<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When it came time to assemble the Celtics' summer league roster, executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers went back and forth on whether to invite Ryan Gomes. Ultimately, Ainge and Rivers left the decision to Gomes, a player who proved wise beyond his years on and off the court as a rookie. It was an easy call. ``I said, `I love to play, so I'll go out there and play,' " said Gomes. ``I knew I'd get in good condition running up and down. This is the right thing for me to prep for the long season ahead." For Gomes, the operative word is ``long" considering the team's most pleasant surprise of last season did not garner playing time and attention until mid-February. Gomes made the most of his early minutes, working his way up from super-rebounding sub to valued starter. Fundamentally sound and consistent after four years at Providence College, Gomes was a rarity among young players around the league, never mind the Celtics. His maturity again was evident when asked why he decided to compete in the summer league. ``To get better," said Gomes. ``Last year, people were excited when I played a lot at the end of the season. But in the beginning, I missed an awful lot also, not practices, but games and minutes. And at this stage, practices are shorter and lighter, so I wanted to come back [to the summer league], get in good shape and try to be ready for the whole season this year instead of coming on late. I also wanted to polish up on some things in my game, my shooting, my ball-handling. Playing you can always learn something." Whatever his role turns out to be, Gomes wants to be prepared physically and mentally for an 82-game schedule. He believes summer league will serve as the perfect springboard for the rest of his offseason training, even though the level of competition is not near that of the NBA. </div> http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/ce...es_a_class_act/
Gomes is a great young player, and it was very apparent last year that he was very mature for a rookie. I love the fact that he has agreed to play in the Summer League, it shows his willingness to improve and be the best he can be. He understands that he is in the NBA now and he is no longer competing at the college level, therefore, he is obviously well aware that the program will help get him back into tiptop shape in order maintain his abilities at a higher level this year. There is no such thing as too much practice, and it is good for him to get use to working with the new guys. Your exactly right Thrilla, Gomes is a class act.
