WALTHAM, Mass. -- The championship celebrations and the trophy tours are over and now it's time for the Celtics to get to work on defending their first NBA title in 22 years.
The team opens training camp today at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.
During Media Day at the team's practice facility in Waltham, no one was worrying about the team getting complacent after last season's historic run. Paul Pierce says all of the other great Celtics teams won more than one title and that's what it will take for this team to reach the next level.
The Big Three -- Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen -- are back, but the team has other holes to fill. Valuable swingman James Posey left in free agency and center Kendrick Perkins will miss the start of training camp as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
One question was answered today when backup point guard Sam Cassell arrived to sign a new contract. The 38-year-old Cassell joined the Celtics last March for the playoff run.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
