It’s been billed as the best February in franchise historical past – a 9-2 month by the Celtics that included the final seven video games of a season-high nine-game win streak.
Ime Udoka doesn’t sound notably moved that, consequently, the NBA named him the Eastern Conference’s coach of the month for February. As he sees it, his crew has merely come collectively, lastly.
“Means we’re playing well. Bottom line,” he mentioned earlier than Thursday’s sport towards Memphis. “I imply these particular person awards are actually a mirrored image of the crew and what they’re doing. And, as I’ve mentioned all yr, our group is nice and lets us push them, coach them onerous. And that’s the place the outcomes are exhibiting for that. And so greater than something, means we’re on target. And these accolades come however, for me personally, it’s a mirrored image of these guys. I don’t care concerning the private however I care how we’re taking part in, what course we’re going.
“It means you’re reaching them. I’ve talked about it quite a bit, that the guys asked for that and then they’ve allowed us to coach them, which is not always the case,” he added. “A lot of people will say one thing and when you’re on them relentlessly, over and over about some of the things that you want to change or improve on, they’ll either go south or not be receptive to them. Our guys have responded, as I mentioned, quite a bit. Health played a big part and once we’ve gotten together it feels like we bought into everything we’re trying to get them to do on both ends, see growth on both ends, defensively, obviously, but offensively as well with Jayson (Tatum) and Jaylen (Brown) and some of the things they’re doing, and now Grant (Williams) and Rob (Williams), across the board. So they’re allowing us to push them, we’re in a good spot and just want to continue to grow from there. So the bottom line is they have to let you coach them. And that’s what it comes down to. And so our group has been great as far as that.”
Tatum turns 24
Tatum, now a three-time NBA All-Star and a gold medal Olympian, turned 24 on Thursday. He laughed previous to the Memphis sport about remembering when he couldn’t even develop a correct beard.
“I remember those times praying it would grow overnight. But some things take time,” he mentioned, shaking his head when requested how a lot he seems again on his comparatively younger profession.
“Not really, it’s hard to reflect while you’re in it,” he mentioned. “I kinda feel like you start reflecting, you get complacent. Whereas for me, I’m always trying to outdo myself. Whether I score 50 or 60 the next game, I don’t carry that over. It’s kind of like whatever happened is in the past and it’s all about what (you’re going to) do now, what (you’re going to) do next and that’s just kinda the mindset that I carry and hopefully, 15 years from now when I hang them up, I can have a lot of special things to reflect on. But in the meantime, just focus on what’s next.”
Jaylen Brown rehab
Brown’s sprained proper ankle is just not thought-about extreme, nevertheless it’s actually nonetheless painful, in line with his coach.
“Still swollen and some pain there and be evaluated day to day,” mentioned Udoka. “Don’t know much more than that, other than they’ll take a look everyday and hopefully it ends up being a pain tolerance thing. Hope to have him this weekend but you never know how he responds to treatment.”
The Celtics, at first of one in all their hardest stretches of the season when it comes to the standard of their opponents, host a Brooklyn crew Sunday that’s anticipated to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving accessible.
Source: www.bostonherald.com