The Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, who once played for Detroit coach Flip Saunders, looks to make a pass around Pistons center Rasheed Wallace last night.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

BOSTON — When the Celtics pulled off their monster trade for Kevin Garnett last July, one of the first calls coach Doc Rivers received came from Flip Saunders.

The Pistons’ coach knows Garnett well. He coached him in his first 10 seasons in the NBA and knows all about his work ethic and now legendary intensity.

“When they traded for him, I said, ‘You’re not going to get anybody any better to solidify your team because he understands what a professional is.’ He understands what the league is about,” Saunders said.

The Timberwolves drafted Garnett out of high school in 1995. At the time, using the fifth overall pick on a prep-school star was thought to be a reach. Garnett’s success began the flood of teams selecting high school stars early in future drafts.

“I remember the first time I met him with (Minnesota general manager) Kevin McHale and he had worked out for us, and the first thing he said is ‘Mr. McHale, Mr. Saunders.’ It’s always Mr. Russell, Mr. West,” said Saunders.

“That’s just his respect for the people that have come before him and what they’ve done. So (when) he steps on the floor, he feels like he’s got to play with that passion and give it everything that he has because of that.

The relationship between Saunders and McHale eventually soured and Saunders left Minnesota and landed with the Pistons.

Stroke of good fortune

The NBA held its draft lottery last night, with the Chicago Bulls being awarded the first pick. Only one year ago, the Celtics were hoping for the first or second picks and the opportunity to land either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. When the Celts shockingly were left with the fifth pick, Rivers and Danny Ainge appeared to be crushed.

A year later, Rivers smiled and said, “Shoot, I was the luckiest guy on Earth.” Instead of grooming a potential superstar, Rivers and Ainge wheeled and dealed and landed two current stars in Garnett and Ray Allen.

“If we had gotten one or two, I would have probably been interviewing somebody today before the game for ABC or TNT or something. Expectations would have been unrealistic with one of those two young guys, and they would have pegged us to win everything,” Rivers said. “As a coach and a staff we all know that we would have been a little better with talent but we’d have been younger, and it would have been one long year. So the best break was that night. Now at the time, I obviously didn’t see it that way, but later, once you thought about it — I came to that realization a lot sooner than people thought.”

Coaches are close

The coaches in this series are close, so close that Saunders called Rivers after the Celtics beat Atlanta in seven games to offer congratulations for the Celtics’ coach’s first playoff series win. The two coached together in the Goodwill Games several years ago. Saunders, like Rivers, is blessed with plenty of talent on his team. Contrary to public opinion, he says molding a good team of big-time talents is not always an easy job.

“A lot of times it’s more difficult to coach teams with talent, and especially in his situation when you’ve got two new players (Garnett, Allen) that have given the impact that they have,” Saunders said. “When you have teams that maybe aren’t quite as talented, they’ll tell the coach, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it, because if we get beat, I’ll blame it on you.’

“Sometimes when you have very talented teams, they’ll say don’t coach me and if we get beat, we’ll still blame it on you. So to be able to take an extremely talented team, as Doc has done, to coach those guys and get those guys to play exactly how he wants them to play, that’s a credit to what he’s been able to do.”

Double dribbles

Rivers went with Eddie House and not Sam Cassell in relief of Rajon Rondo at point guard. House got the call in Games Six and Seven of the Cleveland series when Cassell did not play at all. … Rivers on Rasheed Wallace, the Pistons’ enigmatic center who owns a versatile offensive game. “He’s a freak in ways because he has a great post game and power game, yet he’s such a great finesse player. … He’s one of the few (centers) that trails in transition for 3s. Every five and four [players] in their life have been taught to run to the paint defensively in transition, run back to the paint. Yesterday and today we’re telling (our guys), stop at the 3-point line. It’s funny, you’re just not trained to do that.” … Among the fans seated at courtside was Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick. When the coach was shown on the giant scoreboard, the fans let out one of the loudest roars of the night. Fans also quickly chanted “Bel-i-chick, Bel-i-chick” and continued to roar.

kmcnamar@projo.com