Big Baby not Bummed by Slow Start

He started strong but fell back into a fog, embodying every bit of the criticism Celtics coach Doc Rivers had thrown at Davis throughout the week.

But there he was a night later in Manchester, N.H., leaving Luis Scola cold with a deft spin out of the post, bouncing down the floor with gleeful purpose, shooting 5-for-9 from the floor and grabbing six rebounds.

In every training camp some players are slow to rediscover their groove, and in that respect Davis has been at the top of his coach’s way-not-to-do-it list.

But if anything, Davis doesn’t need much to get started.

Now that he’s followed up two bad exhibition performances with one that was inspired, perhaps Big Baby has found the key.

And if Rivers’ tongue has been sharp, Davis insists there’s nothing wrong with a little - or even a lot - of cutting commentary.

“It’s all in how you look at it,” said Davis, who along with the rest of the team was given yesterday off following a tour through New England that covered three games and three states in four nights.

“How can you take it in a negative way when it’s nothing but positive things that he’s trying to talk about?” Davis said. “It just makes sense to make sure that I know the role for my team. I’m willing to learn and get better.”

--Today's Herald