Tag Archives: Boston Celtics

What If the Celtics Landed Kevin Durant?

Disclaimer: This is 100% speculation. It’s impossible to tell what would actually happen, but I decided to take a really unrealistic jab at it.

After the conclusion of the 2015-2016 NBA season, six-time All-Star and former MVP Kevin Durant became one of the most coveted players to appear in free agency in a long time. A player with such natural superstar talent hadn’t been available like this since Dwight Howard became a free agent in 2013. Teams swarmed Durant and his agent at the beginning of the summer in pursuit to acquire one of the best players in the NBA. The early front-runners were the super team Golden State Warriors, the superstar-starved Boston Celtics, and Durant’s former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On July 4th, 2016, Kevin Durant announced in The Players’ Tribune that he intended to sign with the Warriors. His decision came down between Boston and Golden State, and he chose to join the team that already possessed championship talent. But what if Durant chose the latter and went to Boston?

Durant Becomes a Celtic

In an alternate universe, Durant chose to don Celtic green rather than staying in the Western Conference. Boston gives Durant his promised max contract deal worth around $26 million, but he only accepts a one year deal with a player option, similar to the one he took with GSW. He joins newly signed Al Horford, who accepted a four-year deal worth $113 million two days earlier, as the highest cap hits on the team. Boston does not exercise Amir Johnson’s contract option to reallocate $12 million in cap for Durant.

2016-2017 Season

The Celtics still had the third pick in the 2016 NBA Draft earlier in the summer and still selected Jaylen Brown, Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic, Demetruis Jackson, and Ben Bentil. All of those draft picks except Brown still play elsewhere for the 2016-2017 season. When it’s all said and done, Boston’s starting five is as follows: Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Kevin Durant, and Al Horford.

Boston easily locks up the first seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with an offense led by IT and Durant. Isaiah Thomas has his Renaissance season, but not to the same degree. Instead of averaging 28.9 points a night, he only drops closer to 20. It’s Durant’s world and the rest of the Celtics are just living in it. Him and Horford become the leaders that Brad Stevens and the Celtics craved for since Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded. Durant becomes the offensive workhorse of the Celtics, dropping close to 30 a game like his younger days in OKC.

The Celtics slide by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Durant exploits his match-up with Otto Porter in the second round against the Wizards instead of Porter lighting up Boston’s defense. Without his production early into the series, the Wizards fall to the Celtics in six games instead of seven.

The Celtics do not get eliminated in five games against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Because Isaiah Thomas does not exert himself as much in this alternate universe, he does not suffer a season-ending hip injury. Avery Bradley does not become the workhorse of the C’s offense, and 20 year old Jaylen Brown isn’t assigned to guard LeBron. Durant against LeBron becomes one of the best match-ups in the playoffs. The red-hot Cavs are taken to seven games and crack under pressure. The Celtics advance to take on the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals.

The Warriors did not land Durant in the off-season, so they kept a similar lineup compared to their 2015-2016 run. They don’t sweep the first three rounds, but they still found themselves easily making the Finals. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are no match for Boston. The Celtics ultimately fall in six to the Warriors. Durant wins regular season MVP but does not earn a ring.

Summer of 2017

Though Durant doesn’t earn a ring, luckily enough for Boston he is willing to stay. He picks up his player option to play another season with the promise of a ring. Free agent Gordon Hayward never teams up with his former coach, Brad Stevens, and stays in Utah. However, the Celtics still have the assets to make the trade for Kyrie Irving still happen. Boston sends off IT, Crowder, Zizic, and picks for Irving. Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko walk still, but Gerald Green returns on a one year deal. They also still bring in Aron Baynes on a one year deal.

In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics trade down not to third, but to the eighth pick via trade with the Knicks. The Celtics swap the first overall pick and Avery Bradley for Kristaps Porzingis. They then select Dennis Smith Jr. out of NC State instead of the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics have become a super team almost overnight, just to impress Durant.

The new starting five consists of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Kristaps Prozingis, and Al Horford.

Conclusion

If Durant signed with Boston (and decided to stay), Danny Ainge had an interesting situation in front of him. He could either stay with his “build for the future” route or he could also press the “win now” button. If he wants to win now, Boston would have to lease talent to win a few championships quickly. I went the latter route here, but I also made the assumption that everything worked out perfectly in Boston’s favor.

