Boston Celtics

Early banter

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

If tonight is a big night (ESPN television audience, debut of the new Big Three) for the Celtics, Paul Pierce wasn’t letting on.

“There ain’t much we can talk about that we haven’t already talked about,” said Pierce. “I’ve been through so many opening nights.”

Pierce said he didn’t give any of the rookies advice about how to handle opening night. He said he wasn’t more restless last night than he was at any other time this month.

  • Pierce will participate in a pregame ceremony honoring the late Red Auerbach.

    “The whole Celtic pride thing really started with Red Auerbach. Him taking me aside from the day that I got here, he’s meant a lot to me. It’s great that we’re doing this for him.”

    Pierce was asked if it was sad that Auerbach couldn’t be here to see the team’s resurgence.

    “He’s always going to be here. Red Auerbach is always going to be with us, whether it’s in the physical form or not.”

  • Pierce was in uniform a good three hours before the tip. Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, and Leon Powe walked into the locker room at 6:30 p.m. in street clothes. Perkins, who had an aversion to suits last year, looked sharp for the opener.
  • Kevin Garnett’s locker is on one end of the locker room, the closest locker to the trainer’s room.
  • You know it’s a big game when Dr. Jack Ramsey is in the house.

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