First impressions left Danny Ainge with a slightly disgusted feeling last May.

In the mind of the Celtics' new director of basketball operations, the team he was taking over was curiously out of shape.

Getting back down the floor was a problem against New Jersey in last season's second round playoff series. Flabbiness in spirit and body fat ratio were equally evident.

``It was one of the first things I said. The conditioning had to be much better,'' Ainge said last week while preparing for the opening of training camp on Sept. 29, with veterans of four or more seasons of experience beginning double sessions on Oct. 3.

``It became my No. 1 priority,'' said Ainge. ``I've said all along that the players you have must be in the best condition.

``I felt that our overall conditioning was way down, and had to get much better.''

It should have come as no surprise, then, when Ainge decided not to renew the contract of strength-and-conditioning coach Shaun Brown, a Rick Pitino holdover.