Camp Day 2

by **bobheckler** Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:06 pm

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697605/camp-fire-focus-on-maximizing-possessions

Camp fire: Maximizing possessions

September, 30, 2012

Sep 30
3:13
PM ET

By
Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Boston Celtics opened training camp with three
specific areas of focus: limiting turnovers, pace of play, and
rebounding. All have one thing in common: Maximizing possessions.

The Celtics have always been a defense-first team, but they've shot
themselves in the foot by struggling in those three facets of the game.
Turnovers and sloppy ball-handling have limited Boston's offensive
chances (as Rivers noted, his team is actually pretty good when it gets a
shot at the rim). Those missed opportunities put a larger strain on the
defense, which hasn't helped its own cause by being atrocious on the
glass and allowing second- (and third- and fourth-) chance
opportunities.

Boston essentially is trying to get out of its own way.

"Nothing has changed at all, we’re still about defense," said
Rivers. "Having said that, you can still score. You know, when you’re on
offense, you’re not playing defense. And really, we need to just
increase our pace. But we turned the ball over too much last year. I
thought, over anything, that hurt our offense -- when you look at our
efficiency, when we actually got a shot up at the basket, we were pretty
good. I would like to increase the pace of play a little bit. I just
think we’re a little different of a team, we can run more pick-and-rolls
with multiple guys, so that’s what we want to do."

The Celtics ranked 21st in the league in pace (90.4 possessions per
48 minutes), 26th in scoring offense (91.8 points per game), 25th in
turnover percentage (14.7 percent), and 20th in defensive rebound
percentage (72.4 percent) last year. All that worked to negate the
efforts of a defense that ranked first in opponent field goal percentage
(41.9 percent) and second in defensive scoring average (89.3).

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has stressed a desire to value the
ball more this season and Rivers has emphasized that to the team as a
whole. Boston made great strides last season, particularly in the
playoffs, to limit their giveaways and it played a huge part in their
run to the cusp of the NBA Finals.

"I thought we made a change in the second half of the year, where we
cut our turnovers down," said Rivers. "And in the playoffs we did a
great job, and I thought we were just more selective who we passed it to
on the elbows, as far as the bigs. Before, we would pretty much pass it
to any big and run action. In the second half of the year, we basically
designated passers and pickers, and I thought that made a difference."

As for pushing the pace, Rivers bottom-lined it by spotlighting
Boston's offseason additions: "We haven’t had guys that really wanted to
run. And I think we have more of those guys now. So that helps."

A handful of other notes from Day 2 of camp:

*
Lee battling thigh bruise: Rivers revealed that starting
shooting guard Courtney Lee is battling a minor injury at the start of
camp, but it hasn't kept him off the floor. "Well, he’s still working it
out, he got injured about two weeks ago with a thigh bruise, so he’s
kinda slowly getting back in to it. But what I’m expecting to see [from
Lee] is an all-around player. I think he does a lot of things well that
helps our team. He can play multiple positions, terrific shooter,
terrific defender, terrific team player. He does a lot for us."

*
Wilcox limited on Day 2: Rivers cautioned Saturday that we
need to remember that Chris Wilcox underwent heart surgery nearly four
months after Jeff Green, so he's a little further behind in terms of
recovery. After pushing him full throttle on Day 1, the Celtics limited
Wilcox on Day 2. In the portion open to reporters at the end of Sunday's
session, Wilcox did not engage in skeleton drills and appeared to be
dressed as a first-unit backup for rest purposes on earlier drills. That
allowed rookie Jared Sullinger to spend more time at the 4 with the
second unit.

* Rivers plans to keep 15: It's not much
of a surprise, but Rivers confirmed the team is hoping to keep 15
players out of camp. Barring an unexpected surge by camp invites Micah
Downs or Rob Kurz, that likely leaves Jamar Smith, Dionte Christmas, and
Kris Joseph competing for two open spots. The younger players have been
splitting second-team reps over the first two days, and it's far too
early for anyone to have truly distinguished himself in camp. As for
carrying a full roster, Rivers noted: "We usually do carry 15, whether
all 15 stay with us or a couple may go down to D-League, that’s
something we’ll figure out later. You can only dress 13, which I’ve
always been against. I think you should be able to dress 15 if you have
15 healthy players. Clearly, being on the competition committee doesn’t
give me full power. That hasn’t changed. So we’ll keep 15, I’m pretty
sure."

*
Speaking of the competition committee: Rivers was part of the committee that pushed through a change this year that will allow the league to penalize floppers
upon postgame review. Said Rivers: "It will be interesting how it’s
instituted. One of the things I thought we did good job of was taking it
out of the officials' hands. It’s hard enough for them to call a block
and a charge. We don’t need them calling flops as well, that’s just too
much. You call it later. I think early on, it should be of well use."

bob
My Note: Doc said he hasn't had players who want to run until now? Ouch, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He's hoping to carry 15 players. That gives the kids a little extra room, it's 3 players competing for 2 slots and not only 1. Still, someone is going home unhappy, but that's the way life is sometimes. If Rondo is a little less aggressive with his passing we'll be very tough. Just a turnover or two fewer per game will make a big difference. One or two easy, transition baskets will make a big difference. A few additional defensive rebounds will make a big difference. Put them all together, along with one of the best defenses in the NBA, and you've got a scary good team. They are flying to Turkey today. Boy, that really chops up camp. Doc can't be too happy with that.

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