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What They Were Thinking

What they were thinking: Welcome to the NBA

Celtics rookie Greg Stiemsma draws a foul the hard way as Washington’s JaVale McGee barrels into his head while trying to block the shot, at TD Garden, Jan. 2, 2012.Stan Grossfeld/Globe staff/Boston Globe

Every Sunday, Boston Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld asks the subject of one of his photos to explain what’s happening in the shot:

Up today: Celtics rookie Greg Stiemsma draws a foul the hard way as Washington’s JaVale McGee barrels into his head while trying to block the shot, at TD Garden, Jan. 2, 2012.

McGee: “I didn’t think he was going to pump-fake but he did. I’m looking like I’m going to get hurt, but I didn’t.’’

Stiemsma: “I knew I was open. I got the ball and pump-faked. I knew he was there somewhere. He’s one of the biggest guys I’ve ever played against. I knew he went up in the air but then he kind of just rolled off me. It didn’t hurt. I didn’t know if it was his butt, his back, or his shoulder. I was just thinking get the free throws, get to the free throw line. Man, it was almost like a backwards piggy-back. It kind of puts piggy-back on a whole different level. I’ve never been fouled by somebody’s butt that high up on my body going up for 2.’’

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