As exciting as the first round of the playoffs were, the second showing in the bracket is much closer to pre-season predictions. Still, the Boston Celtics and their relisience to be both relevant and excellent despite being down two All-Stars is an overachievement to just about all pundits.
While the combo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have proved outstanding sans Gordon Hayward, it’s the emergence of Terry Rozier in Kyrie Irving’s absence that has everyone stunned. Showing out in the same fashion as #11 himself, #12’s onslaught of crossovers and buckets isn’t the only way he’s following in Kyrie’s footsteps.
Filling Irving’s shoes quite literally, it’s been discovered by ESPN that Scary Terry is playing in shoes from Uncle Drew’s actual closet. Gifted by the injured Celtic to his backup, the distinguished pairs of Nike Kyrie 2, Nike Kyrie 3 and Nike Kyrie 4 sneakers worn by Rozier in rounds one and two are straight from Kyrie’s crib.
“I go to his house every chance I get,” Terry told ESPN. “You got a guy like that who’s with Nike and gets all the free stuff with Nike and all that. I’m going to take advantage, too.”
And take advantage of it he did. As the story has it, Kyrie had Terry over before the start of the postseason for a pep-talk that turned into a gifting session. Irving’s inspiration was short and sweet, and actually inline with his ‘JBY’ — Just Be You — motto pressed on his signature sneakers.
“Kyrie’s big advice was for me to be myself. That’s the most important thing, he said,” Rozier relayed to ESPN. “There was nothing that he could teach me in so little time. So he told me to be myself. He believes in me, and I believe in myself. Now I’m just going out there and doing what I do.”
And being Terry he has done. Best of all, it’s done wonders for the Celtics, with Uncle Drew cheering him on via the sideline and another Uncle Drew — Drew Bledsoe — cheering him on via social media.
Maybe we see a “Scary Terry” Nike Kyrie 5 next season? Perhaps in a throwback Pats pantone? We sure hope so.
Photos via Zimbio
