In summer league veteran players have to put on display the improvements they have made to their games since the conclusion of the NBA season.   For third-year Boston Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt this summer could be his final attempt to crack Head Coach Doc Rivers' rotation on a championship contending team.

Pruitt came to the Celtics as a second round draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and appeared in just 62 games in his first two NBA seasons, spending most of his rookie year with the Celtics D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash.  The 6'4" Pruitt had limited opportunities in his second year with the club, playing behind emerging star Rajon Rondo, sharp-shooter Eddie House and veteran Stephon Marbury. 

With so many veteran players around him, Pruitt's meal ticket with the Celtics revolves around his ability to defend both guard positions and get the team into its offense and that is his focus during play at the Orlando Pro Summer League.

"The main thing is they (the Celtics coaching staff) wants to see me defend, pick up full-court, and stay in front of my guy," Pruitt told HOOPSWORLD.  "They know that I can shoot the ball and score the ball.  That is not an issue.  I just want to show that I can play and guard my position and guard bigger guys, just so I can stay on the court.  We are a defensive-minded team.  That is our main focus."

One year removed from a NBA title, the Celtics have put themselves in a great position to return to title contention with the return of a healthy Kevin Garnett, the addition of free agent Rasheed Wallace, and great scorers in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and House already in place. 

"With my team, I have a lot of scorers.  Paul, Kevin, Ray, Rasheed, Eddie House, those guys can score the ball.  My job is to get them the ball so that they can make plays," Pruitt continued.  "It is not my job to come in and score a lot of buckets.  That is not my role with this team right now.  My main focus is to get the ball up court safely, get those guys the ball, and defend.  That is my main focus right now."

In his first  summer league game this year Pruitt did just that, scoring 11 points on six field goal attempts while dishing out three assists and collecting two steals in just 22 minutes of play as the Celtics topped the Utah Jazz, 87-56.

Pruitt has taken on a leadership role with the Celtics summer league team which is brimming with young talent like J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker and Lester Hudson, allowing Pruitt to focus on making plays for his teammates and spear-heading the defensive effort.

"This, coming out here for summer league, is the first time I've seen Lester play," Pruitt said of Hudson.  "He is a really good player, a really tough player.  He can score the basketball and he is a guy that can really defend as well.  He is really aggressive with the ball and defensively. 

"J.R. has really shown a lot of aggressiveness," Pruitt added about Giddens.  "He is one of our main guys right now that can score the ball and he has a lot of mismatches.  He can really shoot the ball and he is very athletic and can get to the rim."

With capable scorers around him in the Orlando Pro Summer League, Pruitt has a perfect opportunity to play the same style of basketball now as he will be expected to play in the regular season.  If the team's first game of the summer was any indication, Pruitt could finally crack the Celtics rotation this season.