First things first: If Kentucky defeats Stanford in its NCAA national semifinal Saturday, guess who plans to be on a charter jet to San Antonio for Monday’s championship game?
Former Wildcats and current Boston Celtics–coach Rick Pitino, Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer–that’s who. Granted, it will be a distraction in the stretch run of an NBA season, especially with games in Philadelphia and Miami sandwiched around the title tilt.
But if there is one thing Mercer has learned in this rookie season, it is how to handle distractions.
From more requests for his off-court time to the length of the NBA season, Mercer has sat front and center in Basketball 101, trying to soak up every lesson thrown his way. And his growth process has never been more evident than of late, when he has turned in several “A” performances.
Forget Monday night, when Mercer managed just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting in the Celtics’ 111-88 loss to the Bulls. Mercer did have five rebounds and six assists.
Mercer has been on a tear. In the 20 games before Monday night, he scored in double figures 18 times and averaged 18.9 points on 47.5 percent shooting. He has also cracked the 20-point barrier six times, including a career-high 31 points March 19 against Houston.
That’s not to say Mercer had been struggling previously. He is averaging 15 points on 44.9 percent shooting in 31.9 minutes per game. Among rookies, he is third in scoring, fourth in minutes, fifth in free-throw percentage (.826) and ninth in shooting.
“I just feel more comfortable on the court,” Mercer said. “I’m trying to do the things that I was doing in college, compared to just going out and thinking too much. Now I’m just going out and playing.
“I needed to find my comfort zone, just relax and go out and play like I’m capable of playing. In the beginning of the year, I tried to go out and fit in. Now I have confidence to do more.”
Mercer is doing his best to dispel the NBA myth that rookies wear out down the stretch in their first run through the grueling season, which is more than twice as long as a college season. Mercer played 76 games in his two seasons at Kentucky, both times advancing to the NCAA title game.
Monday marked his 66th this season. He has started 50 of those games, including Monday’s, and has missed only two (flu and sore hip).
“He’s been very consistent all year, but he’s just gotten better on defense and with his passing,” Pitino said. “I’m delighted, but I’m not surprised he has played so well of late. He is a very well-conditioned athlete.”
Mercer credits having played under Pitino’s withering system at Kentucky for his current condition. Still he admits there have been times he has tired this season.
“That’s where I had to learn the off-the-court stuff to better prepare myself,” he said. “I had to rest a lot more than I had been. I can’t stay out late.”
In the world of players going from high school to the NBA All-Star Game, Mercer is a veritable graybeard at the age of 21. He will turn 22 on May 18, a month after his first regular season concludes.
It is doubtful the Celtics will be in the playoffs at that point: After Monday’s loss, they are 5 1/2 games out of the race for the final Eastern Conference spot.
Still, it will have been a season of growth and improvement for both the Celtics and Mercer, who has one, very simple off-season plan.
“Rest,” he said.
