Celtics have all the motivation they need: ‘It was never about just trying to win one’

BOSTON — It is amazing what an NBA championship can do for morale.

Two years ago, when the Celtics convened at the Auerbach Center for a somber media day, they introduced a first-time head coach to a team stunned by the news of his predecessor’s improprieties.

This offseason came with its own unique set of circumstances, as all do. Kristaps Porziņģis underwent surgery to a rare ankle injury. Jaylen Brown was left off the Olympic team. Jayson Tatum made the roster but was twice benched in Paris. The team’s ownership group announced its intent to sell the franchise.

And let’s just say the mood was a little different this time around.

“I don’t want to state the obvious,” said Brown, “but we won a championship.

“It was bliss.”

Make no mistake: The Olympics were a thing for Boston’s two best players.

Jayson Tatum speaks to the media during Boston Celtics Media Day at the Auerbach Center on September 24, 2024. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

Brown, who was left off Team USA, implied that Nike shared responsibility for his absence from the roster. Brown stepped to the podium in black custom sneakers, which he planned to officially unveil later on Tuesday, vowing to expose “the whole experience that goes on in the sneaker market” in the future.

As for the Olympics, Brown would say only, “I’m extremely motivated for obvious reasons.”

Tatum made Steve Kerr’s squad but played limited minutes during his run to a second gold medal. He, too, said he would draw some motivation from the situation.

“I guess you could say that if you want to simplify it,” said Tatum. “In real time, it was tough. I talked to Joe [Mazzulla] a lot, and he was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two of the games in the Olympics. If you know Joe, it makes sense. Did I need any extra motivation coming into the season? No. I’m not going to give anybody in particular credit that they motivated me coming into the season. It was a unique circumstance, something I haven’t experienced before in my playing career, but I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason.”

In the end, though, “If you’re…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-24 21:16:32

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