Everything I read about this group gives me reason for optimism. We have kids who are working as hard as anybody out there and harder than most, even coming in on a Saturday for a tough workout. Ryan and Al are proving to be extremely hard workers this off season, as is Powe. They are also bonding and working together way earlier than they need to. This season I expect to see a lot of improvement in our young players and I expect some great chemistry on the team ins spite of all of the positional battles that are sure to follow. Sounds like they are even having fun with their workouts. Interesting that Pittsnogle won the race which means that he is working hard to get into shape and will be battling hard for that final spot.

This past Saturday found the hard-working members of the Boston Celtics in the gym for an early morning voluntary workout. It was the culmination of a rigorous week of workouts for the team. With some members away to play in a charity event, Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes suggested the team get an extra day of work. Bright and early but sore and tired, the team showed up to get better. One of the conditioning tests for the Celtics is the dreaded Five Mile Bike Test. It is a mental and physical test that emphasizes cardiovascular fitness and leg strength. The end of this test is typically greeted with a 10 minute lie down session and a five minute chant of “my legs, my legs”. It is a favorite of the “Bigs” (forwards and centers) because mass and strength can contribute to a faster ride. The "smalls" usually favor the running tests because they do not have to move as much mass. Ultimately, Pittsnogle won a tightly contested race over Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Dwayne Jones and Leon Powe. It would be safe to say that Leon Powe did not train on these bikes at Cal, but he is a natural athlete who has improved everyday. The end of the ride was met with enthusiasm and the athletes began to celebrate the beginning of their weekend. For the jogger or trail walker who happened to pass by, the following could be inferred: this is not something you see everyday and the 2006-07 Celtics will not be outworked under any circumstances. [More] source: Celtics.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!