C?s Take Big Step with Ray

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Considering the Celtics? significant investment in their young big men, Doc Rivers is about to add a specialist to his staff who can develop the nascent skills of Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Dwayne Jones.

Clifford Ray, a former center who enjoyed a 10-year career with the Bulls and Warriors during the 1970s, including Golden State?s 1975 NBA championship team, is close to signing a contract with the Celtics.

?We?ve agreed to things for the most part,? Rivers said yesterday. ?He won?t be on the bench, but we really need him to work with our young guys.?

Rivers, who plans to reassign assistants Paul Pressey and Jim Brewer to scouting positions within the organization, still plans to hire one more assistant, though unlike Ray, that coach won?t be a specialist.

Though the contracts of assistants Dave Wohl and Armond Hill are set to expire, Rivers said they?ll get new deals. Top assistant Tony Brown, like Rivers, has three years left on his contract.

Ray also worked under Rivers in Orlando, where he received considerable credit for developing the Magic?s young big man, Dwight Howard, who is now one of the NBA?s top rebounders.

?He did a lot of work with Dwight Howard,? Rivers said. ?But he?s worked with just about every young big man there is in this league. He worked with (Dallas? Erick) Dampier, (Jermaine) O?Neal, you name it. </div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">if he had anything to do with the development of Dwight Howard than this move sounds good to me...not so sure about erik dampier tho</div>

Actually the before and after results with Dampier are quite an accomplishment. If Al Jefferson has the work ethic and is willing to listen, then Clifford Ray's coaching will have a positive impact on him for next season. I think the injuries set Jefferson's confidence back more than anything.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WALTHAM -- The Celtics' newest assistant coach, Clifford Ray, brings an impressive and eclectic résumé to Boston. A musician with a degree in fine arts from Oklahoma, Ray plays most woodwind instruments. He sees similarities between a well-played concert and a well-played basketball game. Ray also has a soft spot for dolphins, having saved one from almost certain death.

During Ray's playing days with Golden State, a show dolphin at Marine World swallowed a pointed screw. The dolphin's caretakers called on Ray because he had long arms.

The 6-foot-8-inch center -- whose arms are reportedly 3 feet 9 inches long -- reached into the dolphin's stomach and fished out the screw.

``It was an interesting ordeal, because I had to dress up in surgical gear," said Ray. ``The whole nine yards. There were all these photographers. [The news] went all over the world. I tell people it was my 15 minutes of fame."

The latest challenge for Ray is helping develop the Celtics' young players, especially Al Jefferson. In his first day on the job, Ray spent considerable time working with Jefferson on shooting, ball-handling, and footwork. Ray has worked with a long list of NBA big men, including Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Erick Dampier, and DeSagana Diop.

``When I don't have a job with a team, guys always called and asked if I could help them," said Ray. ``As a teacher, it's very flattering that guys in the league allow you to work with them, to help them attain their goals. I've been blessed to have great relationships with [players], to have them feel that I've helped them."

Ray sees a lot of hard work ahead for Jefferson, with the payoff hopefully to come next season. Ray also has a plan for the ankle problems that plagued Jefferson last season.

``There's a lot of things he can do to help with that," said Ray. ``The reason being is, he's bottom-heavy. He has thick legs. He's going to have to do a lot of things, like jump a lot of rope so he won't have ankle sprains.

``But he's got a very good upside. It's just a matter of him setting goals and wanting to be the best."</div>

Ray jumps into job

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">When did Ray work with Dampier? was it right before he had his big season with Golden State? for some reason i always assumed that that was cause it was his contract year and he was finally putting in the effort.

anyone know who else ray has worked with?</div>

I think he brought in around the 2002 season. Rick Barry has always endorsed Clifford Ray's big man coaching, because Ray will teach players how to approach the game defensively. Both Foyle & Dampier became solid defensive position player under Ray.

You're right about Dampier breaking out during his contract season. Getting a monster contract was the main motivation, however Dampier wouldn't have been in a position to command that type of money without Ray's coaching help.