Recap of Griffin chat at NBA.Com

["Alessandro Celtics-Fan" <alessan420@hotmail.com>]

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And why not check out http://celtics.rivals.com while you're at it?

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First it was Rick Pitino ... Then came Vitaly Potapenko ... Now, it's time 
for "Old School" Adrian Griffin to step up to the mike (er, keyboard).

To commemorate the re-launch of its official Boston Celtics site, NBA.Com 
has been holding live chats all week featuring members of the team; the 
soft-spoken second-year player had his turn today, and
below is a brief recap of what he had to say :

His dream and goal from the start was to make it to the NBA, but knew that 
it would be a tough challenge - "I thought I would give it all I could in 
the CBA and if I had to go overseas I would".

The CBA helped prepare him "both physically and mentally" for the rigors of 
NBA life.

Lists his father as a role model - "I always saw him work two jobs, three 
jobs, and do extra stuff on the side so he could feed us, send  us to 
school, stuff like that".

Thinks that the Celtics are good enough to make the playoffs this year, but 
"it's going to take a commitment from everyone to make it; we all have to be 
on the same page".

Rooted for the Lakers as a child ("I enjoyed watching Magic Johnson and I 
tried to play like him"), and hated the Celtics because "they were just as 
good or even better than the Lakers"!

Sometimes will "just go up [to the team practice facility] and count the 
banners hanging in the rafters every now and then". Also mentions how past 
legends come into the gym (Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Jo Jo White) and "to 
see those guys coming in who you only saw on television or the highlight 
reels, just walking around, it's incredible".

Names Reggie Miller as the toughest player he's ever had to guard ("he's so 
good of a shooter and he definitely knows how to get the calls").

Says that Robert Pack "has a lot of fire in him", and Chris Carr is "very 
dedicated"; thinks that the core group of guys will fare well and the new 
additions should make the team "okay".

When a fan asks if he wishes he could have played on the parquet floor in 
the Boston Garden, Griffin responds that it doesn't matter what floor he 
plays on, he's just "grateful to be [playing] in the NBA".

Says that Rick Pitino is "not a slavedriver because slavery is no longer in" 
(!), but he works the team hard during practice because "hard work is the 
avenue to being successful".

Mentions his two children, son Alan (age 4 1/2) and daughter Vanessa (3) ... 
Congrats, Adrian!

Has been "working on his outside shot [and] getting in shape" over the 
summer.

Thanks the fans for taking the time out to chat with him, and that is that.


Unfortunately, none of my questions were answered by Adrian (drat!), but 
I'll take comfort in the fact that NBA.Com has a "doozy" of a chat scheduled 
for Friday ... None other than the icon of Celtic Pride himself, Arnold 
"Red" Auerbach, will be answering fan questions at 10 AM EST tomorrow 
morning! Keep an eye out for this one, folks!

Alessandro
alessan420@hotmail.com
celtics.rivals.com
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