Author Archives: Travis Babcock

About Travis Babcock

Bringing the heat on everything Boston Celtics! I post semi regularly, and try my best to write well thought out and carefully constructed pieces on the topics surrounding the Celtics that I am most passionate about. Please feel free to leave a comment, I welcome all discussion and feedback!

Three Takeaways from Celtics’ Game 4 Loss

Leave a reply

The Celtics will head back to Boston after a rough two game trip to Cleveland, where the team dropped Games 3 and 4 to the Cavs.

Game 4 was much tighter than Game 3, where the Celtics were blitzed from tip-off to the final buzzer. Cleveland set the tone early, building a 16-point lead in the first quarter. All signs were pointing to another Cleveland shellacking, but the scrappy Celtics did a good enough job to hang around the last three quarters. Along the way the Celtics managed to outscore Cleveland in each of the final 3 frames.

In the end LeBron proved to be too much, as the Cavaliers continued to answer every time Boston gave any indication of a run. James finished the night with a game high 44 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.

These are three key takeaways from this game to focus on as the series shifts back to Boston:

Impact of Kyrie Irving’s Absence

If Game 4 proved anything, it’s that the Celtics could really use their star point guard. While the team has had a remarkable postseason run thus far, going up against arguably the greatest basketball player to ever step foot on a basketball court while battling for Eastern Conference supremacy has proven to be a whole new level of challenge. The area Boston is severely struggling with in this series is the ability to create offense consistently.

Kyrie Irving is one of the unique talents in the NBA that can create offense for himself and score efficiently and in bunches. In 60 games played this season Irving averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game. He shot 49% from the field and 41% from three. He led the team in offensive rating (108.7) and was eight percentage points higher in usage (30.7) than the second highest on the team (Morris).

As great as the team has been at scoring as a collective unit, the deeper into the postseason the more important it is for guys to get their shots off consistently. A guy like LeBron, or Kevin Durant, for example. Someone who can consistently give their team 30 to 35 points a game. Someone who can take over down the stretch of a tight contest and will their team to victory. Kyrie Irving is that guy for the Celtics, and it is showing now more than ever how much he is missed.

Can’t Win with Just Defense

Look at Game 4, for instance. As gritty as the team was in the match-up, they struggled to score consistently when they got big stops down the stretch. Boston deserves all the credit in the world for what they do on the defensive side of the ball. It isn’t a secret that they are in the position they are in being two wins from the NBA finals primarily because of their defense. But defense is only half of the equation.

The fact of the matter is Boston does not have a guy on their roster that can get his own shot efficiently. Tatum will get there, but he is only a 20-year-old rookie. Often during Game 4 and especially late in the game guys relentlessly attacked off of isolation plays, penetrating only to be met at the rim by 2-3 Cavaliers. More often than not those plays resulted in either missed layups or blocked shots. Cleveland finished the game with eight blocks, most of which came off of these types of plays.

Kyrie Irving would have unlocked Boston’s offense in this series had he been healthy. Boston may still have the defensive capabilities to scrape by, but there is no doubt having such a gifted offensive talent in Irving would have changed the dynamic of this series.

Rebounding

The implementation of Tristan Thompson into Cleveland’s starting lineup has proven key in this series, particularly on the boards. Cleveland out-rebounded Boston by 11 in Game 3, and followed the performance up with a +10-rebounding margin in Game 4. The Celtics gave up eight offensive rebounds in Game 3, and nine in Game 4. The combination of Thompson and Love have together dominated Boston in this area. The duo combined for 21 rebounds (five offensive) in Game 3 and 21 (four offensive) in Game 4.

Cleveland finished the season as the fifth ranked offensive team in the league. If Boston is going to retake control of the series moving forward, they can not continue to allow such a potent offense to get second chances.

With just over two to play in the third quarter of Game 4, Boston had just cut the deficit to eight on a mini run. They forced a missed layup from LeBron, but Larry Nance Jr. hauled in an offensive rebound, hit a quick put back plus a foul. The very next possession off of a Marcus Smart turnover they force another miss, this time from George Hill. That miss was yet again rebounded by Nance, who was fouled in the act and sank two free throws. The lead had ballooned back to 13, and after a quick 5-footer from Lebron Cleveland had flipped the script on the Celtics.

Grab Some Boards!

Right after a Rozier three to start the fourth, the Celtics again cut the lead to ten. On the ensuing possession Love tried to answer, missed and yet again the Cavs snag an offensive rebound. They scored on the second chance opportunity as Cleveland continued to pummel the Celtics on the boards.

The Celtics are a rebound by committee team. They do not have a player who can dominate on the boards like Tristan Thompson can. Staying disciplined and being attentive to where their match-ups are when a shot goes up is crucial to changing their fortunes in the rebounding department.

