According to Jared Weiss of the Athletic, there is apparently mutual interest between the 38-year old and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics don’t currently have a roster spot available. However, with the recent fiasco around Jabari Bird, Bird is expected to be released from the roster at some point in the near future. This leaves the door open for the team to sign the 3-time Sixth Man of the Year, likely for a one year contract.
According to @JaredWeissNBA, there's "mutual interest" between #Celtics and 18-year #NBA vet Jamal Crawford. He wants to join a title-winner. and C's could certainly use more 3-PT shooting.
Crawford has had an illustrious career, spanning across eighteen seasons and seven teams. He spent most of his time with the Clippers and the Knicks, being with both for five seasons. Crawford also spent four years with the Bulls, two years with the Hawks, and one season each with Portland, Golden State, and most recently Minnesota. Crawford has produced a stat line of 15 points and 3.4 assists per game over the course of his career. While he only shoots 41% from the field, “JCrossover” is a 35% career three point shooter.
His Fit
The fit with the Celtics is clear. Crawford can become a solid shooting specialist off of the bench. Crawford proved last year with the Timberwolves that he’s still got it, even in the twilight of his career. In 20 minutes per game last year, he averaged 10.3 PPG off the bench for Minnesota. Though his defense is lacking, he would provide an offensive spark that was missing from the second unit last year.
Crawford would also be another veteran presence in the Celtics locker room. Boston is a very young team, and he would join Horford as one of the older players on the team. With a litany of developing guards, Crawford could serve as a useful mentor for the younger players.
If Boston is able to get a deal done, Crawford would be a valuable addition to the team. He would make an already deep squad even deeper if he ends up replacing Bird on the roster. Though he’s nearing the end of his career, he wants to get one more ring, and Boston could end up being the place for him to win one.
News broke on Monday about a potential blockbuster trade (for the Patriots at least). The trade will send All-Pro and troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns to the New England Patriots. This just proves that good things come to those who wait. Patriot fans have been clamoring for reinforcements for the pass catching corps since before the start of training camp. The final straw in the Josh Gordon fiasco was drawn when reports that the team felt that he was less than truthful in regards to an injured hamstring he suffered. Cleveland’s GM John Dorsey decided that enough was enough.
A Rocky Beginning
Josh Gordon’s time in the NFL has been fraught with suspensions and substance abuse. Suspensions from the Baylor football team for various marijuana-related offenses led to declaring for the Supplemental Draft in 2012. The Cleveland Browns selected him with a second round bid. He instantly became one of the most talented individuals to ever be selected that high. But great talent comes with great responsibility. As the accolades and NFL receiving records piled up, so did the arrests and suspensions. Then it all came crashing down with a season long punishment in the 2015 season. Gordon had racked up over 2700 yards and 14 touchdowns in less than 3 full seasons of play. The Browns franchise went 16-32 and actually flirted with a .500 record in the 2014 season. Since then they’ve won four games, count them 1 – 2 – 3 – 4.
With alternating news of a new drug violation, reinstatements and rehab stints it appeared that a corner had been turned. Was Gordon ready to fulfil his potential and become a dominant force on the field? The news just prior to the 2018 camp was that he was going to miss the beginning weeks due to an ongoing need for addiction recovery therapy. Once he showed up he appeared to be ready to help the Browns make some noise in the rugged AFC North. If he could regain the form that led to the nickname of “Flash”, the Browns could perhaps rack up some wins under John Dorsey’s leadership. Alas, it was not to be. In a quick, but confusing series of events, Josh Gordon suffered a hamstring injury. This quickly led to accusations of untruthfulness and breaches of trust. Finally, the Browns announced that they would be releasing him unless they could find a suitable trade.