If I were a NBA GM I’d avoid doing something this drastic. Three years down the road Boston could only afford probably one of those players they acquired. In real life, the Celtics’ current situation is a perfect storm. They acquired All-Star talent in Kyrie and Hayward, and without them this team has shown that they already have the talent to contend in the playoffs. Durant or no Durant, don’t mess with the C’s.

Cover image courtesy of SB Nation.

Celtics Youth Impressing in the Playoffs

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Celtics Youth Stepping Up

The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have played two games in their playoff series. The Celtics have won both and made one thing apparent. Their young players won’t let expectations determine how far this team will go. They will be without Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Daniel Theis until next season. In the first two games Brown, Tatum, and Rozier have stepped up, showing that the young Celtics are ready to lead this team.

Expectations Coming

At the start of the season the Celtics had title aspirations. As injuries depleted this team, expectations of a deep playoff run have diminished. The Celtics won the first game in an overtime thriller, but dominated the Bucks in Game 2. They have played with grit and hustle which could carry them far in the playoffs. Furthermore, the young players have embraced the challenge and have not let the injuries be an excuse, and now control the series.

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Celtics Youth Leading the Team in the Playoffs

With the injury to Irving, the Celtics turned to Rozier to be the starting point guard. Just like in the regular season he’s answered the challenge. In Game 1, Rozier hit a clutch three pointer, which would have been taken by Irving or Hayward had they been healthy. Terry has scored 23 points in both games. In Game 2, Jaylen Brown was the spark as he scored thirty points. Like Rozier, the Cal product has elevated his play in the playoffs when the Celtics needed it the most. Tatum has also been incredible and has looked like anything but a rookie playing in his first playoff series.

The Vet

With all the injuries, Al Horford as shown why he’s so valuable to this team. In Game 1 Al recorded a double double. Last night, Horford had only five rebounds but also scored sixteen points. If the Celtics are to make a deep run they will have to ride their veteran center. Head Coach Brad Stevens said, “ We’re going to ride Al… With where we’re at, he’s going to facilitate”. He isn’t going to put up big numbers but that’s not his job. The scoring will be picked up by the Celtics young stars and other veterans, such as Marcus Morris.

Photo Credit : Bob DeChiara- USA TODAY Sports

Final Thoughts

The road to the finals for this team will not be easy, especially with them shorthanded. Through two playoff games the young Celtics have shown they won’t give up. Regardless of the outcome, the playoffs have shown how bright the future is in Boston. Next year they will make a deeper run, but for now its best to just enjoy what these young players are doing. Next year this team could make a special run.

Can the Celtics Catch the Raptors for the One Seed?

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The Raptors seemed to have the one seed in the Eastern Conference locked up, but a recent run by the Celtics has cut the lead to three games. With eight games left in the season, the Celtics need to make a run to lock up the top seed. Here’s how they can do it and how it would benefit them:

How Can They Get It?

The Raptors have a challenging schedule for the remainder of the season. They play the Nuggets, Cavaliers, Pistons, Heat, and most importantly, the Celtics twice. Five of the seven teams the Raptors play are playoff teams, so they could go below .500 the rest of the season. The Celtics have an easier schedule, as they play the Jazz, Wizards, and Raptors twice. It would be very unlikely if the Celtics got the one seed without going 2-0 against Toronto due to the three-game deficit. The Celtics could go on a twelve game winning streak to end the season, as long as they don’t slip up against inferior opponents.

How Helpful Would It Be?

The Celtics are banged up and they need the worst possible team they can face to get by. As of now, the Heat are the eighth seed, which is actually a bad thing because the Heat give the Celtics trouble. The Bucks would be the better match-up for the Celtics, because Al Horford does a fairly good job guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo. Assuming they get there, the one seed in the second round would be the most beneficial for the Celtics. As of now, they would play LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have struggled this season, but LeBron James is basically impossible to beat in the playoffs. The one seed would allow the Celtics to match up with the 76ers or Pacers, which is easier. The one seed would help in the Conference Finals because a potential match-up with the Raptors would be at home.

