Celtics win!

Of course, that was the only possible outcome of Saturday nights' Green vs. White scrimmage at Salve Regina University. After two 15-minute periods, it was the Green (made up of Celtics starters Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo as well as Brian Scalabrine, Sam Cassell, Darius Miles and Patrick O'Bryant) who emerged victorious, 47-40.
In front of a packed Rodgers Recreation Center crowd, most of which was clad in Celtics green, the Green got off to a slow start and trailed much of the first period, thanks in part to the hot shooting of Eddie House, who scored seven of the White's first nine points.
The Green took control late in the second period. With about five minutes left, Rondo and Garnett hooked up on a breakaway that ended with Garnett throwing down a reverse dunk.
Miles might have produced the biggest cheers of the night with his rim-rocking, two-handed dunk with 26 seconds left to give the Green a 45-37 lead.
Anyone who showed up expecting an all-star style exhibition (i.e. no defense, lots of running and dunking), however, might have been disappointed. All the players clearly took the scrimmage quite seriously, perhaps none more so than Garnett, who was visibly (and audibly) upset with the Green's performance early on.
The Celtics will practice Sunday before wrapping up their training camp in Newport on Monday morning.

Celtics tackle a new sport

Even when they’re goofing around, the Boston Celtics play hard.
That was evident Thursday afternoon after their third day of training camp at Salve Regina University. A few of the players got their hands on a football and began throwing it back and forth across the gym at the Rodgers Recreation Center.
Soon, Ray Allen was playing quarterback, trying to hit point guard Sam Cassell on a deep route. The two never were able to connect, mostly because of the play of shut-down cornerback/point guard Rajon Rondo.
“Rajon’s 22, I’m 38. He’s faster,” Cassell said.
When asked if he’d be the better football player were it not for the age difference, Cassell exclaimed, “Hell yeah.”
He then said of Rondo, “He’s a good athlete. Look at those arms.”
Allen, though, said age had nothing to do with Rondo’s superior football ability.
“Sam never really could jump,” Allen said. “Sam wasn’t an athlete, Rajon’s an athlete.”
One of Allen’s throws was just beyond Cassell’s reach, but the 15-year veteran slowed up as he approached the wall. At that point, Kevin Garnett, sitting nearby, yelled, “You gotta dive for that!”
Later, Garnett stood up and played catch with Rondo. While Rondo fired tight-spiraling bullets at Garnett, the 6-foot-11 forward lobbed a couple of wobblers before sitting back down.

Getting to the point

Second-year point guard Gabe Pruitt has a lot of work to do if he wants to get into the rotation this year. In front of Pruitt is Eddie House, who backed up starter Rajon Rondo, and Sam Cassell, a 15-year veteran.
“You’ve got Sam and Eddie, and Gabe has to beat those two out,” Rivers said. “It’s a competition, and that won’t change. That’s probably good for Gabe. He’s got to be a more assertive as far as running a team. But he’ll get that … he’s young.”
Pruitt, selected out of Southern California in the second round of the 2007 draft, averaged 2.1 points in 6.3 minutes as a rookie last year.

Celtics training camp: Day 2

The Celtics were back at the Rodgers Recreation Center on the campus of Salve Regina University on Wednesday for Day 2 of their training camp. Here's the take of coach Doc Rivers:

“Great practice today. The ending was sloppy, and I didn’t like that part of it. But the first two hours was really good – great focus, the execution was tremendous for the most part. Then I thought we got silly at the end, but other than that, I thought it was a great practice. For a second-day practice, it’s one of the better ones I’ve been around."

Check out Thursday's edition of The Daily News for full coverage of the Celtics in Newport.

Perkins will stay on sidelines

Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins, who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder, won’t particpate in scrimmages while the team conducts training camp this week at Salve Regina University in Newport.
Perkins was on hand during the first day of the camp Tuesday, but he watched primarily from the sidelines. Taking his place with the starting team was Patrick O’Bryant, who is entering his third season in the NBA after two years with the Golden State Warriors.
“He’s the only choice, when you think about it,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s the only other tall guy, and (playing with the starters) is never a bad thing, and probably a benefit for him.”
Perkins, who averaged about six points per game in the regular season and the playoffs, said he’s looking to play in the third preseason game. Bryant, a 7-footer out of Bradley University, has averaged less than two points and two rebounds per game in about five minutes per game with the Warriors.

The Celtics in Newport

The Boston Celtics began their weeklong training camp at Salve Regina University on Tuesday and, after the team's first practice, fans and students stood outside the Rodgers Recreation Center to get a glimpse of the world champions, snapping pictures with cameras and cell phones.

While the practices aren't open to the public, team members will likely be seen around town and we'd like to hear about any brushes with fame. Post a comment if you see Paul Pierce at Mudville Pub or spot Kevin Garnett walking down Bellevue Avenue.