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Countdown To Celtics Tipoff: 69 Days

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Welcome back to the Celtics season tipoff Countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 7th). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (69 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

Greg Monroe officially left the team and signed in Toronto. The center agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million deal to join the Raptors next season. He was signed back in March using the Disabled Player Exception for the remainder of the season. He played in 26 games with Boston, averaging 10 points and six rebounds over 19 minutes per game. He’ll join another East north of the border.

On This Date

August 7, 2017:  News breaks that the Celtics are on the list of Kyrie Irving’s preferred trade destinations. The rumors send Boston fans into calamity.

Stats (2017-18)

  • The Celtics had two players on the roster last year that stood 6’9: center Daniel Theis and forward Marcus Morris.

Fun Facts

  • During the 1969 season, the Celtics beat the Lakers in seven games to win the NBA Finals. In Bill Russell’s final year as player-coach, the underdog Celtics snuck into the playoffs and made it to the championship against the heavily favored Los Angeles squad. The power trio of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor fell to Russell’s team that included Sam Jones, John Havlicek, and Don Nelson. Jerry West won the finals MVP in the series; he remains the only player ever to win the award while being on the losing team. Russell and Jones both retired afterwards and the team underwent a brief rebuild.

The 1969 Celtics team. (Via NBA.com)

That concludes today’s Countdown to Celtics Tipoff. Make sure to be back here tomorrow as the clock continues to tick towards the 2018-19 season!

Countdown To Celtics Tipoff: 70 Days

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Welcome back to the Celtics season tipoff countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 6th). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (70 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

The over/under for the Celtics win total has been set at 57.5 in Las Vegas. This is the highest total in the Eastern Conference. Across the entire NBA, their over/under is second only to the Warriors, who have been set at 62.5. Both the Raptors and the 76ers sit at 54.5 wins.

On This Date

August 6, 2007: The Celtics signed free agent Scot Pollard. The center played sparingly in his one season in Boston, averaging eight minutes per game, two points, and two rebounds over 22 appearances.

Via Sports Illustrated

Stats (2017-18)

  • Jaylen Brown appeared in 70 games, starting each one and playing an average of 30.7 minutes per game.
  • Brown also racked up 70 total steals last year.
  • Marcus Morris attempted an average of 7.0 two-pointers per game, converting 47% of them.

Fun Facts

  • The 1970 Celtics fell far short of the playoffs, finishing with a record of 34-48. Rookie JoJo White made the All-Rookie first team, while John Havlicek made the All-NBA second team and the All-Defense second team.
  • Devin Booker holds the record for the most points scored against Boston with 70 points. He accomplished the feat on March 24, 2017. The Celtics won the game by double digits, and many players took issue with how the Suns played to lose in order to run up Booker’s total.
  • Luigi Datome is the only player to ever wear number 70 in green. He wore it in 2015 with the team.

Via CelticsLife

That concludes today’s Countdown to Celtics Tipoff. Make sure to be back here tomorrow as the clock continues to tick towards the 2018-19 season!

Countdown to Celtics Tipoff: 71 Days

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Welcome back to the Celtics season tipoff countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 5th). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (71 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

Many former Celtics returned to play in the TD Garden as the BIG3 League visited Boston on Friday night. Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Nate Robinson, Brian Scalabrine, and Jermaine O’Neal all returned to the parquet. Ryan Gomes, Xavier Silas, Chauncey Billups, Ryan Hollins, and Mike James also were former Celtics who revisited the old stomping ground. In the league founded by rapper Ice Cube, teams play three-on-three, halfcourt basketball. Among other altered rules, there is a four-point spot on the court. Check out more coverage of the BIG3 on the site!

On This Date

August 5th is apparently the most forgettable date in Boston history, as nothing noteworthy happened on this day in history.

Stats

  • Jaylen Brown attempted 7.1 two pointers per game last season, converting on an average of 3.8. He shot 51% from inside the arc last year.
  • The Celtics as a team last year averaged 7.1 steals per game in the month of January. They also averaged that many in losses, and also in games played at home.

Fun Facts

  • Robert Parish, who joined forces with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, stands 7’1″ in height. He was with the team from 1980-1994. The Hall of Famer was an All-Star in nine of those seasons.

Via Getty Images

  • The 1971 Celtics were one of few Celtics teams during that era to miss the playoffs. Under coach Tom Heinsohn, the team went 44-38 to finish third in the Atlantic division.

