Carroll is psyched for this challenge

WALTHAM -- The president and professors of Dickinson College are very proud of the latest alumnus to make a name for himself. The school's official website now features information about Celtics interim head coach John Carroll, a four-year basketball starter for the small college in Carlisle, Pa. Dickinson president William Durden sent Carroll a congratulatory e-mail last week.

When Carroll gets a chance, he might want to thank the college's psychology department. After all, a degree in that field may have best prepared Carroll for taking over the Celtics midway through a tumultuous season. One week ago, Carroll assumed the head coaching duties after Jim O'Brien unexpectedly resigned over philosophical differences with director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Carroll spent his first week on the job in what he called a "control phase," trying to keep the players upbeat. It was not until yesterday that Carroll felt he could fully focus on building a better team.

"Today, in my mind, is the first day that I've been able to really practice with the team," said Carroll yesterday, after a practice that lasted nearly three hours. "Last week, no matter what I did, it was all trying to keep things together. That was my main focus last week. Today is the first day I can actually say I'm looking at a growth spurt developing in certain aspects of our team.

"I understand in the NBA the most important thing is winning. That's what this whole thing is about. That being said, with this particular team, there's a lot of things that need to be done for us to win. One of those things is the development of players and the development of a winning attitude or characteristic. Jim was able to develop that with the team the last couple of years. None of us this year have been able to really get a handle, get a grasp on that thing yet because there's a lot of things going on, a lot of weaknesses, a lot of stuff."

The Celtics can improve in almost every area of the game. They must learn how to fast-break and rebound better. They need more consistency on defense and offense. They could use better chemistry, more familiarity with each other. That said, practices yesterday and today would be good times to install new offensive sets, to give the Celtics a fresher look.

Paul Pierce believes he needs to grow more for the Celtics to be successful this season.

"I have to be the guy who's mentally tough and help guys get through this because it's not an easy period," said Pierce. "You hear some of the guys talk in the locker room about everything that's gone on throughout the year. So, being one of the top veterans, I have to get everybody ready to come to practice every day with the mentality that they have to work regardless of who's here and who's our coach and what everybody thinks of us."

Not only do the players have a lot of room for growth, but so does Carroll. His adjustment to life as an NBA head coach continues.

"What I tried to do in the first week was spend a lot of time talking with players," said Carroll. "I think I did a pretty good job. It's of great importance to me to have great communication with those guys. I'm almost looking forward to our trip next week because I think it will be a time when I can have breakfast and lunch with some of those guys and talk to them a little more, get to know them better.

"My biggest adjustment going from an assistant to head coach is how they view me. I basically said to them today, `What I got out of last week is that hopefully you know now that I can coach and I know what you can do.'

"I'm not naive enough that they weren't [thinking] the first couple games, `What's this guy all about, what's his style, what's he going to be about, what's his modus operandi?' Hopefully, they trust me now after doing it for a few games. I know this is a difficult position to be in, but I accept it and I embrace it."

Carroll said O'Brien was "a very dominant personality" who controlled many aspects of game preparation that might ordinarily be handled by assistants. While the organizational method worked, the players, as a result, were less familiar with Carroll. They are still adjusting to the change, even though Carroll has made it clear that the same standards will apply. Players must be on time for practice and flights. Carroll expects the same kind of respect O'Brien received.

"He has gathered some confidence in some of the players," said Pierce, who along with his teammates does not view O'Brien as a quitter. "Initially, nobody knew what to really expect since he's been thrust into this position. As time goes along and he gets more games under his belt, guys will feel more and more confident and trust in him more. Everything that's happened, it is what it is.

"Right now, I have a lot of challenges ahead of me. I can use everything that's gone on as an excuse to come out here and not get the job done or I can use it as a motivating tool. This week has been the toughest week on me mentally. I have to move on now. [O'Brien's resignation] was draining for me because it was the last thing I expected. Maybe guys have their own timetable for how long it was going to affect them. But I think I let it affect me more than I wanted it to. Now, it's just time to put it behind me." . . .

Votes for All-Star reserves were due by yesterday, so Pierce will find out today whether he will be a member of the Eastern Conference team. Given all that happened in the last week, Carroll said he had been remiss in not championing Pierce. He tried to make up for it yesterday.

"I think Paul Pierce is an All-Star," said Carroll. "I don't even think that's a question. It shouldn't be a question. He's been through a lot this year. He's had a lot of friends and teammates come and go and he's weathered that, in my opinion, very admirably. And last year, two guys guarded him. Now, he's got three or four or five guys guarding him. Teams are basically saying, `Stop Paul Pierce.' Well, why would you have to stop Paul Pierce? Because he is an All-Star."

Pierce would like to be named particularly because the game takes place in his hometown, Los Angeles. But, like Carroll, Pierce has been distracted.

"I'm not really worried about it," said Pierce. "I'm still going to go home and enjoy the festivities and move on. I've already made an All-Star team. It'd be nice to play in LA in front of family and friends, but it's pretty much the last thing on my mind these days." . . .

Ricky Davis (lower back strain) did not practice. Marcus Banks also missed the workout with a bruised right shoulder. It's uncertain whether either will be able to practice today.