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04:10 AM ET 11.03 | Celtics captain Paul Pierce changed diets and increased his workout schedule to prepare for the season. Kevin Garnett played soccer. In fact, Garnett played a lot of soccer, installing a field in the backyard of his Wayzata, Minn., home and playing pickup games. Garnett is a supporter of Chelsea FC and follows the example of Blues forward Didier Drogba as a goal-scorer. "I don't have striker's skills," Garnett said. "I just want the liberty of not only passing the ball but also the liberty of shooting the ball, or at least trying to be a striker." Garnett has been recruited to play in benefit soccer games, such as the one NBA stars Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Joakim Noah, and Barcelona's Thierry Henry set up in New York in June, but declined because he does not want to play goalkeeper. Garnett became a soccer fan through watching YouTube images of freestyle players, adopting Brazilian star Ronaldinho among his favorites.