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"I think I passed up a couple looks in practice, one of the first few workouts and he kind of asked me, 'What are you?'" Stiemsa said. "And I said, 'I don't know, shooter?' He kind of made me say it a few more times and it started to sink in a little bit more."
That confidence was obvious in the third quarter with what Rivers called his favorite moment of the game. Stiemsma missed a 16-foot jumper in the opening minute of the quarter, but the ball swung right back to him the next trip down. In training camp, he might have passed up the look. Now?
He's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, people like it when he shoots the ball.
Stiemsma made both an 8- and 22-foot jumper in little more than a minute, showcasing his full range, while Boston erased a small deficit. Stiemsma finished the third with eight points in seven minutes, the crowd roaring with every field goal.
"Stiemsma was terrific, he was absolutely wonderful," Rivers gushed. "And I was so happy when he just took the shot. My favorite play of the whole game was when he missed a shot and they threw it right back to him and he shot it again. I mean, that's terrific. I thought the whole bench was excited over that because it's what we've been saying.
ESPN Boston: Stiemsma gets confidence boost
There's a history of guys finding minutes they never would have gotten under Doc Rivers if it wasn't for an injury. Greg Stiemsma wasn't even really supposed to make the team. I'm pretty sure a lot of us didn't even care to learn how to spell his name at first since he wasn't going to be around.
But certain trades didn't happen… certain signings never materialized… and Jermaine O'Neal is made of porcelain. It all adds up to the Greg Stiemsma era.
Now, people are dying to get the kid a nickname. Everyone's going with "Steamer" or "Steam Roller." We got an email from a reader, Michael, who suggests "White Out."
I guess when you're white, it needs to be part of your nickname.
Fire away in the comments. Merry Stiemsmas.
Related links: CSNNE: Stiemsma shows his skills in spot start | WEEI: He's Greg Stiemsma, and he's a shot blocker | Herald: Stiemsma steps up for Celtics | Globe: Stiemsma gave it his best shot
On Page 2: Jermaine O'Neal says it's not an injury
"No, not it's not an injury," O'Neal said. "I got here with the intentions on playing. Ed Lacerte went through the regular routine of our pregame [stretching]. It's still sore. It's been sore the last three days. He just thought that just based off our schedule, he'd prefer for me not to play.
"I came to the arena with the thought process that I was playing. He had a conversation with Doc and sometimes players get trumped with whatever decision they have. It's not a hamstring pull or anything like that. And the fact of the matter [is] I'll be ready to go come Wednesday."
WEEI: O'Neal on hamstring: It's not an injury
Personally, I'm a big fan of treating Jermaine O'Neal with kid gloves. If he even says the word "hamstring," I want him out for 3 games. He's a stiff breeze away from a career ending injury. There is NO need to push him, especially against the Wizards.
Yeah, their bigs kind of had a field day. I'll deal with it. We got the win, Jermaine rested. We're all happy.
Related links: ESPN Boston: JO downplays injury, ready vs. NJ | Herald: Celtics play it safe, sit hamstrung O'Neal
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Pierce gaining confidence in bruised heel | ESPN Boston: Doc's a fan of home and home's | "No Pass Bass" eager to assist | Marathon Man Allen sprints to finish | WEEI: Allen continues his torrid shooting | Globe: Energy shot
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