BOSTON — Celtics guard Terry Rozier showed up to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals wearing a Drew Bledsoe jersey, the latest jab at Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe after the two had repeated dust-ups in the opening round of the playoffs.
Rozier and Bledsoe seemed to bury the hatchet after Boston’s Game 7 triumph Saturday, but Rozier couldn’t resist making a fashion statement after ending Bledsoe’s season.
“I had it after Game 2,” Rozier said. “Just had to wait for the right time to wear it.”
Rozier joked a “long-lost friend” supplied the New England Patriots throwback No. 11 jersey.
Told that Drew Bledsoe had approved of Rozier’s fashion choice via social media, Rozier added, “That’s my guy. I’ve never even had a conversation, but that’s my guy. I think he knows who I am and I know who he is.”
Eric Bledsoe had said repeatedly throughout the playoffs that he did not know who Rozier was.
Rozier and Bledsoe shared an on-court embrace after Game 7 and seemed to be moving on from the war of words (and a few shoves) that occurred during the series.
“You have two guys that want to win, two chippy guys, two short point guards,” Rozier said after Game 7. “If it takes for us to go back-and-forth, jaw back-and-forth, battle, push each other, that’s part of the game. We talked after the game.”
After Game 1 of the series, Rozier inadvertently referred to Bledsoe as “Drew,” as in the former Patriots quarterback. Bledsoe responded by repeatedly suggesting in media sessions with reporters that he didn’t know Rozier’s name.
During Game 7, Boston fans repeatedly chanted, “Who is Bledsoe?” even as Bledsoe had one of his best games of the series, putting up 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
The two also had a brief dust-up in Game 5. Bledsoe was called for a flagrant foul for shoving Rozier in the chest and Rozier got a technical for retaliating.
“I mean, it’s the playoffs,” Bledsoe said after Saturday’s game. “What, you expect us to be out there shaking hands, giving out hugs the whole time? S— ain’t gonna happen. He had a helluva series, man. I’ve got to take my hat off to him.”
In the fourth quarter of Game 7, the Celtics aired a video that featured Drew Bledsoe. Said the former quarterback, “Hey, Boston, it’s the original Bledsoe,” and he then implored the crowd to get loud.
Source : ESPN
