Christmas, trying to make it to Christmas

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?&articleid=1061166498&format=&page=1&listingType=celt#articleFull



Doc
Rivers is always quick to point out the difference between summer
league and what happens when the standard rises in training camp.

The kings of summer league usually return to being kids in October.

“You overevaluate summer league,” said the Celtics [team stats]
coach. “I think that’s done way too often, because some of those guys
are the leaders of that team, and then when they go to the big team
they’re role players. Some guys can handle that and some can’t.”





Getting noticed becomes a problem. That’s why Dionte Christmas
generally gets right next to the coach whenever a halfcourt huddle is
called at the end of practice, and asks a lot of questions. Game
situations are more beyond the big guard’s control.

In the Celtics’ first two exhibition games in Istanbul and Milan,
Christmas played very little, and only when Rivers decided to unload his
bench late in a game. But practices count for much more, and Rivers can
verbally lash out.

Christmas was occasionally singled out by the coach during the Turkey
practices for failed rotations or errant moves. But he kept stepping up
to the front of the huddle, kept asking questions, and as the only
Celtic who has actually played in Turkey, was asked to address the crowd
from center court prior to the Celtics’ loss to Fenerbahce Ulker in
Istanbul’s Ulker Sports Arena.

Christmas got noticed in summer league and received a partially
guaranteed contract due to his energy as much as his scoring. So energy
has probably been his most useful tool.

On the second day of practice in Istanbul, the ball squirted loose
near the end of a tight scrimmage. Christmas dove on the ball, bumping a
temporarily incensed Kevin Garnett in the process. Garnett bent over,
tried to yank the ball away, and in seconds both sides were gathered in a
chattering scrum.

The moment turned comical when Courtney Lee, in feigned anger,
started pushing teammates and falling back in an exaggerated stumble.

But Rivers, asked about Christmas’ hustle, cooled to the moment.

“That wasn’t really a scrum,” said the Celtics coach. “They were more
goofing around than anything. What opens my eyes is solid play at the
end of the day. He does have great energy, and he’s a tough kid, but
other than that it’s basketball IQ and how he fits with this group of
guys.”

Rivers is still trying to determine that, and the process has become
complicated by the possible need for a backup point guard. Playmaking is
not a big element in Christmas’ skill set. But his shortage of game
minutes is not influencing Rivers’ decision.

“The practices are far more important than the games,” Rivers said.
“That’s where the real evaluation comes in. Because everyone plays in
practice. In games they play different minutes. I try to mix some of
those guys with some of the starters, because they don’t get much chance
to play with the starters in practice, where if it was a real game they
would.”

Christmas’ time on the floor with any of the starters has been almost
nil. But he passed up potentially lucrative deals in Europe for this
chance. He’ll continue looking for that breakthrough.

“I’m just working, man,” he said. “I’m making the best of my time.
There are things I did pretty well, and things I have to do better.
Things I have to correct myself on. But I’m watching film, and trying to
better myself.”

And he hopes, as during the summer, the right people notice. There’s no sense obsessing over what you can’t control.

“This is basketball,” Christmas said. “Like the summer league, when I
played well and they liked what they saw. So I’ll try to do the same
thing here — not think about it so much, or what I have to do to make
the team. Just play basketball, man. I’ve been doing that all summer,
and I’m just going to try and do that during preseason.”


bobMy Note: Just like I've said all along. Summer League is entertaining, better than no basketball, but not necessarily indicative of whether the players will stick to an NBA roster. Still, Xmas is doing all the right things. He has showed me has has some IQ, more than Smith and probably Joseph too, perhaps because of his overseas pro experience. Let's hope the ball bounces his way.



.