The Boston Celtics have about as much buzz surrounding their organization as any of the NBA’s 29 other teams do with the way they have been playing of late. But, even with one of the best records in the league since the new year is not enough to compete with the hurricane of intensity that is Kevin Garnett and his jersey retirement ceremony planned for after the Celtics’ early tip against the Dallas Mavericks Sunday.
Speaking with the media ahead of the game, Boston head coach Ime Udoka discussed how the team was keeping their eyes on the prize in the midst of all the historical celebratory events threatening to overshadow the present.
“The first thing would be to take care of business,” explained Udoka.
“Everything’s more enjoyable if you win,” he added, perhaps thinking on how the last jersey retirement ceremony — for KG teammate Paul Pierce — was perhaps a bit besmirched by a loss.
“So that’s the focus first of all, and foremost. We’ll enjoy the festivities afterward, but we have talked about it quite a bit. I mentioned it in here the other day, I think (Garnett) may see the guys and have a brief message for them, so that’ll be good for them to see.”
“And … Jayson (Tatum) in the All-Star break, being around the top-75 (players of all time), and anytime they are in the building, which they have been in the last few days, it’s good for that to rub off on our guys,” suggested the Celtics coach.
It will be no cakewalk for Boston facing a stronger Mavs squad with a similar record and hunger to climb up the standings in a struggle for postseason positioning.
But it seems the Celtics and Udoka have their proverbial ducks in a row while also integrating the past into the plans of the present without doing a disservice to either.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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