Bergeron Plans to Return This Weekend

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The season hasn’t exactly started the way Patrice Bergeron would have liked. Like last year, Bergy starts the season with a lower body injury.

Bergeron Skating

Some speculate that the injury could be a flare-up of the sports hernia from last season.  But Bergeron told media that the injury wasn’t related to the Sports Hernia. This gave Bruins fans some relief to know that it doesn’t appear too serious. Some positive signs — Bergeron skated Wednesday according to Head Coach Bruce Cassidy. “He’s out there testing it again, there’s not a lot of newness to report on it. Obviously we’ll see how he reacts.” said Cassidy. “If it goes well, he’ll go out again tomorrow and continue on that path until he’s ready to go.”

For the Bruins to be successful this season, they will need Bergeron to return sooner rather than later. Bergy remains of the most important players on the Bruins roster. He does it all for the Bruins, winning face offs, playing the pk, and plays the pp. The guy just does it all, and the Bruins need him to get healthy to help give the Bruins a good opportunity for this years playoffs.

Due to the sports hernia, Bergeron couldn’t play to the best of his ability last season. Once the Bruins assistant captain returns, you can be he will aim for a bounce- back year. Even though Bergeron didn’t have his best year offensively last season, he did still win the Selke trophy for the fourth time in his 14-year career. By winning the award last year while contending with his injury, you can just imagine what he would have done had he been healthy.

Youngsters getting a shot

With Bergeron, Backes, and also Noel Accari out with injuries, some roster spots up for grabs. A couple of the young Bruins with a shot in the big club include rookies Anders Bjork, and Jake DeBrusk. Both of these youngsters have already contributed on the score board. In game one of the season, DeBrusk scored his first NHL goal/point and added an assist. Bjork recorded his first NHL point  recording an assist on DeBrusk’s goal. These two Bruins look to continue to impress and secure their roster spots for the season.

Lines

When Bergeron, Backes, and Accari do return from injury the lines could look like:

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork

DeBrusk-Krejci-Pastrnak

Beleskey-Spooner-Backes

Vatrano-Nash-Accari

With Krug back from injury, the Bruins defensive pairings look solid, and will probably stay the same as now unless anymore injuries occur. Fans should be excited for this season.  The Bruins offense is greatly improved by bringing in two young guns, DeBrusk and Bjork. Even though they are both young they already appear capable of making a huge impact this season. I could even see the Bruins playing Bjork and DeBrusk with David Krejci like we saw in the Bruins first game of the season. By doing this, the Bruins would be reuniting the lethal line from last season which included Brad Marcchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak.

Get ready Bruins fans. It’s going to be a great year!

 

 

 

Bruins Fall to Avalanche Again Wednesday

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Bruins fail to bounce back

The Bruins fell once again to the Avalanche on Wednesday night in Colorado. If the Bruins want to win hockey games, it will take a much better effort. They need to play the same way they did against the Predators last Thursday.

Tuukka Rask was pulled from the game after giving up four goals on 26 shots in the first two periods. Rask has allowed 10 goals through the first three games played so far this season. Bruins backup goaltender Anton Khudobin was between the pipes to start the third period.  Khudobin came into the game when the score was 4-1, stopping all nine shots he faced in the third period. Khudobin looks to start this season the way he ended last season.

However, there are a few good things to take away from the game, The Bruins did have a strong third period by almost completing the comeback. The Bruins scored two goals in the third. Fourth-line winger Tim Schaller scored 11 minutes and 30 seconds into the period. Only a few moments later, Torey Krug scored for the Bruins to make it 4-3. There was plenty of time for Boston to score again and tie the game up. Unfortunately, the Bruins were unable to complete the comeback. The Avs went on to win the game 6-3 after scoring two empty net goals in the final minutes.

Bruins rookies struggle for second straight game

Bruins’ rookies Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, and Anders Bjork were all held off the score sheet for the second straight game. Both DeBrusk and Bjork are a -5 in the last two games. McAvoy is -3 over the last two games. The Bruins rely heavily on these three rookies in the absence of Patrice Bergeron and David Backes. With Bergy an Backes out, the younger guys on the team have to step up and help carry the Bruins until they are fully healthy. With Bergeron looking to return sometime this weekend, one young forward will have to be replaced. At this point I think it’s safe to say that Bjork and DeBrusk’s roster spots are secured for now. So the Bruins will likely send a player from their third or fourth lines down to Providence.

