Morrison ready for big league
Morell native welcoming challenge of coaching with NBA’s Boston Celtics
Basketball is basketball from junior varsity to NBA. For Scott Morrison the main difference is how you see the players.
Up through university the coach has the last choice; in the pros, things are more delicate. After all, coaches are dealing with men, earning money, with opinions and ideas of their own.
So when Morrison steps on the TD Garden’s parquet floor as a member of the Boston Celtics coaching staff upcoming NBA season, he understands the difference.
“The pros have their own egos. It’s less of being a dictator and being more of a leader and figure out what makes each guy tick. And convince them that what’s good for some guys is good for all,” said Morrison.
The Morell native gets his chance to implement the strategy this season, although Morrison’s not sure yet what his role will be after head coach Brad Stevens told him he wouldn’t be going back to Maine this season.
Morrison, who became the NBA D-League’s Maine Red Claws all-time winningest coach (46 victories) last season, spent three seasons with Claws after 11 seasons as Lakehead University head coach where he guided the Wolves to eight straight national final eight appearances.
“You’re teaching the same things as Lakehead, Dal or UPEI. I’m sure people higher than me in the organization feel that pressure.” Scott Morrison
Boston liked what they saw in the development league coach and upped his status earlier this month. Not bad for the UPEI grad, who left the Panthers as the all-time leader in assists, three-point field goals and with the Atlantic University Sport record for made three-pointers.
Like then, Morrison doesn’t seem to feel the pressure and just wants to help out any way he can with the Eastern Conference finalist.
“You’re teaching the same things as Lakehead, Dal or UPEI. I’m sure people higher than me in the organization feel that pressure,” he said.
And while Morrison, who coached with Canada’s national junior men’s national team, admits the aura of the Celtics, one of the flagship NBA franchises which boasts former players such as Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, will be felt the odd time through the season, it’s part of why he does this.
“There’s no point in working hard if you can’t enjoy it. At the end of the day you have to keep grinding it out,” he said.
Morrison was named the DLeague’s coach of the year in 2015 and leaves the Red Claws with a 95-55 record over three seasons.
He was also named the Ontario university conference coach of the year in 2010 for his work with Lakehead.