"There's no fire in the belly," he told Felger. "When
this team has played well, you heard Kevin Garnett barking and
screaming at people. When this team has played well, [Rajon] Rondo has
had the ability . . . to step up and get emotional . . . And Doc Rivers
right now, coaching . . . I'm not sure exactly where this team is going
and what they're listening to. It just seems like, everybody's going in
another direction right now."
He said he doesn't think the
players have tuned out Rivers — "I think Doc still has their ear. But
I think collectively right now, as a unit, they've tuned out each
other. And that is a bigger problem." — but that their attitude has to
change.
"I still think they can get healthy, but I think they
have to get healthy in a mental respect," he said. "They still have a
very talented basketball team.
"Now, in 1977 when I got to the
Celtics, we had a very talented basketball team. Seven guys who had
made the All-Star team. And then, all of a sudden, we became a paper
champion. This right now is what the Celtics are becoming: A paper
champion. Until they get out with the attitude and the aggressive
nature and the posture, get out there and kick some booty, they're not
going to win anything . . .
"[Right] now, the way they're
going, I could go out there, if I was with New Jersey [last Saturday],
I could have [gotten] 15 points and 10 rebounds."
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