Stevens On Gresh & Zo: Sunday's Blowout Over Knicks 'Has No Impact On Tonight'
BOSTON (CBS) - Last Sunday, the Boston Celtics blew out the New York Knicks in the most lopsided game of the NBA season.
The Knicks will invade the TD Garden on Friday night, looking for a bit of revenge. But for the Celtics, their 41-point win last weekend has nothing to do with Friday night's tilt.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zolak on Friday, and said what happened last Sunday will mean nothing when the two teams tip-off later tonight.
"That game has no impact on tonight. You start a new game," said Stevens. "The best thing that can happen if something doesn't go your way is you get a fresh start. We recognize that and I think the Knicks also recognize that was one of those days for us and one of those days for them. This is a brand new, separate entity in and of its own."
Read: Celtics-Knicks Preview
"I don't think there's any less focus from the last time we played them, because they know what they're capable of," said Stevens. "Our guys also remember this is the team that ended their season last year."
"This is a group that can get it going, and if you let them get it going you're toast," he said of the Knicks. "They won two games by 40 before we played them last week, so that's pretty fresh in everyone's mind."
Stevens said emotions were high this week as the Celtics took on Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett's Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, and then hosted Doc Rivers' Clippers on Wednesday. Though they didn't win either game, the head coach was happy with his team's approach to the games.
"Those are two good teams, so emotions aside they were tough tests for us," he said. "I thought our guys played pretty well and pretty business-like."
Watch: Emotional Doc Rivers Talks About His Return To Boston
Stevens also said the Celtics will have center Kelly Olynyk back on Friday night, after the rookie missed the last 10 games with an ankle injury.
Gresh And Zo: Talk With Celtics Coach Brad Stevens
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