That concludes today’s Countdown to Celtics Tipoff. Make sure to be back here tomorrow as the clock continues to tick towards the 2018-19 season!

Countdown to Celtics Tip-Off: 72 Days

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Welcome Back to the Celtics Season Tip-Off Countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 4th). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (72 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

Yesterday, Boston signed PJ Dozier to a two-way contract. The 6’6″ guard spent last season splitting time between the Thunder and their G-League affiliate. The team now has both of their two-way players under contract, the other being Walt Lemon Jr. A fun side note for fans- with the Thunder, Dozier wore number 35. This is because Dozier is a second cousin of the late Reggie Lewis, and wears it in his honor. The number is retired by the Celtics, so it’s unclear what number he will take, but it’s a cool fact to know.

Via ESPN

In other news, ESPN has projected the Boston Celtics to finish second in the East behind the Toronto Raptors.

There will be no further comment on that.

On This Date

August 4, 1978: Boston makes a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Clippers. They ship Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington, Sidney Wicks, and Freeman Williams to the Clippers. In return, they receive Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight, a 1981 second rounder that turned into Danny Ainge, and a 1983 second round pick.

August 4, 2010: The Celtics sign 38 year-old Shaquille O’Neal to a two-year, $2.8 million dollar deal. The legendary big man only ended up appearing in 37 games, averaging 9.2 points and five rebounds before retiring the following year.

Via CelticsBlog

Stats

  • Last season, Al Horford appeared in 72 games, starting every single one.
  • Marcus Smart averaged 72% from the free throw line.
  • Marcus Morris had a total of 72 assists last year.

Fun Facts

  • In the 1972 season, The Celtics went 56-26 to finish first in the division. They lost in the ECF to the New York Knicks in five games. John Havlicek’s squad was no match for Walt Frazier’s Knicks.

That rounds out today’s Countdown to Tipoff. Keep checking back every day for the latest news, history, stats and more!

 

Countdown to Celtics Tipoff: 73 Days

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Welcome Back to the Celtics Season Tipoff Countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 3rd). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (73 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

I guess we can call 2K ratings news, since it was a slow day yesterday. Jaylen Brown is reportedly revealed to be an 84 overall, which many consider too low. Teammate Jayson Tatum was revealed as an 87 overall a week ago. I’m sure you all agree that this is groundbreaking news.

Also, apparently Brown is going to write a book:

So there’s something.

On This Date

August 3, 1949: The BAA (Basketball Association of America) merges with the NBL (National Basketball League), and the NBA is born. The Celtics were at the time members of the NBL. At the time of the merger, there were 17 franchises.

August 3, 2014: Former Celtics center Vitor Faverani is arrested in Spain for DUI.

August 3, 2015: Corey Walden signs a multi-year deal with the Celtics. He would go on to be waived just two months later, and never appeared in a game.

Stats

  • Semi Ojeleye appeared in 73 games this season, averaging 16 minutes per game, three points and two rebounds.

Via the Boston Globe

Fun Facts

  • In the 1973 season, Boston went 68-14 to finish first in the division. They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games against the New York Knicks. The aging JoJo White and his team could not fend off Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere’s New York squad.

That concludes today’s Countdown to Celtics Tipoff. Make sure to be back here tomorrow as the clock continues to tick towards the 2018-19 season!

Countdown To Celtics Tipoff: 74 Days

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Welcome to the Celtics season tipoff countdown!

Each day, we’ll give a review of news surrounding the Celtics from the previous day. We’ll also look back in history to see what happened on today’s date in team history (August 2nd). To round out the day’s post, we’ll give you stats and fun facts related to the number of days remaining before the first game (74 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

Today, Gary Washburn reported that it’s likely that the opening night matchup for the Celtics will be the Philadelphia 76ers. The teams will renew last season’s rivalry on the very first night of the season. The Sixers will look to redeem themselves from a 5-game series loss in the Conference Semifinals last May.

https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1024771360512466944

The Celtics also officially waived Rodney Purvis. Purvis was acquired from the Thunder in a trade for Abdel Nader a few weeks ago. The move brings the number of players on the roster down to the 15 man limit. It also clears money off the books, seeing as his contract was fully non-guaranteed.

On This Date

August 2, 2005: The Celtics participate in a massive five team, 13 player trade. They send Antoine Walker to the Miami Heat. The team acquired Utah center Curtis Borchardt, Memphis guard Raul Lopez, and the draft rights to Albert Miralles. The trade marks the end of the Walker era in Boston. In his eight seasons here, he averaged 20.6 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Stats

  • Al Horford averaged 7.4 rebounds this past season.

