Terry Rozier enjoys compliments from Bucks coach Jason Kidd

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/10/celtics_notebook_terry_rozier_enjoys_compliments_from_bucks_coach_jason_kidd




Celtics notebook: Terry Rozier enjoys compliments from Bucks coach Jason Kidd







Steve Bulpett Saturday, October 28, 2017

Credit: Christopher Evans

Terry Rozier/File




MIAMI — Terry Rozier perked up when told that Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd had been saying nice things about him.

“Seriously?” asked the Celtics guard.

Indeed, Kidd had been speaking of the Celtics’ roster-wide youth when he veered toward the third-year product of Louisville.

“I think they’re definitely comfortable,” Kidd said of the children in the Shamrock rotation. “I think when you’re talking about Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they’re playing at a very high level. But the guy that really stands out besides Kyrie (Irving) is Rozier. Rozier’s playing at a very high level for them, He’s being very aggressive on both ends.”

Rozier was honored, and he immediately focused on a connection to a conversation with Danny Ainge from 2015.

“Wow, that’s the guy Danny talked to me about a long time ago,” Rozier said. “Back when I came in to work out for the Celtics before the draft, he told me I reminded him of JKidd — just the mindset part, not so much how we play or the style of play. He said we came at the game the same way, the mindset and the confidence and very competitive, things like that.

“He just said, ‘You’ve got a lot of similarities.’ That’s something that always stuck with me, because JKidd is a legend. Jason Kidd is a Hall of Famer, and I’m trying to get to that level. Any time I’m compared in any way to a guy like that, whether it’s the confidence level, the mindset or the way we play, I’ll take it.”

The favorable comparisons are growing in number for Rozier. While he certainly established himself among his teammates last season — and even, to a large degree, in his rookie year — more people are taking note in his third go-round.

“I think it’s just getting more mature in the game,” he said. “And this is the first year I’ve got a secure role. I don’t have to worry about looking over my shoulder.”


Ojeleye is A-OK on ‘D’

Less than two weeks into his NBA career, Semi Ojeleye already has had the pleasure of being assigned to guard the likes of LeBron James, Kristaps Porzingis and, in Thursday’s win over Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

And he’s acquitted himself very well, using his muscular build to nag and nudge his foes.

“That dude looks like a (‘300’) character,” said Marcus Smart, referencing the epic film. “He’s strong as an ox, and I think Giannis realized that on a couple of times where he tried to bang him and he didn’t go anywhere.

“But as a young guy who has to step up to the plate with all the injuries and things that have happened, he’s responded really well. His offense is going to come. Because he can shoot the ball, it’s going to come. But for him to come in and play defense on one of the better players in this league and help this team, that’s tremendous.”

Ojeleye is certainly up for the task.

“It’s great,” he said. “You always want to go up against the best and know that you can play against them.


“You just try to prepare, watch film and always be ready. You try to take that seriously and know their tendencies and then go out there and just do what you can. You have an idea in walkthroughs who you may guard, and they tell you who to key on in film, so you prepare, but you never know. So you just try to stay as much prepared as you can.”


Jokingly asked if he’d be requesting easier defensive assignments, Ojeleye said, “I mean, everybody in this league is good. There’s not a lot of guys in this league, so if you’re not locked in, somebody’s coming for you.”


Overall the Celtics defense was expected to take a hit with the departures of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, but the club is doing increasingly well on that end, surrendering an average of 90 points (92, 89, 89) over the last three games.
“It’s a lot of credit for our younger guys,” said Al Horford. “I keep ranting and raving about Tatum and Jaylen. Everybody talks about the offense, but I keep saying the defense is what impresses me.”




bob




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I think Danny has learned from the disappointments of Jordan Mickey, R.J. Hunter, Fab Melo and James Young. There's nothing worse than putting in a lot of wasted time and effort on unproven players defined as the future.

Before Brad Stevens, I doubt many believed college coaches were good bets to get it done in the NBA. Stevens has saved a number of careers that seemed over, from Jordan Crawford to Evan Turner.

He has brought out the best in everyone except for Bogans.

Now he has some of the most talented young guys and vets to work with.

Most might agree that Danny got extremely lucky with the Nets' trade. Sure he did. But he also made a lot of little moves that worked out better than imaginable, e.g. getting Isaiah and Crowder.

Long-term it looks like Texas hold 'em. Danny has more chips than anyone and it looks inevitable that the Celtics will win title 18 within a few years or at least be in the conversation.

Nothing is ever guaranteed, but someone would have to be Debbie Downer to not see how high the ceiling has been raised.