{"id":195338,"date":"2025-10-01T18:44:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T18:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/195338\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T18:44:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T18:44:07","slug":"new-celtics-guard-eyeing-perception-change-playing-in-larger-media-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/195338\/","title":{"rendered":"New Celtics guard eyeing perception change playing in larger media market"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOSTON \u2014 Anfernee Simons<\/a> has been one of the better scorers in the league for years now, but he hasn\u2019t generated much national attention. Part of it is playing in a smaller media market in the Blazers, which he pointed out, plus they weren\u2019t winning many games.<\/p>\n

But as he joins the Celtics<\/a>, he spoke about the opportunity ahead of him. Even with muted expectations compared to past seasons, the Celtics will naturally garner more attention as the winningest franchise in league history. So, Simons said he\u2019s eyeing a potential perception change heading into his first season in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust impact winning,\u201d Simons said. \u201cI think that\u2019s one of the big things, that you could say about me is that in the last couple of years where I\u2019ve been, you could say the main guy, we didn\u2019t win. I just want to come in, like I said before, no matter how it looks like, I want to have that winning player stigma on me. That\u2019s pretty much simple. No matter what it looks like, how hard it is, how much of an adjustment it can be, ups and downs, I want to be able to stretch myself into being that type of player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simons, 26, has been one of Portland\u2019s top scorers over the past few seasons. It\u2019s a different experience being at the top of a scouting report as defenses actively look to slow you down on a nightly basis. But Simons won\u2019t get that treatment in Boston with Jaylen Brown slated to be the Celtics\u2019 top guy since Jayson Tatum is out indefinitely.<\/p>\n

While Simons has also commanded a starting role in Portland, he said at media day<\/a> that he won\u2019t be concerned with whether he starts or not going into the year. It\u2019s unclear what the Celtics\u2019 starting lineup will look like with so many new faces, though Simons figures to be part of the mix at guard.<\/p>\n

Simons has talked about being a \u201cwinning player,\u201d sounding like he\u2019s buying into the Celtics\u2019 ethos that\u2019s made them so successful under coach Joe Mazzulla. How that looks is another question, but it will likely include defensive improvements since that\u2019s been the sore spot in the guard\u2019s career. Simons also enters a contract year, so he should also have plenty of incentive to put up a great season ahead of next summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been good,\u201d Simons said. \u201cI think as this training camp goes along, we\u2019re doing a lot of playing. So I think we\u2019re going to find our way naturally and just simple communication. But it\u2019s been fun. Obviously those guys have played with each other before, so I\u2019m just trying to fit into that. Just try to figure out my way to just be myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

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