It’s been a hot minute since Miami Heat wing Max Strus has been a member of the Boston Celtics, but the DePaul alum still remembers his time with the team well despite its comparative brevity. The Celtics Wire caught up with Strus in Mexico City this week as the Heat shooting guard met with the press ahead of Miami’s tilt with the San Antonio Spurs at Mexico City Arena for the first Mexico City Game since before the start of the pandemic.
Strus had spent some time walking around the lush Polanco neighborhood — one of the wealthier areas of the city — as he settled into the local surroundings. “It’s very beautiful,” he related.
“It’s nice to be out in the streets, to explore and sight-see a little bit”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 13, 2022
The Heat got off to a less-than-optimal start thanks in part to the Celtics, and Strus’ recent shoulder injury did not help things in that regard. But Miami appears to have turned a corner after winning their last 3 tilts in a row and 6 of their last 10 games — as has Strus’ shoulder.
“The shoulder is not a problem, and the season is going alright,” he explained. “We’re starting to turn the corner now. We got off to a slow start, but everything is starting to click now and we’re starting to come together as a team.
And if you happen to be wondering, yes — Strus is indeed a believer in ‘Heat culture’.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
As for his time with the Celtics, “it was short-lived,” Strus related. “There was only a couple of months.”
“I was there for summer league and then preseason and they waved me but it was good,” he explained. “I had a good experience. Brad (Stevens) was still the coach when I was there, so got to learn from him which was amazing as well. It was a good time, I enjoyed my time there.”
“Obviously, it was short-lived, but everything happens for a reason — and now I’m lucky to be here,” said the Heat wing.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
The Hickory Hills (Illinois) native began his collegiate career playing for Division II Lewis University of Romeoville (a Chicago suburb) before transferring to DePaul, which helped create a bond with Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“Coming from D-II schools, me and him had a good relationship,” he shared. “We know each other well and I wish him nothing but the best.”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
Mazzulla’s ability to put the Celtics in a position to win so frequently stuck out to Strus in the two ball clubs’ meetings this season. “Their offense is explosive, and they’ve got a lot of talented guys.”
“I think (Mazzulla’s) doing an excellent job of organizing them and setting them up for success.”
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
Despite his tenure in Boston, however, Strus favors someone other than 2022 Defensive Player of the Year winner Marcus Smart for that season — and evidently, every season.
“Bam (Adebayo) should win it every year,” said the Heat wing. “Bam’s one of the most multi-dimensional bigs. He can guard point guards, he can guard centers. He really does it all for us.”
We suppose not everyone loves and trusts Marcus Smart — particularly when you are on the wrong end of that defense.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 17, 2022
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