Boston Celtics: ‘Scary Terry’ is taking the NBA by storm

How Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier’s alter ego has taken over the NBA Playoffs.

In the 2015 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics had the 16th pick.

The popular belief amongst analysis before and during the draft was that the Celtics would select forward Sam Dekker out of Wisconsin. Just two months prior himself and the No. 9 pick in the draft Frank Kaminsky lead their Badgers all the way to the title game.

With Dekker at a position of need and still on the board, it was almost certain that Danny Ainge would pick him. However, the Boston Celtics GM had other plans.

At No. 16 Danny Ainge instead selected Guard Terry Rozier out of Lousiville. This was a shock to Celtics fans. Not only did they not select Dekker, but Rozier seemed to be a super reach for Ainge.

Prior to the draft, Rozier was mocked to be a very late second round pick or early second rounder. That year Boston also had the 28th pick, and fans were confused on why they didn’t just take Rozier there.

CBS Sports actually tweeted this after the selection:

With Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart having prominent roles it just seemed like Rozier would get lost in the shuffle.

Fast forward to September 2018 and Kyrie Irving, as well as Marcus Smart, were the point guards on the roster. The season prior, Terry Rozier improved his three-point percentage by nearly ten percent and came on late at the end of the year. Due to Marcus Smarts complete lack of offense, Rozier had a viable shot for the backup PG role.

However, 2018 was a better year then I think Terry could even imagine.

Related Story: With Kyrie Irving out, spotlight focuses even more on Terry Rozier

Throughout this past season, Kyrie Irving had a nagging knee injury. This inturned forced him to miss games throughout the year and eventually was shut down for the season. Marcus Smart living up to his last name punched a picture frame and therefore missed 28 games.

This, in turn, lead to Terry playing an extended role with the team. Rozier became a fan favorite due to his amazing finishing ability and just overall fun energy he plays with on the court.

Origin of “Scary Terry” Nickname

The name Scary Terry actually didn’t start with Terry Rozier. The popular adult swim cartoon “Rick and Morty” actually have a character with that name.

For a while, Rozier preferred to go by “T-Ro”, a nickname he’s had since college. However, the  “Scary Terry” moniker did not start this season.

Last season Instagram personality and Celtics superfan GreenRunsDeep (GRD) created the name for Terry. After Rozier started being integrated into the lineup and becoming a solid piece off the bench, GRD would begin to take notice.

As he played better and better, GRD would refer to Rozier as “Scary Terry” in posts. The more he used it, the more it began to catch steam and gain popularity in Celtics nation. Terry himself even has credited GRD with coining the name!

Now GRD isn’t a complete genius. The name “Scary Terry” first became prominent due to a character in the Adult Swim cartoon Rick and Morty that goes by the same name. However, credit has to be given where credit is due!

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The Brand

Rozier himself has said to have always had a passion for fashion. Prior to the nickname, Terry dabbled with having his own merchandise line. It was more about dabbling with design and a fun hobby, rather than making a major financial gain.

When the nickname started to garner some steam, Roziers brand new they had to take advantage. The original design for “Scary Terry” shirts included the Jason mask from the Friday the 13th franchise. The design was later changed to the current Scream mask.

Scream just happens to be one of Rozier’s favorite movies. He even has the Scream mask tattooed on his arm. With that in mind, the team altered the design to change the masks accordingly.

As of right now, there are lots of designs floating around there on the internet. From holding a crown to being in a Drew Bledsoe jersey, it seems as though the designs just keep on coming.

The Now

Throughout these playoffs, it’s been evident how good Terry Rozier as become. This postseason Rozier has been averaging over 17 points a game, while also chipping in 5 assists and rebounds. Rozier’s energy and attitude defiantly have rubbed off on his team.

He’s the maestro of the Boston Celtics offense, and even on off nights he is great at making sure that his teammates get theirs. The change of pace dribbling and clutch threes just makes him such an enjoyable player to watch.

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All and all, Roziers great play and fantastic persona has captivated not only Boston sports fans, but basketball fans as a whole. The pick who seemed to be a complete reach has developed into one of the most captivating stories of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.