The Patriots Wade In
When the 2018 training camp broke and the season began, the Patriots wide receiver position was unsettled to say the least. Injuries, retirements, suspensions and plain ineffectiveness all contributed to a huge unknown at that position. The first two games of the season did nothing to assuage nervous fans. With under 200 yards receiving to all wide receivers through two games, Bill Belichick made his move. It is reported that the Pats are sending a 5th round pick to the Browns in exchange for Josh Gordon and a conditional 7th round pick. They have officially thrown their hat into the circus ring that is this mess.
The Outlook
Color me cautiously optimistic. This is a low risk move. The fifth rounder is peanuts and the conditions attached to the seventh are most likely attached to the number of games played. Gordon is making a very low salary for the next two seasons due to the suspensions. He has to know he is on his very last NFL lifeline. If he messes up here it is highly unlikely that anyone will take the smallest chance on him again. A successful tenure with the high profile Patriots and a Tom Brady led offense will set him up for his first payday. Either with the Patriots or not, he can rehab his image. And maybe, just maybe set himself up for catching the winning pass in a Super Bowl.
All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.
Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com
This offseason one name that General Manager Don Sweeney has mentioned often is Jack Studnicka. The Bruins drafted Studnicka in the second round of the 2017 NHL draft. He has come to camp determined to win a job despite his limited professional experience. Studnicka is not the only Bruin prospects pushing for an NHL job leaving little room for error. He is a gifted playmaker with leadership skills that are rare for a 19-year-old. Regardless of whether he starts the season in Boston or Providence, he will be a player to watch.
Studnicka’s Expectations
Nonetheless making the Bruins roster will not be easy but his offensive ceiling is high. Last season Studnicka was one of the stars of the Bruins development camp. Due to a crowded forward mix, he returned to the Ontario Hockey League after only one preseason game. He was the Oshawa Generals leading scorer with 22 goals and 50 assists. He added muscle which allowed him to win more battles and improved his game. In five games for Providence, he was equally impressive recording one goal and four assists.
Photo Credit: Sabrina Byrnes/ Metroland
What Makes Studnicka so talented is his playing style. He is an excellent skater with an explosive first step. His speed and deception allow him to break away from coverage to put himself in the best position to score. He excels on both ends of the ice due to his competitiveness. Unlike many young players, he is not afraid of being a leader but embraces that role. He wants to be in charge and is not afraid of standing up for his teammates. The former second round pick is not a vocal leader but leads by example. These traits have caught the eye of Sweeney and the rest of Bruins management.
Where Will Studnicka End Up
Unfortunately like last season the Bruins have a crowded forward group. They do not have enough spots for all these prospects and are looking for some to distinguish themselves. Studnicka has done that after falling short last season. He has shown that he will work harder than anyone on the ice and that he is a natural leader. A lot is still determined but Studnicka has positioned himself well. Regardless of what happens, he has a bright future. Even if he begins the season in Providence it would not be surprising if he found himself in Boston at some point this coming season.
The Boston Bruins are going to possibly have two new jerseys for the upcoming 2018/19 NHL season
Photos have leaked of the Bruins’ Winter Classic jersey for their outdoor game this New Year’s Day. The team is going with brown and gold with the solid B for the logo. The game is at Notre Dame Stadium versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
Photo courtesy:
Icethetics.com
1980/90’s version jersey on the horizon
As for the alternate jersey, reports have surfaced that Zdeno Chara was seen wearing the 1980/90’s version with the Gold B block logo at training camp in Warrior Ice Arena. As reported and mentioned by Jimmy Murphy on his Twitter page, the team has not confirmed the jerseys as of yet and there is still the chance that the “Pooh Bear” version becomes a possibility also. It indeed does look like the Bruins will be adding to the jersey collection for this season with the Winter Classic and alternates.
Vintage seems to be what teams are going for this season, as the Devils, Ducks, Oilers and Coyotes are sporting their throwbacks.
