With some guys, it can take weeks or even months to get fully acclimated. But not Green, who’s been on the team five days and is already prepared to contribute down the stretch this season.
“I’m already ready,” Green said Wednesday. “I’m already comfortable. I already know the plays. So I’m all good. It was a rough two days, just trying to get situated, trying to learn the plays, the style of play, the things they like. But it just takes practice. I’ve been doing my studying, just trying to catch up.”
Green spent nearly four years as a starter in Oklahoma City, playing a complementary role next to Kevin Durant. He’s had to adjust on the fly to a new position on the depth chart in Boston — not only is he a backup, but he’s got to shuffle back and forth between small forward and power forward. He’s relishing that opportunity.
“It’s great,” Green said. “It gives me a chance to expand my game, and you know, it’s all for one goal. No matter how many minutes I play, no matter what my role is, I’ve just got to do the best I can, complete that role and win games for this team.”
The other piece of the Celtics’ trade last week with Oklahoma City, Nenad Krstic, has also adjusted smoothly to life in Boston. He’s quickly blended in with the Celtics’ starting five, averaging 11 points and five rebounds over his first three games.
“I’m still learning, but I’m definitely more comfortable now than my first day,” Krstic said. “Just every day, getting there. This is the first time I’ve been in this position, where I have to learn everything quickly and actually play the game. So I’m trying. It’s kind of tough, but I’m giving it all I’ve got.”
Celtics coach Doc Rivers has tried to incorporate the two new players into his rotation — minus Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson — and still maintain the team’s consistent style of play.
So far, so good on that front, he says.
“I don’t know if they’ve changed what we do much at all,” Rivers said of Green and Krstic. “We’ve obviously added some more shooting and some more scoring, and that’s changed our team. But as far as how we defend and how we play, we haven’t changed at all.”
