Celtics' Davis wants to return to Finals
BOSTON -- Glen Davis wasn't frothing at the mouth, not the way he was after his timely putback against the Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals a year ago, when he had drool trickling down his lip like an angry pit bull.
But Davis is about to burst out of his 6-9, 289-pound frame as the Celtics embark on their push to add to their NBA-record 17 titles, which begins Sunday night when they tip off their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Knicks at TD Garden.
"I'm excited, man," he said. "Regular season is over with. Now it's time for the postseason. And this is what it's all about. I sat down right after the game [Wednesday] and was just like, 'Wow!' Game 7 [of the Finals], I felt like it was yesterday, and now it's like we're back again. Unbelievable."
Not only are the Celtics back but so is Davis, if you ask coach Doc Rivers, and just in time to play an instrumental role. Davis, in Rivers' eyes, hadn't been playing like himself for a while, perhaps taking on too much because of what's going on with Boston's frontcourt.
Kendrick Perkins had been shipped to Oklahoma City, traded for swingman Jeff Green. Shaquille O'Neal played in only 37 games this season because of injuries -- to his right Achilles and his right calf -- and essentially sat out the final 34 games. Jermaine O'Neal has been unreliable, battling a sore knee all season.
So that left Davis to fill Boston's frontcourt void, and he likely tried to do too much. But Rivers said he noticed that Davis turned a corner early last week, finally appearing to play more like the Davis he's been hoping to see.
"It started in the second half of the Washington game [Monday]," Rivers said. "I thought in the first half, he had that sad look on his face. Then it changed. Now he's playing the game again. There's sunshine with Baby instead of a dark cloud. It's nice."
Davis said he's not shooting as much, instead making the second pass. He's been more conscious of setting better picks and rolling off, putting himself in better position to make a play. Those are the things Rivers wants out of his big man.
"He's a big intangibles guy," Rivers said. "That's who he is. When he just comes out and throws his body around and plays hard, he's terrific for our basketball team."
Davis, cognizant of the franchise's championship lore, also is hungry for another ring. He'd love nothing more than to chill in his rocking chair someday, watching himself on the tube as a youngster in a title-clinching victory.
"I'll sit back, fat on the farm, and I'll go turn on NBA TV and look at myself from 30 years ago," Davis said. "You'll be like, 'Gol-ly.' It's exciting. I think that's what it's all about. Here in Boston, you try to win more than one championship. You win one, it's OK. But two? You'll be a hero here.
"So it's just something about the postseason that I love. You've got to bring your 'A' game."
He's juiced up, ready for the Celtics to make another run to the Finals. "Oh, most definitely," Davis said. "We've got to get there. I'm starting my campaign for champagne."
