Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Senne, File

Split From Nia Long Adds To Ime Udoka’s Woes

It all seemed so positive for Ime Udoka at the start of the 2022/23 NBA season. The man in charge of Boston Celtics was widely tipped to finish the campaign as the association’s most valuable coach, while his team aimed to regain their record for most championships.

Instead, off court allegations mean that he is now suspended from his role. If he thought that things couldn’t get any worse than he was clearly mistaken. Actress Nia Long revealed their breakup and left him with an uncertain future in more than one aspect of his life.

Difficult Times

While a future at the Boston Celtics hasn’t been completely ruled out, it’s more than plausible that this temporary split will soon become permanent. In Ime Udoka’s absence, the team has thrived and they have the best record of any NBA side after 48 games of the current NBA regular season.

Interim Coach Joe Mazzulla has done a fine job and will surely be thinking about a long term contract. Based on Mazzulla’s efforts so far, Celtics’ fans would be happy with such an arrangement.

Celtics March on Regardless

That early season record is worth repeating. After the first 48 games of the regular term, the Boston Celtics had won 35 and lost 13. Joe Mazzulla’s team sit on top of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division and that record is the best of any team in the NBA.

Before the season began, the Milwaukee Bucks were favorites to win the NBA Championship, but all that has changed. The latest markets come from sportsbooks affiliated with SBO.net and they list Boston as the new favorites, followed by Milwaukee and the Golden State Warriors.

As the current NBA campaign progresses, those figures will provide a good indication as to where the pennant may be heading. On the back of each game, the markets will adjust and any changes will be shown on the website.

Readers can take in related news articles while there is general betting information, such as round ups of popular strategies and a guide to American odds. There’s a lot of knowledge available and visitors can put that to the test if they wish.

Each sportsbook linking into the SBO site is set up to take new customers, subject to eligibility and a completed sign up form. Many of those betting operators will release a welcome promotion to get things moving while a range of funding options are available to cover opening bets.

Fast customer service operators are among a set of other advantages that may include loyalty programmes, mobile apps and live streaming services for funded accounts.

It’s the site to follow any form of basketball betting, but can Boston continue to put their coaching distractions to one side?

Support from Within the Camp

At points during the season, certain members of the Boston Celtics’ set up have spoken out in support of Ime Udoka. Celtics’ assistant coach Damon Stoudamire says that he frequently checks in on Udoka. The two men have known each other for more than 30 years and Stoudamire admitted that he helps to keep his suspended colleague’s spirits up.

Elsewhere, Greg Popovich has added his support stating that Udoka is a ‘very good friend’. It may be comforting to the suspended coach, but that support may not be enough to keep him in the game.

What Next for Ime Udoka?

Without commenting on the specific allegations, they may eventually define what happens next. Ime Udoka was widely tipped to take up the head coach position at the Brooklyn Nets’ but the rumors were met with unease by a section of the franchise’s supporters.

The possibility of a role at Brooklyn, or any of the remaining teams in the NBA remains, but much would depend on the findings from those allegations.

It’s also said that Udoka refused to resign from his role at Boston Celtics and that’s why the suspension is officially for 12 months. Given the uncertainty around the roster, the response of the Celtics’ team and that of interim coach Joe Mazzulla has been nothing short of remarkable.

In short, it’s all a bit of a mess and, until the situation with Ime Udoka and the Boston Celtics can be resolved, it isn’t beneficial to either party.