Good signs

Other positive signs in the game included Brad Marchand beginning to look more and more like he did last season. Marchand scored the Bruins’ first goal of the game with a sick shot that beat Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s blocker side. Torey Krug also cashed in for the Bruins by scoring his first goal of the season. Krug’s goal came just one game after his return from the broken jaw that he suffered in the preseason.

Bruins need points this weekend

The Bruins will get their next shot in Arizona on Saturday night when they are in town to take on the Arizona Coyotes. Boston will be in action again on Sunday, taking on the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the first time

. The Bruins need these points now if they want to be in the postseason again this spring.

 

 

Bruins Notes: Bergeron and Edelman; Tuukka Rask

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The Bruins miss Patrice Bergeron like the Patriots miss Julian Edelman. They’re grasping at straws without Patrice Bergeron, their number-one center, not unlike the Patriots trying to replace Edelman’s production. For the Patriots, the result is a 3-2 start and an offense yet to really find their rhythm. For the Bruins and their 1-2 start, you’re witnessing the importance of  Bergeron to this Bruins team.

Back to the Bergeron. First it was Ryan Spooner centering the top line.  That didn’t work, and now the Bruins need to figure what to do with Spooner. He’s simply not progressing and you can’t keep a center on the team that only plays PP minutes. Last night it was Riley Nash, a career fourth-liner, and as predicted, not a good fit. Enter the real issue –  Bergeron’s natural replacemen, David Backes, is also on the shelf, David. Backes is a natural center forced to play wing for a team supposedly strong up the middle. Without Bergeron’s leadership, some of the younger guys will continue to struggle. If he is out a longer, look for the Bruins to recall JFK to the lineup.

Tuukka Rask

If you’re a Tuukka Rask hater, the season has started swimmingly for you.  Before you jump all over me, I get it.  The team hasn’t looked good, but that does not absolve Rask of his share of the blame. The puck he poorly played in Monday’s game is inexcusable. The player was not bearing down on him.  A terrible decision, making the game 3-0 and all but thwarted any chance of a Bruins comeback.  Soft goals continue to plague him, as they did in last year’s playoff series versus Ottawa. The season is young and maybe he just needs more time to find his game, but so far this season he is providing more fuel for his detractors.

Better Days Ahead

That’s the bad news. The good news? We’re three games into the season in which the entire league seems upside down. Vegas is 3-0, the Pens lost 10-1 and the Oilers, everyone’s pre-season Stanley Cup pick, is off to a slow start at 1-2. Bruins fans have zero patience — a staple of this fan base. But we’re going to have to dig deep and exercise some.  This team will right the ship.

2017-2018 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Rising in the Eastern Conference

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A breakdown of the potential success of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference:

 

THE CELTICS BUILD AROUND A YOUNGER, HEALTHIER TEAM

The Boston Celtics have decided to build around a younger, healthier team this season. They’ve added experienced players, and decided not to build around rookies. The Celtics franchise has done a very good job building up a solid roster. Several potential star players are experienced and young, such as Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, All Horford and Marcus Morris. The real test is the effectiveness that the second unit can provide. The Celtics have loaded up a better roster than they had previously. It’s time to see what this new roster can accomplish. Theis, Tatum and Rozier coming off the bench is very promising. The second unit is full of versatile and talented players ready to prove that they are competitive.

 

DANNY AINGE ACQUIRING DAVID THEIS WAS A VERY WISE DECISION

The second unit has been very productive. There’s always room for improvement, but there have already been a few surprisingly positive moments coming off the bench–David Theis, the German powerhouse. Danny Ainge knew what he was doing saving cap space to acquire Theis.

 

PRESEASON SUCCESS- A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE CELTICS

If we look at the perfect preseason success the Celtics had this season, we can assume this is a positive indication of bigger things from this young roster. Changes can be extremely difficult for fans to accept, but without change there’s no room for growth, causing a team to become stagnant. Change usually makes the difference for future success, as we’re witnessing with the Boston Celtics.

