Newly acquired guard Jason Terry certainly has the right idea and said the right things about his and the Boston Celtics’ ambitions.
“My mission is to kill,” Terry said at the team’s annual golf tournament at The International. “Whoever that is, whether it’s the Heat, whether it’s the Lakers. Hopefully both. That’s my mission and that’s what I’m here to do.”
Terry, who can play either guard position and flourish as a starter or reserve, won a championship two years ago with the Dallas Mavericks. And despite the Heat’s emergence and the Lakers’ newly stacked team, Terry said the Celtics are right there in the mix.
“I’m very excited. Obviously another opportunity to win a championship,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. There’s no other motive here but to go out there and win, and win it all.”
Terry signed a three-year deal with the Celtics at the midlevel exception ($15.7 million) in July. He is expected to serve as coach Doc Rivers’ sixth man and will replace Ray Allen – who bolted to Miami – as Boston’s primary 3-point specialist. Terry also likely will do some ball-handling behind Rajon Rondo.
Asked how he felt about seeing time as the secondary point guard, Terry said, “Very comfortable. I started out as a starting point guard in this league and I’ve been able to do that and play it at a high level.
“Again, whatever the team needs me to do. If they need me to jump center, I can do that, too. I’m just excited, again, to be wearing Celtic green and to be a part of this organization, the franchise, the heritage. I’m ready to get going.”
Terry said playing for Rivers was an important factor in his decision to come to Boston.
“Doc is one of the best coaches we have in this league today. He’ll go down in history as one of the best,” Terry said. “Obviously, he was a player and he played at a high level and he’s well-respected among all the players in the league.”
