Random Thoughts About the First Practice - We're Talking About Practice!

 Perhaps Allen Iverson's greatest contribution to the game of basketball was his rant about practice.  I can't talk about practice without thinking about it.  And now, I can use it to lead into a few random thoughts about today's first day of practice. 

Brad Stevens will make Tommy Heinsohn happy if he follows through on his plans for change this season.

“There are going to be tweaks and changes, there are going to be certain things that are really stressed over others,” Stevens said. “But the bottom line is that we’re going to start trying to be faster with more emphasis on pace and space. And faster’s maybe not the appropriate term, but the right pace all the time, a very consistent pace all the time that we need to play with. Both in the halfcourt when we’re attacking against a set defense, and then when we get out on the break in primary transition.”

Tommy was a coach who loved his teams to run and get out on the fast break and he spends much of his time on the TV encouraging the current teams to run more. It sounds like Brad Stevens wants to run more and he has the horses to do so with a young and energetic team. I think they will be fun to watch this season.

The point guard situation is working itself out with Rondo on the sidelines. It appears that there will be a three player competition at the point guard spot between Evan Turner, Marcus Smart and Phil Pressey. Stevens has emphasized a more read-and-react offense similar to that of the Spurs. Evan Turner is making a case to be the team's primary ball handler with Marcus Smart and Phil Pressey also emerging as ball handlers. Stevens likes two point guards or two combo guards on the floor at the same time and said that anybody could be the primary ball handler in that case. He also called Evan Turner as good a pick and roll player as Celtics have (not including Rondo). Thankfully, Stevens also pretty much ruled out Avery Bradley playing the point.

Stevens offered that the biggest surprise about Tyler Zeller is the way that he passes the ball. He wants the bigs to be able to pass the ball as much as anything else. I'd love to see the bigs getting back to playing inside and rebounding and perfecting the outlet pass just as Russell did so many years before. Those outlet passes ignited the fast break and makes for some exciting basketball.

Stevens said that overall, the team's conditioning is pretty good. He added that there are certainly some individuals that need it some extra conditioning, but that they will also work some on conditioning in camp. Most of the players talked about how hard they worked over the summer. It was mentioned that Jeff Green is in great shape and seems to have a more confident way about him. Sully says that he doesn't get as tired as he used to so hopefully that will bode well for the upcoming season.

It seems as though the key to this season is going to be pace and versatility. Evan Turner can play the 1,2, or 3 and Marcus Smart is able to man the point or shooting guard. Jeff Green and Gerald Wallace can play the 3 or 4. We have a true 5 in Zeller and can go with Sully or Kelly at the 4 or 5 also. The Celtics can field both a very big or a very small lineup that could cause matchup problems for other teams. Brad Stevens may very well have 150 different lineups he can use.

Of course, training camp isn't always glamorous and sometimes the drills can be tedious. But, after a long offseason, even watching dribbling drills is great!

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