Celtics pull into new port
NEWPORT, R.I. - To most NBA players, a gym is a gym, even if built by one of the country's foremost architects. And a mansion is, well, a mansion.
"I was going to do the mansion tour," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said yesterday, "until I started thinking some of our players' mansions are bigger and these will not be that impressive to them."
The Celtics left their comfort zone for the start of preseason training, which is not to imply they are uncomfortable with their lodgings on the harbor and their workouts at the Robert A.M. Stern-designed Rodgers Recreation Center on the Salve Regina University campus. And once they get acclimated, they might even start to appreciate their surroundings. At least that is Ray Allen's hope.
"I've been down here before," Allen said. "I've told the guys about the mansions. I looked at them when I told them and they had that, 'Yeah, right,' look on them from their faces.
"I think it will take time for them to go out there and see for themselves, to see the monstrosity of them and understand the importance of them."
Rivers wanted the team to take a break from the Waltham workout facility, and if not for an NBA regulation limiting European trips, "it could have been Rome again," he said, or, "somewhere warm, like Orlando, next to my house."
Instead, general manager Danny Ainge chose a city whose identity is tied to the Gilded Age, when rich industrialists chose Newport as one of the United States' first resort areas at the turn of the century.
"I told them I wanted somewhere with just enough distance to make it inconvenient to drive back and forth from home," Rivers said. "When you are in the same place all year, it gets old, stale. Whenever you can get away, it's good. And it's good for team building, and I don't think you ever can have enough of that."
The Celtics went a long way to prepare for last season, the European trip apparently paying off. This time, they will remain in the Northeast, playing exhibition games in Amherst, Mass.; Boston; East Rutherford, N.J.; Manchester, N.H.; New York; Pittsburgh; and Providence.
"I don't know if it's exciting for the players, but for the coaches it is," Rivers said of starting training camp. "They were ready to get back to work and I was surprised by that because it was a short summer. I didn't know what to expect that way.
"The energy, especially from the starters - it's rare the starters win the first day in scrimmages - I thought our guys came with the right energy.
"They are a little rusty. But the difference is the fact a lot of guys are picking stuff up a lot quicker compared with last year. They are further along because Ray and Kevin [Garnett] are returning, so they know what we are running, they know what we are doing."
The players were planning to renew relationships this week, welcoming the low-key atmosphere. Guard Rajon Rondo said he expected to stay in his hotel room and "play a lot of cards."
But once the Celtics arrived at their hotel, their horizons started broadening.
"Where we are staying is perfect," Rivers said. "There are a lot of restaurants nearby and I hope the guys don't go to them, but I think they will."
Paul Pierce admits to being more familiar with Newport Beach, Calif., than this Newport, but he seems willing to get into the spirit of the place. But Pierce also has his priorities.
"I'm not really worried about the mansions," Pierce said. "I'm here for training."
Pierce, though, does have the International Tennis Hall of Fame on his list.
"I'm a big tennis fan," he said. "I've never been down here before. We're away from our families and this is a chance to bond while we're riding on the bus, get to know one another personally and on the court."
Said Allen, "We are all in unfamiliar territory. We all have to take the bus over here. We all have to somewhat get out of our comfort zones.
"We're going to spend more time around each other, go to dinner, breakfast, lunch. That's good early on.
"Every team that you play with, regardless whether you add any players or not, you still need that time to really get reconnected and refocused. Regardless of where you are or where you are at, it's important to have that isolation."
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 