Players Trickling In As Camp Nears

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WALTHAM ? Temperatures in the low 70's are just circumstantial evidence, but the clearest indication that summer is over in Waltham is the familiar sound of basketballs bouncing at the Sports Authority Training Center at HealthPoint.

Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson have been here almost all summer long, working out on their own and spending time hitting the bikes hard or just simply shooting around. Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West have been in pretty regularly as well. But Tuesday, the boys were back en masse for the first time and engaged in some four-on-four play, pressing Director of Player Development Mike Crotty into service to match up against Allan Ray.

Gerald Green and Dwayne Jones joined Green and Crotty on one squad, while Tony Allen, Kevin Pittsnogle and Ray joined Theo Ratliff on the other. Green had a few impressive put back dunks on rebounds, while Tony Allen looked good cutting to the hoop.

Ratliff just arrived in Boston and was getting to know his teammates, who already learned today that he sets solid picks and carves out space for his jump hook quite nicely with his broad shoulders. The elder statesman on the floor by far, he was already dispensing advice to younger players about setting picks and getting open.

While the half-court competition was spirited, the trash talking may have been more impressive than the actual basketball. And when you leave officiating and score-keeping up to NBA players, there's bound to be some good-natured arguing.

Rookies like Pittsnogle and Ray weren't allowed to call their own fouls, and when it wasn't clear off whom the ball went out of bounds, the guys settled who gets possession just like you do in the schoolyard.

Shoot for it. </div>

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