NBA set up public
appearances on each stop, and while participation is usually reserved
for rookies and lower-level players, the entire roster worked with
Turkish children Thursday in Istanbul. Paul Pierce made a random
appearance at a Milan shopping area.



“It’s amazing how big our game has grown and how many fans we have
over here,” Pierce said. “It was a lot of fun to be able to enjoy it
with the fans. It’s like a way of giving back. These people appreciate
not only myself but my team, the whole NBA. A lot of them stay up late
nights just to watch the games and for them to get a player in here to
interact with them . . . I thought it was fun.”



There were plenty of questions about the Celtics’ last visit to
Europe (Rome and London in 2007) and how it served as a prelude to the
team’s title run. The Celtics were integrating several new players and
had hopes of being an elite team in the Eastern Conference. Rivers said
he has no issue comparing the trips, especially if this season concludes
the way 2007-08 did.



“I think we’ve adopted the country of Italy, I really do,” Rivers
said. “In 2007 we go to Rome and make a lot of friends and win the world
championship, and you can see that now we’ve come here to Milan and
let’s do it again. I hope Italy is a lucky charm. We talked about it the
other day. We’re going to play it that way for sure. We believe that.
We hope that. The entire country, get behind us and pray for us and [do]
whatever it takes because we want to win another title. We really do.
Coming back to this country kind of refreshes memories for all of us.”



bob
My Note: I'd like to adopt Italy too. I thought the Terry comment about how the NBA is all about matchups is true. In this day of the glorification of the individual, matchups are critical. Personally, I deplore this, but you can't fight City Hall. The NBA has digressed into a series of playground pickup games with players departing from team play and going mano-a-mano. You have to be able to compete with that, maybe not surrendering to it, but you have to be able to have some players that are just unstoppable at their positions. That's the story of Kobe, LeBum and, to some extent, Pierce. You need Unstoppables. We now have Pierce, Terry and Green. Terry and Green might not be unstoppable as starters, but on the 2nd unit they can be. They could start on most teams and puts the other team's coaching staff in a difficult situation. How much do they rest their starters before they have to bring them back in because Terry/Green and Company are chewing their bench up? Team defense can thwart these Me-ballers, and we have the best team defense in the league, but other teams are not so fortunate (or focused).


.

Bob,

I recall that there were one or two championship seasons when the Celtics sent the roster on a cruise as a reward for winning. I don't recall which years or even which era was involved. IF the team is fortunate enough to win the title, I'd love to see them and their significant others on a purely personal, non-working Italy trip.

I'd be willing to act as a chaperone.

Sam

sam wrote:Bob,

I recall that there were one or two championship seasons when the Celtics sent the roster on a cruise as a reward for winning. I don't recall which years or even which era was involved. IF the team is fortunate enough to win the title, I'd love to see them and their significant others on a purely personal, non-working Italy trip.

I'd be willing to act as a chaperone.

Sam

sam,

I'd be willing to row the boat.

bob


.

Bob,

Deal. Can I sit in the bow?

Sam

bobheckler wrote:

sam wrote:Bob,

I recall that there were one or two championship seasons when the Celtics sent the roster on a cruise as a reward for winning. I don't recall which years or even which era was involved. IF the team is fortunate enough to win the title, I'd love to see them and their significant others on a purely personal, non-working Italy trip.

I'd be willing to act as a chaperone.

Sam

sam,

I'd be willing to row the boat.

bob


.

I'll be the coxswain.

beat

beat wrote:

bobheckler wrote:

sam wrote:Bob,

I recall that there were one or two championship seasons when the Celtics sent the roster on a cruise as a reward for winning. I don't recall which years or even which era was involved. IF the team is fortunate enough to win the title, I'd love to see them and their significant others on a purely personal, non-working Italy trip.

I'd be willing to act as a chaperone.

Sam

sam,

I'd be willing to row the boat.

bob


.

I'll be the coxswain.

beat

Beat, watch your language!!! (LOL)

GYSO

I get to steer, ride in the back and yell at the oarsman!
Great job.... cept I can't swim a lick.

beat

I wouldn't be surprised if Rondo gets added to that unstoppable list this year. He is getting very close to being able to dominate most games. As the new leader of the team, Rondo has had a confidence boost that most would say he didn't need. He is playing the part of an NBA superstar on the court and off by bringing the team together to practice, fulfilling his dreams in non basketball endeavors, and giving back to the NBA community around the world. I think its going to be a fun year.