BOSTON — Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has all the time emphasised remembering those that got here earlier than the present staff, and Saturday night time’s matchup towards the Memphis Grizzlies allowed them to just do that.
Marcus Good, for the primary time, ever, as a member of the Grizzlies, returned to Boston’s parquet to compete towards his outdated Celtics teammates. It’s been a very long time coming for the 30-year-old, now two offseasons faraway from bidding Boston farewell, and Mazzulla, who coached Good for 4 seasons, wants no reminder of what his time with the group meant to the Celtics, their followers and the town.
“I feel it’s essential as a result of there’s lots of people who’ve labored for the group for a very long time who haven’t received,” Mazzulla mentioned pregame at TD Backyard. “I’ve all the time mentioned the individuals who’ve moved the Celtics ahead is what makes this job what it’s. Even earlier than I bought right here, he simply put his mark on the town, actually. The way in which the followers reply to him. The way in which his teammates care about him and simply how exhausting he performs each night time. So, to me, it’s an opportunity to thank him for that and the those that have come earlier than us.”
Good spent 9 seasons with the Celtics after getting chosen sixth total within the 2014 NBA draft. It didn’t take too lengthy after draft night time for Good to determine himself as a fan favourite in Boston. He performed each sport as if it was his final, challenged the field rating with flooring dives and health-risking hustle performs, and by no means complained alongside the best way.
Boston was nonetheless rebuilding as soon as Good arrived. Nevertheless, the Oklahoma State product embraced Celtics tradition all through every of the 581 video games performed with the staff. Good’s blue-collared angle earned him the NBA’s 2022 Defensive Participant of the 12 months honor, making him the primary Celtic to win since Kevin Garnett (2008) — and the primary guard since Gary Payton (1996).
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Nonetheless, all good issues come to an finish, and Good got here face-to-face with that actuality two offseasons in the past as soon as the Celtics traded their longtime coronary heart and soul to the Grizzlies in a part of a three-team commerce to carry Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. After all, the swap was a large win and arguably one of the best pulled off by Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, but it excluded Good from Boston’s long-awaited victory lap after capturing Banner 18 in June.
Good is now tasked with being the veteran supply of steering for a Grizzlies staff bouncing again from a toss-away marketing campaign final season — Memphis completed thirteenth within the Western Convention at 27-55. Thus far, the Grizzlies have a stable job of bouncing again, coming into Saturday’s journey to Boston because the No. 4 seed within the West (15-8) and winners in seven of their final eight video games performed.
