The Boston Celtics received a special message ahead of Game 1 on Sunday morning of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has won six Super Bowl titles in New England and two more as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, preached the importance of preparing for a video call with the Cs.
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Celtics center Daniel Theis told NBC Sports Boston that Belichick’s message was: ‘Be prepared and check what you can check. Do not be surprised in court if they run something, because you need to know it and be well prepared. ‘
Belichick admitted on Monday on the WEEI radio program “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” that he was honored to speak with the Celtics as they prepared for the search for a championship.
“We have a great relationship with (C’s coach Brad Stevens). I was flustered that he asked and just tried to talk about playing at the time of year they were playing, “said Belichick, as transcribed by WEEI’s Ryan Hannable. Playoff basketball, playoff football – it’s a little different. I know nothing about basketball, but I know a little bit about competition and trying to perform well at the most critical time of the year, which is where they are now. It was a great experience for me.
‘I appreciate the opportunity of Coach Stevens and the Celtics and I wish them nothing but the best. I know they’re going to battle (Monday night) and unlike when we’re in our meetings and all I’m sure we’re all cheering for them here. ”
Stevens was hired by the Celtics in 2013, and he and Belichick are the two longest-serving head coaches in Boston.
“We have a great relationship with coach Stevens here,” Belichick said. “We have several people who have worked with him. Josh (McDaniels) is close to him. I’m close to him. He actually talked to us earlier in the spring and talked to us a bit about their situation. We started our season and (they) were ready to go back and complete it.It was very different but (he was) kind of chatting about time management and dealing with some of the challenges of being a professional athlete as a professional football team and things that were going on around us.
‘But he’s talked to our boys several times and he’s great. He does a great job. He did a great job the night he spoke at my founding event, so anything I could ever do to help him or her, I would do what I could. “
Game 1 between the Celtics and Sixers begins at 6:30 p.m. ET and will air on NBC Sports Boston. Make sure you also tune in to “Celtics Postgame Live” after the final buzzer. You can stream the game live and the postgame show on the MyTeams app.