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

Irving Poised to Lead the Celtics

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First Half

In Kyrie Irving’s last nine games, the superstar point guard has averaged twenty-five points a game. This has been a crucial stretch for the Celtics, as before the All-Star Break they looked lost. Since the break the Celtics are 4-0 and look like a different team. Irving, to no surprise, has stepped up his game. One of the reasons why Irving wanted out of Cleveland was to lead his own team. Ever since the Celtics acquired him he has become the face of the franchise. With the injury to fellow star Gordon Hayward in the first game of the season he’s had to be even better. The Celtics are in the stretch run of the season and Irving has raised his game further.

Photo Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Irving Since the Break

Before the All-Star break Kyrie was having another very good season. His averages were similar to his days in Cleveland. Since the break his scoring has increased, and he’s taking over games with more ease. He is playing at an MVP caliber when the Celtics need it the most. Earlier in the season he was explosive, but not the game changer he’s been over the last four games. In four games since the break he’s scored less than twenty-five points in a game once. He is shooting 54 percent from the field and fifty percent from three-point range. He is also shooting 91 percent on free throws.

Photo Credit: Boston Globe

Why This Comes as No Surprise

For many these numbers come as no surprise. He is one of the best players in the league because of his scoring ability. The question entering this season was could Kyrie lead a team without LeBron. If any stretch of games will answer the question, it’s the games the Celtics have remaining and the playoffs. So far, he has proven he is up to the task. Kyrie wanted to build his own legacy and he’s heating up at the perfect time.

Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/ Getty Images

Can He Keep It Up?

The Celtics have nineteen games left in the regular season. They are a very young team and will be leaning on the veterans such as Horford and Kyrie. As fatigue set’s in for the young Celtics such as Brown and Tatum, Kyrie will need to be at his best. That will be no easy task, but this is what Kyrie wanted. Kyrie wanted a legacy of his own and he’s in the perfect situation.

How Long Is the Celtics’ Window?

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The Celtics have been rebuilding ever since they traded their big three to the Nets. Danny Ainge has done a great job getting the Celtics back to an elite level. He used the Nets trade to eventually acquire Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kyrie Irving. He also signed big name free agents Al Horford and Gordon Hayward. Brad Stevens has done a great job getting the most out of his players. The Celtics were the number one seed in the East last year, and they are on pace to get a top two seed this year. However, the Celtics are still not close to a championship and the window to win one might be closing. So why is that?

Talent Level on the Team

Even with all the talent they have, the Celtics might not be good enough to beat LeBron James and the Cavs. If they do, then they would have no chance against the superpower Warriors. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward (when healthy) are superstars, and Al Horford is a consistent All-Star. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have developed nicely, but they still are not good enough to win it all. In the NBA, you usually need three superstars to win a championship. The Celtics have two superstars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Al Horford is a great player, but not good enough. The Celtics know this because the last championship they won was with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

How to Get the Big Three

To fix this problem the Celtics have two options: wait or strike now. The answer might seem obvious, but it’s really not. The Celtics could wait until 19-year-old Jayson Tatum or 21-year-old Jaylen Brown develop into a superstar. The problem with this is that it is no guarantee that both or even one of them develop into a superstar. The Celtics could strike now by trading for another superstar. Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis and Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard have been rumored to be on the trade block. To do this, the Celtics would most likely have to give up Tatum or Brown, Terry Rozier, and picks, or something along those lines. The problem is if Davis or Leonard flail out in Boston, while Tatum or Brown develop into superstars on another team. Personally, I would go with the strike now option. It is better to get a known commodity than a player you hope develops into a superstar. Danny Ainge has proven that he is willing to take risks, and he will take these risks to maximize the Celtics’ window.

Competition Around the League

The Cavaliers and Warriors have been the finals matchup for three straight years. LeBron James has been the main reason as to why the Cavs have been to the finals. He is a free agent this summer and is expected to leave. If he does, then the Cavs will rebuild. The Celtics should easily win the East because they are better than secondary teams like the Raptors, Wizards, and Bucks. In the West, the Warriors have been the powerhouse. It is going to be very hard to match them on a talent level, but the Celtics could do it if they make the right moves. Kevin Durant is a free agent this offseason, and he will most likely resign but anything could happen. If he leaves, then the Warriors will become much weaker. Klay Thompson is also a free agent this summer, and his departure would damage the Warriors.

So How Long Is the Window?

