Picture Not-So-Perfect

Celtics' Green Adjusting to New City, No Playing Time

BOSTON -- Gerald Green is a long way from the comforts of home in Houston -- his mother's home cooking, his father's heavy-handed guidance and his three prized pit bulls -- and a very long way from being the player who wasn't good enough to make his high school team as a freshman and a sophomore.

Green is in Boston, adjusting to a frigid climate unlike anything he witnessed in his first 19 years. With the exception of two high school buddies he invited to stay with him, Green is basically on his own, learning how to cook and clean (when he has to) and transitioning from being the top-rated player in his high school class to being an NBA benchwarmer for the Celtics.

"Ever since I played basketball, I always played. Even though I'm not playing, I'm not suiting up, either," said Green, who has been on the inactive list in all but one of the Celtics' 19 games this season. "So, it's kind of like I've got three steps to make. Actually, I got four steps to make. First, I got to suit up. Then, I got to play. Then I got to start. Then, I'm trying to be an all-star. I want to be one of the greatest players. It's some steps for me."

This is the final season that players will be allowed to enter the NBA directly out of high school. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the league will no longer accept players unless they are at least 19 years old and one year removed from their high school graduating class.

The decision was controversial, considering the success of such preps-to-pros stars as Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. But because many of the players dropped from high school hallways onto NBA doorsteps -- including all-stars Jermaine O'Neal and Tracy McGrady --were forced to languish on the end of the bench in their first season, the league opted to go with seasoning over sizzling potential.

Green is in this last group of high school players allowed to enter the league, a group that has done nothing to contradict arguments in favor of the age minimum. Green and Detroit's Amir Johnson have yet to play. Portland's Martell Webster is the only player who has started a game. The Lakers' Andrew Bynum has received a few meaningful minutes, while the others, including Washington's Andray Blatche have had minimal impact.

"I don't think any of them should come out of high school and come to the pros," said Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, whose son, Jeremiah, is a senior in high school. "It's the whole maturity thing. Going to college two years allows you to grow up and mature. Forget the basketball. You can become a better basketball player playing against Paul Pierce. I believe that. But the maturity part. The fact that every high school player coming out, they don't know about life or anything."

Green, a raw, 6-foot-8, through-the-roof leaper, isn't shy about revealing his frustrations. He recently responded to a generic introductory questions with a loaded one-word answer.

"How's it going?" a visitor asked.

"Tough," said Green, his droopy eyes expressing the unpleasant feeling.

Green then grabbed a seat in front of his locker, rubbed his burgeoning Afro and stared blankly. Film of the Celtics' opponent this night, the Philadelphia 76ers, was on the plasma screen in front of him, but Green wasn't studying it too hard. He knew he wasn't going to play. When a Celtics strength and conditioning coach asked Green if he wanted to get in some extra work before the game, Green grimaced and declined, citing a nagging groin injury that has set back his progress in recent weeks and limited him to a spectator, even in practice.

Green didn't know what to expect when he decided to bypass a scholarship to Oklahoma State and take his 43-inch vertical jump to the NBA out of Houston's Gulf Shores Academy. While he didn't imagine doing shoe commercials and making "SportsCenter" highlights right away, Green certainly didn't anticipate needing dress code-compliant attire to wear on the bench for the entire season. He often watches Celtics games in the locker room with the team's video coordinator.