Fun Facts

  • In 1974, the Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games to win the NBA title. Coached by Tommy Heinsohn, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Co. defeated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s squad to capture their 12th title.

That’s it for today. Be sure to check back tomorrow to continue the countdown to the first Celtics game of the 2018-19 season!

Examining How The Celtics Rotation Will Shape Up

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This year’s Celtics rotation will be the strongest in years.

With Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving both returning, this is likely the deepest roster we’ve seen since the ’08 team. With 15 guaranteed contracts, the current roster is likely going to be the same as the opening day roster, barring an August trade. Let’s examine which players will get big minutes this upcoming year, as well as which players will see a rise or fall in their roles, and who is likely to ride the pine all year.

Image result for celtics starters

Via CBS Boston

The Starters

PG- Kyrie Irving                                                                                                                                                      SG- Jaylen Brown                                                                                                                                                  SF- Gordon Hayward                                                                                                                                            PF- Jayson Tatum                                                                                                                                                  C- Al Horford

This was going to be the starting lineup last year before Hayward’s injury. This season, were are likely to see it opening night. Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford are locks to be in the starting lineup on a nightly basis. If the Celtics decide to go with a bigger lineup in some games, they’ll slide Aron Baynes in at center. If that happens, either Brown or Tatum will come off the bench (probably Brown). Brad Stevens has shown willingness to adjust the lineup depending on the opponent. With everyone healthy, he has more freedom to do so. The Celtics can go big with Baynes, and if they want, they can go even bigger by taking Kyrie out of the lineup for stretches and running with the remaining starters and Baynes. Brown, Tatum, and Hayward all have shown their ability to be ballhandlers in the past. Even Horford brings the ball up confidently and efficiently. Lineup flexibility is going to be a huge advantage for the Celtics this year.

As far as minutes go, Irving and Horford won’t see much fluctuation in theirs. Kyrie averaged 32.2 MPG last year and Horford averaged 31.6. These numbers won’t change much. The main variable is Hayward returning. He’s going to get around 30 MPG as well and he’ll draw them from a lot of different places. Tatum and Brown could see their minutes drop to accommodate Hayward, though not drastically. They both averaged 30 MPG last year. They could drop to around 28, but it probably won’t dip much farther than that. Things are pretty straightforward in the starting lineup, but the bench is where it gets interesting.

Image result for celtics bench

Via Boston Herald

The Bench

Guards- Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Brad Wanamaker, Jabari Bird                                                      Forwards- Marcus Morris, Semi Ojeleye, Robert Williams, Guerschon Yabusele                            Centers- Aron Baynes, Daniel Theis

As previously mentioned, this team is crazy-deep. Four of these players could easily be starters on other teams, and you can make the case for more. There are a few interesting situations to watch this year. One is what the team will do with Rozier. Last season, Smart played more minutes (29.9) than Rozier (25.9). However, with Rozier’s breakout at the end of the year, we’ll see if their roles change. I’d guess that their roles are similar this year; they’ll be the first ones off the bench. I don’t see Williams playing too much this year – he’s got Baynes and Theis both ahead of him on the depth chart. He’ll see some garbage time minutes, but probably not much more as the Celtics develop him.

Another story to watch is what happens with Marcus Morris. He’s still of value to the team, but Hayward is going to usurp much of his role. He played 26.8 MPG last year; that could take a big hit with Hayward and the continuing evolution of Ojeleye. Another player who will see their minutes drop is Baynes. His starting role is gone now, and though he’s the first big off the bench, his minutes will be reduced as well. Brad Wanamaker is a wild card, as he’s an overseas signing. It’ll be interesting to see if he plays.

This roster is a beautiful sight after the depleted stretches last year. This team has a lot of players that can contribute, but there are only so many minutes to go around. With lots of talent, Brad Stevens has some tough decisions to make. The starters are set in stone, but after that, the waters get murky. No matter who ends up playing, the Celtics are ready to go for the 2018-19 season. Let’s leave it in the hands of the best head coach in basketball to figure out the optimal rotations.

