3 key differences for the Boston Celtics in this year’s Nets playoff series
Difference No. 2: The Boston Celtics have Ime Udoka
The Celtics needed a change in the head coaching department after last season’s sturggles. I personally loved what Brad Stevens did in his tenure as Boston’s head coach. But it was time for a new change, a new voice in the locker room.
Enter Ime Udoka. Udoka was an assistant coach for many years with several organizations such as the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and of course, the Brookyln Nets. From day one, Udoka proved he would be tough, but fair, with his players. At first, a lot of people didn’t know what to make of Udoka because the Celtics were a sub-.500 team that looked quite similar to last season’s team. Look at the results now.
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A 51-31 record in his first season, as well as leading the Celtics to the two seed in a highly competitive Eastern Conference, makes for quite the start to Udoka’s head coaching career. Some even say he should have gotten Coach of the Year recognition. He didn’t, but he should’ve! Plus, Udoka literally was an assistant with the Nets last season.
If anybody knows the star players on the Nets well enough, of course it would be Udoka. Credit to Udoka, he has the C’s buying in and playing some of the best basketball in the entire NBA since the start of the new year. That success has translated over to the playoffs two games in, as Udoka looks to send his old team home for an early offseason.