I would say the window for the Celtics to win a championship is three years. Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are free agents after the 2019-2020 season. Assuming the puzzle pieces fall in the wrong place for other teams, then the Celtics should win the championship as soon as next year. If the Warriors lose Klay Thompson and the Celtics add Anthony Davis, then the talent gap from the Warriors to the Celtics will be much closer.

Cover image courtesy of NBA.com.

Garnett to the Rafters? I Sure Think So

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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

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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.

Top 10 Boston Sports Moments Since 2010

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Top Ten Moments in No Order

Ravens vs. Patriots (@dkpatsftball)

One of the top Patriots moments of all time was the 2015 AFC Divisional round game against the Ravens. Coming off a 30-17 victory against a Le’Veon Bell-less Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves in the most unfavorable matchup: against the Patriots.

Flacco showed this by throwing two touchdowns to start off the game, not fearing the corner duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Boston fans knew not to worry because they had Brady on their side. He delivered with two touchdown drives to even the score. However, Baltimore continued to show their dominance over New England’s defense.

Two touchdown passes later, they had another 14-point lead. Would the Patriots fall again to the Ravens in the playoffs? Brady answered with a 5-yard touchdown to Gronkowski. The defense got a stop, which allowed the offense to run one of their most memorable plays ever.

Brady threw a backward screen to Edelman, who threw it downfield to a wide-open Danny Amendola for a 51-yard touchdown. The score was 31-28 after the Ravens made a field goal. When the game was on the line, Mr. Clutch came through. After a time-consuming drive, Brady threw his third touchdown pass of the day to Brandon LaFell to take the lead. The Patriots secured the win with a Duron Harmon interception in the closing minutes. It was definitely a game to remember as the Patriots got their revenge on the team who stopped them from going to the Super Bowl just two years before.

Credit to the Boston Globe.

Super Bowl 49- Patriots vs. Seahawks (@dkpatsftball)

It seems like every Super Bowl for the Patriots is a close game, which is a real stress causer among us Boston fans. Anyway, the Patriots were coming off a blowout win over the Colts, while Seattle had led a thrilling comeback over Rodgers’s Packers in the championship games.

The first half was relatively close as the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 14. Seattle had taken advantage of the mismatch of the larger Chris Matthews to move the ball down the field. Matthews, who had not caught a pass before this game, hauled an eleven-yard touchdown as seconds expired in the half. The Seahawks continued their momentum by obtaining a ten-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter should be named after Brady, because that’s when he really starts to strive. He surpassed Joe Montana’s Super Bowl touchdown record with passes to Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. In familiar fashion Tom Brady and the Patriots took a late lead. The only problem was that there was still time on the clock. Russell Wilson had two passes of 31 and 11 to bring the Seahawks to the New England 38.

He dropped back and threw a deep ball to Jermaine Kearse. It was battered by undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler, but the ball never hit the ground. After Butler knocked it, it bounced off Kearse’s legs back into his hands for a 33-yard gain. At this time, New England fans were thinking, “There’s no way we could lose another game off a ridiculous catch. Would Kearse be the next David Tyree and Mario Manningham?”

A Marshawn Lynch run brought them to the 1, and the game was seemingly over. The Seahawks had one of the best and strongest backs in the league, who was virtually unstoppable in these short yardage situations. However, they chose to pass the ball instead. Wilson dropped back and aimed for Ricardo Lockette on a short crossing route, but Malcolm Butler was there first. He intercepted the ball to clinch the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl win. Seattle looked more confused than the left shark in Katy Perry’s halftime show. This moment will definitely go down in NFL history as one of the greatest.

2013 ALCS Game 2 (Prime_Kyrie)

One of the most memorable Red Sox moments in recent memory was Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS. Boston fans bought into this unique team, and they were hoping to take home the World Series. It looked like the Red Sox were going to lose the first two games following a 1-0 loss. Max Scherzer was untouchable through seven, but they got to the Tigers’ bullpen in the eight, which was their kryptonite.

Joaquin Benoit faced David Ortiz in the eighth, and of the most clutch hitters in recent memory tied the game at five with a grand slam. The next inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a walk-off single off Rick Porcello to tie the series at one each. Boston fans went from panicking to rejoicing over the comeback. The Red Sox clinched the pennant in six games to set up the next moment:

Credit to the Boston Herald.

