Those heartbreaks seemed to have been forgotten by those who snarked that Cassell was coattail-riding in Boston this season. He didn't play a lot in the playoffs, even when starting point guard Rajon Rondo was injured in the Finals, and sometimes looked his age when he did. But his impact off the court (veteran guidance for Rondo and even Finals Most Valuable Player Paul Pierce) and on (scoring bursts in games 1 and 5) can't be minimized.
He even felt compelled to defer to his teammates in the record Game 6 rout, with the title in sight. "Doc [Rivers, the coach] wanted to put me in the game in the fourth quarter when we went up by 30 points," he said. "I said, `Doc, no, let those guys play. I'll just stay here and enjoy it.' "
Anyone in the mood to be critical of Cassell's motives or role wasn't welcome at the Towson Center on Saturday. Sprinkled among the crowd that took up about three-quarters of the 3,800-capacity building were members of his AAU teams, who are still raising money to attend the national tournament in New Orleans next month, and more Celtics gear than has ever been witnessed in one location in this area.
