Celtics Training Camp: Gold Rings and Thanksgiving Dinners

By: Angelina Berube
Posted In: Sports

Students lined up outside of Rodgers, waiting to see the Celtics in action at Saturday’s Green and White scrimmage.

Doc Rivers, head Celtics’ coach, welcomed 400 cheering students, faculty, and friends to the annual pre-season inter squad scrimmage which served as a ‘thank you’ to the Salve Regina community.

Kim Penta, a junior, enjoyed herself at the scrimmage.

“I waited in line for over an hour and a half before the scrimmage, but it was definitely worth it,” Penta said.

Since Tuesday Sept. 30, the Celtics have used the facilities at Salve Regina for their training camp. The team practiced hard, preparing themselves mentally and physically for the season.

Rivers felt the Celtics worked hard, cancelling most second night session practices. He talked about how the team worked on game situations and overall had good practices.

“It was a little sloppy down the stretch, probably more fatigue than anything,” Rivers said. “The ending was perfect because it was a lot of end of the game situations that can happen.”

One player Rivers discussed was Rajon Rondo, the Celtics’ starting point guard.

“Rondo’s been Rondo,” Rivers said.

Rondo discussed this year’s training camp.

“It’s pretty intense,” Rondo said. “Guys are going very hard. We’ve got 16 guys.”

The Celtics also have new bling to show off. They recently received their 2008 NBA championship rings.

Darius Miles, Celtics’ forward, dreams to get a championship ring of his own.

“I’m kind of jealous,” Miles said. “I heard them talking about it all the time, sit back and talk, can’t wait to get their rings. Hopefully I can get the second one that everyone is trying to get.

“Ray Allen, starting guard, spoke of the championship experience, noting that nothing could compare to that moment.

“We’ve all won big games in our career, but probably nothing like that,” Allen said “It was probably the hardest thing any of us have every done.”

Allen also mentioned the championship was the result of last year’s team.

“What the Celtics did in the past has nothing to do with us,” Allen said. “We added to the prestige of the franchise. We were little kids when it happened. Last year was our journey trying to make it happen.”

Paul Pierce, captain of the Celtics, mentioned the different mentality of this season saying the Celtics are now a veteran team. “Coming off a championship year, there’s a lot more stability here,” Pierce said. “There’s more comfortability with the same group.”

Rondo spoke of the championship and off season.

“Got a ring, that says it all,” Rondo said. “You got a ring this year. You can’t go anywhere. It’s been very exciting.”

Kevin Garnett spoke of the off-season after winning the championship comparing it to a Thanksgiving dinner.

“There’s still some food and everything, but you’re full so you push away from the table,” Garnett said. “It’s fulfilling. It was a good summer, a short summer. I said if I can get a couple more short summers like this so I can just push away from the table, maybe I’ll just get up from the table.”

The team also enjoyed Newport.

The atmosphere at Friday’s practice was relaxed with Miles and Rivers cracking jokes.

“Newport is great,” Miles said. “It’s a beautiful place.”

Miles mentioned some teammates taking a boat ride and joking around.

“I don’t do boats, I don’t do water,” Miles said. “I can swim and stuff, but I got to see everything in the water.”

Rivers enjoyed the restaurants and atmosphere in Newport.

“It was a terrific place for two reasons,” Rivers said. “The food was terrific and someone else paid.”

The Celtics have headed back to Boston, where they will continue practicing before a handful of pre-season match-ups.