Back in 2010, point guard Jason Terry was influential in helping the Dallas Mavericks acquire the franchise's first NBA championship over the Miami Heat. Now with the Boston Celtics, Terry will be called upon to provide similar lift with the absence of Avery Bradley due to shoulder injury.
Whether a starter or coming off the bench, Terry's focus this season remains the same:
"My mission is to kill; 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 said on Tuesday shortly before teeing off at the Fifth Annual USI Shamrock Classic which was hosted by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.
With Bradley expected to miss the first couple months of the season, in addition to losing Ray Allen to free agency to the Miami Heat, Terry's value to the team becomes even greater.
During the offseason, Celtics coach Doc Rivers put together a wish list to Danny Ainge to bring in a player that can help with the team's scoring.
"We wanted a scorer off the dribble," Rivers said. "I sit down and write Danny a letter about needs; that was my number one need. I didn't think we had enough guys that could score off the dribble. (Rajon) Rondo can score off the dribble. But we needed a guy that could score and be a knock-down shooter. That was very important for us."
Rivers may have gotten what he asked for in Terry. Still, Terry isn't putting much thought into who he is replacing, or what he left behind in Dallas.
"Another opportunity to win a championship, that's what it's all about," Terry said. "There's no other motive but to go out and win, and win it all."
