Stephen A. Smith says Celtics playoff struggles are ‘justice’ for dealing with of Ime Udoka scenario

Celtics

“Possibly it is as a result of you’ve got the coach you should not have.”

The Celtics are struggling within the playoffs underneath first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla. They’re down 3-0 to a Miami Warmth crew that they beat in final yr’s Japanese Convention finals.

Is that this what they get for placing a 34-year-old with no NBA head teaching expertise accountable for the crew, and airing out Udoka’s baggage on his means out?

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith thinks so.

“It doesn’t look good for Mazzulla … however there’s a phrase in my thoughts that I would like everyone to embrace,” Smith stated on ESPN’s First Take. “Justice. That is justice for the Boston Celtics. I’m speaking to (Celtics governor) Wyc Grousebeck. I’m speaking to Boston Celtics possession. I really feel very adamant about that.”

The Celtics suspended Udoka indefinitely for a number of crew coverage violations after an alleged inappropriate relationship with a feminine crew worker. He and the crew ultimately parted methods whereas Mazzulla had his interim tag eliminated. The punishment was a judgment name for Grousebeck.

“This felt proper, however there’s no clear tips for any of this,” Grousebeck stated on the time. “It’s conscience and intestine really feel. … We collectively got here to this and received there however it was not clear what to do however it was clear one thing substantial wanted to be executed, and it was.”

The matter was investigated by an impartial legislation agency, which discovered that the facility dynamic between Udoka and the worker was the first situation based on ESPN. He additionally used crude language earlier than the beginning of the connection, which contributed to his suspension based on the report.

Udoka has since been employed as head coach of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, who stated they felt comfy hiring him based mostly on the due diligence they performed.

“Ime Udoka’s actions, his transgressions usually are not one thing we have to revisit,” Smith stated. “He was incorrect, (and) if he had gotten fired no downside. If he had been saved, no downside. However for this group to deal with that scenario within the classless trend that they did so far as I’m involved, having a press convention the place you stated nothing nor did something however convey extra consideration to Ime Udoka and his transgressions.”

“I’ve stated it numerous instances over these airwaves and I’ll repeat it one final time,” Smith continued. “All of us on this enterprise know loads of of us on the planet of sports activities or sports activities groups that had stuff happening within the workplace. It was an HR matter. We all know individuals who have been fired for a similar factor. We by no means heard a phrase. However now, everyone is aware of what Ime Udoka did due to the best way the Boston Celtics dealt with it.”

The Celtics didn’t identify the opposite get together concerned within the relationship, which was reportedly consensual based on Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“After which we wish to be delicate to the opposite get together, as we must always,” Smith stated. “However no one thought in regards to the lack of sensitivity to Nia Lengthy (who was in a relationship with Udoka on the time) and what consideration it dropped at her and the way her identify and her baby had been raked by means of the coals, placed on public show. They didn’t take into consideration that. They didn’t care.”

Smith advised the Celtics’ struggles underneath Mazzulla are as a result of he was by no means alleged to be the coach within the first place.

“And so, for me,” Smith stated. “Once I take into consideration that and I take into consideration what’s taking place now, possibly it’s as a result of you’ve got the coach you shouldn’t have. As a result of he ought to have been an assistant on the bench.”

Smith added that he feels dangerous for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and that the group’s management put them in a tricky spot.

“The Boston Celtics group is a rattling good group,” Smith stated. “However management from the highest on this specific situation stained this franchise and so far as I’m involved it ought to for years. It’s justice, what is going on to them proper now. That’s proper, I stated it and I imply each rattling syllable that I uttered.”