Despite their recent issues on the boards, Boston has proven they can compete with Cleveland. They out rebounded the Cavs in both Games 1 and 2, and in turn won the contests. They have the ability to pull it off, it will just take a more concerted effort moving forward with Thompson playing a bigger role in the series.

Comforts of Home

Given the team’s road woes, if the Celtics lose Game 5 in Boston, the chances of them stealing one in Cleveland to force a Game 7 is slim to none. The Celtics are a perfect 9-0 at home this post season, and an abysmal 1-6 on the road. A large amount of the disparity falls on offensive output. The team has produced 103 points per game at home to only 94 on the road.

Boston is a young team. Outside of veterans Al Horford and Marcus Morris, the team is very inexperienced in dealing with playoff environments. It is one thing coming in as first, second, or third year players competing on home court in front of 18,000 fans all rooting in your favor. However, It is a whole different story dealing with the opposition feeding off of a hostile crowd.

Role Players

Role players play better at home. The age old saying rings true with this Celtics squad. Take Terry Rozier, for example. He has been night and day when it comes to home production versus road. In nine home games he is averaging 20 points per game on 45.55 shooting. Over seven away contests he is averaging 13.2 points on 35.4% shooting. In Game 4 he shot 6-15 from the field and 3-9 from three.

Fortunately for the Celtics the series is now down to best two of three, with Boston in possession of two home games. Though the road concerns do not bode well for the team if they are to make the NBA Finals, if they can take care of home court they will be able to finally knock off LeBron James and end his reign on the Eastern Conference.
It all starts in Game 5, a must win contest for the Celtics.

The pivotal Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place tonight at 8:30 PM in TD Garden.

LeBron, Cavs Send Message with 116-86 Pummeling over Celtics

Leave a reply

With their backs against the wall, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers took Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals 116-86. Cleveland dominated from start to finish, led by LeBron’s 27 points and 12 assists.

The biggest story in this game was the play from Cleveland’s supporting cast. As the saying goes- role players play better at home. George Hill set the tone early, scoring 11 first quarter points on his way to a 13 point, three rebound game. A total of six Cavaliers scored in double figures. Kevin Love produced 13 points and 14 rebounds. Tristan Thompson was also big on the boards, grabbing seven to go along with ten points. J.R. Smith finally got hot, knocking down three of four three pointers. Kyle Korver added 14 points off the bench.

Cleveland knocked down a staggering 17 threes on 50% shooting. It seemed as if nobody on the team could miss. The Cavs dominated on the boards, ripping down 45 rebounds (eight offensive) to Boston’s 34.

Ty Lue mentioned the team’s increased energy and effort, stating, “We challenged everyone, just to be aggressive and understand the game plan.”

Cavs Bring Back Memories of Last Year

Game 3 way eerily reminiscent of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics simply had no answer for LeBron and could not withstand the constant barrage of threes. Boston settled for too many tough jumpers, shooting an abysmal 39% from the field and 27% from three. The team made as many three pointers in the game (six) as Cleveland had in the first quarter. Carelessness with the ball led to a lot of easy buckets for the Cavs, as Boston turned the ball over 12 times.

Al Horford was asked about what went wrong postgame and he responded, “I can tell you right now off the top of my head there was a lot of breakdown defensively- it’s something we have to address, and be better at on Monday if we want to have any chance of winning.”

Al Horford did not attempt a field goal in the first quarter. He finished the game with seven points and seven rebounds. Terry Rozier chipped in 13 on yet another poor shooting game on the road, going 5-12 from the field. There wasn’t a first quarter breakout from Jaylen Brown this time around, as he was nowhere to be seen in this one. Brown didn’t register his first point until eight minutes left in the 2nd quarter. He ultimately finished with ten for the game.

Resiliency for Boston’s Youth

The one bright spot for Boston in Game 3 was the effort of Jayson Tatum, who refused to give up early on. When nothing was going for the team, Tatum relentlessly attacked the basket, getting to the free throw line repeatedly. He finished the night with a team-leading 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

After the game Brad Stevens said about the Celtics, “They always respond. This will be another challenge to respond to.”

The Road Ahead

Cleveland delivered a momentum-changing punch right to the gut of the Celtics. If they intend to steal a game on the road they will need to punch right back in Game 4. The Celtics will need to bring the energy and physicality for Game 4 and play with a much higher sense of urgency. If anything, this game should serve as a wake up call for the team.

Game 4 is set for Monday night at 8:30 pm on ESPN. LeBron and the Cavs will look to tie this series up, as the Celtics hope to head back home with an opportunity to close it out on their home court.

Did the Cavs Pull the Trigger Too Early on Isaiah Thomas?

