The Boston Celtics got some tips Monday at practice from an unlikely source in Tom Thibodeau, who helped eliminate them from the playoffs last season before he was fired as head coach of the New York Knicks.

Thibodeau led the Knicks to an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, but was fired after New York was swept in four games by the Indiana Pacers.

On Monday, he was at Celtics practice as a guest of head coach Joe Mazzulla.

"He's obviously been one of the best coaches around for a long time. Worked here. Won a championship here. Just having him around makes me better, makes our organization better, so there's a lot of respect for him," Mazzulla said.

Thibodeau was an assistant coach in Boston for three seasons, starting with the team's championship run in 2007-2008.

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