NBA finalist Theis on spectator role: “No problem”

“I really had no problem with that,” Theis said shortly before the start of the final series against the Golden State Warriors of the ARD sports show.

“I was only concerned with the point that we win. If you were here now and said: I really want to play, I’m in a bad mood now, I’m a bad teammate, that doesn’t fit,” said Theis: “I think you always have to be mentally ready to go into the game in the playoffs.” Celtics coach Ime Udoka regularly let the 30-year-old stew on the bench against the Miami Heat (4-3).

Theis does not see the fact that opponents Golden State have made it to the finals five times in the past seven years, but the Celtics pros are all making their debuts in the final series, as a major disadvantage. “Maybe it plays a small role that you’re nervous about going into the first game: NBA finals, the biggest stage, you’re playing for the biggest,” said the center from Salzgitter.

However, “the core of our team has been playing together for a long time. We have also been to the conference finals twice,” says Theis: “The teams are very similar apart from the finals experience.”