Leave a reply

Despite Saturday night’s 116-86 loss to the Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics are still in good shape. They’re still up 2-1 on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston is two wins away from an improbable NBA Finals birth, despite the injuries to All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The team dismantled the Cavaliers in the first two match-ups of the series. They blew Cleveland out in Game 1 by 25, 108-83. They then followed that up with a 107-94 game two victory. The biggest problem Cleveland has faced in this series is lack of depth outside of LeBron James and Kevin Love.

Which leads to the question- would the storyline of this series be different if the team hadn’t traded Isaiah Thomas?

Isaiah Thomas in Cleveland

Sure, the Cavs were struggling when the deal was struck. The team lacked any sort of chemistry or cohesiveness. Often they looked like a bunch of individuals all trying to “get theirs”.  Isaiah Thomas was still not fully recovered from the hip injury he sustained the previous season, which noticeably hindered his play during his short tenure with the Cavs.

In 15 games played for Cleveland, Thomas averaged 14.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 rebounds in 27 minutes per game. These numbers are vastly lower than his incredible 2016-17 campaign with the Celtics, where he averaged over 28 points per game and an All-NBA nod.

https://twitter.com/OurSportHistory/status/995305335408791554

Despite Isaiah’s slow start to the season, it is possible Cleveland pulled the trigger on the experiment too early. Isaiah finished the 2017 season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, where he started in only one of his 17 games played. In 26 minutes per game as the team’s sixth man, Thomas averaged 15.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. He also started to showed flashes of his old self as the season wound down.

Now a year removed from his hip injury, Isaiah says he is feeling like his old self again.

A Few of Cleveland’s Role Players Still Haven’t Shown Up

Cleveland received Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson in the deal for Isaiah Thomas. The pair of bright young talents came to the Cavs on the expectation that they would bring newfound energy and scoring ability. Through three games against the Celtics, Larry Nance Jr. is averaging 2.6 points. Jordan Clarkson hasn’t fared much better. He has only appeared in games one and three of the series, where he has produced 6.3 points per game. 

Given the poor production of the duo, one must wonder if a now fully healthy Isaiah Thomas would have made a big enough impact to change the dynamic of the series. Sure, Isaiah does come with obvious issues on the defensive side of the ball. That being said, the guy is only a year removed from an All-Star season. A season that saw Thomas carry his Celtics all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cleveland has struggled to score consistently at times during this series, making LeBron do everything for the team. Given Isaiah’s history as an energy guy who despite his 5’9” frame has always managed to score at will, Cleveland could have had a lethal scorer to look to.

There’s no way of knowing what could have been for the Cavaliers had they not been so quick to pull the plug on Isaiah. But based on the performance of the team through three games, one has to wonder if the team’s front office is thinking the same thing right now

 

The Celtics and Cavaliers play Game 4 of the series Monday evening at 8:30 PM on ESPN. Boston leads the best of seven series 2-1.

Al Horford: The Celtics’ Pillar of Success

Leave a reply

In a league full of high-flying athletes, dazzling handle displays, flashy passes, and awe inspiring highlight real dunks, it is inevitable that Al Horford would be overlooked.

When people watch the Celtics, they see Kyrie Irving performing magic with the ball. They see Jaylen Brown slam home highlight reel worthy breakaway dunks. Fans might catch a Jayson Tatum finesse move at the rim finished off with a rim-rocking jam. They will also see plenty of big time Terry Rozier three pointers.

What they won’t necessarily see is everything Al Horford does to make these things happen. Fans won’t see Al set a hard screen on Kyrie’s man to give Irving space to make his move. They might miss him ripping down a rebound and heaving an outlet pass to a cutting Brown for a dunk. No one sees him set a pick and pop and run it to perfection, freeing up Tatum for his drive to the rim. They also won’t pay attention to the pass Horford makes out of a double team in the post to set up Rozier for the dagger three pointer.

The Man Behind the Curtain

It is not always what you see on the stat sheet that makes Al Horford special. Make no mistake- Al Horford is the most important player on a Celtics team two wins away from the NBA Finals.

When Gordon Hayward went down early, Horford was there. When Kyrie went down and was announced out for the remainder of the year, Horford was there. In a season full of injuries, on a team with four returning players and a roster full of inexperienced talent, Horford has been the savvy veteran for his teammates to rely on. He has provided the Celtics with a stabilizing force through the turmoil, and kept the motor churning smoothly at the heart of the team’s success.

Boston may not have escaped Milwaukee in the first round if not for Horford’s abuse of the Buck’s smaller defenders. He forced Embiid to the bench in crunch time minutes in the 76ers series. He was too quick to guard outside of the key, and too deadly of a shooter to leave uncontested. His help-side defense on Ben Simmons snuffed out the brightly burning flame that once was the promise of Philadelphia’s season.

