Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger was benched for the start of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, and head coach Brad Stevens said it was because Sullinger was late for the team's pregame walkthrough.
"It's the second time in two years, it just happens to be the second time in [four] days," Stevens said. "Again, I said it the other day, I don't think it's an issue. But he's just gotta be here. Our precedent is set. I think there's a right way to go about things. So you do the right thing. Coach the group that will be out there, and coach the group that's out there after that, and go from there. It obviously may change a matchup, or a couple of plays that you're going to go with early in the game, but it doesn't necessarily change the way I approach the day. Sure, it's something that you just have to deal with and move forward. I hope it's the last time we talk about it -- and hoped Sunday was, too -- but I feel confident it will be."
Sullinger blamed both of his tardy arrivals on traffic, but said being pulled from the starting lineup was a "great decision" by Stevens.
"Everybody in this locker room was probably late one time. They understood," Sullinger said. "Things happen. You can't let it affect you. We still got a game. Just because I was late, doesn't mean I was late to the game. You still gotta play a game, and our main objective is to win, whether I start, whether I get benched, whether I don't dress at all. We just want to win the basketball game. It is what it is."
Sullinger is averaging 14.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in 28.6 minutes a game so far this season.
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