Rozier busts out with 23 off bench
By most accounts Terry Rozier, as well as the rest of the Celtics bench, was due last night.
The guard started the night shooting 33.7 from the floor, including 32.6 from 3-point range, and uncorked career highs in points (23), 3-pointers (five) and made baskets (eight) during the Celts’ 118-103 win over the Orlando Magic.
“Law of averages will play themselves out with him,” said coach Brad Stevens. “He’s a really good shooter. Made some big ones in a lot of different games this year, including on Wednesday night to give us a chance to get back in that. But I think we want him to be ready to fire when he catches it.
“You just kind of knew that he’s going to have nights like this,” Stevens continued. “I mean, (he’s) not always going to shoot it great, but he’s too good of a shooter to shoot a low percentage, I think.”
Asked if he was due, Rozier smiled quietly and made the vow that all of Stevens’ players make.
“Either way you put it, I’m going to keep shooting and keep playing,” he said. “I’m not perfect. I’m going to have tough games and I’m going to have games like this. It just feels good. I want to build off of it.”
Marcus stays home
Marcus Morris, who finished with nine points and five rebounds in a season high-tying 26 minutes, didn’t travel with the team to Indianapolis for tonight’s game against the Pacers. His minutes restriction, not to mention the moratorium on back-to-back games, remains in place as the power forward recovers from a sore left knee.
Morris, who has had to force himself to accept these cautious measures, would obviously rather be on the trip.
“Coach would rather I sleep in my own bed, rehab tomorrow,” he said. “(I’ll) probably go to the JayZ concert, do something. I’d rather be on the road with my team, honestly. But he made the decision.
“(The knee is) better. I feel like I could play,” said Morris. “If this was playoffs I’d be playing, or if it was a game we really needed I’d be playing. But we’re on a good run. Our rookies are playing well and our young guys are playing well.”
Asked if the restrictions were close to ending, he said, “Not even sure, honestly. I wish it would, but I’m going with the flow.” …
Daniel Theis didn’t play last night, but not because there was a problem.
“That was just because I wanted to play Guerschon (Yabusele) in the fourth quarter, because he hasn’t gotten as much opportunity,” said Stevens. “Give him a chance to play. And Daniel’s going to play a big role for us, and he knows that. I talked to him. He’ll play. He’ll play (tonight).”
Underrated Al
Due to his ability to impact many parts of a game, including a varied impact as a scorer, Al Horford often gets overlooked when compared to his fellow NBA stars.
“He doesn’t have that superstar persona, but in my mind he is,” said Orlando coach Frank Vogel. “Probably the most underrated guy in the league, in my opinion, for everything he does.
“He plays the 4, he plays the 5, holds the fort down blocking shots. They’re able to switch on defense and his communication on that end of the floor with his hands, and obviously when you have the ability to have five 3-point shooters out there with what he can do.”
Stevens certainly doesn’t want Horford to change his ways, and start looking to be more of a scorer.
“We just need everybody to make the right basketball play, and Al is one of the best in the league at making the right basketball play,” said Stevens. “Sometimes that means scoring, sometimes that means making the extra pass, sometimes it means starting a possession with a hockey assist — whatever the case may be.
“We just need everybody on board to make the right basketball play, and I can’t think of anyone better to lead that charge than Al.”
Horford certainly lived up to all of that pregame praise last night, dishing out seven assists in the first quarter, and tying his career high with 10. He’s now put together five 10-assist games in his career.