Guarded optimism for Celtics

Celtics coach Jim O'Brien compliments Jason Kidd by calling the Nets' floor general "the best in the business." Boston point guard Mike James observes "as Kidd goes New Jersey goes." And what director of basketball operations wouldn't want Kidd on his team? Certainly not one who coached Kidd for three seasons in Phoenix, as Danny Ainge did. "I've never been around anybody more competitive than [Kidd]," Ainge said.

Sure, Ainge would love to have Kidd play for the Celtics. "But that's like saying, I wish we had Shaq," said Ainge. "Who doesn't?"

What the Celtics have are two points guards still learning how to lead an up-tempo team. Both two-year veteran James and rookie Marcus Banks acknowledge they are making steady, if somewhat inconsistent, progress. For James, more minutes mean greater confidence each time he takes the court. For Banks, practice lessons are more quickly applied to game situations, which should translate into more playing time. Both point guards are also still adjusting to problems presented by pressure from opposing defenses. But for now, Ainge remains "encouraged" with what he sees.

"Our guys are playing really good and really hard," said Ainge. "I think our point guards get a lot of unfair criticism because of our confusion on offense because we're so new. As we get better in handling the defensive pressure as a team, our point guards' play will really improve. I don't see it as the point guards with the issues [with pressure]. I see it as the team with the issues and the other four people on the court making it extremely difficult on our point guard. It's a five-man effort handling pressure.

"We're getting better at it. It's been a real focus of the coaches. I totally think there was a huge difference [against Detroit]. We're playing against some of the top teams in basketball right now with a group that's been together for about a week in practice time. So, I'm really encouraged by a lot of the play. Mike James has done some great things and Marcus Banks is making progress. I have no complaints. Do I wish we had Jason Kidd on our side? Well, you know."

Tonight will be another tough test for James and Banks because of, well, you know who. Kidd is averaging 17.6 points per game, 10 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 steals. While James noted every game presents a tough defensive challenge for the point guards (Baron Davis went for 37 in New Orleans and Chauncey Billups scored 27 Wednesday night in Detroit), Kidd is like no other. The key defensively for James and Banks will be containing Kidd, not letting him ignite the Nets' fast-paced offense.

"I've watched film on [Kidd]," said James. "I have to try to keep him half-court-minded because New Jersey scores mostly in the full-court where they're getting a lot of fast-break points. I have to try to slow the offense down and I do that by keeping pressure on Jason."

On the offensive end, James and Banks must deal with whatever pressure the Nets decide to apply. After all, pressuring the Celtics' relatively inexperienced point guards is an obvious strategy. The Hornets applied defensive pressure with great success, rattling the Celtics and winning the game. Boston played better against it in Detroit. In fact, O'Brien thought the Celtics "attacked [the Pistons'] full-court pressure really well." And he doesn't anticipate it being an issue in the future. James shares O'Brien's confidence.

"We have to continue to grow and deal with the pressure as it comes," said James. "Teams are going to try to put pressure on us, so we just have to attack it and get easy baskets. We're getting better and better every game. The more I'm on the court, the more I'm understanding. You learn as you go."