Mihm is getting himself centered
Former Celtic finds Lakers an easy fit
LOS ANGELES -- As a restricted free agent with the Celtics last summer, Chris Mihm weighed his options. He knew the Celtics were not particularly eager to retain his services; the development of top draft pick Al Jefferson and 2003 first-rounder Kendrick Perkins were higher priorities. And ever since he had arrived from Cleveland in December 2003, Mihm never really felt he fit in.
On the other hand, he looked across the country and thought the
The Lakers have been a better fit than Mihm could have imagined. As the starting center for all but one game this season (he was ill), Mihm boasts career highs of 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game. He had a big hand in LA's 105-94 victory over the Celtics last night, with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
"I got caught up in a little bit of an awkward situation in Boston with the old and new guard butting heads there," said Mihm. "It was tough.
"But I knew if I kept working and had a chance to be a free agent, find a good fit for myself, that I could do big things. When I got the calls from LA and really looked at the roster and the group of guys we had and how my style of play would fit it, I knew that this could be a big year for myself."
Against New Orleans Dec. 22, Mihm set a career high with 21 rebounds. In the much-hyped Christmas Day matchup with the Heat, Mihm pulled down 14 rebounds, showing a national TV audience what he could do. Mihm also had a 17-rebound game against Minnesota Jan. 10. Just playing in the West with bigger, more physical centers has made him better, he figures.
"I'm going up against the best big men in the league every single night," he said. "It's been a great challenge for me and a lot of fun to be put in this position and to be playing at this level."
Breaking away
The Celtics started their last major road trip of the season (four games, seven days) last night, and coach Doc Rivers believes going on the road right after the All-Star break can be an advantage, the travel routine reminding players that vacation is over. "There are 29 games left after the break, and I love that," said Rivers. "I love the fact that it's a sprint now, where there are usually 37, 38 games. It's a big difference. Our biggest question mark is: We have young guys coming off the break for the first time. We don't know how the hell they're going to respond. I can't tell you if they're going to be great or they're going to come and lay an egg because they're not ready to jump back in. But the teams that jump right back in have a chance of stealing a couple. I hope we're one of those teams."
Chucky's in LA
When Chucky Atkins briefly played for the Celtics last season, he was the conscience of the team, never hesitating to speak his mind or call out a teammate. While he didn't have any harsh words for his current teammates, Atkins gave a frank assessment of the Lakers. "We're in a situation where we're trying to find our identity," he said. "We don't really know what we're trying to accomplish as far as being a defensive team or being a running team. That's how come we look good in some games and other games we don't look good. Having said all of that, we've been in every game." Atkins was at his best during the 14 games Kobe Bryant missed with a sprained right ankle from mid-January to mid-February. His scoring average rose from 11.4 to 13.5 points per game. "I enjoy being here because this has really given me an opportunity to really be who I am, be myself," said Atkins . . . Backup point guard Marcus Banks missed shootaround yesterday morning with an upset stomach but played . . . Michael Stewart skipped the start of the Celtics' trip so he could be with his wife as she gave birth to their son, Sean . . . Celtics vice president Jeff Twiss will receive the Howie McHugh and Marc Splaver Award for outstanding service in media relations. A ceremony will be held in March or April.
