Terry Rozier Opens Up About Difficulties Of Playing With Kyrie Irving
BOSTON (CBS) -- Terry Rozier has a lot to say this offseason, and the soon-to-be restricted free agent isn't holding anything back. That includes his thoughts on Boston's mercurial star Kyrie Irving.
It's no secret that Rozier wasn't happy to be playing behind Irving this season, not after he had a semi-emergence in last year's playoffs when Irving went down with a knee injury. Appearing on ESPN's "Get Up!" on Tuesday morning, Rozier shared his thoughts on why it was so difficult to play with the six-time All-Star.
"He's a great guy. Great leader. You just have to adjust to his style," said Rozier. "Whatever Kyrie wants done, he's gonna show it. That's what he wants done. And you have to adjust to his style of play and how he goes about every game every day."
Ah, the old "he's great and all, BUT...." approach. How Kyrie went about every game, every day varied throughout the season, making it difficult to adapt to his various moods. Rozier strongly hinted earlier this season that if Irving was in a good mood, the Celtics would have a good day. If he wasn't happy, then the Celtics were in trouble.
On Tuesday, Rozier said that Irving's in-game style often led the Celtics astray from the game plan they had practiced.
"I think guys was getting it, especially toward the end of the season. Like I said, we had come into the game and it'd be a different game plan than what we kind of expected and went through in practice," explained Rozier.
The Celtics were never able to come together as a team during the season. They showed signs in the posteason of what could have been when they rattled off five straight victories, only to drop four straight to the Milwaukee Bucks in embarrassing fashion.
Rozier also took issue with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, who certainly deserves his share of blame for Boston's downfall this season.
"The ball was in either Kyrie's or Gordon Hayward's hands most of the time. I feel like Terry Rozier was just in the corner or on the bench," he said.
Rozier is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, giving Boston the ability to match any offer he receives on the open market. He's hinted that he would prefer a fresh start elsewhere, but if Irving were to bolt via free agency, Rozier may have a chance to be Boston's starting point guard next season.
"I'm looking forward to just play ball. I don't care where I go," he said, adding that he loves it in Boston. "I expect me to get my chance, whether it's with the Celtics or anywhere else. I feel like I can be myself and play my game wherever I go."
In the immediate aftermath of the season ending, it sounded like Rozier had spent his last day in a Celtics uniform. While he told "Get Up!" on thing on Tuesday, he was back to his original tune when chatting with Stephen A. Smith later in the morning.
Asked if he'd be open to a Boston return if the Celtics brought back this year's team, Rozier wasn't feeling it.
"I might have to go. I put up with a lot this year, so I don't know. I said what I said after the season. We all know I'm not trying to step into that again," he said.
Buckle up, Celtics fans. It's going to be a wild offseason.