Celtics begin quest to regain title

HIDALGO — The Boston Celtics last season fully expected to defend their 17th NBA championship. But age, an improved Eastern Conference, a knee injury to Kevin Garnett led to their disappointing second-round loss to the Orlando Magic.

Tonight, in their first preseason game, the Celtics begin what they hope will be a season of redemption that ends with their 18th title and second in three years. Garnett, who missed the entire 2009 postseason with a right knee injury, is expected to play tonight and be ready for the season. The Celtics have also added forward Rasheed Wallace to an already veteran roster and hope that point guard Rajon Rondo continues the improvement he showed last spring.

But they aren’t the defending champions anymore.

“We have to develop that swagger back,” Paul Pierce told ESPN.com. “You don’t go into this season and say ‘OK, we’re the champs,’ so we can’t start out with a swagger. We have to develop it, we have to come together, we have to win some games, we have to intimidate people, we have to blow some people out.”

BACK AT IT

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is part of team’s traveling party for their trip to the Valley. In April, shortly before the start of the 2009 playoffs, Ainge suffered a heart attack.

His health problems haven’t stopped him from doing his work, though, including making the trip to the Valley to see the Celtics open their preseason.

“I feel great,” Ainge told USA Today. “I try to get 45 minutes to an hour of cardio each day. Nothing fanatical. How can I not work out? I practically live in a health facility.”

PERMANENT TEMPORARY HOME?

Rockets CEO Tad Brown didn’t dismiss the possibility that Houston could send a portion of its training camp to the Valley every season.

“That’s something we definitely thought about,” Brown said. “I think when you look at the Valley, it’s such a growing region. It’s close to Houston, it’s got a rabid fanbase. I think it’s an area we want to be in.”

Of course, a big part of why the Rockets would be here is the Vipers, who are now solely affiliated with Houston.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Brown said. “Is it going to be a permanent training camp? Those are things that we’ve thought about and talked about and I think that certainly for the foreseeable future, we’ll be here. And hopefully we’ll be here for a long, long time.”

The Rockets will host preseason games in the Valley through at least the 2012 season and are expected to add another day to the local portion of their training camp next season.

LIFTOFF

The Rockets opened their preseason with a 99-85 win Tuesday night at San Antonio. Carl Landry led the Rockets with 19 points, while rookie Chase Budinger had 15 on 7-of-10 shooting. Luis Scola chipped in with 12 while Aaron Brooks also had 12 and added three assists in almost 22 minutes of playing time.

Twelve Rockets played, but former Viper Joey Dorsey did not get into the game.

Brooks and Trevor Ariza were the starting guards, while Budinger and Luis Scola were the forwards. Chuck Hayes opened at center.

Brian Sandalow covers sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436