 

RECAPPING GAME 4 OF PRESEASON

If we recap a few moments from the Celtics 4th preseason game, we can focus on the potential Boston is aiming for and achieving. Kyrie Irving had a Double-Double with 16 Pts., 10 Assts and 0 turnovers. All Horford put up 15 Pts., 8 Rbs. and 4 Assts. Shane Larkin was exceptionally quick to the basket. The Celtics shot 50% from deep range. Boston’s ball movement, as well as execution, were excellent and set up good plays involving the whole unit. They have outstanding half court sets as well.

 

REGULAR SEASON KEY FACTORS – THE CONTINUANCE OF PRESEASON TEAM DEVELOPMENT

The Celtics have both talent and versatility. Their daily focus has been continuing to develop as a team. The talent, chemistry and versatility are key factors for Boston to become dominant in their conference. The Celtics must continue to strive for excellence through team development. Over time they will improve, they’re already doing remarkably well. Boston ended their preseason perfect, they were 4-0; a clear indication of the Celtics future in the 2017-2018 regular NBA Season.

 

BOSTON PROVING THEY ARE NOT THE TEAM IN THE EAST TO SLEEP ON

Kyrie Irving has remarkable handles, and makes playing look exceptionally easy. He’s definitely filling the leadership role despite the Celtics not having a team captain; a progressive move by the Boston franchise, but seems to be working out very well.The Boston Celtics have proven that they’re not the team to sleep on. They are definitely a top tier team in the Eastern Conference. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch them progress and be successful this season.

Amendola Meeting Pats Expectations

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The Next Wes Welker?

When the New England Patriots signed Danny Amendola in 2013, fans were ready to call him Wes Welker 2.0. This opinion quickly shifted from Amendola to Julian Edelman. Edelman put up more than 100 receptions and 1,000 yards that same year.

Amendola put up solid numbers in his first season with the Pats (54 receptions for 633 yards), but for most of his Patriots tenure, his production has mediocre when compared to Edelman.

The 2017 season has provided different circumstances (Edelman out for season with torn ACL, Gronk on and off injuries), and Amendola is flourishing, becoming the player that fans were hoping he would be. He is the most experienced player in the wide receiver group for the Patriots this year. Quarterback Tom Brady is beginning to show trust in Dola as a top option in the passing game.

Can’t Cover Amendola

Brady is calling Dola “uncoverable” this season, adding “he’s just been so great for us this year.” This trust has been shown during the early part of the 2017 season, with Amendola already matching the number of receptions from the previous year (23 receptions total in 2016).

Second year Patriots receiver, Chris Hogan, has been Brady’s go-to option in the end zone. Dola has made some huge plays down the stretch when needed most. On 3rd and 18, Amendola caught a pass to set up the game winner against the Houston Texans in Week 3. A pass from Brady to receiver Brandin Cooks, in the endzone, sealed the victory.

Currently, Amendola is on pace for 854 yards this season. This would surpass his previous season high of 689 (2010) by nearly 200 yards. His efficiency has been key, he has 23 receptions on 27 targets. Opposing teams usually place a linebacker on him, while they put their defensive backs on Hogan and Cooks. This leads to many match up problems that have been key to Dola’s efficiency thus far.

Next Man Up

It is safe to say that Edelman’s sudden rise to stardom was unexpected in the 2013 season. His production has been consistently high as the number one receiving option for Brady. Sadly, his preseason injury will keep him on the sidelines for the entirety of 2017.

In his absence, Amendola is becoming the reliable option that Brady needs to be successful at 40 years old. Brady is currently on pace for his best season of his career in terms of yards. Danny Amendola has been a key factor, along with Hogan, Cooks, and Gronkowski.

Most expected Cooks and Gronk to perform at a high level. Few expected what they have seen from Dola. His emergence as Brady’s go-to option has been exciting for fans to witness each game this season. If he continues to perform this well, the Patriots offense will be very dangerous down the stretch.

Do Your Job

Amendola has gone under the radar since signing with New England. He is quickly emerging into a receiver Brady can look to in the clutch. Brady has connected with Amendola in clutch situations before (both Super Bowl XLIX and LI featured a clutch touchdown from Amendola), and is now connecting with him in the regular season as well.

Whileans dearly miss Edelman, and hope for a speedy recovery from the ACL injury, Amendola is doing his best to fill the void in the offense. The Week 1 Loss to the Kansas City Chiefs showed a lack of trust between Brady and his receivers. As the season has progressed, Brady has developed a strong rapport with Amendola, and the offense has clicked.

