As they prepare for an NBA Finals matchup against the Warriors, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka finds himself feeling grateful about the situation he’s in.
Speaking to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports after the Game 7 win on Sunday, Udoka revealed his feelings on being with the Celtics and revealed how close he was to joining another situation.
“The one thing I would say is the disappointment of coming in second a few years really hurt. But if you told me I’d have to wait for Boston and get [bypassed] by some of the ones that I got beat out on, it’s a no-brainer for me. I’m happy to be in Boston.”
“You really want me to tell you? Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland. I can go down the list. That was tough because I believe I was ready. But I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of an organization that’s pushing for winning and championships. You can be in a lot of different situations. There are only 30 teams and I get that, but to not be in a rebuild and being in an expectation pressure-filled situation, I wouldn’t trade that in any day.”
Had he taken a job in Detroit, Indiana, or Cleveland, there’s a pretty good chance he would have been sent on vacation weeks ago. Instead, he found the perfect situation in Boston and is just 4 wins away from winning a title:
“The ups and downs that we have had, that all brought us a lot closer,” said Tatum on Udoka. “Everybody stuck with each other throughout the season, even in those tough times early on. Even when we lose games, he does a really good job of just obviously telling us what we did wrong and what we need to do better but making sure that everybody believes in ourselves in the group.”
As great as their run has been, the hardest stretch of the playoffs is yet to come for Boston. After three rounds of competitive play, the C’s (who have no Finals experience) will move on to face Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the Golden State Warriors.
It will not be an easy battle, but Udoka will make sure his squad is ready for what is to come.