Who do you think will get big minutes? Let me know on twitter- @jackbuffett_

Grading The Celtics’ Offseason Moves

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The Boston Celtics Have Had a Quiet Summer

The Celtics haven’t made any splashy or eye-popping moves, which is fine. They’ve slowly but surely addressed their needs, largely avoiding the trade market. That said, they’ve made a fair number of moves this summer. Let’s look back at each of them, giving them a grade.

Williams

Staff Photo by Faith Ninivaggi

Drafting Robert Williams

After lots of noise and rumors surrounding Danny Ainge’s interest in moving up, Boston stayed put at pick 27. They selected Robert Williams out of Texas A&M, an intriguing big man with loads of athleticism. So far, that pick hasn’t looked great. He’s had well-publicized problems with lateness and inexplicable gaffes. He also got injured just minutes into his Summer League debut. He didn’t even get a chance to redeem himself before he was injured. It’s obviously far to early to tell if this is a good pick for Boston, but for now, it doesn’t seem like the best choice. Grade: C-

Re-signing Aron Baynes

In the opening hours of free agency, the Celtics brought back Baynes on a two-year, $11 million deal. It’s a great deal for Boston, who brings back a key piece of last year’s team at a good price. He’ll be moving into a bench role, but he’s more of a bruiser than Al Horford and can serve in that role admirably. He’ll also be able to allow the Celtics to put a “tall-ball” lineup on the floor. Overall, it’s a great signing for the team. Grade: A

Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Not Biting on Kawhi Leonard

The Celtics were involved in talks about Kawhi Leonard for weeks. Many players were included in rumors, but the Celtics apparently only offered pick-heavy packages. In the end, they decided not to go after the polarizing forward. This was a smart play by the team. Sure, the team would have added even more top-tier talent. However, by getting Kawhi, the team would have been too overstaffed with wings to afford everyone playing time. There were obviously chemistry questions as well. I, for one, am glad the Celtics stayed out of the circus. Grade: B+

Re-signing Marcus Smart

Best move the Celtics could possibly have made this summer. I outline it in more detail here, but this deal is huge for so many reasons. It locks him in for multiple years, leaving less of a headache in upcoming years. He’s also incredibly valuable to the team, and he’s proved that he’s worth every penny of his contract. I love this move by Boston. Grade: A+

Signing Brad Wanamaker

Wanamaker came from Europe to sign with Boston this summer. The 6’4 guard joins a crowded backcourt to reunite with former German teammate Daniel Theis. His numbers are decent, but it’ll be his defense that’s of worth to the Celtics. He’s got a big body that will help him defend multiple positions. However, at best, he’s an end-of-the-bench player that could play minutes in a Shane Larkin-esque role. Grade: C+

Via Eurohoops

Trading Abdel Nader for Rodney Purvis

The Celtics were going to release Nader, but they instead opted to trade him and cash to the Thunder for Purvis. It’s unlikely that Purvis will ever see the court, as the team likely made this move in order to make cap room. Trading Nader rather than releasing him saves the team around $500K, and Purvis’ contract is fully non-guaranteed. He’ll likely be waived. The move isn’t earth-shattering, but every little bit helps to get the team more money. The move was intelligent, but doesn’t have major implications. Grade: B

The team’s moves this summer have, for the most part, been solid moves geared towards preparing for a title run. There’s been a questionable decision here and there, sure. Be that as it may, the Celtics have done what they have been doing for the last few summers, which is making good moves that benefit the team in the long run. The offseason is far from over (remember a particular August trade involving two point guards?), but expect Boston to stay away from splashy moves. They’re content with their core- now all that’s left is waiting for training camp.

Follow me on Twitter: @jackbuffett_

Fresh Take Friday: Why Re-Signing Marcus Smart is Key

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Bringing Back Smart Was an Awesome Move by Boston.

After weeks of rumors and reports surrounding restricted free agent Marcus Smart, he finally resigned on Thursday. The guard inked a four-year contract worth $52 million after spending three weeks assessing the market. This is a huge deal for Boston, who retains a key piece of the rotation, and the heart and soul of the team. It’s easily the most impactful move of the summer, and will pay dividends now and down the road. Here’s why.

His Play

Anyone who questions Marcus Smart’s value hasn’t watched the Celtics play basketball. Quite simply, he makes everyone around him better. Though his shooting needs work, especially from three, he makes up for it with his hustle plays. His contributions don’t always show up on the stat sheet, but the team knows what he’s worth, hence the contract. Just look at this tweet from ESPN Stats to see what Smart does for the Celtics:

There’s no doubt that Smart will get decent minutes for Boston this year, and rightfully so. Having him available as the first man off the bench is invaluable to the team due to his ability to play either guard position. He can also guard a wide range of positions due to his length and bothersome defense. Smart is worth every penny of this contract. And in case you needed a refresher on what he brings to the table, here’s this iconic moment from the past season.

