Pollard Pitching Reggie Miller

August 10, 2007

As the two newest Celtics - Eddie House and Scot Pollard - sat down for their introduction to the local media yesterday, there was a certain air of finality.

At least it seemed that way to Pollard.

``Getting Kevin Garnett here was a big deal, but with us here, now you have a chance,'' the 32-year-old center said without breaking his deadpan expression as the unsuspecting House doubled over in amazed laughter.

Perhaps the locker room will never be the same, either.

In truth, though, it's unlikely both would have made yesterday's appearance if not for the surging status of the Celtics as a free agent magnet.

House, the 6-foot-1 shooting guard who is expected to supply his microwave scoring touch off the bench, alluded to that fact when he said, ``There's a good buzz going around right now about this team. There was a little cloud over this team for a while, but they certainly have put something together now.''

Thus the anticipation surrounding the Celtics' romance of Pollard's former Pacers teammate, Reggie Miller.

``I haven't talked to him, but I did talk to someone yesterday who has his number, and I told him to call (Miller) up and talk to him,'' said Pollard. ``In my career I've learned that there are certain players you hate to play against, and Reggie is one of those guys. Even though I didn't guard him I hated the guy. On a side note, I've always hated playing against Kevin Garnett, too.'' Now, he'll be playing with Garnett, as well as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

House and Pollard have both played on their share of top-tier teams - House two years ago in Phoenix and Pollard in Sacramento, Indiana and last year's Cleveland team - and yesterday had no problem linking their current situation to the best of their respective pasts.

``The only team I could compare this to was Phoenix,'' said House, who was Steve Nash's backup point guard two seasons ago before moving on to New Jersey last season. ``But I have more of a special feeling for this team, because all of the pieces seem to be coming together so fast.''

Pollard had four teams to compare - two in Sacramento, the 2003-04 Pacers team that won 61 games, and last season's Cavs, who improbably reached the NBA Finals.

``We've been talking all morning about this, comparing the best teams we've been on to this one,'' said Pollard. ``We both feel, based on our careers, that this team is right up there. This team already has that same feeling.''

Celtics notes

House will wear No. 50 and Pollard No. 66. The reason?

``Because all the other (expletive) numbers were taken here,'' Pollard said, looking around a conference room that had the numbers of Bill Russell (6), Tom Heinsohn (15), John Havlicek (17), Robert Parish (00), Larry Bird (33) and Kevin McHale (32) hanging on the wall. . . .

Two months of conversations between Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau, the former Rockets assistant who has built his reputation as a defensive specialist, finally reached a head yesterday when the Celtics hired the Salem State alumnus as an assistant coach.

Thibodeau, who initially joined the Washington staff this summer only to pull out after two days, will replace Tony Brown, who departed at the end of the season following a contract dispute.

Thibodeau, like the rest of Rivers' assistants, is under contract for one season.

``I like his passion and work ethic,'' said executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. ``I also like that he was the defensive coach on the No. 1 defensive team in the league last year. . . . Everyone knows that our defense has to improve. I think we will be better in that area once we get into the season.''