Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Celtics promise to get out in transition and make it a point to play an up-tempo style this season. A lot of that will have to do with the ability of the point guard to create, take charge, and make good decisions with the ball, something the team missed last year. Here is the skinny and the comments from the three point guard candidates for the Celtics on Media Day: Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, and Rajon Rondo.
Delonte West is the incumbent, sort of. While he’s last year’s starting point guard, the Celtics have been pushing his “versatility� as the best factor about him coming into this season. The implication being that West may be best suited as a backcourt player (point guard or off guard) coming in off the bench.
West on the Celtics acquiring Telfair and Rondo: I thought we were trying to improve our basketball team. The main thing I thought is I’m happy to be in the green and white another year. It’s a blessing.
On expecting to play more at the two guard: “Man, I’m trying out for the power forward this year. So, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, you better watch out. I’m trying out for every position on the floor. However I get on the floor this season, that’s where I’m at. Somebody lost a spot.
On his back pain: “No pain at all. I’m ready to go.�
On off-season work: “I told you I’m trying out for power forward so I worked on my right-hand hook shot, post ups, right-hand hook shot, left hand hook shot. But overall, everything. I never go into training and working out on a specific thing. Just go out and work on my game. I’m an unfinished product. I’m trying to go out and become a great player in this league.
On Telfair: “He’s talented. He’s a guy who came out of high school. That speaks volumes of a person’s game…I think he’s going to be a great contribution to the Celtics organization.�
Sebastian Telfair is the import from Portland. He might be just 6-feet tall, but his name is as big as any on the Celtics roster because of the exposure and notoriety that came his way as a high school player on New York’s Coney Island. Telfair was stuck behind Nick Van Exel and Damon Stoudamire during his first season in Portland. Last year he was injured and then got stranded on the bench as the Trailblazers featured the inside game and opted to go with Steve Blake and Jarrett Jack at the point.
On being a Celtic: “It feels good to be a Celtic. I’m happy to be here. Got a good team. Looking forward to winning some games.�
On point guard situation: “It’s going to be a lot of competition, and we’re going to go out there and we’re going to be compete. I’m looking at as we got point guards that can play, so we’re going to be a strong team.
On the team being able to win: “We can win. I think we have the talent. We have an All-Star, we have guys that are willing to go out there and commit to basketball, and that’s all you need to win games.
On staying consistent in being a running team: “In the beginning of the season we have to win while running. If we’re going to run, we’re going to have to defend a lot. We’re going to get up and down the court. We got to defend, and when you defend you win games. And when your winning, there’s no need to change anything.
On looking forward to playing his cousin Stephon Marbury four times: “Absolutely. (Laughs) It’s exciting just playing one of the best point guards in the league that you’re going to have to go out there and guard from getting 30 points, but hey, that’s fun.�
On Doc saying he wants to push this team: “I’m ready to be pushed. Whatever he’s got to do for us to win, and I think he’s got a great group to push. There’s no guys with negative attitudes. No guys that don’t want to come in and play and give their all.
On being a young player and a leader as the point guard: “I think that’s what my first two years was about, learning those things where as now I’m able to put that on my shoulders. You know, to be the leader of the team. Now I’m here in my third season and I know things I didn’t know two years ago. I’m ready to go out there and perform.�
Rajon Rondo is the rookie out of the University of Kentucky. He was an early entry into the NBA Draft, coming out after his sophomore season. He was named Second Team All-SEC as a sophomore and led the SEC in assists (4.9 apg) and ranked second in steals (2.0 spg). Rondo also played on the gold medal winning 2005 USA Men’s U-21 World Championship Team at the Global Games held in Dallas, and the squad that finished fifth at the FIBA World Championships in Argentina. He set a FIBA World Championships record for steals (27).
On his experience so far as a rookie: “Things have been going pretty smooth so far.�
On the summer: “I feel pretty good, confident in my game and what I’m able to do. I think I had a great summer. I’m looking forward to getting started (Tuesday).
On whether was good decision to come out early: “Definitely. I got picked. I know was pretty much going some of anywhere in the first round. I’m just thankful I got picked. I wanted to come here.�
On the point guard competition and his fit: “I don’t know. Wherever Doc puts me at. It’s going to be determination. May the best guy win. We’re competitors and we’re going to compete every day, but you know Doc will do what’s best for the team.
On what he’s trying to show in training camp: “They know what I can do best. I just got to do it. I’m not going to do anything that‘s, you know not any reason that they didn’t pick me. I’m just going to do the things that got me here. The little things the intangibles. Defense, getting down on the floor, taking the charges. I’m not trying to score every time. Trying to get my teammates involved.
On what he needs to do to improve his shooting: “Shoot the ball. There’s nothing wrong with my technique. It’s a role. My role will be to shoot the ball when I’m wide open. Just taking the shot really. Not necessarily passing up the shot.
On why he plays such good defense: “Actually the reason why is because I knew how I to get the starting job at Kentucky. (I thought) I’m going to separate myself from guys who just want to score all the time.
Who do you think will end up running the point for the green this year? Is there an odd man out? Should there be?Click on the comments link below and give your opinion.