CELTICS GREEN ...a boston celtics blog.: Celtics Pride is Back

September 3, 2006

I came across this statement in John Havlicek's biography the other day and it stuck in my mind.

He also had the inner drive that characterized "Celtics pride." After his first year Havlicek went home and worked hard to improve both his outside shooting and his dribbling. The next season he led the team in scoring.

The inner drive that characterized Celtics pride. This phrase really caught my attention. There is a movie titled Celtics Pride, there is a Celtics Pride blog, there is a radio show with Hickman and Gilroy named Celtics Pride. I used to subscribe to a very nice publication put out by the Celtics called Celtics Pride. But what is Celtics pride? Is it the pride that the fans feel toward this storied franchise? Is it the pride that the players feel about being Celtics? I think it is a little of both but according to this statement, it is even more.

This seems to indicate that Celtics pride is something in the players to make them want to be better. Something inside that makes them work harder because they are Celtics and that means something. Celtics pride is what drove Havlicek to work to improve his dribbling and his shooting after his first year. It is what drove all of the Celtics' legendary players to be the best they could. It is what kept Bird in the gym hours after practice working on his game.

I look at the players that we have now and can't help but think that Celtics pride is back in a big way.

Even though he saw only 19 minutes of playing time his entire first season, Perk never stopped working. He put in hour after hour in the weight room. He changed his eating patterns and remade himself into a solid, strong NBA player. Even though he got very little playing time his second season, he still didn't stop working. When he finally did get playing time last season he made the best of it. He fouled less and his shot was falling more. He mentioned that in the off season he would be working on his shot even more and wanted to come back this season and surprise people. Unfortunately, he injured his shoulder, but still worked very hard on rehab to come back as soon as he could. As of 2 weeks ago, Danny said that he was cleared to play ball again. Perk has Celtics pride!

Delonte spent much of his first season injured. He never stopped working though. In his second year, Doc asked him to play the point, which wasn't Delonte's natural position. In spite of playing out of position, he put all he had into learning the new position and played it very admirably. He has a collection of videos of every point guard in the league. He spends much of his off time studying those tapes, learning about his opponents so that he can defend them better. He also has spent this off season working on his right hand so that this year he won't be quite as predictable. Delonte West has Celtics pride!

Ryan Gomes was the 50th pick in the draft. There was no guarantee that he would even make the team. The entire first half of the season, Gomes sat on the bench getting very little playing time. But he never stopped working. When he got the chance to play due to injuries on the team, he made the best of it. He spends large amounts of time working out and working on his game. You could see the improvement in his shot and in his defense in the Summer League, which he didn't need to play in but he did because he wants to get better. He said you can always learn things no matter who you are playing against or with. Ryan Gomes has Celtics Pride.

Rajon Rondo came to the Celtics with rave reviews about his ability to run a team and even more rave reviews about his defense, but the knock was that he couldn't shoot. Today's Globe tells about Rajon Rondo spending more than two and one half hours a day just working on his shooting. He is doing drills and individual work to get his shot to be consistent. From what the article says, he has improved his shot and is now knocking them down from all over the court. Rajon Rondo has Celtics Pride.

Paul Pierce has given 8 years to the Celtics, improving each year. Last year was easily his best and he willingly changed his game for the good of the team. Pierce played through bursitis in his elbow last year, in spite of having to drain it several times and having severe pain throughout the second half of the season. Pierce played in training camp just 3 weeks after being stabbed 11 times, one of which punctured his lung and came within an inch of his heart. In 2004 he lost several teeth in a game and the next night, after spending 7 hours in a dentist chair having them repaired, he played and even hit the game winner. Pierce has Celtics Pride.

Wally Szczerbiak was traded to the Celtics and spent the night on a plane. The next day he spent going through physicals and ran into Doc's office just before the game saying he was available to play. Doc didn't plan on playing him, figuring that after all he had been through he wouldn't be up to playing. But every time he looked down the bench, there was Wally staring at him waiting to get into the game. On the day that the Celtics played the Wolves in Minnesota, Wally spent the day with is wife as his baby was born and once again, rushed to the game to be able to play. He played almost 40 mpg last season in Boston, in spite of playing in pain most of that time. Wally spends hours upon hours in the gym in the off season working on his game. Even now that he is an established player he never stops working. Wally Szczerbiak has Celtics pride.

Gerald Green expected to be a top 5 pick but was still there when Boston picked at 18. Gerald didn't get much playing time with the Celtics and when asked about going to the D League, he willingly went since it meant a chance to play and a chance to get better. When he returned to the parent team, it was obvious that he had improved there. Gerald has been working with John Lucas in Texas and in the Summer League you could see even more improvement over last year. Gerald is determined to make teams sorry they passed on him and will work hard to do so. Gerald Green has Celtics Pride.

Al Jefferson may not have gotten off to a great start in Boston. He wasn't in the best shape his first or second year, but the criticism of his conditioning and his game really got to him. This off season he has worked as hard as anyone to get himself into shape. It is unfortunate that his ankle problems were mis-diagnosed, but in spite of the recurring pain, he continued to work and to try to play. This off season, he has been a fixture in Boston working out with Clifford Ray every chance he got. He is working hard at his rehab to be able to be ready for training camp. I know that some people are down on Al, but he is working hard to turn it around after 2 disappointing seasons. he is determined to prove his critics wrong and help the Celtics to a winning season. Big Al has Celtics pride.

Of the new players coming in, Leon Powe has really impressed me, along with Rondo. In spite of hardships and knee surgeries, he never gave up and never stops working. He is constantly working on getting better and staying in shape. He isn't guaranteed anything, but is determined to prove the teams wrong that passed on him and determined to be the best he can be. Leon Powe has Celtics pride!

Just looking at the players above, it is evident that we have some tough hard working players. If you are a Celtics'fan, you just have to be excited by all these hard working young players with so much promise. Celtics Pride is back, and in a big way!!!