October 31, 2013 (Prime_Kyrie)

A faceoff between two legends- Patriots versus Saints in 2013 was a game to remember. It was back and forth the whole game. The Saints took a four point lead late in the fourth quarter.

An interception from Brady seemed to seal the win for the Saints. However, the Patriots defense forced a three and out. Brady had a minute and thirteen seconds to work his magic. He drove the offense downfield to the 17-yard line with ten seconds left. Brady dropped back and delivered a perfect pass to the back of the end zone to Kenbrell Thompkins for the win.

A few hours after the Patriots’ unbelievable win against the Saints, the Red Sox took the field up 3-2 against the Cardinals. Red Sox fans were hoping to witness the first home World Series win in 95 years. They were looking to clinch the world series at Fenway Park for the first time in 95 years.

The Red Sox jumped on Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha in the third with a base-clearing double from Shane Victorino. Wacha lasted 3.2 innings, giving up six earned runs and four walks. Red Sox pitcher John Lackey was dominant through 6.2 innings, giving up just one run. Koji Uehara, the fourth option at closer, entered the game in the ninth with the Red Sox up 6-1. He struck out Matt Carpenter on a splitter to end the series and Fenway Park went crazy. They earned their eighth championship in franchise history, and the third in the last ten years.

2017 Celtics Offseason (Prime_Kyrie)

It is hard to pinpoint one day in the offseason, but Danny Ainge took the Celtics from pretenders to contenders with a series of moves. Celtics fans had been begging for big transactions since Brad Stevens took over, and they finally got them.

On June 19th, the Celtics traded the number one overall pick to the 76ers for the third pick and a conditional pick in 2018. The Celtics selected rookie of the year candidate Jayson Tatum, and the 76ers drafted Markelle Fultz who has not played this year.

On July 7th, Ainge traded Avery Bradley to the Pistons for Marcus Morris to clear cap space. Consequently Morris has been an efficient scorer off the bench. On July 14th, Boston officially signed Gordon Hayward, who is arguably the best player on the team when healthy. He could make a return in the playoffs, and he would be a huge addition. On August 23rd, Ainge shocked the NBA world when they traded Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the 2018 Nets pick to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is an MVP candidate while Thomas and Crowder were flipped at the deadline. The Celtics are 40-18 and could beat the Cavaliers in a seven-game series.

2013 Bruins Game 7 (@JamieGatlin1217)

This is a game that Bruins fans will never forget. It will forever live in Boston lore, not because of the dramatic comeback but everything else that made this game special. The Bruins were down 4-1 in the third period of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals.

The future of the core that brought a championship to Boston two years earlier was in question. It appeared the Bruins were about to be eliminated from the playoffs at home. Nathan Horton made the score 4-2 with 14 minutes left in the third period. This gave the Bruins hope but time was dwindling.

Then with 1:22 left Milan Lucic scored to make it 4-3. There was a sense something special was happening. Thirty seconds later Patrice Bergeron tied to force overtime. The Bruins were a goal away from completing a comeback that no one thought they had left in them. Then with 13:55 left in overtime Patrice Bergeron completed the comeback and scored the overtime winner. It was an atmosphere that is rare and a comeback just the same. The game was not only a top moment for hockey reasons. A month later Boston was afflicted by the Marathon attacks. As the city started to recover, their resiliency aided the Bruins’ motivation. When everyone counted the Bruins out they came back. The Bruins provided the city with a moment truly special when it was needed the most.

Credit to SI.com.

Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Game 7 (JamieGatlin1217)

On June 15th the Bruins ended their 39-year title drought by beating the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup. It was the Bruins third game seven victory in their playoff run. It was also their first and only win of the series at Vancouver. Going into the series, many people doubted the Bruins.

Things looked bleak at the beginning of the series after they lost the first two games in Vancouver. The Bruins had to fight off elimination twice but they didn’t let that phase them. The 2011 team had many storylines that made this team unique.They were a determined and scrappy team never letting the odds affect them.

