Rozier shoots way out of slump in fourth quarter
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Celtics coach Brad Stevens has told Terry Rozier that his improved play probably has a lot to do with his growing role.
The steadier the point guard’s minutes, the better his play, and after hitting only one of his first nine shots last night, that principle came through. Rozier scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter of the C’s 108-94 win against the San Antonio Spurs, including a solo 8-0 run that gave the home team a nine-point lead with 7:52 left.
Included in that burst were back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot at the top of the circle. It was a nice comeback for a player who, the 1-for-9 start included, had been in a 7-for-35 shooting slump over four games.
“Give me one. I can make one,” Rozier said. “It’s been a tough couple of games, but my teammates were doing a good job in just helping me believe in myself and lifting me up throughout the process. No matter what I was always taught to play hard. If things aren’t working on offense, turn your defense into offense. Play hard on defense and things will fall into place and that was our mindset. Our coaches do a good job of just teaching defensive principles every game. How can we stop our opponent? That’s what we did and that helped us go on a run, because we cranked it up on defense.”
Morris scrimmages
Marcus Morris played three-quarters’ worth of a scrimmage with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League in Waltham, and he is likely drawing near his Celtics debut. He was asked before last night’s game at the Garden how much the soreness in his left knee had subsided.
“From the last time I first felt it I was probably about a 9 (on a scale of 1-10 in terms of soreness), it was kind of unbearable,” Morris said. “Now I think it’s like a 2 or 1. It’s come along really well.”
There was no word on Morris’ availability for tomorrow night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.
“Whenever they think I’m ready, that’s when I’m going to play,” he said. “I’m not going to put a date on it because what I feel as a competitor is just wanting to get out there and play and it might not be right for me or the team. Today’s practice it felt really good. I got up and down. It felt really good. If I could say so, I probably could play now.”
Morris’ coach has been impressed by this progress.
“It’s really, really, really improved, and that’s good,” Stevens said. “One of the things we didn’t want to do was start off where you’re going back and forth all year. It’s improved a great deal. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow after doing a lot more with regard to up and down on the court than he’s been doing. We’re excited about his progress and he’s excited about his progress, which is good. He played for a long time (today), lot of five-onfive, which was good. We’ll see how he feels in practice tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Stick together
Morris’ twin, the Washington Wizards’ Markieff Morris, was suspended by the NBA for one game Sunday for leaving the bench two nights earlier during a skirmish between teammate Bradley Beal and the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green. Both players, holding each other in headlocks, went to the floor, triggering the bench exodus.
Marcus Morris believes he probably would have done the same thing as his brother.
“It’s an instinct type of thing,” Morris said. “Being from North Philly, I would have done the same thing. (Markieff) and Bradley are really close. And that’s how I feel with this team. I just can’t see nobody take one of my guys to the ground and don’t do anything.” ...
Jabari Bird was reassigned to the Red Claws.