[外電] Sullinger a silver lining

[calbert (Yummy)]

新聞出處(必填):

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8810590/boston-celtics-rookie-jared-sullinger-gaining-doc-rivers-trust
作者:
By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

---
WALTHAM, Mass. -- Ask Kevin Garnett or Rajon Rondo about the Celtics' losing
ways this season, and they'll tell you what you expect to hear: It stinks,
it's frustrating, and maybe even a little disturbing given the franchise's
success in recent seasons.

Rondo admitted before Thursday's practice that he's "a sore loser" and made
it clear the team's four-game losing streak and overall 14-17 record aren't
sitting well with him. When asked if any of his teammates fall into the sore
loser category with him, Rondo said he didn't want to pass judgment on anyone
else. But one guy he can count on being in that corner with him is rookie
Jared Sullinger.

In Wednesday's 93-83 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Sullinger was on pace to
play the entire fourth quarter, alongside the likes of Garnett, Rondo, Paul
Pierce and Jason Terry, until he fouled out with 1:26 to play.


[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Elise Amendola
Sullinger, grabbing a rebound against Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi
on Wednesday, was on pace to play the entire fourth quarter before he fouled
out.
One would think the fourth-quarter assignment -- no small task for a rookie
in this Celtics era -- would have boosted Sullinger's spirits. But after the
game, he said the loss was the only thing on his mind.

"It's pretty cool [playing down the stretch], but we lost, so it doesn't
really matter," Sullinger said. "But, gaining [Rivers'] trust is kind of
helping my comfort level out there on the floor. But, at the same time, we
lost, so it doesn't really mean anything."

"I think this is the first time in my career losing two in a row. I've never
lost two in a row," said Sullinger, perhaps momentarily forgetting that the
Celtics have lost two or more games four times this season already. "I'm so
not used to it. But I think that's what's driving me to play harder and
harder every game, just trying to help the team win in any aspects of the
game.

"I'm learning how to let go of losses. That's one thing I'm learning how to
do that, and understanding that every day is a new day to get better. So, I'm
not holding onto the past. If this slide helped me do anything, it's learning
how to let go."

"I'm just playing hard, that's all. I'm the youngest on the team, so why not
play hard every game?" Sullinger said. "I'm not going to save my legs because
I'm not playing long minutes like Rondo. I'm only playing about 20, 25
minutes, so you might as well play hard the whole time you're out there on
the floor."
(上場全力付出是個好觀念.尤其是rookie)

Added Garnett after Wednesday's loss: "Jared's earned Doc's trust, the trust
of his teammates, and others. I think all the playing time that he's getting
he's definitely earned. He's giving us a lift, man. He's coming in,
rebounding like a monster, doing the things that we know him to be, and he's
getting better, so that's a good sign for us."

Rivers has been searching all season for a firmer big-man rotation, and while
injuries and inconsistent play from key players have hampered that process,
Sullinger has been one guy Rivers hasn't been afraid to consistently turn to.
Rivers said he'd like to get Sullinger even more minutes, but that aim has
been stunted by the rash of fouls Sullinger has been accruing. While some
have been earned, it's becoming clearer with each game that Sullinger is
drawing a number of rookie calls from officials. Rivers, for one, is losing
his patience with that.

"Jared's been phenomenal, I just wish he could play longer," Rivers said
Wednesday. "Thank you, I'm not going to say anything more about that."

He touched on it again before practice on Thursday: "[Sullinger's] been
great. I think he is just a smart player, he does so many things well for us.
You can make a lot of cases for him playing a lot more minutes. We gotta tell
other people we would like him to play more minutes."



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