Through two games of the Bucks-Celtics Eastern Conference playoff series, Milwaukee point guard Eric Bledsoe is averaging 12 points and four assists per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor. Boston point guard Terry Rozier, meanwhile, has put up 23 points and eight assists per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and drilling a game-winner in Game 1. The Celtics lead the series 2-0.
Yet somehow it’s Bledsoe who is talking shit about Rozier, not the other way around. Here’s what happened when Bledsoe was asked about his counterpart following the Celtics’ 120-106 Game 2 victory Tuesday night:
Reporter: Terry Rozier’s gotten off to a strong start to the series. How personally do you take that matchup?
Bledsoe: Who?
Reporter: Terry Rozier.
Bledsoe: I don’t even know who the fuck that is.
Chuck on Eric Bledsoe saying he has no idea who the f–k Terry Rozier is ? (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/kpw0YnsyCK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2018
Well Eric, Terry Rozier is the dude who smoked you two games straight and gave his team a commanding lead over yours. You know, the one who shook you with a crossover and nailed a game-winning 3-pointer to end Game 1 as you watched helplessly. Who is 7-of-12 this series with you guarding him. Now does that ring a bell?
Rozier, for his part, refused to play the feud, telling ESPN “I’m not feeding into that.”
As many people have pointed out, it’s possible that Bledsoe’s refusal to acknowledge Rozier was a response to the Celtics’ point guard referring to him as “Drew Bledsoe” at a press conference earlier this week. The comment appeared accidental, but it’s possible Rozier meant it as a jab at his opponent or at least that Bledsoe perceived it that way. (Side note: If it was an insult, it wasn’t a very good one. Drew Bledsoe was a pretty damn good quarterback.)
The Bucks and Celtics now head to Milwaukee, where they will face off in a Game 3 on Friday and the Bucks cannot afford to lose. If Bledsoe wants a chance to talk more shit, he’s gonna have to earn it.