Celtics Owners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca Join Felger & Mazz
98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger and Massarotti were joined, in studio, by Boston Celtics Managing Partners Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca on Friday to talk some Celtics.
The Celtics open their home schedule Friday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks, looking to bounce back from Tuesday night's loss to the Heat in Miami.
When Ray Allen chose to join the Heat this summer, he said he was mistreated by the Celtics organization. But the two owners had nothing but good things to say about their former player.
"I think Ray saw an opportunity to get something off his chest, and he has the right to do that," said Grousbeck. "We had him traded; we're not making a secret of that. Then he lost his starting job. I think he had the right to [leave for the Heat]."
"Ray did fantastic for us," said Pagliuca. "I think we'll remember the good parts of Ray. These things are always emotional when players change teams."
The Celtics will have a tribute video for Allen when he returns to the TD Garden with the Heat on January 27, and both owners said they'll stand up and cheer for the former number-20.
"I'm wearing my (2008 Championship) ring, and I'm sure I wouldn't have it if it wasn't for Ray," said Grousbeck.
Speaking of the Heat, they're the team that has knocked the Celtics out of the playoffs the last two years. They're the defending champs, and the Celtics biggest rival at the moment. Do the Celtics owners hate the Heat?
"I despise everybody in the eastern conference, but they're right up there," said Grousbeck.
"We definitely have no love for Miami," said Pagliuca. "It's a big, big rivalry and we get up for it. We go to the game down there and the fans don't like us."
As for the Celtics, they had themselves quite the offseason in adding key pieces like Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, and bringing back forward Jeff Green. But the biggest piece to it all was Kevin Garnett, who had hinted at retiring following last season.
What would the plan have been for the Celtics had Garnett retired?
"We didn't know if he was coming back. We were hopeful he would, but it wasn't pre-wired," said Grousbeck. "I'm glad he came back. It really sparked the entire decision to rebuild, as opposed to totally reload. If it works this year, it will be partly because of him."
Hear the entire hour of Felger & Mazz with Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagluica, as they cover a number of topics about the Celtics and NBA!
