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RYAN GOMES Amazing defense |
In the comfort zone
Versatile Gomes gives Rivers many options
WASHINGTON -- The theme throughout this dreadful stretch for the Celtics -- 14 losses in 16 games, with the San Antonio Spurs on tap tonight -- has been that those who have stayed healthy, and have been able to contribute, are going to benefit in the long run.
One could argue that Ryan Gomes already had established himself as an every day NBA player before calamity struck. But since the Celtics have gone into a weapons-grade descent, Gomes has re established himself to the point that coach Doc Rivers will have a decision to make when Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak come back.
Namely, does he keep the productive, efficient Gomes at small forward, which is where he's been playing lately, when Pierce returns? Or does he move him back to power forward and bring Kendrick Perkins off the bench?
"I don't know," Rivers said. "I don't know defensively how good that'll be. I will say, to Ryan's credit, I think defensively he has been amazing. If we get healthy, I like that you can use him at both spots. It makes us more versatile. It gives us an opportunity at the end of games."
Gomes played power forward last year and only recently moved to small forward when Rivers decided to start Al Jefferson and Perkins together.
Saturday night against the Wizards, however, Perkins spent most of the night on the pine as Rivers went with a small lineup that basically had Gomes back at power forward. Gomes responded with a career-high 31 points in the Celtics' 115-110 overtime loss.
Asked about the position change, Gomes said it wasn't that big a deal.
"The main difference is defense, where I have to guard small forwards and, in this league, those guys are usually the other teams' best scorers," he said.
"When I played [Ron ] Artest [Friday night], it was a very physical matchup. We were battling for everything and that is the kind of player I'd like to become. He's tough to guard when he gets the ball in scoring areas and he can either face up or he can back you down."
Last year, Gomes was basically ignored for the first half of the season and then found his niche as an undersized power forward. He played well enough to make the All-Rookie second team, not bad for the 50th overall pick.
"Last year, he never got comfortable at the [small forward] spot and changing him to a full- time [power forward] helped him," Rivers said. "He's far more comfortable this year. Last year, he never got comfortable at that spot and changing him to a full - time 4 helped him. Now, I think this is helping him because he can play two spots."
Gomes's previous career high was a 29-point game against the 76ers March 8, 2006. His high for this season had been 22 points against the Knicks Nov. 18.
Peter May can be reached at P_May@globe.com. ![]()
