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“Competing against these guys over the years, I think they know what I can do,” the 6-foot-9 swing forward said after his first Celtics practice Thursday. “I know what they can do. I think it’ll be really easy for me to fit in. I gotta be the tough guy on the team. I gotta be the protector. Guys, you know, knocking my guys down, I can’t have that. You know what I’m saying? It’s going to be my role to be the bully. And I accept that.
“When I’m off the court, I’m cool and collected. But when I’m on the court, technical fouls. I kinda dumbed it down last year, I only had like six,” said Morris. “But the year before that I was like top three (in the league). It just depends on how hard they foul me. Like I said, man, I gotta protect my guys out there. I’m going to be the bully on the team.”
Herald – Marcus Morris knows his Celtics role: ‘To be the bully’
While the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder said he looks to be a “bully” on the court, he insisted he is a “good guy” off the court. He said he was concerned that part of his reputation was taking a hit before he and his brother, Markieff, were acquitted on Tuesday in their Arizona aggravated assault trial for an incident that occurred nearly three years ago.
“It’s a big relief,” he said. “I felt like it was kind of killing my character for people who don’t know me. To get acquitted of everything, and be a Boston Celtic, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Providence Journal – Cleared of charge, Morris happy to join Celtics
The Celtics dispatched staffers to Phoenix to work out Morris each day before he went to the courtroom. Morris said those sessions helped him learn the offensive and defensive principles of coach Brad Stevens’ system.
“You can tell a guy who has played in the league for a long time,” Stevens said after Morris’ first practice. “He’s been coached really well at every level. We tried to keep him as up to speed as we could over the last 10 days or so. I thought he transitioned pretty smoothly.
“He’ll play [Friday]. I’ll see how he feels. This was his first practice. It was a hard practice. He also came in at 9 in the morning and went through a series of drills with our younger, younger players. He had a good day.”
ESPN Boston – Marcus Morris relieved to have legal troubles behind him, eager to get up to speed with Celtics
“(The trial) was very difficult,” Morris added. “I love playing basketball. Just for me to be coming to a new place and not being able to be there, one of the first guys there, just learning everybody. It’s a little tough but that’s behind me. I’m ready to play. I’m ready to get going.”
MassLive – Marcus Morris joins Boston Celtics after trial, calls acquittal ‘big relief’
With Jae, IT and Jonas “Stop Flopping” Jerebko long gone, it’s been fair to ask if the Cs perhaps had lost some of their edge – the screw-you attitude that helped them overachieve the past two years. Well, Marcus “Mook” Morris absolutely dispelled that thought at his first practice. Toughness will not be a question when the two Marcuses and Aron Baynes are on the floor together.
More important, it’s good to know that Mook took part in his own private mini-camp while not in the courtroom the past week-plus. It’s not the same as being in Newport and Waltham, of course, but there are still three exhibition games and a dozen days of practice until opening night.
Meanwhile, Mook is already fitting in well in Boston. His favorite Celtic is Paul Pierce and he hates the traffic.
Morris says he's talked to his friend @paulpierce34 about what it's like being a Celtic. "He said I'm really going to like it a lot."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 5, 2017
.@Celtics Marcus Morris loves his home here in New England. The traffic? Not so much. A 10-min drive became a 35-min trip, with AM traffic.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) October 5, 2017
Related: CSNNE – Trial over, Morris joins Celtics at last . . . to everyone’s delight | MassLive – Boston Celtics-Washington Wizards beef still alive? Markieff Morris says he’s going to kick Al Horford’s behind
On Page 2: Skinny Smart still showing off
Marcus Smart ❗️❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/Nqw4QY8rto
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) October 5, 2017
Not sure which is more impressive – the two-footed leap and slam or the fadeaway swish after that.
And, finally: All for one, one for all
Keeping with local tradition, the Celts gave a shoutout to their fellow local teams yesterday on a huge day for Boston sports. It didn’t help the Red Sox, who were hammered, 8-2, in a playoff game at Houston. But the Bruins came through with a 4-3 victory in their season opener, and the Patriots hung on to win at Tampa, 19-14.
Championship mentality! Bring another one to Boston, @RedSox! #Postseason #ALDS #WinAdvanceRepeat pic.twitter.com/D4OuKlMYo8
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) October 5, 2017
Good luck tonight @RedSox, @NHLBruins and @Patriots!
Guess we missed the memo… 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/2X0O9SQyjo
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 5, 2017
The Rest of the Links:
CSNNE – Blakely: Four reasons Celtics could improve defensively this season
Basketball Insiders – NBA PM: Guerschon Yabusele: The Celtics’ Secret Weapon
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