For those who think leadership is overrated, a look at yesterday’s Celtics [team stats] practice would have been instructive.
Doc Rivers, with associate coach Tom Thibodeau running the practice in his stead, was off tending to a personal matter. Kevin Garnett, with his hyperextended left knee, stayed in the weight room. Paul Pierce [stats], recovering from two minor knee procedures to drain an infection, shot baskets off to the side. Rajon Rondo [stats], resting a strained left hamstring, bounced a ball along a baseline and watched.
Times like this were made to order for a veteran backup like Rasheed Wallace. As young players like J.R. Giddens and Lester Hudson suddenly receive meaningful minutes, and Tony Allen and Glen Davis attempt to play themselves into game shape, Wallace has taken on the role of mentor.
At least one Celtics player pointed out the need for Wallace to step up to the role following their recent 1-3 road trip.
“I went to him after the Phoenix game and told him we need him to be the leader right now,” Kendrick Perkins [stats] said yesterday. “Obviously he can do it. He showed it the last game. We just need him to do it every game - talking, getting guys under control when things are going bad for us. You have J.R. stepping in and Tony trying to run the point, and we just have to stick together.”
Wallace has taken to this latest role.
“I try to get them to play their regular game and not be nervous,” Wallace said. “The other night, J.R. might have been nervous, but he settled down and played some good defense. He wasn’t looking for his shot, and we were trying to get him looking for his shot and take it to the basket more, the same way he does in practice and in one-on-ones. But the young guys are stepping up to the plate.
“It’s less talk without Kevin out there, but we’re just trying to teach the young guys that on defense, when you talk, it’s like (an extra) step or two. It’s playing good ‘D’ and listening.”
Perkins, who has developed significant chemistry with Garnett the past two-plus seasons, also is getting there with Wallace.
“I’m still working it out, but I think we’re getting better at it,” he said. “The thing that’s going to help is me and Rasheed leaning to play with each other . . . You never know. Kevin could get into foul trouble or anything could happen, so this will help us in the long term.”
That’s where the Wallace insurance plan would kick in.
“I realized that earlier in the summer, when Boston was one of the teams I was thinking about,” he said. “I knew Kevin coming back wouldn’t be 100 percent. If he was on a roll, feeling good and playing I knew my minutes would be down. On the other hand I knew that if he did go down I would have to step in there with more.”
While Doc’s away
Rivers is expected to rejoin the team for today’s practice and flight to Miami for tomorrow night’s game against the Heat. All of those absences considered - and Pierce and Rondo still are questionable, at best, to play - practice was a bit more of a challenge than usual yesterday.
“Guys did a few things they wouldn’t have done if Doc was here, but we still had a good practice,” Perkins said.
As even Thibodeau admitted, the afternoon could have been more smooth.
“Practice was good and bad,” he said.
“Normally coming off a day off things can get a little sloppy, but the intensity was very good, and the intentions were good.”
Much of the noise came from those on the sideline, Rondo and Pierce in particular.
“He came out and he was coaching and involved,” Thibodeau said of Rondo. “He’s champing at the bit, so I assume he’s feeling better, but I don’t know if he’s ready yet. Paul was moving around and shooting, so he’s improving.” . . .
One Celtics [team stats] player has impressed teammates with his drive to come back from injury.
“I think Baby wants this,” Perkins said. “This preseason he was playing great, and unfortunately he had to go out with the injury he had. Now he’s coming back and proving to Doc that he’s ready.”
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