Future Implications

Smart’s signing is also big for another reason- contracts. He is now one of just a handful of Celtics that are locked up after next season. Marcus Morris is an unrestricted free agent next summer. Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis will be restricted free agents. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Aron Baynes all have player options on the 2019-2020 season. Horford could opt in, but Baynes is a question mark and Kyrie is likely to opt out, whether to seek more money here or at a new destination. In what’s sure to be a hectic summer, it’s nice to have one less player on the books for Danny Ainge to worry about.

Another reason why Marcus’s contract is good for Boston is that it’s not unreasonable in terms of money. He’ll average about $13 million per year, which is right about what Boston was willing to give. It also means that his contract is tradeable, should the team choose to go in that direction. If the team needs to create cap space or believes it’s over-staffed at guard, his contract won’t be terribly difficult to move. They shouldn’t look to move him (see above reasons), but if it becomes necessary, his contract makes it easier to do so.

The Bottom Line

This is an excellent signing for so many reasons. Smart is the longest-tenured Celtic on the roster, and it’s clear he loves the city. The feeling is mutual; he’s become a fan favorite in Beantown among the Boston faithful. The contract is reasonable, it locks him up for the future, and his play will help propel the Celtics to a title run this season.

Betts

Fresh Take Friday: Mookie Betts Is Better Than Mike Trout Right Now (@jackbuffett_)

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The AL MVP Race Consists of Two Players- Mookie and Mike

For years, Mike Trout has reigned supreme as the face of Major League Baseball. He has two MVP awards to his name already. Until this year, no one questioned his status as the best player in baseball. However, Mookie Betts is dominating this year for the first-place Red Sox. The results of the All-Star Game fan voting showed him with 600,000 more votes than Trout. While this is by no means an accurate measure of their skill, the stats show that it’s time to consider Mookie the best player in baseball right now.

Photo via USA Today

(Disclaimer: note that this is RIGHT NOW. Trout has had a far more successful career. Just making it clear.)

The Stats

Let’s get this out of the way right now: yes, Mike Trout has a better WAR than Mookie Betts. Trout’s is 7.1, Betts’ is 5.9. Some people think that is the end-all, be-all of baseball statistics. It is not. That is a conversation for another time, though.

Photo via Getty Images

Let’s start with batting average-the most basic baseball statistic. Mookie Betts currently leads all of baseball in this area, currently hitting .352. Mike Trout is hitting .314. Trout has a higher on-base percentage, beating Mookie .457 to .440. All that means is that more of Trout’s appearances on base come from walks, while Mookie hits more, but draws walks less. Mookie’s slugging percentage is .683 right now, leading the MLB. Trout’s is .618. Betts also leads the league in OPS (on-base plus slugging), with an absurd 1.123, in front of Trout’s 1.075. If you’re looking at solely these numbers, you’re thinking Betts is better, no?

Maybe you’re not a percentage fan. If that’s the case, take a gander at these numbers. Thus far this year, Trout has had 415 plate appearances and Mookie has 341. During these PA’s, Mookie has the same number of hits (102), seven more doubles (25 to 18), and two fewer homers (25 to 23). Not too shabby for having 74 fewer appearances at the plate. This season, Mookie also has just one less RBI, and has scored five more runs. However, Trout has been far better at drawing walks, taking 81 bases on balls to Betts’ 43.

Mookie

Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

Look at the numbers. Mookie Betts is statistically a better baseball player than Mike Trout this season. It doesn’t hurt that number 50 is leading the Sox to the MLB’s best record at 66-29, riding a ten-game win streak. Meanwhile, Trout’s Angels are 48-46. A team’s record is obviously not indicative of an individual’s success (see Machado, Manny), but it’s worth mentioning.

As the league approaches the All-Star break, both players are destroying the rest of the league. The two are in a tier all by themselves, above the rest of the MLB. Don’t discount how good of a baseball player Mike Trout is. It’s crazy what he’s been able to do for years. However, right now, Betts is the best player in baseball. We’ll see who takes home the MVP award at the end of the year.

*Stats accurate as of Friday, June 13th.

Follow me on Twitter: @jackbuffett_