Planning and patience led to the Boston Celtics' championship, in the opinion of Kevin Eastman.

His opinion is informed. The former University of Richmond guard, who lives in Richmond, is a Celtics assistant coach.

Though the Celtics went 24-58 last season, Eastman said the organization was in good hands with Danny Ainge as executive director of basketball operations, a position he assumed in 2003. Since the completion of last season, the Celtics added frisky post man Kevin Garnett and guard Ray Allen in deals made by the Celtics primarily with young players.

Garnett and Allen, each a multiyear all-star, combined with holdover star Paul Pierce to drive Boston over Los Angeles to the NBA title.

"We all knew it was going to be a difficult year last year," Eastman said. "But Danny Ainge had a plan when he first took this thing over, and that was to gather up assets, young assets preferably. And then at the right time, when the environment was right, try and make a move with some of those assets. That's what happened.

"I'm sure it was quite a bit of planning and quite a bit of luck, too, that it all worked out properly."

Eastman, after some time off, will begin working with the Celts in offseason training.

"It's not as if [practice] is real creative during the season," he said. "It's really just getting the [regulars] shots, just to maintain touch. You're trying to keep their legs fresh. When the skill development becomes fun at this level is in the summertime, when you get some of the young guys out there and really go at it."

Eastman also operates basketball camps in the Richmond area in August.