Brady is really struggling to connect with this wide receiving group, and it really showed in New England’s Week 2 loss to Jacksonville. With Kenny Britt coming back to work out for the Patriots today is a sign the Patriots are desperate at the position. It’s really just been screenplays and handoffs to the running backs for the last two weeks. Chris Hogan has been a complete disappointment so far. You would think with Edelman out he would’ve stepped it up. This receiving group might be even worse than the 2006 receiving group. Tom Brady can’t even throw the ball downfield unless it’s to Gronkowski, who was silent in the game.
Brady Has a Right to Be Frustrated
Tom Brady was livid on the bench in the first half of the game. Josh McDaniels was chewing out the offense also. They would then go down the field and just settle for three points to make it 14-3. I guess you can blame Belichick for giving Brady terrible receivers to work with besides Edelman. But also there is no one better at doing more with less than Brady. However, the guys he’s throwing to need to be able to catch and have a good connection with Brady on the field. In the first half, Brady was 12/18 for 107 yards with no touchdowns and zero interceptions.
At the end of the first half of Brady only connected with two receivers: Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett. Altogether it was four receptions for 26 yards. That isn’t good enough because Blake Bortles was looking like an NFL MVP in the first half also tearing up the Patriots defense. Overall if Brady can’t connect with this receiving group then this is going to be a long season. Finally Belichick is giving Tom Brady someone decent to throw to with Josh Gordon now a Patriot.
No Positive’s Taken from This Game
If Edelman comes back and gets hurt this offense is really screwed. You can’t rely on Gronkowski and your running backs to win you games. You need reliable receivers that Brady can trust. Not some no-name first round picks from the Cleveland Browns who will be cut in a week. They should’ve kept Danny Amendola. At least he knew the offense, and Brady wouldn’t put Amendola in a spot where he could actually catch it and not get hurt. But Belichick wants Brady to win more with less and not spend money. The offense has a lot of work to do. Thank God the Patriots play the terrible Lions next week.
The AFC Conference Championship rematch is today and we will take a look at some key matchups to watch for in the game as the vaunted Jaguars take on New England.
Jalen Ramsey Versus Rob Gronkowski
This matchup is probably the one everyone is looking forward to the most. More than likely it won’t even happen except for maybe one or two plays. Ramsey has been trash-talking everyone in the league and says he isn’t scared of anybody on the field. Maybe Gronk can help him gain some perspective. The more likely matchups would be Telvin Smith or Barry Church taking on the big man.
Ja’whaun Bentley Versus Corey Grant
Corey Grant had himself a productive day in the game in January. Especially with Fournette out, expect Jacksonville to use Grant on short passes out of the backfield as well as sweeps. However, the Patriots have deployed a stronger, faster troop of their own in Bentley, who has the ability to keep up with running backs. This will be a fun matchup to watch.
Patriots’ O-line Versus Jaguars’ D-line
The Jaguars’ defensive line has depth and stardom all around. They earned the “Sacksonville” last year after a phenomenal season. The Patriots’ offensive line held their own for the most part in the Conference Championship and need to continue to do the same in order to get the win.
Will Jalen Ramsey be able to back up his trash talk? Will Tom Brady be able make him regret his words? I break down (with laser precision) what his words mean, and how the Patriots and Tom Brady can game plan in order to win the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Super Bowl on Sunday.
@phillip_heilman you know you done messed up right? Lol if y’all want war, we got sum for y’all. & Iknow the rest of y’all (you know who you are) gone read this too so just know #LameAssReporters
Ok, this isn’t about the Patriots, per say, but this kicked off his 2018 Mouth Tour. He went after reporter Phillip Heilman for doing, you know, reporting, when a scuffle broke out at a training camp practice. His combative words earned him a week’s worth of suspension, and I think the Patriots could use this. Hey, Ben Volin, can you head down to Florida early and ask some questions? Asking for thousands of friends.
