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Wrong way Ricky drops his grudge
By Steve Bulpett/ Celtics Notebook
Ricky Davis acknowledged yesterday there was a time when a game in Cleveland against his old team was more than just a Celtics thing. There was personal stuff involved.
“It was, you know, go back and try to cut their heads off,” said Davis, who will try to help the Celts achieve their first two-game win streak of the season tonight. “But it’s fun now. It’s in the past. They’ve switched up their whole thing over there, so I think we’ll just go in there and try to win the game.”
That’s just more evidence that things have changed with Davis, who leads the Celts with 6.1 assists per game.
“I’ve never met the old Ricky,” coach Doc Rivers said. “This is the Ricky I know, and he’s been good. He’s been doing what we say. Sometimes he gets out of that, and we get on him about it.
“The great part about Ricky compared to what I had heard is he hears us, and he tries. That doesn’t mean he does it well every time, but he tries to do it. That’s all I can ask for.”
Collective effort
Rivers has decided on who gets to guard LeBron James.
“The whole team,” he said. “You’ve got to think with guys like LeBron and Paul Pierce and a bunch of other guys, coaches and teams figure out all practice how to stop them, and then he has 30.
“We obviously have to focus on LeBron, but we have to focus on all their guys. They’ve changed their team. They’re a great shooting team. (Damon) Jones is making shots, Donyell Marshall is making shots, (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas is making shots, Larry Hughes is making shots. It’s not just LeBron anymore. They’re more difficult to guard.”
In addition to Pierce and Davis, Justin Reed likely will get a good shot at James. Yesterday, the second-year swingman was being matter-of-fact in response to the assignment.
“Oh, come on man, don’t get all modest for these cameras,” Pierce said. “Be yourself.”
Get on the glass
All the talk about James and shooters is nice, but the Celtics believe they will have to win the battle on the boards to defeat the 8-2 Cavaliers. With Drew Gooden pulling in 9.2 rebounds a game and Ilgauskas and Marshall at 8.4 and 8.0, respectively, Cleveland is among the best rebounding teams in the league.
“I think that’s the biggest focus,” Rivers said. “All of them rebound. We have an advantage a lot of nights at the guard position because our guards are great rebounders. Well, (tonight) we won’t. It’ll be even.” . . .
The C’s officially announced their new alternate uniform yesterday. They’ll wear the green and black outfits for the first time Friday night.
“I think they’re great,” Pierce said. “I think it’s about time. I don’t know if it’s breaking tradition or whatever, but it is 2005-2006 and it was bound to happen.”
By Steve Bulpett/ Celtics Notebook
Ricky Davis acknowledged yesterday there was a time when a game in Cleveland against his old team was more than just a Celtics thing. There was personal stuff involved.
“It was, you know, go back and try to cut their heads off,” said Davis, who will try to help the Celts achieve their first two-game win streak of the season tonight. “But it’s fun now. It’s in the past. They’ve switched up their whole thing over there, so I think we’ll just go in there and try to win the game.”
That’s just more evidence that things have changed with Davis, who leads the Celts with 6.1 assists per game.
“I’ve never met the old Ricky,” coach Doc Rivers said. “This is the Ricky I know, and he’s been good. He’s been doing what we say. Sometimes he gets out of that, and we get on him about it.
“The great part about Ricky compared to what I had heard is he hears us, and he tries. That doesn’t mean he does it well every time, but he tries to do it. That’s all I can ask for.”
Collective effort
Rivers has decided on who gets to guard LeBron James.
“The whole team,” he said. “You’ve got to think with guys like LeBron and Paul Pierce and a bunch of other guys, coaches and teams figure out all practice how to stop them, and then he has 30.
“We obviously have to focus on LeBron, but we have to focus on all their guys. They’ve changed their team. They’re a great shooting team. (Damon) Jones is making shots, Donyell Marshall is making shots, (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas is making shots, Larry Hughes is making shots. It’s not just LeBron anymore. They’re more difficult to guard.”
In addition to Pierce and Davis, Justin Reed likely will get a good shot at James. Yesterday, the second-year swingman was being matter-of-fact in response to the assignment.
“Oh, come on man, don’t get all modest for these cameras,” Pierce said. “Be yourself.”
Get on the glass
All the talk about James and shooters is nice, but the Celtics believe they will have to win the battle on the boards to defeat the 8-2 Cavaliers. With Drew Gooden pulling in 9.2 rebounds a game and Ilgauskas and Marshall at 8.4 and 8.0, respectively, Cleveland is among the best rebounding teams in the league.
“I think that’s the biggest focus,” Rivers said. “All of them rebound. We have an advantage a lot of nights at the guard position because our guards are great rebounders. Well, (tonight) we won’t. It’ll be even.” . . .
The C’s officially announced their new alternate uniform yesterday. They’ll wear the green and black outfits for the first time Friday night.
“I think they’re great,” Pierce said. “I think it’s about time. I don’t know if it’s breaking tradition or whatever, but it is 2005-2006 and it was bound to happen.”