The Celtics wouldn’t be up 2-0 on the Cavaliers if Horford didn’t dominate Kevin Love on both ends of the court in Game 1, and follow up the performance by taking over down the stretch in Game 2.

Al is a Leader

One of the things that makes Al Horford unique is his ability to fill whatever roll Brad Stevens asks him to fill. Some nights he might be a role player. He’d willingly take a backseat to the Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum show by setting up screens, making passes, and even running point. Other times he may be asked to be the focal point of the offense. He’d run constant pick and rolls and be fed in the post against undersized and outmatched defenders.

In the playoffs this year Horford has been the team’s veteran leader and star.

Playoff Al

Al Horford is averaging 17.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 57% from the field in 14 playoff games. He has a true shooting percentage of 65.4%, which is up from 57.5% in the regular season. He has been notably more aggressive when attacking the rim, throwing down momentum-shifting dunks and flexing his muscles for the crowd.

The team has taken notice to Horford’s increased production and energy on the court, particularly at the end of games. After Game 2 against Cleveland, Jaylen Brown was asked to comment on Al Horford’s production down the stretch.

“That’s why Al gets paid the big bucks,” Jaylen Brown said. “We lean on Al in those tough moments. And he really went to work. Hitting some big free throws, made some big post-ups, hit the 3. Al, when it gets close to crunch time, we look towards Al to make some big plays.”

Take this play, for example.

This play came right after Horford was intentionally shoved to the ground by J.R. Smith. J.R. was called for a flagrant 1 on the play, sending Horford to the line. Horford went on to make Cleveland continue to pay in the last few minutes to put the game on ice.

The job is not yet finished for Horford and the Celtics. The team is preparing for their next major task: going into Cleveland for Games 3 and 4. The team will look to steal at least one of the two and come back to Boston to close the series out.

Whatever the future has in store for these Celtics as they continue their quest for banner 18, without a doubt Al Horford will be at the heart of it all.

Jayson Tatum Named 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year Finalist

Leave a reply

Boston Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum was recently named a finalist for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. He joins Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz in what has been one of the most hotly contested races in recent history.

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum has his team on the cusp of the NBA Finals. In his rookie campaign, Tatum averages 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game in the playoffs. This postseason, he joined fellow rookie Donovan Mitchell as the only rookies since Julius Erving in 1972 to string together seven straight 20+ point playoff games. Tatum also became the youngest player in NBA history to score 200 points in the playoffs, surpassing Kobe Bryant in the process. If the award included postseason accolades, Jayson Tatum is a shoe-in for the award.

https://twitter.com/MidRangeBR/status/994409422834294784

Playoff performances aside, Jayson Tatum is considered by many to be the most complete player of the 2017 draft class. He showcases his ability to score at ease from all three levels. Tatum broke the Celtics’ rookie record for three pointers made in a season with 105 and scored 43% of those attempts. He possesses a smooth as butter shot and the ability to play staunch man defense on the other end. Tatum can also knock down step back shots, and finish at the rim at an efficient rate. Tatum averaged 13.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists during the regular season.

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons is the favorite to win the award, as he dominated the league with stellar performances all season long. Simmons averaged 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists (fifth in NBA) and 1.7 steals per game. With 2017’s first pick Markelle Fultz injured on the sidelines, Simmons opened eyes and dropped jaws with his high basketball IQ, stellar passing ability and court awareness, and the ability to finish efficiently at the rim.

As a 6’10” point guard, Simmons’s versatility helped fuel one of the NBA’s top ranked defenses. He was also one of 16 players to get two steals per 100 team plays, and block at least 2% of shots.

https://twitter.com/jtylerconway/status/991142320107147265

Simmons averaged 16.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists during the postseason. He led the 76ers past a tough Miami Heat team, where he then clashed with fellow rookie Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia was eliminated in five games.

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell is considered by many as the fan favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. After Gordon Hayward’s departure, the Utah Jazz looked for Mitchell to step up and provide much of the offense this season. Consequently, Mitchell responded impressively, producing 20.5 points (top among rookies), 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Mitchell displayed a unique ability to create his own shot, getting separation between him and his defender with ease as he used his first step quickness. He was also a difference-maker as part of the NBA’s second ranked defense. Coming into the league known more as a defensive player, Mitchell certainly has overall exceeded his potential.

Much like Jayson Tatum, Mitchell raised his game when the lights shined the brightest. He led the Utah Jazz into the playoffs, dropping 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He led his team into the Conference Semis, where the Jazz were ousted by the Houston Rockets in five games.

Though it is a regular season award, it is a sign of something special. Watching each of the three candidates battle in the playoffs this young into their careers is great for the NBA.

