SACRAMENTO, Calif.One of the first things Brandon Bass learned as a member of the Boston Celtics, is that the team's core players are honest - brutally honest, at times.
Bass will be the first to tell you that there were times - and still are to this day - where they'll say something that he admits he doesn't want to hear.
But knowing them how he does now, he understands that with all of them it's not about the words - but the message behind them.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"At the end of the day, I know they want to win," Bass said. "And at the end of the day, I know I want to win."
And it is that common thread - the desire to win - that has allowed him to fit in so well with a starting unit that has made tremendous strides since he entered the starting lineup.
Still, there will be times when he and a teammate or two will have a disagreement or two.
Bass is cool with that.
"That's also what makes us closer," he said. "You can't be close when everybody's just being nice. 'Hey man, how you doing?' You gotta fight a little bit; argue a little bit. That's what makes us closer. That'll make us fight for each other more on the court."
Boston (23-19) is looking to bring that fight to the Sacramento Kings tonight in a game in which a Celtics victory would put them five games over-.500 for the first time this season.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR - Boston likes to get out in transition and score, but that only can happen if they are playing consistent defense and getting rebounds. Good luck with a that last point. The Kings have had a slew of problems all year, but rebounding the ball isn't one of them. The C's are starting to show some signs of improvement on the boards, but they remain dead-last in rebounding this season with 46.5 per game. Meanwhile, the Kings are the NBA's 11th-best rebounding team at 51.4 per game.
MATCHUP TO WATCH - Kevin Garnett vs. DeMarcus Cousins: This will be a tough matchup for Garnett defensively because of Cousins' size (6-11, 270) and strength. It wouldn't be that big a shock if Garnett is matched up with Sacramento's Jason Thompson at the start of the game. Still, Garnett has shown the ability to get the job done most nights regardless of who is playing center for the opposition. "I don't think there's a big difference in those positions," said Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, who added that Brandon Bass will guard the bulkier frontcourt player some nights.
PLAYER TO WATCH: One player who has come on of late and provided a huge lift for the Celtics, has been Greg Stiemsma. The 7-foot rookie has been surprisingly effective coming off the bench. In addition to being a defensive presence, he's also getting more chances to score around the basket and from the perimeter. "In the last three games, Stiemsma has started playing well again," said Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations. "He's sort of back in his rhythm. He's had three decent games in a row."
STAT TO TRACK: You won't find too many matchups pitting two teams against each other that are at such extremes when it comes to ball movement. The Celtics average 23.3 assists per game which ranks third in the NBA. The Kings are not as fortunate. They average 18 assists per game, which ranks dead-last in the NBA.