O'Brien sparks Celtics to playoff run

Jim O'Brien sat in a corner of the Celtics' locker room, tapping a computer keyboard and studying a monitor that showed plays he could expect from that night's opponent.

Nearby, Rick Pitino beamed from a TV, speaking in Louisville about trying to turn around another struggling basketball program.

It was coincidental but symbolic _ O'Brien analyzing a jumper by San Antonio's Danny Ferry while Pitino was introduced as the Cardinals' coach.

Pitino likes the spotlight. O'Brien prefers to prepare his players for it.

He's done that well since Pitino, frustrated by his fourth straight losing season in Boston, resigned with a 12-22 record and little hope for the playoffs.

In his first NBA head coaching job, O'Brien has led the Celtics to an 18-16 record and helped give them a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Boston trailed Indiana by a half-game for the final Eastern Conference spot after its 15-point road win against New Jersey on Thursday night.

"You certainly take pride" in the improvement, said O'Brien, a longtime assistant coach under Pitino. "But it's a pride that all of the people that are connected with the Boston franchise have right now."

He's masterminded the progress with only two players who would be definite starters elsewhere _ Paul Pierce, averaging 35.8 points in the last five games, and Antoine Walker.

With three first-round draft picks this year, O'Brien hopes one will join them as another major contributor.

For now, the talent level caused him to simplify his strategy.

"They're not taking as many chances and I think they're not giving up as many easy buckets," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "That really keeps them in a lot of ball games."

Pitino, a man of impatience and hyperbole, had vowed to restore greatness to a team that won 16 NBA titles.

But he left town as a failure, and his assistant focused on more modest goals _ giving players freedom to make mistakes without repercussions and striving, simply, to reach the playoffs.

"We're not interested in trying in the future to eke out an eighth-place playoff spot," O'Brien said, "but we're happy to be in that position right now."

Whether he'll be around for that future is unknown. O'Brien wants to stay, but a decision isn't expected until after the season.

His players, liberated from Pitino's micromanaging and shouting, are behind him.

Milt Palacio was transformed from a borderline NBA player into a solid backup point guard since Pitino left and believes O'Brien should keep his job.

"He's earned it, big time," Palacio said. "He's beyond earned it, but you can't control those things. I hope he does get the job because he's done a great job."

Forward Walter McCarty, who first played under O'Brien when he was Pitino's assistant at Kentucky, agreed.

"I love what he's done. I love his attitude," McCarty said. "He's done a great job and hopefully things will work out for him and we'll see him next year."

O'Brien has one year left on the contract he signed as an assistant. His future could be linked to a potential sale of the team.

"I don't think anyone's putting a for-sale sign out," club spokesman Jeff Twiss said. Team owner Paul Gaston "will listen (to substantial offers) but he's not actively shopping."

Larry Bird, whose name often surfaces in sale speculation, said, "I have no ambition of going back."

Chief executive officer Richard Pond wouldn't comment on O'Brien, but spoke with Twiss who said, "Anything about his future will be discussed with O'Brien after the season."

That seems fine with the coach, who's focusing on the last 12 regular-season games. The most important one might be next Friday's at home against Indiana.

"We have to keep this thing tight until we play Indiana," Walker said.

The Celtics are favored in their three games before then, two against Chicago, the NBA's worst team, and one against lowly Atlanta. Even if they stumble, O'Brien should remain unflustered.

"When we do things wrong, he's going to definitely get on us," Walker said. "He keeps a great level head, continues to motivate the team."

O'Brien stayed calm after the Celtics blew a 30-14 lead over San Antonio and lost 97-77 in Boston on Wednesday night.

Perhaps his patience comes from the winding road he's followed.

He was a three-year starter at St. Joseph's in the early '70s, then was an assistant at five colleges and the head coach at Wheeling Jesuit College from 1982-87.

He spent the next two seasons as Pitino's assistant with the New York Knicks, was Dayton's head coach from 1989-94, then worked with Pitino again as an assistant for three seasons at Kentucky and 31/2 in Boston.

Now he's the leader, and the Celtics have a shot at the playoffs.

"He's just giving us a chance to go out there and play," Palacio said. "He has confidence in his players."