The Infamous List
Coming hot on the heels of his suspension, GQ printed its Ramsey interview. In it, he tweaked seventy-five percent of the quarterbacks by saying he’s “trash” (Josh Allen), “sucks” (Joe Flacco), and “overrated” (Matt Ryan). Tom Brady is on the short list of “doesn’t suck”, so I’ll assume that means he’s GOAT level and Ramsey has nightmares of touchdown passes floating just past his fingertips. The article is entertaining and you should give it a read.
Recently, as a follow-up, Brady actually responded and while his trash talking could use some work. “To not suck? I never want to suck, so I don’t want to be in that category,” Brady reacted. In traditional old-guy-with-dad-bod fashion the response was simple, direct and rooted in common sense. Not an initial shot to the mouth, this was more a kidney shot that lingers and changes the color of your urine! Brady from the top rope!
Rhetoric Ramps Up
“I don’t think Gronk’s good.”Mina Kimes of ESPN caught this gem of a bulletin board material in her interview with Ramsey. All of New England rolled their eyes. Kimes could barely contain her amazement at the statements out of his mouth. But this only would only be an appetizer to the main course to come. He did go on to say that, he thinks he’s not as great as people think. A caveat for the thrashing in Week 2 he may receive.
Put up or Shut up
Amid the preparations and game planning for your opponent you can easily go down rabbit holes where angels fear to tread. I’m pretty sure I mixed up all my metaphors and clichés, but you get my point. While the veteran, championship winning team will talk about focus. The talented, inexperienced team will rely on brash statements and talk. Ramsey doubled down on his comments by saying, “I don’t fear no man, period.” Okay… Then, “So he’s going to have to come out there and line up on me.” I will allow allow Matt Chatham of TheAthletic to eloquently respond to that statement for me.
The Plan
I feel like Gronk will probably break the huddle and line up where the play tells him to. Purdy positive that’s how it works. https://t.co/fjGfeJpeez
So what are the Patriots to do? Well we can’t sign. His grandma to go out and catch passes. “Like, I mean, if my brother, my dad, my mom, grandma was out there, it’s like, it’s on. After the game we can be cool, it doesn’t matter.” I was almost considering talking to Bill about this brilliant idea.
Ramsey will generally line up on a number one pass catcher. Fortunately New England’s top guy right now would be Rob Gronkowski. I would love to see this be his primary assignment all game, but I doubt it. If they take the approach of Ramsey and Bouye taking a side and shutting it down, then take advantage of that. The Patriots should rotate guys in and out of the outside position. Give them Dorsett, then Hollister, then White. The versatility will make the corners uncomfortable and not allow them to erase any one guy. If the Jaguars do decide to have him shadow a wide receiver, you have to make them pay by going away from Ramsey or creating plays that challenge him in traffic. In any event I will leave it in Belichicks and Flores’ capable hands. Enjoy the game and be prepared for either a tip of the cap or a slice of humble pie from capable corner. But don’t hold your breath.
All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.
Be sure to check out other great articles for all your favorite Boston sports teams on Bostonsportsextra.com
From Patriot Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk, to Danny Woodhead, to Shane Vereen, to James White, the Bill Belichick era New England Patriots have always had that one receiving threat running back as a role in their offense. They might not be on the field for every snap, but they still have that big play ability and frequently cause match-up problems for opposing defenses.
Kevin Faulk
Kevin Faulk was drafted in 1999 out of Louisiana State University, but It started in the 2001 season. Faulk was what you could consider a safety net for the Belichick’s offense in the early years. There were several games in the early, and middle years of the Patriots dynasty, where Faulk was the focal point of the offensive game plan. After Faulk called it a career at the conclusion of the 2011 season with a career total of 3,701 receiving yards and three Super Bowl rings, it was Danny Woodhead who took on his role.
Danny Woodhead
Woodhead was only a Patriot for 45 games over three seasons. He still thrived at filling the role of the receiving back in the Patriots offense. Woodhead was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets early in the 2010 season. He played his college football at Chadron State, where he broke the NCAA DII all-time rushing yards record. He recorded 92 catches and 982 yards through the air in his short stint with New England. After Woodhead signed with the Chargers in 2013, it was second round pick Shane Vereen who absorbed the role of receiving back.