The Rookie of the Year award winner will be announced June 25th on TNT.

Celtics

LeBron Struck First, but the Celtics Got the Last Laugh

Leave a reply

Grit, determination, and a never quit attitude. Those are traits the Celtics have embodied all season long, and everything the team exemplified in Game 2.  After a hard-fought battle the Boston Celtics pulled away late for a 107-94 victory and a 2-0 series lead. LeBron’s monster game proved not quite enough, as the Celtics attacked the Cavaliers with a huge team effort.

The Cavaliers started the game with revitalized energy after inserting big man Tristan Thompson into the starting lineup in place of Kyle Korver. Thompson did a good job of locking down the pick and roll early on. He managed to disrupt the C’s offensive flow, forcing them into some tough looks.

LeBron James poured in a whopping 21 points in the first quarter, the most points in any quarter in any playoff game of his career. He added four threes on 8-13 shooting, but the rest of the Cavs shot 3-11 for a total of six points in the frame. LeBron finished the night with 42 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.

Bringing LeBron to a Halt

If it wasn’t for the valiant efforts of Jaylen Brown, the Cavs could have ran away with it early. Jaylen led the charge with 14 points in the first quarter, finishing with a team high 23 to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.

Jayson Tatum picked up where Jaylen left off. He started the second quarter with nine quick points to keep the team afloat as LeBron continued to stay hot. Towards the end of the quarter, LeBron took a hard shot to the jaw and had to leave the floor to get checked out. He was quickly cleared to play and returned before the end of the period. Meanwhile, the Cavs built their lead up to double digits for the first time in the series. Marcus Smart made some big plays with under a minute left in the quarter and the Celtics trimmed the Cavalier lead to seven.

It Takes a Village

Terry Rozier was the hot hand in the third. He overcame a rocky start by producing 14 points on his way to an 18 point and five rebound night. The momentum started to shift in favor of the Celtics, as the team dominated the period in the open floor. They barraged the Cavs with 36 points in the quarter while creating havoc on the defensive side of the ball. Marcus Morris was huge, hitting a tough and one with 5:14 to play in the quarter to tie the game up. He took a moment to wave his hands in the air, gesturing the garden faithful to their feet as the crowd roared with en electric energy.

Less than a minute later Marcus Smart canned a three from the top of the arch to give the Celtics their first lead since 3-2. It became a lead they would not relinquish.

Marcus Smart was absolutely crucial in the second half. He provided an adrenaline shot of energy that infected the whole team. Smart gave the Celtics all the momentum necessary to continue pouring in basket after basket, relentlessly attacking the teeth of the Cavalier defense. He finished with 11 points, nine assists, five rebounds, four steals, and a team high +/- of +21.

Playoff Al

Smart’s efforts must have particularly affected Al Horford. After an eight point and five rebound fourth quarter, Al put the Cavaliers to rest. He finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the game.

Horford’s biggest moment came with just under four minutes to go. After Al set a pick and rolled for an alley-oop. J,R. Smith gave him a shove in the back on the way up. Consequently, Smith got issued a Flagrant 1 on the play. Horford hit both free throws and on the ensuing possession tacked three more to put the Celtics up 12. All hopes of a comeback were all but over for the Cavs.

It was a team effort fueled victory for the Celtics. Four different players stepped up and led the team in scoring in each quarter for the game. The team also did a great job of handling the ball, giving up only eight turnovers to the Cavaliers’ 15.

The Cavs gave LeBron a bit more help in the game, mostly from fellow All-Star Kevin Love, who produced a 22 point and 15 rebound double double. Tristan Thompson finished with an eight point and seven rebound effort, and Kyle Korver gave the team 11 points off the bench.

A True Competitor

After the game Brad Stevens gushed about Marcus Smart and what he brings to the table for the team. “He’s as tough as they come. A true competitor. He matches his intensity with a physical toughness. We are really glad he is on our team”. Marcus Smart continues to be the hot glue guy for this Celtics team. The Celtics have gone an impressive 8-2 since inserting him back into the lineup. He seems to never fail to make the big plays down the stretch of games, not afraid of any moment and willing to bump and scrape to win every possession. 

Stevens finished his press conference stating that the team will, “have to be tougher and even more resilient as we move to Cleveland”.

History will be on the their side, as the team is 37-0 after leading a best of seven series 2-0.

Game 3 will take place Saturday night at 8:30 pm. The Celtics will look to take a commanding 3-0 lead as LeBron will do anything to claw the Cavaliers back into the series.

NBA Will Not Take Disciplinary Action Against J.R. Smith

Leave a reply

The NBA announced recently that Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith will not receive further discipline after shoving Al Horford to the ground during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Play in Question

With just under four minutes to play Al Horford set a pick and rolled for an alley-oop. J.R. Smith gave Horford a shove in the back on the way up, and Al went tumbling to the ground. Smith got issued a Flagrant 1 on the play.

