Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
Sebastian Telfair, the latest and greatest basketball pride of Brooklyn, is on his was to Boston after two seasons in Portland. Last season he averaged 9.5 points per game and 3.6 assists in 24.1 minutes per game over 68 games.
The thirteenth pick in the 2004 draft out of high school, as a senior he was the subject of the ESPN Documentary Through the Fire.
He spoke to members of the Boston-area media via a conference call during the draft. Here are some of the things he had to say.
On what he brings: “My style of play is an up-tempo style of play. They got some good players over there that I can help make a little better by getting open shots like Paul and Wally and the rest of those guys.�
On being surprised: “Yes I was. I was surprised. I didn’t really know it was coming. I heard rumors, but when the deal was done and finalized I was really happy that it went through.�
On getting out of Portland: “I wasn’t exactly happy (in Portland), but to play for a team that is running up and down -- I felt that that was a better fit for me.�
On his first conversation with Doc Rivers: “I spoke to him and he said he liked my game. He said he’d been watching me for a long time. He said he spoke to Paul about it and Paul said give him the ball. I’m here and he said one of my key thing is going to be being able to bring my penetration, and I hope that’s going to be a key factor for us to win some games.�
On expecting to start, or not: “Whatever position coach put me in, that’s the position I’m going to take. I’m going to work hard to be a starter of course. That’s one of my goals, but whatever it’s going to be to win some games. I’m going into my third season. I haven’t been in the playoffs. I would like to reach the playoffs.�
On why it didn’t work in Portland: “I played two season. My first season we had two veteran point guards Nick Van Exel and Damon Stoudamire, so I didn’t get an opportunity to play much. My second season, you know, didn’t play as well as I would like. We went with a different style, we didn’t run the pick and roll that much. I got injured and there were a couple of minor things and it didn’t work out.�
On the Celtics possibly drafting him last year: “I heard that talk around the draft time and I was excited then. To be on the East Coast is one thing, but to play for the Boston Celtics that’s another great thing. I’m honored to be part of the Boston Celtics.�
On playing with Paul Pierce: “That was one of my main reasons for being excited about the trade. He is an All-Star and when you play with an All-Star it makes your job a lot easier. Playing against him he has that fight in him that he wants to go out every night and win, and that’s the type of person I want to play with.