He arrives, fashionably late

Gerald Green doesn't understand all the fuss about his headband. He wears it Texas high school-style. It sits a couple inches too high on his forehead, prompting all sorts of questions and quizzical glances.

That doesn't bother Green at all; very little does. He still hopes to become a trend-setter among NBA headband wearers. If others don't follow his lead, Green figures he'll try some other style.

''I'm 20 years old and I hope I have a long career, and I might change it," said Green. ''You know how sometimes you want to cut your hair or let your hair grow? It's like that. This is how I want to wear my headband right now. I might say someday I don't want to wear a headband no more."

Such is the life of a young NBA player deemed a work in progress. Green spends his time figuring out what kind of player he wants to be, how he will make his mark as a professional. Through the ups and downs of his rookie season, Green has remained enthusiastic about almost every aspect of NBA life save for trips to the Development League. He welcomes change, because at this point it means opportunity.

''Playing basketball has always been fun for me," said Green. ''It's especially fun playing with the Boston Celtics in the NBA. I'm having fun, but I've still got to go out and play hard like it's my last game. When I came back from the D League, I started getting focused and getting ready to play. I've just been working hard, playing hard, and being more aggressive. That's been a change."

With the Celtics all but eliminated from the playoffs, Green has seen his role change dramatically. In Boston's 109-99 win over Philadelphia Friday night, he was the first player off the bench and recorded a career-high 17 points (6 for 9, 3 for 4 from 3-point range) in a career-high 25 minutes. He played crucial minutes in the second half, including the entire fourth quarter.

Green did not disappoint in the final period, with a pair of big field goals and two free throws that sealed the win. It was a trey by Green with 5:31 remaining that tied the game and sparked a 10-3 run, giving Boston the momentum to earn the victory.

''He's too young to be too nervous," said Paul Pierce, the only other Celtic to play the entire fourth quarter. ''He understands he's going to make mistakes and he's just playing basketball. His greatest gift is his scoring ability, and he's showing it. I enjoy being out there with him."

Throughout the Philadelphia game and other recent contests in which he has played significant minutes, Green has been surprisingly confident and composed. He seems blissfully unaware of the pressure and expectations that usually accompany a top draft pick. With each game, he looks more comfortable. Once he learns to stay aggressive on offense and does a better job with rotations on defense, he truly will belong out there on a regular basis.

''Right now, I see my defense as kind of shaky," said Green. ''I'm not going to lie. But I think it's getting a lot better as I play. I just have to know the rotations. A lot of times I'm hesitant or I don't make it in time. I just have to get that.

''I'm not going to say it's because I'm young. A lot of young players can play defense. I've just got to go out there and learn the defensive schemes. After I do that, I think I'll be fine."

Coach Doc Rivers remains committed to finding Green playing time the rest of the season. Rivers wants to put Green in as many different situations as possible, to see how he responds to the pressure to score clutch baskets and handle tough defensive assignments. During the Philadelphia game, Rivers tried to use Green as a ''roamer" on defense, but that is a role that requires more experience than Green has, so the experiment did not last long.

''Let's say he didn't play well," said Rivers. ''It still wouldn't be a bad experience. Everything is good for him right now.

''I think he can just keep going. He has so much that he can do. But he's come so far, and it's good to see."

Green has come a long way from the 45 games he spent on the inactive list and his days with the Fayetteville Patriots and Florida Flame of the Developmental League. But not until recent weeks, when Green saw his minutes increase from single digits to 12 or more per game, did he really begin to learn what the NBA is all about. He has seen the biggest changes in shootarounds.

''In shootaround, I've always had attention, but now, they really focus on what I'm doing because they know I might get in the game and I want to get it right," said Green. ''When I was inactive, they were trying to show me how it was supposed to be done. Sometimes I wasn't participating. Now, in shootaround, I'm always participating."

Although he would like to keep playing the kind of minutes he has earned recently, Green looks forward to working on his game this offseason.

''My summer has been motivated ever since I went to the D League, ever since I fell in the draft," said Green. ''I can't wait for the summer."

Having had a glimpse of what Green can do, Rivers, Danny Ainge, and the rest of the Celtics can't wait until next season.