A lot is said during the NBA Finals, and most of it never makes it into anyone’s piece. It’d be a shame to waste all those good words, so here are some quotes of note from the Celtics heading into Game 2.
The Celtics wore shirts in solidarity with Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for months.
#FreeBrittneyGriner 👉 https://t.co/NilQSP8giS pic.twitter.com/6tw5S3dwAL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 4, 2022
“The shirts were super important not only showing our support for our sister that is detained over in Russia, Brittney Griner, we just wanted to show that togetherness and love that we have throughout not only the NBA but the WNBA. She's been a vital part of the WNBA over years past, college, and in the amount of impact she's had on young female athletes, USA and overseas. We hope to have her back in the U.S. and reunited with her family and do what she loves and bring that love and tenacity she always plays with on the court.” - Grant Williams
“You know, being over there with the Olympics, obviously it was during COVID and so we couldn't really go out and see other events and things like that. So after the games, after practice, we would be in the hospitality room, men and women. We would be in there, playing cards, karaoke, things like that, video games. Great person to be around. She just enlightens the entire room with her personality.
“So it's extremely tough seeing what she's going through. I know everybody sees and feels that, and obviously we're all together in support trying to bring her back to her family and things like that. Yeah, wearing those shirts today in support of her.” - Jayson Tatum
“It's been now over a hundred days since she's been illegally held in Russia. I think it's something that all of us should be heard on, contacting your representatives and others. I will only say we are working in lockstep with the U.S. government and outside experts on trying to expedite her release in any way we can. Certainly our hearts go out to her and her family, and just are eager for her safe return. And so I join my colleagues in the WNBA in making reference to her as well.” - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
Griner, a WNBA star, was playing professionally in Russia as many women do during the normal basketball season. Many return to play in the WNBA during the summer.
Griner is being detained for allegedly possessing vape cartridges with hashish oil. The US government has called this a wrongful detention and is working to secure her release, but Russia is asking for a prisoner swap for a convicted arms dealer.
“Yeah, he's done a great job. Talking about where he started, 10-day contracts and things like that. He's obviously had to work his way to get here, and he carries that sense of toughness with him and does instill that into the group every day.
“Proud of him. I'm happy that we have him as a coach. He's a much better coach than he was a basketball player, and I think he knows that, as well.” - Tatum, on Ime Udoka
Nothing like having the star player bust your chops in the media, but I’m pretty sure Udoka would have to agree.
But also, him not being a great player made him a great coach. It was having to learn multiple positions, be perfect on the finer details, and be focused every moment on the floor that helped make him who he is as a coach. It’s the toughness to persevere through non-guaranteed deals, going overseas, and being cut allows him to be direct with his team and take on that same attitude.
You rarely see the greatest players succeed as coaches. It’s usually the grunts off the bench or the role players who needed to be more aware than anyone else on the floor to succeed. This team has taken on Ime’s personality, grit, and toughness, and he earned that by paying quite a few dues along the way.
“The bottom line is if we defend at a certain level, we should be in good shape regardless where we're playing. That's a good thing. We can limit runs in those 38-point quarters. You look at the others, 22 and 16, we are in good shape. So just try to limit the runs. I think offensively and in general, we have a confident group. Then defensively know we can lock in. So that usually gives us good results.
“But love that part of it, love where we're at, 8-2 on the road in the playoffs. It obviously benefits us to get on the road and get those wins and go back home and take care of business.” - Udoka
The coach talked about the road warrior mentality back in training camp. It was a stated goal of his to make this a trait for his team.
I don’t know what’s going to happen in this series, but I can tell you right now Udoka is already winning next year’s Coach of the Year award. The voters are a year behind. All Boston has to be is pretty good and the award is his.
“Feeling good. I'm feeling good. Taking it day-by-day, step-by-step. Getting all the treatment I can. Doing everything I need to make sure I'm ready.”
Q. Where are you percentage-wise compared to where you were pre-injury?
“I can't give you a percentage, but I wouldn't be out there if I couldn't do what I need to do.” - Robert Williams
“If you don't need to practice, shootaround, I don't need to see you on the court for the rest of the season until game time if that benefits you. So he kind of gets what he needs as far as that. Watches what he needed to watch and really more mental than physical.” - Udoka
This really is about getting everyone to be their absolute best on the floor at all times, however it needs to happen. Boston has no more than six games left this season, and they need three more wins to raise a banner. Conventional thinking is out the window at this point. Whatever gets everyone ready is what the team will do.
“We can't really think about that. Game 2 is going to be huge. The great thing about the playoffs is one game can change everything. We've got to have that right mindset that this is a big game for us, and we've got to go out there and compete and not try to hang our hat on Game 1 but be a little greedy and go get this Game 2.” - Derrick White on getting up for this game after already winning a game on the road.
This is as big a challenge for Udoka as any this postseason. When the Celtics were down 3-2 to Milwaukee, it was easy to get guys locked in. Their season was on the line.
In this circumstance, it’s a little tougher. There may be a feeling of “ok, we did our jobs” going on here. Udoka has to get them to put that out of their minds and understand that going home up 2-0 is so significantly different than 1-1. These are the final two weeks of the season. There's nothing to save themselves for.
“It's been different just because it was my birthday yesterday, so just a lot of people texting me ‘happy birthday,’ like all that stuff. Then playing basketball at this time of year, it's something that I always wanted to do and be in these positions, so it's been exciting for me.
“Really I had no expectations how it was going to be, but after a win, you feel good. I just kind of bring myself back down and understand that it's only one game and there's still a lot of work ahead.” - Al Horford
I’m just happy for Al. I wrote about how he was giving himself a chance at something special and unique by still actively playing basketball during his June birthday.
He’s gotten that. He looks happy walking around the Chase Center. He’s earned this chance. How can you not be happy for a guy who has put in this much work and played the game the right way?