Dola started out the season being considered a third or fourth option in the passing game. Now, opposing defenses will need to key in on Brady’s most trusted option of 2017. If Brady’s mentions of Dola being “uncoverable” are true, defenses will struggle heavily trying to stop him.

Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?

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John Farrell has been fired after his five year stint with the Boston Red Sox. Farrell’s tenure certainly had some enjoyable moments, highlighted by his 2013 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Farrell was among one of the most decorated managers in Red Sox history: ranking sixth in total wins (432), second in playoff appearances (3), and first in division titles (3). Why did Farrell lose his job? The answer is lack of communication with players, as well as his tendency to talk too much, while often contradicting himself. The decision to move on from Farrell begs an answer to the question: WHO will be managing this team next season?

In a press conference yesterday, Dave Dombrowski stated he wishes to hire a new manager as soon as possible. He stated the next manager will most likely not be an in house hire. We can scratch Jason Varitek off the list already. Many names are being thrown around, but few qualify as both realistic and sensical. Some say Joe Girardi, but the Yankees are playing in the ALCS. They’re not getting rid of Girardi. The possible options to keep an eye on: Alex Cora, Butch Hobson, Ron Gardenhire, Dave Martinez, Brad Ausmus and, this last one is a bit far fetched, Jim Leyland.

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Alex Cora

Cora is the bench coach for the Houston Astros. He is viewed by many as one of the top choices to become a manager of a team. He is expected to be offered an opportunity as early as next season. Why not give him one in Boston? Cora would be a great fit for the Red Sox. He played with Boston from 2005-2008, and is familiar with the city and its expectations. Former teammates say he is the most intelligent player they have ever played alongside. Per Buster Olney, the Red Sox are going to go through the normal interview process, but it is likely that Cora will be heavily considered as the successor to John Farrell.

 

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Butch Hobson

Currently managing a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hobson managed the Red Sox from 1992-1994 with a 207-232 record. Hobson is a tough, gritty coach, who some believe can thrive in an environment like Boston. He is another candidate who has a history with the Red Sox, he also played for them from 1975-1980. Potentially brought in to tame the attitude and egos of players like David Price and Hanley Ramirez, Hobson is certainly a strong candidate. He may not be exactly what this team needs at the current moment.

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Ron Gardenhire

Now retired, the legendary Twins manager went 1068-1039 in his 13 years with the Twins. Gardenhire ranked in the top five for coach of the year voting six times, and won the award in 2010. Dombrowski has always admired Gardenhire, dating back to his days as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. The hiring of him wouldn’t be a shock, but Dombrwski will have to convince him to come out of retirement to manage the team. This would be a tough task.

 

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Dave Martinez

Martinez is a former MLB player, Rays bench coach from 2007-2014, and Cubs bench coach since 2014. Martinez is a candidate that is viewed as a top option for ball clubs. He is considered to be a disciple of Joe Madden, who is one of the smartest and most successful coaches in the league. Madden has called Martinez his right hand man. Someone who has studied the game alongside Madden, would appear a viable candidate to manage any team.

 

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Brad Ausmus

Recently let go by the Tigers, Ausmus went 64-98 this season as the Tigers manager, overall record 314-332 in his four years as the Tigers manager. Ausmus is another case of familiarity within the ball club. Dombrowski hired him during his tenure as the general manager of the Detroit Tigers. Ausmus is one of the less favorable candidates for the job; much like John Farrell, Brad Ausmus has had similar criticisms regarding in game decisions.

 

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Jim Leyland

Now retired, Leyland went 700-597 as the Tigers manager during his eight year stint. He led the Marlins to a World Series in 1997. Leyland, my favorite candidate for the job, has seemingly closed any door leading to coaching again. This is only a possibility because Dombrowski had success with Leyland in both Detroit and Florida– winning a world series, and two pennants together. Leyland would be the guy to get, but it seems unlikely.

 

Whomever gets the job has their work cut out for them. There is inconsistency in the rotation, uncertainty in the bullpen and underperformance from the players. Expectations are extremely high in Boston. With a young core of talented players, and a rotation boasting multiple Cy Young candidates, the bar is set high. There is always room for improvement–power bats are the main issue. Dave Dombrowski certainly has a long road ahead of him this offseason. If there is one thing history tells us though, Dombrowski always gets the guy he wants.