It was blatant that the shove was no accident, and in an aggressive manner. Horford was completely airborne when J.R. made his decision. He thrusted his arms into Al’s body, jolting him forward out of control.

After the game, J.R. openly admitted to the shove, stating, “It was a good call. I blatantly pushed him.”

The Fallout with J.R. Smith

What kind of example is the NBA trying to set here? Two of the most dangerous positions a player can get injured in is getting undercut and having their feet taken out (like Gordon Hayward), and being shoved while airborne. Not only did Smith commit a hostile act, but he openly admitted to doing so!

If Horford had gotten injured on the play, one must wonder if the NBA would have decided to take further disciplinary action on the incident. The league must focus on the action that happened, not on the result. It sets a bad public example by letting such a heinous act go without any consequences, even if Horford is fine after the incident.

J.R. Smith is averaging two points on 12% shooting in the Eastern Conference Finals. It will be interesting to see how he performs as the series progresses.

 

Game 3 will take place in Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday night at 8:30 pm.

Why Jaylen Brown Will Be Better Than Kawhi Leonard

Leave a reply

“We often use the phrase growth-oriented,” Stevens said in regard to Jaylen Brown. “Nobody is more focused on getting better and the process of growth than Jaylen. Jaylen is easy to coach because he wants to be coached, he wants to be good. And he is really important to us. I really appreciate his mindset in that regard.”

Brad Stevens has admitted that he has set the bar higher for Jaylen, because he knows he can take it. Brad recognizes Jaylen’s desire to be the guy to guard the best player on the other team every game, and recognizes his growth mindset and his never quit attitude.

There is no question that Jaylen Brown has loads of potential. As a lengthy wing, standing in at 6’7” 230 pounds with a 7′ wingspan and elite athleticism, all the physical traits needed to star in the league are there. Coming into the league as the Renaissance man of his draft class, Jaylen brings in a fresh perspective and offers intellectual takes on complex world issues as a 21 year old. He’s known as a straight forward guy who seeks nothing more on the basketball court than to improve. Improve every single day, no days off.

So who’s to say he can’t be better than a guy like Kawhi Leonard?

Intangibles

Physically they are nearly identical. They both pride themselves on their defense, and both have a tendency to light it up in bunches, bringing to the table efficient offensive playstyles. They possess elite athleticism, but in different ways. Jaylen comes at opponents with high-flying vertical explosiveness, whereas Kawhi’s lateral movement is insane. The dude just explodes from side to side. Both belong to a winning environment on playoff caliber teams.

To give credit where credit is due- Kawhi Leonard is widely considered to be one of the top 5-10 players in the NBA. A two-time DPOY award winner and MVP finalist just a year ago, the guy is arguably the top two-way player in the game today.

So why do I think Jaylen Brown has the ability to not only catch up with, but overtake Kawhi and take his place among the ranks of the NBA’s best?

Let’s dive into the numbers.

Stats

Jaylen Stats

Kawhi Stats

Statistics Via ESPN.com

These stats emphasize on Jaylen and Kawhi’s second season numbers. It is easy to see how wildly similar on the offensive part of the floor these two are. Jaylen carried the load often for the Celtics this year. In times when Kyrie was out, he notched 14.5 points a game in nearly 31 minutes of floor time. Though his free throw percentage needs a bit of work, all other facets of his game on this side of the court are comparable, or better, than Kawhi’s. This holds true even as we dip into Leonard’s year three numbers.

Jaylen Brown had a PER of 13.69 this season, with a true shooting percentage of .562 and a VA of 102.4. Comparatively, during the ‘12-13’ season, Kawhi Leonard produced a PER of 16.46, true shooting percentage of .592, and a VA of 160.9. Jaylen showcased an offensive rating of 107.4 during his second season, whereas Kawhi produced a rating of 106.9 during his sophomore campaign. Very similar numbers considering their usage rates were within six points of one another.

Jaylen more than doubled his point total from year one to two, added five percentage points to his three point shot, and dished out twice as many assists. He has already started taking leaps at such a young age.

Comparison

Blessed with elite vertical and downhill explosiveness and a very respectable three point shot hovering around 40%, once he fills out he will have the physical ability to better compose himself at the rim on attacks at the basket, as his effective field goal percentage will rise greatly. Most importantly, as his confidence grows, he will be a formidable offensive player in this league. One that could even be very nearly impossible to stop.

Based on where Kawhi was by his second year, it is safe to say that on the offensive side of the ball Jaylen Brown compares well with Kawhi Leonard. Brown has potential to be an even greater threat than him.

