Nate's energy making a difference for Celtics

BOSTON - This may come as a surprise to the rest of the NBA, but Nate Robinson really isn't doing anything with the Celtics that he hasn't already done with the Knicks. The real difference is in the perspective.

With the Knicks, his preening and chest-thumping and other forms of ebullience came off as sophomoric and self-gratifying, especially when it's January and your team is 15 games under .500. But in the NBA Finals, it can be euphorically entertaining. So there was little Nate right in his element, riding the back of 300-pound Glen "Big Baby" Davis and screaming with pure joy in Thursday's Game 4 Celtics victory.

"I mean, that's me," Robinson said. "I can score points, I can do all that, play 'D', [but] I just want to bring energy. The more energy I bring, the more I get the crowd involved, my teammates, the energy of the building, the sky's the limit. I just love bringing the energy."

That element is exactly what got him to the NBA, along with dynamic athletic ability at 5-9. But that energy has often worked against him in the form of overzealousness and a lack of self-control, especially when it came to running his mouth to opposing players and officials. That is what caused each of the three experienced coaches Robinson played for in New York - Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas and Mike D'Antoni - such frustration.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was furious at Robinson for picking up a technical foul with 5:39 left because he got into Lamar Odom's face. This came after Robinson had just drawn an offensive foul on Odom by fighting hard through a screen.

"That was the one I didn't like," Rivers said. "We don't have to be tough, especially at whatever height you are. But that's who he is, he's an emotional player and it's so easy for us - I'm sitting in a suit and tie and all of us to say, 'Rein it in.' "

Robinson may have missed out on his $1-million playoff bonus - by two games - but the experience might boost his career. As a pending unrestricted free agent, each time Robinson raises the crowd level at TD Garden, he is raising his value to the Celtics. Or perhaps another team looking for a spark off the bench.

The Lakers were believed to be one of the few teams interested in Robinson last summer, when he was a restricted free agent. But the interest was mainly from ownership, and GM Mitch Kupchak never pursued a sign-and-trade.

Now Phil Jackson finds himself having to answer questions about how to stop Robinson and Davis. It's a question Jackson declined to answer. Perhaps Robinson offered the best reason. "You can't scout energy," he said.