Thanks to the emergence of Terry Rozier, the absence of Kyrie Irving in the playoffs didn't derail the Boston Celtics as many people predicted last season.

The point guard enjoyed a breakout postseason and filled in for his All-Star teammate to great effect. 

After spending the majority of the regular season on the bench playing as a backup to Irving, Rozier seamlessly slotted into a starting role and made a name for himself. 

He played a huge part in helping the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals as he posted 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. 

The 24-year-old endeared himself to the Boston fans and was given the nickname 'Scary Terry' for his exploits. 

Inspirational Irving

In a recent interview, Rozier explained how Irving gave him the confidence to raise his game in the playoffs. 

He said a pep talk from the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard gave him the confidence to embrace the challenge that was awaiting him. 

“I remember when Kyrie went down, I was in the gym shooting by myself,” Rozier told Clay Skipper of GQ.

“This was probably a couple hours before practice or something. I just remember him telling me—looking me in my eyes, you can just tell it came from the heart—he was just like, “You ready?” Like: You’re just as good as those guys.

"Don’t think for a second that you’re not. Don’t take a back seat to no one. You gotta play the top guards if the playoff runs happen.

"He’s not saying all this but I know this is what he’s thinking. Be ready. Don’t think too much. Just go out there and have fun. This is what you want.”

The C's did go on a deep run as they fell just one win shy of making the NBA Finals, losing a Game 7 to a LeBron James-inspired Cavs team. 

But that spotlight has put the former Louisville product on the map as one of the most talented young players in the league. 

“I’m happy I got the opportunity,” Rozier added. “At the same time, I got a feeling for Kyrie.

"Everybody was counting us out. Teams were trying to lose on purpose to play us, to drop to seven seed to play us.

"It’s just like, the whole world is watching now. When opportunity come knocking at the door, you gotta answer.”

Rozier is heading into a contract year and will be coveted by several teams as a restricted free agent. 

He can be a starter on a number of teams and is likely to receive some big offers which the Celtics may struggle to match. 

But for now, the Ohio native says he's happy to return to the bench this season and could easily be a contender for Sixth Man of the Year.