 

 

 

 

Bruins Keys to Rematch with Avalanche

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by: @inlow005

Following a rough home loss at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche Monday, the Boston Bruins take the ice in Denver tonight for a shot at redemption. The impressive offensive outing from opening night evaporated Monday afternoon.   Many things need to change on both sides of the ice before the rematch with Colorado.

KREJCI NEEDS A REBOUND

While watching Boston’s opener last week, nobody stood out more to me than David Krejci.  He assisted three of the team’s four goals and went positive in the point differential column.  The chemistry displayed between veteran Krejci and NHL rookie Jake DeBrusk left Bruins fans optimistic for their season on the ice together.  Monday night, however, that optimism turned to skepticism.  In the 4-0 loss to Colorado, Krejci was on the ice for two Avalanche goals.  Line-mates DeBrusk and Andres Bjork both went minus three in the plus/minus category.  Krejci and his line are going to have to get more shots on goal Wednesday night.  The fourth line left winger (Sean Kuraly) should never lead the team in shots on goal.

KRUG NEEDS TO MAKE A PRESENCE

I certainly did not expect a huge showing from Torey Krug in his first game of the season.   But with a game under his belt, Krug will need to make some noise Wednesday night.  Krug led the Bruins in ice time Monday afternoon playing alongside Adam McQuaid.  While McQuaid recorded four hits and an even plus/minus, Krug tallied one hit, a -1 plus/minus, and one shot on goal.  He also found the penalty box once on a two-minute illegal check to the head of Alexander Kerfoot.  If Krug can stay honest defensively and add some offensive value, the Bruin’s can definitely bounce back in their third game of the year.

THE SILLY GOALS NEED TO STOP… OR BE STOPPED

As a hockey fan, nothing is more frustrating than watching your team give up goals that can easily be prevented.  It is one thing to give up a goal when the defense did everything right and the shooter just placed it perfectly.  But when the majority of the goals against the Bruins are from careless mistakes, it gets really frustrating.  In the opener against Nashville, all three Predators’ goals came in the final two minutes of a period.  The entire Boston roster seemed to just give up when the clock was soon to expire.  Luckily the offensive efforts outweighed the defensive laziness, but that won’t be enough moving forward.

In the game Monday against Colorado, three of the goals could have been prevented with more caution from Boston.  Krejci was way out of place for the first goal.  The second goal for Colorado came short-handed after a lack of Boston positioning.  And the third goal could have been avoided if Rask didn’t lunge 30 feet out of the crease trying to collect the puck.  Boston needs to fix its positioning and awareness for Wednesday night, and the rest of the season.

Despite Semyon Varlamov’s impressive start to the year in goal for Colorado, the Avalanche are a very beatable team.  If the Bruins come out with more offensive chemistry and defensive awareness than they did Monday, the Bruins could very well chalk up their second win of the year tonight.

 

 

 

TERRY ROZIER

TERRY ROZIER BEGS FOR MORE MINUTES

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Coming into the 2017-2018 season, the Boston Celtics had a lot of uncertainty. With only four players remaining from last year’s team, the depth and chemistry were gone. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward added top-notch talent, but there were plenty of question marks, especially with the bench. Flash forward to the preseason and Terry Rozier is starting to destroy some of those question marks. Dynamic on both ends of the floor, Rozier has quickly proven to everyone that he has taken a big leap forward.

These numbers speak for themselves. Rozier’s decision making has been dialed in so far this year. Regardless of the small sample size, he has shined anytime he has gotten minutes. He knocks down outside shots and finishes at the rim, something that had been a problem for him in years past. Rozier has stepped up as a play maker, getting into the paint and finding shooters. He is playing under control, and when he can avoid pin-balling his way through the lane and throwing up a wild shot, he can become a real asset to a young bench group.

Rozier has joined this year’s team as a more capable shooter and a grind-it-out, lead-by-example player. He’s even bringing down rebounds in a more explosive fashion, which is hard to believe given his track record. His improvement has already garnered the attention of both his coach, who talked about his abilities on the defensive end, and Jaylen Brown:

Expectations for Rozier

While calling Rozier one of the best guards in the league may be a slight exaggeration, his ceiling is very high. Terry has positioned himself to be one of the premier reserve guards in the league with his improvement. Think about Cory Joseph with the Toronto Raptors. He took time to mature and solidify his game, but now is one of the best backup point guards around. Rozier has the potential to be an above average defender, offensive spark plug off the bench, and a capable shooter. With Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder gone, Rozier and Marcus Smart, another backup guard with something to prove, will need to step up in a big way.

