Pietrus shows promise in Celtic debut

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BOSTONA couple of minutes was all Mickael Pietrus wanted in his Boston Celtics debut on Wednesday.
He got more than just a couple minutes - 18, actually.
And the Celtics may have more than just someone to lighten the load for Paul Pierce.
Pietrus made quite a splash in his first game with the C's, a 90-85 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
The 6-foot-6 wing player finished with five points which included a 3-pointer - his first shot attempt as a Celtic.
He also had two steals, the last one ultimately resulting in a Boston lay-up that tied up the game in the fourth.
"He was phenomenal," coach Doc Rivers said when asked about Pietrus. "He was one of our best players in the game."
Those comments only strengthen the words of Rivers in recent days when discussing how Pietrus has been one of the team's top players in practice.
Boston would love for Pietrus to give the C's another scoring option off the bench. But even more important than that, is his athleticism and versatility as a defender.
"He's exactly what we need," Rivers added. "And it's just going to get better."
Pietrus certainly hopes so, both for himself and the Celtics (4-5), who are still in search of their first win over a team with a winning record.
When he reached a buyout with the Phoenix Suns last month, Pietrus said he already had his mind made up that he wanted to join the Celtics.
He has rattled off many reasons since then as to why he so desperately wanted to be in Boston.
But there are 17 - as in, the number of Celtics titles - that immediately come to mind.
"Anytime I step on the floor I'm trying to give the team my heart," Pietrus said. "The Celtics are my heart now. I tell you everything, that's what I'm going to bring every night and I'm not going to lie to you, I'm here to win a championship!"
And he'll help the C's towards that end by simply being a reliable role player.
As far as what that role will be, Pietrus keeps it pretty simple.
"My role is to win championships. That's why I'm here for, to win championship. I want them to have one this year with me," Pietrus said. "So I'm very excited. My role would be like every time I step on the floor, to help my team win basketball game, play as hard as I can."

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