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 22nd). 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 (55 today). Let’s get to it!

Recent Team News

The Celtics officially signed guard P.J. Dozier to a two-way contract. Dozier, a guard from the University of South Carolina, spent last season with the Thunder on a two-way deal. He played in 43 games in the G-League, averaging 13 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. He appeared in two games for the Thunder, totaling just three minutes of action. Per the terms of a two-way contract, Dozier can spend no longer than 45 days with the Celtics. This means he will be spending a lot of time with the team’s G-League affiliate Maine Red Claws.

Via NBC Sports

On This Date

August 22, 2017: Fireworks. The Celtics make the biggest deal of the summer. The team trades Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and Brooklyn’s 2018 first rounder to the Cavs for Kyrie Irving. A 2020 second round pick later completed the transaction. The blockbuster swap saw fan favorite IT shipped out of Boston on a bum hip just months after the death of his sister. The return was Kyrie, who took over the team and was an MVP candidate before going down with an injury. Many pundits saw this trade as a victory for the Cavs initially. It’s safe to say that the Celtics won this one.

August 22, 2008: Boston signed forward Darius Miles to a deal. He would never play for the team due to an injury.

August 22, 2005: The team signed point guard Tyus Edney. He appeared in 52 games that season for the Celtics, averaging 5.3 points per contest.

August 22, 1969: The Rockets traded Hank Finkel to Boston for cash considerations. The center played six seasons in Beantown, averaging 4.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Stats (2017-18)

  • Aron Baynes averaged 5.5 shots per game, netting the big man 6.0 points per contest.

Fun Facts

  • The Celtics won 55 games this season to finish second in the Eastern Conference.
  • Greg Monroe wore number 55 last season for the Celtics, becoming the 11th player in franchise history to don that number.

Via Hardwood Houdini

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