Forward Evan Turner's game-winner gave the Boston Celtics a big win over the Atlanta Hawks going into the All-Star break, but the play was designed to give guard Avery Bradley the ball.
“He thought he was about to get the ball, so when I made the move he was like, ‘S— Evan!’ I was like, ‘You’ll hug me in a second,'” Turner said after the game. “I was very confident in that situation, and thank God it went in.”
Turner's drive was an option on the play, according to head coach Brad Stevens, just not the primary one:
“Evan had the option to drive, and I knew that when I told him he had that option that he probably wasn’t going to get rid of the ball; he’d take it and try to make a play,” said Stevens. “The one thing about Evan is he is big with the ability to handle the ball, so he is able to get a shot off like that.”
“Everybody criticized him for being a bad teammate or a guy not concerned with winning. This just shows this guy is all about winning,” said teammate Jared Sullinger. “He shares the ball, he rebounds the ball, and at times, he can score baskets individually. He’s been great at point guard, forward, whatever position he’s playing now. He’s been doing a great job.”
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