Increased PT for Kite

March 1, 1985

KITE CATCHES THE CURRENT IN CELTICS' MAINSTREAM

He used to be a human white flag of garbage-time surrender, or an 83-inch victory cigar who'd stalk the floor and pick up personal fouls as fans fled for parking lots.

Not now. Cedric Maxwell is on the injured list and Robert Parish's ankle remains troublesome, so Celtic sophomore Greg Kite is finally contributing some prime-time minutes in the frontcourt.

The 6-foot-11 widebody from Brigham Young is ready. "This is a chance to come in, work hard and show what I can do," he said. "An opportunity like this is what you prepare yourself for."



Kite has appeared in nine of the last 10 games, averaging 17.6 minutes in the five games since Parish reinjured his ankle. Kite started against the Jazz, scoring four points with 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. He started again two nights later in Denver, scoring six with five rebounds in 27 minutes. He had four rebounds and two points in nine minutes against the Spurs Wednesday night.

Those aren't the kind of numbers that'll push Parish into early retirement, but for the first time in his career Kite is doing the job he was drafted to do: giving the frontcourt help from the bench while Parish rests and Maxwell recuperates.

"This is what I've been looking forward to the whole time I've been here," said Kite. "This is what I need."

Kite's undeveloped offensive game and lack of playing time (197 minutes in 35 games during the 1983-84 season) have made him a target of criticism. Kevin McHale has been Boston's backup center since Rick Robey was traded, and K.C. Jones' reluctance to use Kite has convinced many Celtic watchers that Kite is a stiff.

Parish, who has spent a year and a half knocking heads with Kite in practice, thinks Kite has been getting a bum rap.

"It's time for Greg, and I think this will cut down on the criticism that he shouldn't be here," said the Chief. "It's unfortunate that I got hurt, but in a way it has been fortunate because I heard Greg played real well and got the job done when I was gone.

"It's been kind of difficult to find minutes on our team and it's been difficult for Greg to get the quality time he needs. He can't do it playing garbage time - it takes three or four minutes for a big man just to get loose.

"Greg's teammates have a lot of confidence that he can get the job done. Greg stays within his game and he's a player who'll do whatever it takes to get the job done. He's also very happy getting only one or no shots, and how many guys will do that?"

The Celtics like Kite's size, attitude and work ethic. He's not a smooth- looking player, but they think he can be a serviceable NBA backup center.

"The best thing about him is his attitude and desire," said resident legend Red Auerbach. "One of these days, he's going to loosen up and become more fluid. He seems a little nervous right now."

Kite has a fair hook shot with either hand and good instincts on the offensive boards, but Jones doesn't employ him as a scoring threat.

"He's doing the job I'm looking for him to do," said Jones. "He's screening out, rebounding, and reacting under the boards. People sit in the stands and think he's lousy because they don't see much on the offensive end, but that's not the important part of his game - for me or for him. He never had any teaching in college as an offensive player, but he's working on it every day."

Kite shrugs off criticisms. "The only people I have to prove myself to are the coaches and the people who run the team," he said. "I get a lot of support from my teammates. We have great team feeling here and I think that's part of the reason for our success."

The Celtics play host to the Atlanta Hawks tonight (7:30, SportsChannel). Boston is 3-0 vs. Atlanta this year, 18-2 in the last four years . . . Dennis Johnson did not practice yesterday due to a sore left ankle and Achilles tendon. He'll play tonight . . . Parish worked out lightly yesterday, but so did the rest of the Celtics. Practice lasted no more than 45 minutes . . . M.L. Carr is still bothered by his sore ankle and probably won't play . . . The Hawks are 24-34 and have lost three in a row . . . Larry Bird has scored 30 or more in seven straight games, averaging 35.3 points and shooting 55 percent (100-180) in the stretch . . . The Celtics are 39-0 in games in which they have led at the end of three quarters . . . Auerbach has scheduled a news conference before tonight's game.