Let’s take a look into the defensive side of the ball, an area that Kawhi has certainly made a name for himself during his run of two straight DPOY awards.

Screenshot 2018-04-26 at 3.45.49 PM

Screenshot 2018-04-26 at 3.47.58 PM

Statistics Via NBA.com

Defense

Brown’s numbers are from the 2017-18 season, whereas Leonard’s numbers are from the 2012-13 season (his second). The big number to look at here is the DEFRTG, where Kawhi held a better rating by 3.5 percentage points. Both guys were routinely assigned the toughest player on the opposition, and in turn both performed well with their assignments all season long.

Jaylen has already proven himself as a formidable defender against some of the league’s best. Earlier this season the Golden State Warriors came to town looking to put an end to the Celtics’ hot start to the season. Jaylen Brown had other plans for them. In the win, the Celtics held the Warriors to 62.1 points per 100 possessions when Brown matched up against Kevin Durant. On the 29 possessions the two faced off, Durant was held to just seven points.

Physical Build

Utilizing his super athleticism, Brown is able to fight around screens and switch on and off opponents with ease. He was doing these things easier and much more effectively than most players. Even as talented as Kawhi Leonard is, he does not possess even close to the same level of raw athletic ability that Brown brings to the table.

NBA: Playoffs-Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

At 21 years old, Jaylen is still growing into his frame. Once he becomes stronger, he will be better able to body up against his opposition. In turn his defensive rating will assuredly get even better. His elite athleticism and lengthy body will grant him the ability to guard just about anyone in the 1-4 range. His high basketball IQ and well-developed understanding of defensive schemes will certainly serve him well moving forward. The potential is there for a defensive rating in the mid 90s, just as Kawhi had during his two best years defensively.

Real Recognize Real

Jaylen looks up to Kawhi, and has spoken in the past about his appreciation for the way Leonard plays on the defensive side of the ball. He likes how Kawhi is the type of guy that would rather let his game do the talking then spend time trash talking on the court. Jaylen himself approaches the game in a similar way. He will only continue to feed off of what Kawhi does and learn from him. With limitless potential and a dash of optimism, only time will tell if he can make the leap into the upper level of the NBA’s talent pool.

As the saying goes, “The student has become the master.” Make no mistake, Brown is one of the fiercest competitors in the league. My money is on Jaylen Brown when the moment comes in his career to “become the master”,

Boston Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Leave a reply

Creating the Villain

The atmosphere in the Garden during the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals was electric. Kevin Garnett registered a big time triple double, and the Boston Celtics capped off a series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James walked toward the locker room as the cameras panned his way just in time to catch him removing his number 23 jersey. Many wondered if that would be the last time we would ever see LeBron don the Cavs’ wine and gold.

The rest is history. LeBron took his talents to South Beach and won two rings for the Miami Heat. Then, he returned to Cleveland and brought the organization their first championship in franchise history. Along the way, James got revenge and defeated the Boston Celtics four times in seven years, dismantling the team relentlessly. He did all he can to ensure he would never relive that bitter taste in his mouth as he walked off the parquet floor in 2010.

Modern Day

We have yet another Eastern Conference Finals showdown against King James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, a rematch of last year’s match-up and the seventh installment in the LeBron era. James has made a career of killing the Celtics, averaging 29.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, and 1.2 BPG in last year’s matchup. He has tallied more points against the Celtics than any other individual player in NBA history.

Things have changed drastically since last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. With a total of nine returning players from both teams, there isn’t much to analyze from that series. The new look Boston Celtics dismantling and disposing of the Philadelphia 76ers in five games has the team riding high. The Cavs struggled in their first round series against the Indiana Pacers, seeking out a Game 7 victory only to turn around and make mincemeat of the Toronto Raptors in a four game sweep.

The Guys in Green

No, we won’t get to see the much sought after Kyrie vs LeBron match-up that seemed all but destined since game one of the season. There will not be an Isaiah Thomas revenge series against his former Celtics either. Nonetheless, this match-up definitely has a lot of tasty content headed our way. The Celtics boast a roster led by the savvy veteran Al Horford, who has been an absolutely dominant force this postseason. He outplayed Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Bucks series and Joel Embiid in the 76ers match-up. With a line of 17 PPG, 8,7 RPG, 3.3 APG, while shooting 58% from the floor, he has taken his game to a whole new level. Al has rallied this young and hungry team around him.

Jayson Tatum has looked like a fifth year vet, making big shot after big shot without hesitation or even the smallest hint of fear. No moment has been too big for Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 16.9 PPG while sinking 41.5% of his threes. Scary Terry Rozier is playing like a mad man. He has exploded onto the spotlight and is making a big name for himself across the nation with his play.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

The Other Guys

As for the Cavaliers, it has been a roller coaster ride of a season. After the big offseason trade that saw Kyrie Irving go, many feared that Isaiah Thomas would not fit well in the system the Cavs had in place. These fears soon became reality as the team struggled mightily out of the gate, going 31-22 before Isaiah was shipped to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.

