Hondo checks in on C’s
Doc, Garnett appreciative
By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Wednesday, October 31, 2007 |
http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
Photo
Photo by Michael Ivins
From John Havlicek’s side, this was no big thing.
“He just said to say a few words to them and I did,†Havlicek said of coach Doc Rivers’ request to address the team before yesterday’s practice. “I’m not a great speech maker.â€
The Celtics [team stats] legend didn’t have to be.
If this was the set of Field of Dreams, Havlicek would have been one of the ghosts walking out of a cornfield. It certainly seemed that way to Kevin Garnett, who can’t seem to get enough of these chats with the spirits of Celtics past.
“I didn’t blink one time when he was talking,†Garnett said. “I’m sure he’s a busy man, and this is not necessarily what he wants to do, but this is great. Whenever someone like this comes around, you always want to go and show him the time and respect he deserves. It’s not a crash course, but it’s definitely a one-on-one tour of what this organization is all about.â€
As opposed to, say, Minnesota?
“This is a different deal from player treatment to the whole vibe that exists here,†said Garnett of the difference between the Celtics and his former team, the Timberwolves. “This is league history, right here.â€
Havlicek’s appearance will probably rank as a personal favorite for Rivers, who has invited a number of former Celtics to address the team over the last two years.
“He’s my favorite player,†Rivers said. “I loved him because he never stopped moving. He was the original Reggie Miller and Rip Hamilton, because he never stopped moving. But any time there are guys like this who can talk to the team, it’s better than anything we can say. We’ve experienced it on the perimeter, but they’ve been right in the middle of it. If they don’t know team dynamics, then it doesn’t exist.â€
Havlicek likes the changes his old team has made to the roster.
“I think the fans would have given this team with the young guys one more year, but this is quite a move that they’ve made,†the Hall of Famer said. “Now you have three All-Stars (Paul Pierce [stats], Garnett, Ray Allen) on the same team. And they made a couple of good acquisitions to fill in around them with (James) Posey and (Eddie) House. They’ll add some new dimensions.
“I know everyone’s anticipating a lot of things now. We were waiting for the young guys to develop, but with this nucleus we now have the chance to be a very good team.â€