Shane Vereen
Vereen was a second round pick out California. He was a Patriot for four seasons but only played 42 games while battling injuries throughout his time in New England. He was still able to record 107 receptions and just over 1,000 receiving yards in his Patriots career. Oh, and he earned a Super Bowl ring by recording 11 catches for 64 yards in Super Bowl 49 against a vicious Seattle defense. After Vereen’s exit by signing with the Giants, it was fourth round pick James White who stepped up to plate.
James White
White was a fourth round pick out of Wisconsin in 2014. He broke the university’s record for most receiving yards by a running a back. James spent the majority of his first season on the practice squad, where he learned the offense and improved his skills. Number 28 emerged as the next receiving threat running back midway through the 2015 season. He scored four receiving touchdowns. To this day White still holds the role as the receiving back in the Patriots offense. He has earned the nickname “sweet feet” for his ability to maneuver extra yards after the catch. White has recorded over 160 receptions for over 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in 47 games. Of course White is most known for his legendary performance in the Patriots Super Bowl 51 comeback. He caught a super bowl record 14 passes and had over 110 yards from scrimmage.
Ralph Webb
Who is Ralph Webb? Webb is a free agent who was signed directly after the 2018 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt, where he broke the school record for most touchdowns by a running back. He showed tremendous potential in the preseason by scoring three touchdowns and a two-point conversion against the Redskins. Webb added another touchdown against the Giants in the final preseason game. Although he did not make the final 53 man roster, he did earn himself a spot on the Patriots’ practice squad. Webb has great potential to be the next great receiving threat out of the Patriots backfield. He seemed to be an effective part of the passing game in snaps he played during the preseason. Ralph Webb could easily become the successor to James White. With hard work and the right attitude, he could become that next receiving threat running back in the Patriots offense.
I know it is early in the college football season, but AJ Dillon has continued to impress since he stepped foot on the field last year. He is so valuable in making Boston College a legit football team for the first time since the Matt Ryan days. Dillon grew up in Massachusetts, and went to Lawrence Academy for high school. He had many offers from around the country like Michigan, Notre Dame, and Florida State, but decided to stay home and make Boston College football great. AJ is a very big running back, standing at 6’0″ tall and 245 pounds. His physical attributes brought one scout to say:
“If our league had a one-and-done like the NBA, AJ Dillon would be the perfect guy”
AJ Dillon burst onto the scene in 2017, and has only piled onto his resume ever since.
2017 Season:
The Eagles last year started the season 2-4 in their first six games. They averaged only 16 points per game in that span. The teams they beat were Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, while they lost to were Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson, and Notre Dame. The season started with everyone thinking Boston College is the same team as the past few years. However, this was not true.
After that 2-4 start, Eagles’ head coach Steve Addazio made AJ Dillon the starting running back against Louisville. This proved to be one of the smartest coaching decisions of the year in all of college football. In AJ Dillon’s first start in his college football career he put up 272 rush yards, and four TDs as the Eagles beat Louisville 45-42 for their first conference win in two years. Dillon disrespected the Cardinals defense many times, but a 75 yard touchdown really opened a lot of eyes.
Dillon would not stop there, though. Over the span of three weeks against all conference opponents (Virginia, Florida ST, NC ST) Dillon racked up 434 yards and two TDs. The Eagles were 2-1 in those three games. His 2017 campaign concluded in a bowl loss to Iowa, where he had 157 rush yards and one TD. Dillon finished the year with 1,589 rush yards and 14 rushing TD in only six starts. When the Eagles started Dillon last year they were 5-2 with an average of 33.7 points per game. AJ Dillon won ACC Freshman of the Year for his 2017 performance, and was the first Eagles player to win that award.