This seemed to be the saving grace for the Cavs, as they have gone 27-13 since the flurry of trades on the deadline that changed the complexion of the team. Oh, and they have the greatest basketball player on the face of the earth on their side. Since entering the playoffs the core of the team surrounding LeBron has slipped up a bit. LeBron has responded with playoff averages of 34.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, and 9 APG. He has absolutely carried the team through the first two rounds.

So the question is- can this young Celtics team find a way to end LeBron’s chokehold on the rest of the East? With home court advantage on their side, meaning a potential Game 7 would be played in the comforts of TD Garden anything is possible. There are four keys to a Celtics victory in this match-up to illustrate:

Contain LeBron

Make LeBron a score first, pass second player. James is a do it all guy that can destroy a team from all areas of the court. But his teammates are a lackluster group that have major consistency issues. LeBron is no stranger to a poor supporting cast, but it remains Cleveland’s biggest flaw and the area the Celtics need to focus most of their attention. The team needs to do everything they can to limit everyone around LeBron. Do not send help, as he will just pass out of it and find a wide open Korver for a three or a cutting Love for a slam. If the Celtics can make LeBron feel the need to score everything, they may be able to pull the rest of his team out of rhythm.

When the fourth quarter comes around and LeBron tires of relentlessly attacking the teeth of the Celtics’ number one ranked defense, he may miss some big shots. And with his teammates taken out of the game the Celtics should have some opportunities to come away with a victory. If they can hold everyone surrounding LeBron to 60-65 points per game in the series, they may have a fighting chance.

Brad Stevens

I can’t say it enough- the man is the best coach in the NBA. He has out-coached his opposition in the first two rounds, making brilliant both in game and between game adjustments that placed the team in the best possible position to win. In Game 3 against the 76ers, he called up two plays that resulted in layups at the end of the game. He will need to be at his best in the toughest and most important match-up of his young career.

Don’t be shocked if we see some lineup adjustments frequently throughout this series. Stevens inserted Semi Ojeleye into the starting lineup in the last three games of the Milwaukee series to guard Giannis. Expect a bigger role in this series for Semi, as he will be asked to guard LeBron during stretches. Brad will continue to get Brown and Tatum the best looks possible, and make Horford a focal point of the offense.

Young Core

With the exception of Al Horford, this Celtics team has built a successful postseason run on the backs of three young talents. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Terry Rozier have been instrumental in the success of the team. Tatum has been out of his mind, averaging 18.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.2 APG, while consistently shining his brightest in the biggest moments of each game. Jaylen Brown has shown tremendous progress from last season’s playoff run, highlighted by his 10-13 shooting night in Game 5 of the 76ers series, going off for 24 points in the victory. Boston still faces a mammoth of a task in playing against Lebron James. If the core can continue to prosper as the series goes on, it would prove invaluable to the ultimate success of the team .

Role Players

Boston boasts a much deeper and more talented bench than the Cavs, and will look to use it to their advantage throughout this series. Marcus Morris, Semi Ojeleye, and Aaron Baynes are expected to step up for the team and play some valuable minutes. The Celtics will need a lot more out of Marcus Morris than what they got throughout the 76ers series. If this team has any chance at pulling the upset off, they need him to play like he did in March. Morris needs to continue taking over games and keeping the team afloat by making shots when the rest of the team can’t buy a bucket.

Marcus Smart will need to continue being a bulldog and provide the team with a shot of adrenaline when the offense disappears and Cleveland starts making runs. Hopefully the team will have Shane Larkin back soon to give a spark of energy off the bench. If the role players can build off of the success in the past two match-ups, and find ways to limit Cleveland’s bench, the Celtics will be in a good spot to win this series.

Prediction

I’m picking the Celtics in a tough fought seven game series. The Celtics boast arguably five of the seven best players in this series, and hold advantages in every position in the starting lineup with the one exception of LeBron James. Cleveland’s roster is so poor this season that Marcus Smart, with a playoff scoring average of just 10.8 PPG, would be the third highest scorer on the Cavs. Boston’s core will be able to at least sustain the success they have had during the first two rounds, and it should be just enough to sneak away with a Game 7 victory in the TD Garden behind the greatest fans in the world. The Celtics will finally get their long-awaited payback on LeBron and make it back to the NBA finals for the first time since 2010.

Regardless of what the outcome may be- what a heck of a season for these Celtics. To go through the adversity they have and considering in the position they are in, it is a truly remarkable and noteworthy accomplishment. The future is bright in Boston.