Terry must take what he learned from the veterans on last year’s team and put it into action. A lot of responsibility will fall on him to run the second unit, and his maturity will be tested. The opportunity will be there. Irving and Brown will need to rest, and Rozier has a firm grasp on those minutes after his stellar preseason. His rebounding will be an undervalued asset for a team in need of it. Consistency will be the challenge for Rozier after his up-and-down 2016-2017 season, but the preseason has been encouraging. For this team to succeed Rozier will need to be a factor. With the inexperience of the bench, he will need to carry the bench when younger players like Jayson Tatum are hitting the rookie wall. The expectations will be higher, but Rozier looks like her is ready to meet them.

JB & JT: A Glimpse Into the Future

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PRESEASON

So far this preseason, we have seen a variety of different rotations and player pairings. The last two games, we have seen a glimpse of what the future might look like. Jaylen Brown has started all three games so far, but Jayson Tatum has joined him in the last two. Monday night had a lot to do with rest, but on Friday nobody was resting and they started with the new Big Three. Could this be the lineup that hangs Banner 18 somewhere down the road? Preseason is a time to look at different things to see what works and who plays well together. Stevens is looking into the future with this lineup.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Jaylen Brown took Jayson Tatum under his wing during Summer League. By the end of the first practice they were already pushing each other to get better. They are both number-three overall picks from the last two drafts. Brown is ready to show Tatum the path through his rookie year, having just been through it himself. Tatum can use the guidance, often looking like a wide-eyed rookie seeking answers off the court. On the court, though, he has the confidence of a veteran. He is still working through some kinks, but he can play at a high level. So when will he join the starting ranks, as Brown looks to do this season? The chemistry of these two will be pivotal to this team going forward.

MAKING IT WORK

On the court, there is still a lot of work to be done for these two. The biggest adjustment for each will be playing with other great scorers that are better equipped to get buckets. It’s going to be a challenge to defer as much as they’ll have to do as starters. We might not see Tatum in the starting lineup this season because of this. He is the best scorer in the second unit, but he won’t need to score with the first team. His coach did give him a vote of confidence recently, saying he is “beyond his years defensively.” This could earn him minutes with the first team.

Brown will have an interesting time trying to fit in. If he focuses on defense first, everything should work itself out. He won’t be able to take the ball and drive as much as he would like. Offensively, he will probably be the last option with the first unit. Improving his cuts and movement without the ball should be priority. The other starters all see the court and pass really well. He must take advantage of this to be effective on offense.

THE FUTURE

Perhaps even more important than fitting in with the others, though, is fitting in with each other. These guys aren’t even 21 yet, and will more than likely be with the Celtics for a long time. They could both be here well after the Big Three break up, still keeping the Celtics at the top of the league as the leaders of the team somewhere down the road. It’s tough to think this far ahead, but when you see the potential of these two players, you almost have to project it out like that.

Tatum and Brown haven’t shown much on-court chemistry thus far, but have become great friends off the court in a few short months. It is only a matter of time before we see this chemistry bleed onto the court. When it does, Tatum will be pushing hard for a starting job. We will see the Celtics trying to balance between winning now and building something that can win for a long time this season. Brown is expected to start this season despite probably not being the most talented immediate option. It is going to be frustrating at times, but player development is still the Number One priority for the C’s this year. They must focus on developing these two especially so they can sustain their success into the foreseeable future.

ONE MORE PRESEASON GAME

With only one preseason game left, hopefully these two get to start together again to build more on-court chemistry. I would expect the Big Three to play, with this game the last chance to build together before the season. Terry looked great on Monday, so it would be nice to see him have another promising performance. Unfortunately Aron Baynes went down with a left knee sprain, so we will need the few backup bigs we have in Daniel Theis and Guerschon Yabusele to step up and be ready at the start of the season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a big man get signed in the next week.

Horford-Baynes Front Court Resembles 2008 Celtics?

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Laying the Foundation

After a wild 2017 off-season for the Boston Celtics, one key player remains from the 2016 club. That player is Al Horford, and he is entering his second year with the 17 time NBA Champions.

Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge made various offseason moves after a 2016-2017 Eastern Conference Finals exit. One signing that goes under-the-radar is that of Center Aron Baynes.

The 6’10” Australian-born Baynes is entering his sixth NBA season and will be given a bigger role this year. A possible starting front court of Horford at power forward and Baynes at center seems ideal for both players.  Horford would play at his natural position and focus on his offensive strengths (moving the ball, spreading the floor). Baynes would be the physical bruiser the Celtics have lacked who can primarily grab boards and defend the paint.  This front court would be comparable to the 2007-2008 Celtics duo of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. This pair was important to the team 10 years ago, and could be the blueprint for this upcoming season.

Horford to Garnett Comparison:

Before you freak out, I am not saying that Horford is on the same level as “The Big Ticket.”

Garnett was the 2004 NBA MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves and 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year for Boston. Horford has never acquired either of these accolades and likely never will, but that is fine.  KG was a post-up nightmare for opposing defenses who also had solid rim protection skills. During the ’07-’08 season, he averaged 18.8 points per game and 1.2 blocks per game.

Horford averaged 14.0 points and 1.3 blocks for the Celtics in 2016-2017. A key advantage he holds over Garnett is elite passing ability (5.0 assists per game last season). He also has the ability to stretch the floor with a consistent three point shot (.355% last season).  With the addition of Aron Baynes, Horford will likely get to move back to his natural position. This will allow him to put more focus on his offensive game.

KG was at his best when playing power forward for the Celtics. Upon the departure of Perkins after the 2010-2011 season, Garnett was forced to play center. He saw many of his averages drop, including points, rebounds and blocks per game.

Do not expect Horford to emerge as the next “Big Ticket” for the Boston Celtics in 2017-2018. Instead, while playing at his natural position alongside a true center in Baynes, expect his offensive production to increase.

Baynes to Perkins Comparison

Aron Baynes was not a name that stuck out to most people during the 2017 “Summer of Ainge.” Kendrick Perkins was not a name that stuck out to most people during the “Big 3 Era” of the Celtics.   Baynes does not hold the same value as the additions of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Instead, he has the chance to be a key role players for a championship contender.  The Aussie has been making a case for himself to be a starter during the pre-season. He can provide a “space and pace” offense at Center for the Celtics with a surprising mid-range jumper.

“Aron Baynes really encouraging. Can move laterally, great defensively, offense has been better than we thought.” said Coach Stevens about the Aussie thus far in the pre-season.

Those are words that could never have been said about Perkins. He played his role on the 07-08 Celtics team as an interior defender and glass cleaner. Perk could not shoot effectively outside of the paint (10-31 from shots 10 feet outside paint to three point range).

Importance of Role Players

None of Perkins career stats will amaze you, but his presence in the lineup was valuable. Boston was missing Perk during the 2010-2011 NBA Finals Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers.   Perkins was lost to a torn ACL in Game 6 and veteran Rasheed Wallace had to start in his place (Wallace got exposed, Lakers won the championship, Celtics fans were left disappointed).

Players like Aron Baynes or Kendrick Perkins are important to championship-caliber teams. They assume the primary duties of rebounding and rim protector, allowing others to provide the offense.   Baynes will need to take the leap in terms of improving his rebounds and blocks per game (4.1 and .4 respectively through 14.1 minutes per game during his career). If he does, fans will begin to love the addition of #46 for the Celtics in 2017-2018.

Horford-Baynes, Garnett-Perkins Final Thoughts

Boston’s front court for the 2017-2018 campaign looks very comparable to that of the 2007-2008 championship team.   Horford and Baynes will be playing alongside All-Star talents in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. This will allow them to be key contributors by playing to their strengths.  Garnett will go down as one of the Celtics biggest acquisitions in franchise history and it paid immediate dividends. The team captured Banner 17 during his first season with the team.

Perkins was a valuable role player for the Celtics when they last were competing for championships. This was because he allowed Garnett to play his natural position.  Baynes could have the same effect in the starting lineup this season. Starting the other new-comer Marcus Morris would force Horford to play Center. The Celtics would have to take that into consideration if they decide not to start the Aussie.

Boston has a similar front court situation to the 2008 Championship roster. Playing alongside the additions of various new talents provides the ability to compete for Banner 18.