2018 Season:
AJ Dillon has kept the hype train alive through three games this season. In his first game of the year against UMass, Dillon only played in the first half where he had 98 yards. Against Holy Cross, Dillon only had six carries. However, in those rushes Dillon racked up 149 yards and three TDs, which is absolutely insane production. His first real test of the year came against Wake Forest. Before this game against the Eagles, Wake Forest was 2-0. The Demon Deacons wanted to crush Dillon’s Heisman hopes, but they could not. Dillon had 185 yards and one TD en route to a 41-34 inter-conference win. So far in the 2018 campaign, Dillon has 432 rushing yards and four TDs.
Dillon is a very powerful and exciting running back. Even though he was not ranked to win the Heisman before the season started according to bookmakers, he is now at 40/1 odds to win the award. If he can keep this up, Boston College will be very competitive at the top, and he might win the Heisman.
We’re officially in the NBA dead season. For the time being, there are no trades to be made, no dramatic shakeups to rattle the league’s core, and worst of all, no actual games to be played. In times like these, we have only one choice: Argue about really dumb, inconsequential stuff while we sit around waiting for the season to start.
The following is inconsequential, but it is certainly not dumb. I’ve gone ahead and constructed a roster of the best Celtics players with two first names. You’re welcome in advance.
What’s The Criteria? Did the player in question play in a Celtics uniform? Did that player have two first names? Was that player both good, and does he fit into a loosely constructed roster format? If the answer to all of those questions is yes, that player will likely be featured in this post.
Will There Be Videos? You better believe it.
Why Didn’t Vitaly Potepenko Make The Team? To the best of my knowledge “Potepenko” is not a first name. I promise that, and that alone, is the only reason.
This roster is only 8 spots, so that means some tough calls have to be made. Unfortunately, that means Big Al narrowly misses the cut. Jefferson was one of the last players to go straight from high school to the NBA, and his inexperience showed early on. Jefferson started only 8 games during his first two seasons. In 2007, however, he made a leap. Jefferson averaged 16 PPG and 11 RPG on 51.4% shooting, displaying enough promise to make himself the centerpiece of the Kevin Garnett trade that summer.
That’s right, the guy behind Nellie Ball was a key cog on five Celtics championship teams. Statistically, Nelson was unspectacular. Across 11 seasons with Boston, he averaged only 11-5-2 on 48% shooting in 21.8 MPG.
However, he also had one of the great moments of the late Russell-Era Celtics. Down the stretch in Game 7 of the ’69 Finals, Nelson scooped up a loose ball at the foul line. He released a high-arching jumper that bounced straight off the back iron, before dropping directly down through the rim as the shot clock expired. The shot pushed the Celtics’ lead to 105-102 with a minute and a half to play, giving just enough cushion for the C’s to clinch their 11th NBA title in 13 years.
Archibald is a forgotten legend from a forgotten era. “Tiny” played from 1972-77, averaging an impressive 27-3-9 on 47% shooting en route to three All-Star selections. He became the first (and only) player to lead the league in both assists per game and points per game in ’73, when his 34 PPG and 11.4 APG set the pace for the rest of the NBA.
An achilles injury caused him to miss the entire ’78 season. This injury led to his signing with the Celtics. Archibald’s numbers weren’t as gaudy in Boston as they were during his prime, but his efforts as a floor general and steady secondary creator alongside a precocious Larry Bird earned him three more All-Star honors from 1980-82, and an NBA title in 1981.
It’s only fitting that the 6th man of this crew is Hall of Fame center Bill Walton. Okay, I took some liberties here (“Walton” isn’t exactly a common first name unless you’re the vice principal of North Jackson High School), but as the self-appointed arbiter of this list, I’ll allow it. The C’s snatched up Walton after the ’85 season, when foot and ankle injuries had all but derailed his career.
The former UCLA standout had an immediate impact: His unselfish play meshed seamlessly with Bird’s Celtics, already a team known for their passing and ball movement. The result? Walton was named 6th Man of the Year in 1986, as Boston sliced through the rest of the NBA en route to 68 wins and a title.
