Rasheed sits up and tells the truth. He has no choice. Fatima knows him too well.
“There’s going to be nights where I say nothing and there’s going to be nights where I say a lot,’’ says Rasheed. “I might get a tech one night. I might not get a tech for a couple games. I can get three techs in a row.’’
Fatima fires back, “But can we win a championship with your techs?’’
Rasheed answers, “I did it before. Check my track record.’’
By now, Rasheed is enjoying the interrogation, the rising passion on both sides. He smiles at Fatima, daring her to continue the verbal sparring.
“Your track record was horrible with technicals,’’ says Fatima.
Rasheed counters, “Whoop-dee-doo. Look how many wins I’ve got. Look how many years I’ve been in the playoffs. Look how many times I’ve had successful seasons. Check . . . my . . . track . . . record.’’
With a 2004 championship ring from the Detroit Pistons and more playoff experience (153 games) than any of his new Celtic teammates, Wallace makes the most convincing argument possible. His emotional combustibility didn’t keep the Pistons from winning a title, and he believes it won’t cost the Celtics next season. Quite the opposite, if you survey his former coaches and general managers, teammates and family members. They see the Celtics as the right team at the right time for Wallace, and vice versa.
“As a ballplayer, I have more pros than cons,’’ said Wallace. “I’d say, pretty much, my worst con is my attitude sometimes.’’
The Celtics came to the same conclusion in their cost-benefit analysis and signed Wallace as a free agent July 8. Attitude and all, Wallace was worth a two-year, $12.2 million contract with a player option for a third season at $6.8 million. He gives Boston the front-court depth, versatility, and durability it needed last season when it struggled with injuries and suffered a second-round playoff loss to the Orlando Magic.
The Celtics are not looking to change Wallace. They are not counting on coach Doc Rivers or All-Star veteran teammates Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen to police him. Besides, Wallace wouldn’t have it.
