Celtics face familiar foe in Minnesota

LONDON - Staying in the same London hotel with employees from the company that recently sent you packing may seem odd, but the former Celtics who were packed off to Minnesota seem to be enjoying it.

The Timberwolves have seven ex-Celtics on their roster, five coming July 31 in the deal that brought 10-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett to Boston. Garnett will face the team he played for for 12 seasons Wednesday night at the soldout O2 Arena and the former Celtics will face their old team for the first time.

"It's not really weird," said Timberwolves guard Sebastian Telfair, who played for the Celtics last season. "It's business. It's good to see some of the old guys. A lot of those guys took care of me. I bumped into a lot of the old staff. It's been pretty cool."

Al Jefferson, who played for the Celtics from 2004-07, said: "It felt like old times going to each others' rooms and seeing each other."

Telfair, Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, and Theo Ratliff and two first-round draft picks were dealt to Minnesota for Garnett. Those ex-Celtics played on the second-worst team in the NBA last season, enduring a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak.

Coach Doc Rivers said despite last season's struggles, the Celtics had a strong bond. Rivers and several other members of the Boston organization visited with the ex-Celtics during team dinners last night and bumped into one another all over the hotel.

"I talk to Al every once in a while," Rivers said. "I had a relationship with them all. Some I had to push more. Some loved it or some didn't. You just had to understand that it was coaching. They are all so young [except Ratliff] and have a chance to have a really bright future.
"Our guys got along last season. There was no blowup with players amongst the coaches. We had a close-knit group because of what we went through."

Said Green recently: "I thank Boston for everything they did for me. They were the first team that gave me a shot when I dropped a few slots in the draft."
Of the players dealt for 2004 NBA MVP Garnett, the one with the biggest upside appears to be 6-foot-10-inch, 256-pound Jefferson. The 22-year-old averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season.

"He can be a terrific scorer," Rivers said.

While the teams will meet Wednesday, Rivers expects a more emotional atmosphere when Garnett returns to Minnesota Feb. 8 and the former Celtics return to Boston Jan. 25.
"For Kevin it's going to be huge in Minneapolis," Rivers said. "Whenever you play with teammates there is passion because you want to beat your friends."

Green is looking forward to his return to Boston and seeing his old fans, but he expects an intense exhibition game Wednesday with a "family reunion" feel to it.

"It's going to be fun, but it's going to be competitive, I can tell you that much," said Green.
Said Jefferson: "It's going to be fun."

Rivers canceled practice because the team didn't arrive at the hotel until 4:15 a.m. yesterday. It was the first day off for the Celtics since training camp began Sept. 30. He said the majority of the players did not receive their bags until around 6 a.m.

"We wouldn't have got anything out of [practicing]," Rivers said.
Rivers watched the film of Saturday's 89-85 exhibition victory over the Raptors in Rome on the plane to London. He was impressed with the defense the first three quarters, but he said the team's transition defense needs improvement. He added that the ball movement was "great" and the scoring droughts took place when the offense became perimeter-oriented. Rivers also pointed out that outside of being in foul trouble, starting center Kendrick Perkins (8 points, 8 rebounds) "played terrific."

"Everyone played real well," Rivers said.
And the Celtics players were particularly excited when guard Tony Allen tomahawk-dunked against Toronto because it was Allen's first dunk since training camp began. Allen missed the last 48 games last season after undergoing left knee surgery. Although Allen came up limping afterward, Rivers said team doctor Brian McKeon said he was "fine."
"After he did it, he was scared to let go of the rim," Rivers said. "We hadn't seen that in camp or anything. That's why the bench was so happy. I was shocked."

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