The Eastern Conference leaders underwent a makeover during the Celtics’ two-day break following their back-to-back victories over the Rockets and Mavericks. Adrian Gryphon, a former Celtic, is replaced as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks by Doc Rivers, a former Celtic, after Gryphon guided the team to a 30–13 record with the second-most effective offence in the league.
Although they demonstrated their strength two weeks ago when they crushed Boston 135-102, the Bucks are still 3.5 games behind the Celtics, and their management did not exactly believe they were headed for a championship. It’s common to assess your success in relation to that of your rivals, but the Celtics have been coasting through the regular season with little drama to report. But Joe Mazzulla remains unaffected by the news of this week.
Mazzulla remarked, “I don’t think they’re competing with us.” “To start with, we haven’t prevailed. I’m not sure why anyone would want to compete with us. Since 2008, we have not taken home a championship. We definitely don’t fit the mould. Insofar as people claim to be chasing us, we are actually chasing them back. Do you understand what I mean? We don’t even consider it from that angle. We simply need to maintain a healthy balance between the knowledge that, although we are a really good team, there are other really good teams as well. How do we compare to them and how can we improve as a team?
The Celtics have completed a three-game road trip with a healthy roster in Miami tonight. This season, they have gone 1-0 against the Heat, 2-1 against the Bucks, and 1-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
This isn’t the same team that Boston defeated in their home opener on October 27, though it will be Jrue Holiday’s second encounter with the defending East champions. Holiday was once coveted by the Heat after missing out on the Damian Lillard sweepstakes. Terry Rozier, the former Celtic, was traded to Charlotte on Monday by Miami in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a protected first-round pick.
“I think it makes sense. I think Terry is already a native of Miami,” Jaylen Brown joked after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m happy for him. It kind of fits him where their culture represents.”
“I think they get better for sure,” Brown continued on the trade. “Terry’s athleticism, playoff experience, all that type of stuff, I think he’ll fit right in.”
“Tough, competitor, physical, that type of mindset, playoff experience, I think he goes along with all of that.”
Last night, Miami lost to Memphis 105-96 and in his debut, Rozier came off the bench for 9 points (3-of-11 shooting) with five assists and two steals. But if we know anything about Scary Terry, he can heat up at the right time
Leave a Reply