O'Bryant tries to find his role

He's getting feel for Celtics' style

P. O'BRYANTLearning system

NEWPORT, R.I. - Patrick O'Bryant is getting a crash course in learning to play with the Celtics.

O'Bryant has been able to fit in, playing with the starters while Kendrick Perkins recovers from a shoulder injury. O'Bryant, signed as a free agent after two seasons with Golden State, adds a shot-blocking dimension that will figure into the second-unit equation during the season. Meanwhile, O'Bryant is alternating with Leon Powe at the center spot with the first unit.

"I keep saying it's just a matter of practicing with them and getting things down," O'Bryant said after yesterday's workout at Salve Regina University. "It's getting to know what everyone wants to do, knowing what Paul Pierce wants to do coming off a screen, so you make the right pass or whatever."

The Celtics continue to increase training intensity in preparation for the exhibition opener against Philadelphia in Amherst, Mass., Wednesday. There was plenty of clutching and grabbing, no punches pulled, and some serious chest-bumping at the conclusion of a 2 1/2-hour practice session.

"We are here working hard," Kevin Garnett said. "There is a lot of jawing, diving on the floor, chest-bumping. We are practicing hard and this stuff all makes us better at the end of the day. The intensity in here is crazy. Doc [Rivers] has us shoot free throws to calm us down. But that's what you want, that fire in the belly. It's what you want to see."

Garnett set up O'Bryant for a dunk to conclude a workout earlier in the week. The play was impressive, but Rivers noted Garnett had to wait for O'Bryant to read the situation.

"Pat's been pretty good," Garnett said. "There are a couple things he needs to learn about our system. But he's athletic, he's long, and he tends to play hard."

O'Bryant, a 7-footer, seems comfortable with his role, a welcome relief after two frustrating seasons with the Warriors.

"I need to work into the rotation," O'Bryant said. "I'll come in and help defend the post, provide a little backup for Perk when he gets tired, give him a breather, give the team a true '5' when I'm out there. You hope to get some good minutes right away and establish your role on the team."

That didn't happen with the Warriors, who made O'Bryant the ninth overall pick in 2006.

"It was conflicting styles of play," O'Bryant said. "The way [coach Don Nelson] wanted to run things, I was more suited for a different style. This is a better fit for me."

Did O'Bryant think he might not get another chance?

"Not at all," he said. "I knew there were 29 other teams out there to play with, and one of them had to be the right fit. I think this might be the one."

As a defensive force, O'Bryant especially appreciated the Celtics' style of play as they won the NBA championship last season.

"I thought they were a heck of a team," he said. "The way they played as a team, the way they defended as a team. They rotated and helped each other out on defense.

"I should be able to help most as a backup center, defend the post and block some shots, get some rebounds."

Rivers canceled the evening practice . . . Bill Walker matched up against Pierce during scrimmages, once going baseline for a dunk. "[Walker] is playing extremely well right now," Rivers said. "I can't imagine being a rookie and having those three guys [Ray Allen, Garnett, Pierce] on the team. At times, he could get lost watching them play instead of competing against them. But, for the most part, he attacks. He attacks the basket, as you could see." . . . Darius Miles is mostly playing out of position and will be used at small forward during the season, Rivers said.