Whistling while they work

WALTHAM -- Doc Rivers told the rent-a-refs at practice yesterday to call scrimmages tight for two reasons. First, he wanted players to learn the importance of running back on defense and not waste time debating calls. Second, he hoped to encourage better overall defense with players more attentive to proper positioning.

Important lessons for a team that amassed 2,033 personal fouls last season, the fourth-highest total in the league. By bringing referees to the team training facility, Rivers figures the Celtics can work on anger management in practice before it costs them games.

``I want to be a better defensive team, but I don't want to foul more doing it," said Rivers. ``We couldn't foul much more than we did last year anyway. It's pretty much impossible."

Even though the shortest of conversations with the referees earned a technical during the scrimmages, the players understood the benefit of such tough calls.

``It's getting us ready," said Paul Pierce. ``We had a lot of weaknesses throughout our season last year with a lot of fouls. We were one of the leaders in fouls called from a year ago. So, it's good to get these [referees] out there and Coach tells them to call it tight. We want to be able to play solid defense without fouling. We've got to practice it now, so we don't get in the game and get those technicals. Those are the little things that can help us lose."

Rivers let Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak walk the players through an offensive set. The veterans instructed teammates on the proper way to run the play, correcting some mistakes.

``They know what they want out of the one play," said Rivers. ``Even though [the play] worked, it didn't work as effectively as it should have. And they were upsetting Paul's cut and he is the key guy on our team. I thought it would be better for him to show it than it would be for me to show it."

Added Pierce: ``We were just showing little things that we do that are in our playbook to the guys who weren't here a year ago. It's the little things that are going to help us execute better. It was something we pointed out during the scrimmage and [Rivers] wanted us to go over it with the guys."

Still, the Celtics are reaping some benefits from experience and familiarity. When Rivers called out a play during one scrimmage, the starting unit knew what to do, with the exception of Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair. Ratliff, in his 11th season, picked up the play almost instantly. Telfair, entering his third season, received a quick tutorial from his veteran teammates.

``More than fine-tuning, it's nice having them together, having Wally in training camp helps," said Rivers. ``That's really big for us. The key for us will be execution. There was a clear example watching the last scrimmage when the game got close. The guys who have been in the league a long time executed everything. Then, the other guys, it was the exact same play and they couldn't run it and they had run it all game. That's the difference with experience."

Just three days into training camp, the Celtics are already thinking about their first preseason game, Tuesday at Cleveland. Boston is hurriedly making sure everyone understands the concepts on offense and defense, though that is not how Rivers would like to do things. ``The worst change the league has ever made is taking away practice days before the season starts," he said. ``I know I went three weeks my rookie year before we played an exhibition game. Camp used to be two weeks, three weeks, or 14 days, 13 days, then it got to 12 days, then it got to 10 days, 9, 8. Pretty soon I think we're going to practice and play the next day. I think it should have been cut down a little bit, but I think practice is important." . . . Recovering from right knee surgery last season, Tony Allen rarely dunked in the dramatic fashion that made him a player to watch as a rookie. It was his hesitancy, and seeming inability, to finish above the rim on fast breaks that signaled lingering pain and weakness in his knee. So, when Allen received a perfect pass from Rajon Rondo during practice, dunked forcefully, and hung onto the rim long enough to earn a technical, it was an encouraging sign. Allen looks like his old self, though he promises better play as training camp progresses. ``I feel all right," he said. ``I need more improvement, more strength. Then I'll be able to have a swagger. Right now, I don't have my swagger back. I've just got to get stronger. It's slowly but surely coming back. I'm not a psychic, but, when it comes, you're going to know about it. When it gets to 100 percent, you're going to know about it."