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Celtics' fortunes in Banks' handsTo call it a burden wouldn't be right. Most rookies would vault over each other for the opportunity that will be presented to Marcus Banks starting today, when Celtics rookies and players with three or less years experience begin workouts. Though veterans don't join in the two-a-day sessions in Waltham until Friday, Banks might as well count himself in the older group, considering the level of responsibility that is about to be put on his shoulders this season. When Celtics coach Jim O'Brien and director of basketball operations Danny Ainge talk of improving their team's running game, it is with a vision of Banks at the controls. That will mean directing his celebrated teammates, Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, in the offense. That will mean not being shy. That will mean speaking up to his elders. Anyone who has come to know the Las Vegas native this summer, of course, knows that the vocal part isn't likely to be a problem. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Cleaves to join CelticsMateen Cleaves, the former Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings point guard whose early NBA career has been plagued by foot trouble, is expected to join the team for the beginning of workouts tomorrow, but he doesn't have a guaranteed contract. Players with three or fewer years of NBA experience are expected to report, with veterans scheduled to begin two-a-day workouts Friday. . . . Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Celtics get cooking at barbecueWith rain threatening and the Patriots and Red Sox on television, Jim O'Brien didn't know what to expect when he pulled into the parking lot at the Celtics training facility in Waltham for yesterday's annual season ticket-holder's barbecue. ``I was wondering about the turnout, and the turnout was fantastic,'' the Celtics coach said during the meet-and-greet, which included Celtics rookies Marcus Banks, Kendrick Perkins and Brandon Hunter, in addition to veterans Walter McCarty and Mike James. Fans lined up for autographs and pictures, and several took a moment to gawk at the rookie hardware on hand - two Hummer H2 vehicles, a shiny black Cadillac Escalade and a black Yukon. ``It says a lot of our organization that so many people are here,'' O'Brien said. An admiring Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics CEO and managing partner, credited director of basketball operations Danny Ainge with building a good portion of the enthusiasm. ``It's Danny Ainge coming out and saying, `I have a plan.' While we have Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker we should be trying to win the whole thing,'' Grousbeck said. Yesterday's crowd also said a lot about expectations. Celtics management has been absolutely thrilled since a franchise-record 18,000 tickets were sold within the first hour that tickets went on sale Sept. 20, in addition to a record 37,000 over the weekend. Seventy-five percent of the sales were made over the Internet. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Celtics Sep 2003 Archive
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