It’s easy to lose sight of just how good Thomas was during his time in Boston, given the way things ended. The Celtics acquired him at the trade deadline in 2015, and promptly won 20 of their final 30 games to sneak into the playoffs as the 8 seed. IT was the spark, and after leading the Celtics back to the postseason in 2016, he lost his damn mind in 2017.
Thomas was a killer that season. He averaged 29-3-6 on 46/38/91 shooting, with the bulk of that production coming when it mattered most. He scored 20+ points in 43 straight games (a Celtics record), and averaged 9.8 points in the 4th quarter (2nd best in the NBA). The above video was arguably his greatest moment: dropping 53 points against the Wizards in the ECSF on his sister’s birthday, just days after her death. It’s hard to believe that he would be traded less than 4 months later.
I specifically remember being confused when the Celtics traded for Allen during the 2007 NBA Draft. At the time, pairing a 31 year old shooting guard with a 30 year old Paul Pierce and Al Jefferson seemed like a one-way ticket to 43 wins and NBA purgatory. Of course, little did I know a Kevin Garnett-sized shoe was about to drop, and the next great era of Celtics’ basketball was about about to begin.
Garnett was the heart and soul of those Celtics teams. Pierce was the captain. But Allen was the most consistent, and most deadly. Jesus Shuttlesworth averaged 17-3-3 on 47/40/91 shooting from 2008-11, with more clutch shots and game winners than I can count. He also has the two most iconic shots from the 2008 Finals, both from Game 4’s dramatic road comeback. There was the above triple-clutch reverse layup, and then the game-clinching blow-by of Sasha Vujacic.
Like Thomas, things ended on a sour note with the Boston brass. However, Allen was vital to the Celtic’s last championship run, and to restoring the franchise to their former glory.
Lewis’ story ended in tragedy, a life lost far too soon. While he was healthy and able to compete on an NBA court, however, he was one of the game’s best two way players, an All-Star just hitting his prime. Lewis only played in 49 games (and 405 minutes) in his rookie season. Then, from 1989-93, he blossomed. Lewis averaged 19-5-2 over that 5 season stretch, and was an All-Star in 1992.
He was notorious for giving Michael Jordan fits (at least as much as any other player was able to), even blocking him 4 times in one game. The Celtics, in the wake of Len Bias’ death in 1986 and with Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish aging quickly, needed a new, young star to carry the franchise’s success into a new decade. Lewis seemed primed to be a key part of that next Celtics generation. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be.
Before the decisive Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals, Maxwell reportedly told his Celtics teammates “Hop on my back boys, I’ll carry you home.” Cornbread put his money where his mouth was, scoring 24 points, along with 8 boards and 8 assists, to lead the Celtics to their 15th title. Maxwell earned his second ring with the franchise and cemented himself as a Celtics legend, after winning the Finals MVP in 1981.
Of course, it helps that in addition to his stellar work as a starter on those early 80s Celtics teams, Maxwell had (and continues to have) such a colorful personality. Listen to any Celtics radio broadcast and you’re sure to get a good quote or five. Here’s one from last December, at the expense of 2018 MVP James Harden. And, in case you were worried this was a new development, check out his speech from Larry Legend’s retirement ceremony in 1993. Simply put, Max is the best.
Look, if you made it this far I probably don’t need to run down Bill Freakin’ Russell’s list of accomplishments. 11 titles in 13 years. Never lost a Game 7. A 5-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, and 12-time All NBA selectee. And that’s just scratching the very surface. He was beloved by coaches and teammates, and his contributions go beyond the court. He was a Civil Rights activist, and is one of the game’s greatest ambassadors. How could I have chosen any other Celtics’ center with two first names, two last names, or no names at all for this honor?
I also just wanted an excuse to show off this video:
If that wasn’t enough, there’s this classic commercial that, thanks to the mighty and glorious internet, is forever immortalized:
