Author Archives: Jolie Davis

About Jolie Davis

Boston native and BC grad class of 2016. I'm a lover of all things sports and an even bigger Boston sports fan #BostonStrong

Garnett to the Rafters? I Sure Think So

Leave a reply

I know there’s been a debate about whether Garnett should be next in line to have his number retired with the Celtics. After Paul Pierce’s wonderful and well deserved ceremony, it got me thinking. Beforehand, I had always felt as though the number of years you played for a team took precedent. For Garnett however, I think I would make an exception.

Quality over Quantity

What I mean is, the quality of his years with the Celtics have more weight than the quantity. He only spent six seasons in green compared to his 14 in Minnesota. In those six seasons, he averaged 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, shot 83% FT and 52% from the floor. And let’s not forget his contributions that led to two NBA Finals trips, winning one of them. Boston took the 2008 series 4-2, with Garnett posting a double-double (26 pts. 14 rebs) in Game 6. I know he dealt with a lot of injuries while with us, but it was only expected considering how many miles he already put on his body. After 14 seasons in Minnesota, we were lucky to see the production we did.

“But We Can’t Retire Everyone’s Number…”

And we aren’t asking to! Listen, Kevin Garnett came to us maybe a few years past his prime. He gave it everything he had, even through all the injuries. He helped Boston win their 17th NBA Championship in franchise history. Anyone who gets the opportunity to wear Celtic green knows it is a HUGE honor and that not everyone is brought into the fold here. When a player such as Garnett comes in and:

  • puts up a double-double in just about EVERY playoff matchup in 2008

      AND

  • becomes part of the reason Boston gets to raise a banner

He deserves to have his number retired. It’s not common for a player after 14 years with one team, to come in and help put another over the top. I mean, after 14 years, most players accept bench roles and decreased minutes. But not KG; he put in the work and it paid off. We should not only appreciate the hard work and dedication, but recognize it.

It’s not everyday we are reminded of the glory days brought to Boston by legends like Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish—the list goes on. But Garnett did that for us when he came to join Pierce and Allen as Beantown’s “big three”. It’s time too show some love to the Big Ticket. Besides, his #5 would look really good next to 34!

Cover image courtesy of UPI.com

Celtics Lose Another, 129-119

Leave a reply

Thank God for the All-Star break, because the Celtics need it. Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers was their third straight, and it’s the second straight game in which they gave up 120+ points. They’re really going to have to regroup here.

Where’s the Defense?

Although they still lead the league in defensive rating, Boston’s defense has been suspect. This team has just not been able to make any defensive stops. LeBron and his shiny new toys stepped into the Garden on Sunday and the Celtics had no answer. On Wednesday night, they allowed DeAndre Jordan and the Clips to penetrate the paint all night. Jordan had 30 points— a season high I’m pretty sure. If you’re allowing your opponent 56 points in the paint, you are clearly not playing hard enough on defense. What they were doing tough, is playing silly. There were a number of bad fouls committed by the Cs, which put them into an even deeper hole. I know they’re missing defensive warrior Marcus Smart, but they’ve got to be able to adjust.

Celtics Shaking Things Up?

It appears coach Brad Stevens has thought about switching the lineup. This loss will for sure solidify that decision. Defensively, I don’t know if it’s so much a line up issue. It just feels like lackluster effort on the part of the Celtics, which is odd. But the offensive production has been and still is a huge concern. The rookies stepped up big when Irving, Morris, Larkin and Smart were out. But since Morris and Irving’s return, Nader’s minutes have dramatically decreased. Meanwhile, Ojeleye is on this wild roller coaster of either 20 minutes or no playing time at all. I’m no coach, but let them play on a consistent basis. It takes some weight off the starters and their minutes can be spread out more evenly. I don’t know, but hopefully we can see some sort of turnaround when Smart and Larkin get back. I feel some experiments coming. Is there a world where Jaylen Brown DOESN’T start? Or where Greg Monroe DOES? Maybe even taking some perceived pressure off of Tatum and making him apart of the second unit? Decisions, decisions.

I really hope they can use this break as a time to reflect and get on the same page. But I also hope they use it to relax and have fun Congrats to Al and Kyrie on being All-Stars and to Jayson and Jaylen on being in the Rising Stars game. It’s about to be lit!

 

Cover image courtesy of CelticsLife.com.

Celtics’ Youth on Fire: Can They Sustain the Flame?

Leave a reply

We already began to see the emergence of the Celtics’ youth in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown early on this season. Then Rozier and Smart added some fuel to the fire, with Rozier carrying it into his three starts at point guard. But during that three-game span without Irving and others, the young Celtics really got a chance to show everyone what they could do.

Banged Up and Short-handed

The Celtics had to go three games without some key players:

  • Kyrie Irving sat out all three games with a sore quad; he probably could have played against the Trailblazers but with Toronto right after, pretty sure the plan was to conserve energy.
  • Marcus Smart continues to sit out with a self-inflicted hand injury. I heard the stitches are out, but they are being cautious.
  • Marcus Morris had a nasty fall against the Knicks. He missed the next two games with a sore hip.
  • Shane Larkin sat out with a sore knee and wasn’t available for the Hawks and Trailblazer games.

Although they only had to face the Knicks, Hawks and Trailblazers, the Cs had fans worried about how the games would play out.

Developing Celtics’ Youth: How are They Doing It?

Time and time again, the Cs youth had been inconsistent with their efforts on both sides of the ball. But this time, they proved that they can hold their own. They went 3-0 in those games, and here’s my take on how: 

  • building up minutes : It used to frustrate me that coach didn’t play the young guys more, but now I’m seeing the bigger picture. I’ve compared it to teaching someone how to ride a bike. The minimal minutes to start out are the training wheels — but Brad Stevens has finally removed them. The guys are adapting to the pace, gaining more awareness and building confidence —10-20 minutes at a time.
  • coaching : Stevens is so good at helping his guys utilize their strengths. Nader and Ojeleye can knock down the perimeter shots when encouraged; Theis can get the basket if he’s fed the ball in the paint; Tatum is encouraged to use his length and athleticism not just on offense, but on defense as well. Brad’s expectations for his guys are realistic, which takes the pressure off. A lot of rookies in the league don’t have that luxury.
  • leadership/confidence : the youth on this team knows how fortunate they are to be able to play with (young) vets like Irving and Horford. They also know how fortunate they are to play for Brad, who is quite young and probably easier to communicate with. But in general, having the supportive foundation that they have really helps. If you watch, you can see that these guys play hard for each other. The trust and confidence they have in one another makes it easier to handle business on the court. Why do you think they’re still rated #1 in defensive efficiency?

Other people may have more technical explanations for this emergence of the Celtics’ youth. But really, sometimes it’s just that simple.

 

Cover image courtesy of MassLive.com

Views from the 6: Will Raptors Steal #1 Seed and Home Court?

Leave a reply

Kyrie Irving and Marcus Morris made their return last night as the Celtics headed to Toronto to take on the Raptors. After a four-game win streak, (3-0 without Irving) the Cs fell 111-91. Peculiar, considering they won the first match up 95-94 without Irving. Anyway, the Celtics are now 39-16, only one game ahead of the Raptors.

Raptors Put on a Show

Toronto was absolutely electric. Kyle Lowry had 23 points, while C.J. Miles had 20 of his own off the bench. Both were a combined 11-18 from behind the arc, contributing to their team’s overall 47% three-point shooting. DeMar DeRozan added 15 points of his own and six assists. Shots were falling for the Raptors ALL night, no matter who had the ball. Didn’t see the game? Well, all you have to know is their bench put up 59 points— that’s more than 50% of the team’s point total for the game. Apparently, Brad Stevens praised this second unit before the match up. I wonder if he still feels the same way.

The Celtics Looked a Bit… Stale

On the other hand, the Celtics just didn’t play that well. The defense wasn’t up to par, giving up points left and right. But the offense looked equally unimpressive. Horford and Tatum combined for 6 points, going 3-14 from the floor and 0-3 from three. Irving and Brown were the only starters with double digits, while the bench contributed 51 points. When you look at the team stats, this really should have been a close game. Unfortunately, the Cs just couldn’t make any defensive plays and they couldn’t score consistently. The Raptors were just more efficient.

Preview of Eastern Conference Finals?

With the Celtics and the Raptors being the top two teams in the east, there is definitely a chance we’ll see them in the eastern final. But with the way the Raptors are playing, we could possibly see a #1 seed takeover. This means they would get home court advantage in the series. Now that should make everyone in Boston uncomfortable, considering the Raptors have lost only two games at home so far this season. Hopefully, with the addition of Greg Monroe or whatever else they are trying to do before the trade deadline, they will put up a fight. I guess the idea of Tyreke Evans adding depth to the bench isn’t so bad after all.

UPDATE via Adrian Wojnarowski @ 1;14 PM: Lou Williams getting three-year deal with Clippers.

Greg Monroe Available, DPE at Disposal…What’s up Ainge?

Leave a reply

Yesterday, the Phoenix Suns agreed to buyout the contract of Greg Monroe, essentially making him available to go elsewhere. The 6’11” center spent some time in Detroit and Milwaukee as well, and now he’s got a lot of interest from around the league. But wouldn’t Boston make the most sense?

Greg Monroe as a Celtic

The Celtics only have one true center in Aron Baynes, which I’m sorry to say isn’t enough. Baynes is only averaging 5.2 rebounds a game. A bit low for a big man don’t you think? Don’t get me wrong, he’s defended other big men very well, but the Celtics need more help. Greg Monroe would be more than ideal. So far this year, he is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. And not to bring age into the conversation, but Monroe is 27 and Baynes is 31. I think having someone like Monroe starting and have Baynes come off the bench could only make this team better. Besides, Baynes has proven himself sufficient in that role thus far. It’s always great to have guys like Horford and even Theis who can switch and play the 5, but at some point you’re going to need a true center. More than one to be exact! Nabbing Monroe would fix that AND the rebounding problem. More possessions = more point opportunities.

What Else Can You Do with that DPE?

I’ve heard some rumors circulating that the Celtics, among other teams, have expressed interest in the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans. He didn’t even play last night— that’s how serious the Grizzlies are about trading him. But if I’m not mistaken, wouldn’t the Cs have to give something in return? Would it mean… no. Not even going to think about it because it’s ridiculous. We don’t need another guard. We need another TRUE center to get blocks and most importantly, rebounds. The Cs lose the battle on rebounds sometimes, and it’s usually the difference between a win and a loss. I’m telling you, Greg Monroe is the way to go!

 

Shout out to Terry Rozier for his first career start AND triple double. I’m sure Kyrie was very proud. Let’s hope the Cs can carry that momentum into Friday when they host the Hawks. Oh, and let’s hope Danny get’s moving on using that DPE (*cough* on Monroe *cough*).

The Blake Griffin Trade from a Competition Point of View

Leave a reply

Earlier this week the Clippers sent shock waves throughout the NBA when they traded their star Blake Griffin to the Pistons. Our old pal Avery Bradley was also a part of the deal and will now be making LA his home after a minor stint in Detroit. The Clippers also received Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick. The Pistons received Willie Reed and Brice Johnson in addition to Griffin. I guess getting a max deal doesn’t mean ****.

Shaking Up the East

The Eastern Conference is already more competitive than it has been in recent years. But this desperate move by the Pistons to save this season has just made it more interesting, and I didn’t even think that was possible. On Tuesday night, they beat the Cavs to end an eight-game losing streak. They now sit in ninth behind the 76ers at 23-26. But I can see them sneaking into the top eight, and here’s why:

  • The Wizards are losing John Wall for the next two months due to a knee injury. This means that Beal will have to carry this team the rest of they way. I think it’ll be hard for the Wizards to win enough games to get where they want to be. I mean, they had a hard enough time when they had Wall AND the 4th easiest schedule. Now, they have one of the hardest schedules left and no Wall. Anything can happen.
  • Even though the Cavs sit in third, they still have some discord that needs to be harmonized. I know LeBron tried to fix it a bit by picking Kevin Love for his All-Star team, but I.T. is still feeling singled out. In addition, Love is now out with a broken hand for six to eight weeks. Bad luck all around; the Cavs need his scoring, especially since their defense is garbage.

Blake Griffin vs Celtics

When the Cs played the Clippers on January 24th, Blake Griffin had 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. His shooting wasn’t up to par, but he still found a way to put points on the board. Fortunately we won that game 113-102, but it wasn’t easy. And make no mistake — Griffin played a role. Now, the Cs must face him again when they play the Pistons on February 23rd. It was already a difficult match up when Detroit didn’t have a 5x All-Star, so imagine how it will be come the 23rd. The Pistons beat the Cs 118-108 in November, but then lost in December 91-81, splitting the series so far. Can a banged up Celtics team take the series from Detroit 2-1? Hopefully by then, everyone will be feeling close to 100% and if we’re lucky maybe Blake Griffin aggravates an old injury. Just saying!

Still Time for Things to Change?

I think the Pistons have caused a minor panic by trading for Griffin. Everyone knows he’s the real deal and can rejuvenate that team, so no one is taking this lightly. The Cavs have been talking about some possible trades, but the one that I heard could be a definite is the George Hill trade. Unfortunately, analysts have said this wouldn’t help their defensive woes, which should be their #1 priority right now. But the Celtics and Danny Ainge NEED to do something with the DPE they received for the Hayward injury. I think they need someone who can come in and be a consistent secondary scorer and who is also top-notch on defense. And they need this someone ASAP.

The East has outdone the West in competition thus far. Fresh faces in the playoff race. Bring it!

Irving, Celtics End Four-Game Skid

Leave a reply

Finally! Although it’s only been one game, the Celtics are back to winning. That heartbreaking one-point loss was the kick they needed to come back to the Staples Center and take care of business. They were able to top the Clippers 113-102, leaving a lot of Celtics fans breathing a bit easier.

Contributions from Everyone

When I say this was a good game for almost everyone on the team, I mean it. But hey, if you don’t believe me just look at the stats:

  • Kyrie Irving- 20 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast
  • Jayson Tatum- 18 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast
  • Aron Baynes- 12 pts, 6-8 FG, 6 reb
  • Marcus Morris- 15 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast
  • Bench- 39 pts,17 reb, 10 ast

Jaylen Brown had a rough shooting night, but he was able to contribute in other ways. It was an important win for the Cs, especially since they were missing Horford and Smart. To be honest, going into this match-up without those two had me worried. But once again this team has proven to be resilient.

How Did the Celtics Win This Game?

Now, if you look at the team stats, it could cause a bit of confusion. The Celtics lost the rebound battle, points in the paint, points off turnovers; just to name a few. But, they made up for it by winning in:

  • 3-PT %: they were 14-40 from behind the arc while the Clippers were 5-21. I swear LA only began hitting them when it didn’t matter anymore.
  • FT %: after only getting ten free throws against the Lakers, they were more aggressive and forced twenty-two attempts against the Clippers. Oh yeah, and they only missed one, while the Clips were 27-39.
  • Steal: ten steals to the Clips’ six. Not a huge difference but it gave the Cs more possessions.
  • Turnovers: I know I already said they lost the battle of points off turnovers. But if you notice, the Cs had thirteen turnovers and only gave up sixteen points off of them. That’s pretty good. But overall the Clippers turned the ball over more, which gave the Cs more possessions.

The Road Ahead

The Celtics have two more games on this road trip before heading home. Next, they head to the Bay to face the Golden State Warriors. This is a top team in the west that they’ve already beaten in Boston, holding them well under 100 points. After, they head to Denver to take on the Nuggets, another team they’ve already beaten at home. The Warriors have the best record in the league, but the way they lost to Houston has everyone shook. The Nuggets are only one game over .500 and are 2-3 in their last five. Can the Cs dig deep enough to take another win from both teams?

Tune in for ABC’s Saturday Primetime to watch the Boston take on Golden State. And don’t forget to watch them play the Nuggets on NBATV on Monday!

Celtics’ Three-Game Losing Streak: Reason to Worry?

Leave a reply

I know everyone has been so preoccupied with the Patriot’s ensuring their trip to the Super Bowl that the other Boston sports have been forgotten. But it’s time to come back to reality and realize our Celtics are struggling right now. They have now lost three in a row at home, with the latest loss being to a below .500 Magic team.

Loss to the Magic

Boston fell to the Magic 103-95. Kyrie Irving came back after missing the previous game with shoulder soreness. He put up forty points, but it wasn’t enough to pull the Cs out of the hole. Every time they got close, the Magic pulled away again. They did have a one-point lead going into halftime but they couldn’t expand. The only real offensive help Irving received was from Brown and Morris, who had seventeen and twelve points respectively. Tatum had a rough afternoon: nine points on 4-11 shooting; 1-4 from three. Horford had almost identical stats, but instead was 1-2 from three. The bench was also a disappointment with only six points. Smart and Rozier both played around twenty minutes and only contributed two points each. But I would like to point out how bad the officiating was too. The Cs probably could have pulled out a close one had every call not been in the Magic’s favor.

What’s the Issue?

The issue is quite simple: the offense is sporadic. What I mean is there is only consistency from one person and we all know he cannot continue to do this alone. Here are my concerns:

  • Al Horford has taken less shots compared to the beginning of the season. He’s fallen into more of a facilitator’s role. Don’t get me wrong, he’s great at it, but I really miss the twenty points he used to put up.
  • Jayson Tatum also needs to find his rhythm again because anything under ten points just isn’t going to cut it. But I’m not going to be too hard on him because maybe he just hit that ‘rookie wall’.
  • The Cs rank twenty-third in bench scoring with 31.3. That obviously isn’t enough. It’s sad because they were having a good run, but have since cooled off. The leaders off the bench have to light that fire again, ASAP.

The only thing saving this team right now—by just a thread—is that their defensive rating still ranks first in the league.

How Do the Celtics Feel About Their Recent Woes?

On yesterday’s ESPN’s The Jump, host Rachel Nichols with guests Brian Windhorst and Byron Scott discussed the topic briefly. They brought up the two different responses from two of the Celtics’ leaders:

  • Al Horford said ‘I feel like we’re fighting for our lives right now’.
  • Kyrie Irving, in a nutshell, said that this losing streak is an opportunity to grow and learn from mistakes.

Byron Scott, a three-time NBA champion and former coach of the year, found satisfaction in both responses. Horford’s response to the losing streak offers his team a push. There hasn’t been that sense of urgency like there was pre-2018, but their schedule hasn’t helped. They had five days each in between pre-London and post-London, so their rhythm may be a bit off. On the other hand, Irving’s response is a bit more positive but it also comes with a challenge. Yes, it’s an opportunity to grow as a team, but will we come together or come undone?

I have no doubt that the Celtics will figure it out. Not just the players, but coach Stevens as well. I’m sure he’ll find a way to make these line ups work on both sides of the ball.

Cover image courtesy of NESN.com.

Celtics Look to Bounce Back Before West Coast Trip

Leave a reply

The Celtics are looking to get a win before heading to the West Coast on a four-game road trip. For the first time this season they lost two home games in a row. No need to panic, but definitely not something fans want to see.

Loss to Pelicans

On Tuesday the Cs hosted the Pelicans after five days of rest. It was their first game since their return from London, and boy did they look sluggish. They lost 116-113 in OT, due mostly to the fact that Anthony Davis had 45 points and 16 rebounds. Boogie Cousins also contributed 19 points 15 rebounds, but what really helped them was Rondo’s return at point guard. Kyrie Irving finished with 27 points after having a decent second half. Smart contributed 16 points off of the bench but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

Loss to 76ers

The Celtics got another taste of what it’s like to be without Kyrie Irving. He sat out with shoulder soreness just as a precaution. Although the game was winnable without him, Boston wasn’t able to sustain a good run. The 76ers took this match-up 89-80 to beat the Celtics for the first time this season. Joel Embiid put up 26 points and 16 rebounds, while T.J. McConnell had 15 points off the bench. The Celtics were out-rebounded 51-38, and we all know that when this occurs Boston doesn’t nearly stand a chance.

Getting Ready for the Magic

On Sunday the Celtics host the Magic at 1:00 pm. They are 34-12 and are still atop the East, but a win here would be great. The Cavs won their last game and so did Toronto. We don’t need them inching any closer! But that should be a problem with a struggling Magic team coming to town. Orlando has lost ten in a row and unfortunately the Celtics will try to make it eleven.

Dominance Over the West

Boston has shocked everyone this season with their dominance, especially over the top teams in the West. They’ve beaten Golden State, Houston, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City. In each match-up, they have held the teams to under 100 points! I mean, who could forget that thriller against Houston?! On their road trip they will look to take another one from Golden State and Denver. They will also be facing the Clippers and Lakers.

Don’t forget to tune in Sunday! It’s before the Patriots game so no excuses! And tune in during their west coast trip; all games are nationally televised!

Isaiah Thomas Concedes, February 11th Belongs to #34

Leave a reply

The Celtics lost last night to the Pelicans 116-113 in overtime. That was a big deal for a lot of people, even though they are 34-11 and still lead the East by 3.5 games. For me though, I couldn’t get over the tweet Isaiah Thomas sent out about his tribute video—and I still can’t.

Isaiah Thomas: Petty or Classy

Last night Isaiah Thomas sent out a tweet asking the Celtics not to run his tribute video on February 11th. He said he appreciated the honor of sharing that night with Paul Pierce, but knew it was becoming an issue. I felt like this tweet was a small jab at Pierce because he complained about it right off the bat. But many other people had things to say about sharing the night. When talking to the media yesterday, Rondo had this to say about the tribute video in general: “What has he done? This is the Boston Celtics… you don’t hang conference titles” (NBC Sports). Now, that’s cold. But I will say this: Isaiah, you had your chance for a tribute video on January 3rd. YOU turned it down because you already had a plan in your mind of how you wanted it to go down. You knew you were coming to Boston that night, so you had ample time to plan accordingly.

#34 Shouldn’t Have to Share

When this all initially went down, people said Pierce was being a baby about it. Ummm… NO! He wasn’t being a baby or selfish or whatever else people were saying. Pierce gave fifteen years to the Boston Celtics, bringing them to the Finals twice and winning one. Did I mention he was also the Finals MVP? We watched him grow into an elite player in Boston. He helped carry our team to the playoffs ten out of the fifteen seasons he was a Celtic. His loyalty for us was unreal. So any Boston fan who watched Pierce for those fifteen years and called him a baby for not wanting to share HIS night should be ashamed. Isaiah Thomas came here for three years and you all just forgot what Pierce accomplished while in Boston? No disrespect to Isaiah but… I’m going to have to go with #34 on this one.

“But I Thought You Had Love for I.T.”

Yes, I did write an open letter to Isaiah Thomas earlier this month. I still respect him and everything he did in his three years as a Boston Celtic. But let’s be real, he’s been acting petty since his trade. I know it was an emotional shock, but he could have handled it with a bit more grace. And like I said above, he had his chance for a tribute video, but he wanted to be petty about that as well. He should have pushed his debut to January 3rd against us and flew his family out if it was such a big deal. And I know he had that day circled on his calendar so there’s no defense.

So, lesson here guys: we don’t always get second chances!