Harangody slows, steadies

The voice of wisdom was that of Nate Robinson, which may surprise some.

Luke Harangody fit the rookie stereotype: anxious, hectic, head spinning from his first NBA experience. He missed 5 of 6 shots in the Celtics’ preseason opener against the 76ers last week. He missed 3 of 4 the next night against the Nets. He missed all three shots he took against the Raptors last Sunday.

He was moving at warp-speed, and Robinson — known to floor it at times himself — pulled him aside.

“Gody, he’s on that rookie thing where he doesn’t want to make a mistake,’’ Robinson said. “I told him to just play basketball. You’re going to make mistakes, but it’s how you play through them.

“The first couple games, he was kind of nervous, kind of shaky. Then he knocked down a couple shots and he started playing relaxed and I told him, ‘Play your game that you were playing at Notre Dame,’ and he’s been doing a hell of a job.’’

Things have snowballed for the rookie forward since the Celtics hit the road this week. He drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the Sixers, finding a rhythm that had for the most part been absent. Then he went for 16 points in a win over the Knicks Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, looking as comfortable as he had since summer league.

“I think he thought he was in the Big East tournament,’’ joked coach Doc Rivers. “He was playing terrific. He was shooting the ball.’’

Rivers was among the many who didn’t expect Harangody to be able to shoot this well, but now that he knows, he’s encouraging the 6-foot-6-inch, 251-pounder to pull the trigger more often.

“We’re trying to get him to try and think shoot,’’ Rivers said. “Don’t just shoot when you’re open, shoot the ball and keep the game simple. We’re thinking that will slow him down.’’
“My confidence level is getting better every day,’’ Harangody said. “The veterans have been great with me, just pulling me to the side at practice and just letting me know I was going a hundred miles an hour out there.

“They tell me, ‘Just relax and play your game. Everyone knows what you can do.’ Every game, it’s getting better and better.’’