BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Celtics already thought extremely of newly-acquired guard Jrue Vacation, however these notions got here to life when the 33-year-old stepped on the ground in follow for the primary time throughout coaching camp.
Lower than 72 hours after the information broke that Vacation landed in Boston by means of a blockbuster swap with the Path Blazers, the Celtics have lots to say. That very popularity Vacation has spent 14 NBA seasons constructing, was seen from a first-hand view by Celtics coaches and teammates at the beginning of coaching camp.
“I informed Jrue when he went and received into Phil Pressey and nearly made him stop teaching when he was guarding him, that made me so comfortable,” Stevens mentioned Wednesday throughout Vacation’s introductory press convention. “… Clearly I’ve talked about what I consider this man as an individual, and I’ve talked all alongside in regards to the thought of aggressive character issues a lot. Not solely to as the person, however the way it impacts the workforce. And I feel he brings it in addition to anyone round. I simply suppose contagious.”
Vacation has a long-standing popularity as one of many league’s most fierce defensive guards. Final season, whereas additionally averaging 19.3 factors and seven.4 assists with the Bucks, Vacation additionally recorded 1.2 steals an evening which ranked eleventh amongst all guards throughout the NBA.
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As was the case with Marcus Sensible, defensive depth and vitality can’t be taught in a single day, however they may spark a response when wanted essentially the most. Loads of instances all through Sensible’s time with the Celtics, he’d lean to his defensive hustle in an effort to unfold some newfound vitality amongst teammates in an effort to rally some late-game comebacks and bids.
Now with the Celtics contemporary off yet one more failed season, Vacation has the chance to re-deliver that increase of vitality and instill it on a night-to-night foundation. That’s other than a dependable degree of All-Star-caliber scoring manufacturing too, which by no means hurts.
“It felt nice. It felt nice to get on the market and compete,” Vacation mentioned. “We all know that our greatest gamers are essentially the most aggressive ones. They’re sort of main the cost. JT and JB have been on the market after folks defensively and I understand how it may be being a two-way participant, however I feel for us to be an important workforce, clearly, these two are gonna carry us alongside quite a lot of the way in which.”
Vacation has weeks to totally get acclimated with the Celtics earlier than Boston formally enters its new season on Oct. 25.
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