Gomes aware of what Celtics face
WALTHAM -- When Ryan Gomes went through predraft workouts following his junior year at Providence College, he visited Chicago. The Bulls gave Gomes a look, then executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson asked the power forward to recommend a player from the Big East outside his position. Without hesitation, Gomes named Ben Gordon. The Bulls selected the 6-foot-3-inch Connecticut guard with the third pick in the 2004 NBA draft.
As a rookie, Gordon earned Sixth Man of the Year honors. This season he is averaging 16.4 points per game in 30.8 minutes. He has started 41 of 67 contests. Stopping Gordon will be one of the keys for the Celtics when they face the Bulls today at the TD Banknorth Garden.
''I watched him a lot that year that he came out," said Gomes. ''That performance he put on in the Big East Tournament was phenomenal. I knew he was going to be a good player in the league. It was just at his position, shooting guard, I didn't know he would be able to do the things that he's doing. So, I don't know if I get credit for them drafting him that early. But I'll take it."
If only Gomes knew then what he knows now about the Bulls being a roadblock in the Celtics' bid for a playoff spot. The Celtics enter today's contest a game and a half behind the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings. To have a shot at eighth-place Philadelphia, the Green must first jump over Chicago. Judging from past meetings between the teams and video shown to the Celtics yesterday, getting past the Bulls will be a tough task.
The Celtics spent the final five minutes of yesterday's hour-long practice watching tape. They saw edits of the Bulls' recent 95-85 loss to the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. The lesson of the day: Chicago stays aggressive no matter what.
The Celtics are 0-2 against the Bulls this season, though the teams haven't played since Dec. 17 and much has happened since then. In the next week, they will finish the season series and, more than likely, one team will be in markedly better position to make the playoffs.
''They take on the personality of their coach [Scott Skiles]," said Paul Pierce, who sat out practice with a sore left calf, but, as usual, expects to be on the floor come game time. ''They've got a good core of guards. There's a lot of penetration. They shoot the three. They get out in transition.
''They go as far as [Kirk] Hinrich and Ben Gordon take them. So, our job is to limit those guys' easy opportunities in transition and wide-open looks."
In the two games against the Celtics, Hinrich has averaged 7.0 points and 7.0 assists, Gordon 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. When Boston played at Chicago Dec. 17, the Bulls shot 60 percent from the floor, including 82 percent (14 for 17) from 3-point range.
That defensive effort by Boston in a 118-86 loss prompted coach Doc Rivers to call the Celtics ''a bad team." This afternoon, the Celtics have a chance to show the Bulls they are at least an improved team, if not yet a good one.
Michael Olowokandi never boarded a plane to Cleveland Friday for that night's game against the Cavaliers. He decided it was best to remain in Boston and continue recuperating from surgery to remove a wisdom tooth. Olowokandi practiced yesterday and reported he was feeling fine . . . Gomes's upper lip was bloodied after he was accidentally whacked by Gerald Green. Gomes said he was fine and seemed more bothered by Green's repeated apologies . . . Rivers had no update on a timetable for the return of Al Jefferson (sprained right ankle).
