NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics are in New York to open up their playoff series against the Knicks this weekend, but their minds are back in Boston with everyone who continues to be affected by two terrorists who are said to be attacking the community.
Two suspects who are being associated with Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon reportedly wreaked havoc on the city’s suburbs Thursday night and Friday morning. Authorities were involved in a shootout that resulted in hundreds of law enforcement members encroaching on the Boston suburb of Watertown, Mass.
According to reports and statements from authorities, one of the suspects remained at large as of 4 p.m. on Friday, leading authorities to lock down the city. Families, including those of the Celtics players and coaches, are being urged to stay in their homes until further notice.
Amidst these circumstances in Boston, the Celtics practiced Friday afternoon at Columbia University’s gymnasium in Manhattan. Several members made it clear that it’s impossible for them to solely concentrate on basketball right now considering the situation. Part of their minds are constantly fixated on the circumstances back home.
“When you wake up, turn on the Internet, it definitely calls for concern,” Paul Pierce said, “especially with us having families in the area that these situations are happening in.”
Along the same lines, Jason Terry stated, “My family just got back into town so I just wanted to make sure they were safe and secure. Our sympathies and condolences go out to all of the families that were affected by this disaster in Boston and the Boston people that are constricted to their home right now while they try to find these people that have done these terrible things.”
The team is taking some semblance of responsibility to wear the city’s pride on its shoulders this weekend. Boston has suffered two devastating days in one week. The C’s understand that many Bostonians will be relying on them for therapy through sport.
“I think when you go through tragedy as a city you kind of look for something to cling on, and I really believe that the city of Boston lives and dies with our sports teams,” said Pierce. “They’re going to be watching closely. There’s just a sense of pride about the city, a sense of pride about this team, to go out there and kind of play well and to do the best we can for the city in the wake of the tragedy.”
Doc Rivers stated that he will not discuss the events in Boston with the team as a form of motivational speaking. However, there is no doubt that all of the Celtics have Boston on their minds and they will wear the city’s pride on their sleeves in the coming days.