They received a historic performance from Tim Thomas in net. It was Mark Recchi’s last NHL season and he ended it with a championship, the third of his career. What made this team so special was its underdog mentality. Throughout the playoffs, they were doubted and it looked as if their season was over multiple times. They rallied around each other especially after Nathan Horton was knocked out of the Stanley Cup series with a concussion in Game Two. They didn’t make things easy on themselves, but that made it all more rewarding. This cup win meant even more as they were the only team without a title in Boston in the 2000’s. Now they had their title. It was one full of excitement and grit a trait that made this team even more special.

Super Bowl 51- Patriots vs. Falcons (@dkpatsftball)

Momentum was the keyword of the game. Up until the end of the third quarter, Falcons had all the momentum. They had a commanding 28-3 lead with a little over two minutes left to play in the third quarter. Brady had made comebacks before, but this one seemed insurmountable. The trick was that they took it one play at a time.

The Patriots finally got a touchdown with a Brady-to-White pass. This started the Patriots’ rally. The defense began doing their part by holding Matt Ryan’s high-powered offense drive after drive. In turn, the offense continued to score points as Brady continued to move the ball with ease. Finally, they did it. A James White touchdown forced an overtime… and won them the game. This game was perhaps one of the best of all, and Brady cemented his legacy as the GOAT.

Credit to Bleacher Report.

Patriots vs. Broncos 2013(@dkpatsftball)

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning renewed their historic rivalry during Week 12 in 2013. Entering the game, Brady was 9-4 against Manning in his career. Due to fumbles and big runs by Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos put together 24 points in the first half. This was the same Broncos whose offense was having a historic season as they steamrolled opponents. This game would have turned out the same way… If the opposing quarterback at the helm was not named Brady.

They started out with Edelman making an incredible touchdown grab on a perfectly placed ball by Brady. The defense made key stops with a forced fumble, sack, an interception on three separate drives- each leading to a touchdown. With a field goal afterward, the Patriots suddenly had a seven-point lead. Manning wasn’t going to choke away this game just yet. He threw a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas with three minutes left in the game. The game went into overtime where neither offense could get going. The Patriots punted to the ball to former Patriot, Wes Welker, where he signaled not to go for the ball to his team. One Bronco didn’t see it, and it hit off him. The Patriots recovered and won with the field goal. Brady got another win in this rivalry between the two Hall of Famers.

Celtics vs. Wizards 2017 ECSF (Prime_Kyrie)

After the Celtics took care of the Bulls in six, and the Wizards took care of the Hawks in six, the two teams met for the semifinals. The Celtics outscored the Wizards by 20 in the third quarter, and they took game one by the score of 123-111. Jae Crowder’s 24 points and Isaiah Thomas’s 33 points led the Celtics in Game One.

In Game Two, John Wall put up 40 points, but Isaiah Thomas scored 53 to give the Celtics a 129-119 win and a 2-0 series lead. Washington dominated Game Three by holding Thomas to 13 points, and Otto Porter and Bojan Bogdanović scoring 19 points each. The Wizards dominated Game Four by the score of 121-102 because of great guard play by John Wall and Bradley Beal. Washington tied the series at two with the series heading back to Boston.

Avery Bradley led the Celtics in Game Five with 29 points and the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead by the score of 123-101. The series went back to Washington, and the Celtics needed one more win to go to the Eastern Conference Finals. With ten seconds left in Game Six, Al Horford hit a clutch baseline jumper to give the Celtics a 91-89 lead. One more stop on defense and the series is over. But if the Wizards make a shot, we continue.

With just three seconds left, John Wall hit a three over Al Horford to give the Wizards a 92-91 win. The series was headed back to Boston, winner goes to Cleveland and the loser goes home. In game seven, the Celtics had a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. All they had to do was hold on and the series would be theirs. The Celtics went on a 15-2 run to start the fourth, and Kelly Olynyk had a surprising 26 points to lead the Celtics to a 115-105 win. The series was back-and-forth where most games were competitive. But the Celtics got their first trip to the Conference Finals in the Brad Stevens era.

Will the Celtics Make a Move Before the Trade Deadline?

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The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching. Teams have until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to make any player transactions, before locking their rosters in for the remainder of the season. For some teams, like the Warriors and Rockets, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, less fortunate teams, like the Cavaliers, are scrambling to save their season by attempting to bring in fresh faces. Adversely, few teams, like the Clippers and Grizzlies, are planning ahead by moving pieces for future assets. They know their season is dead, and instead of trying to acquire All-Star talent, they are the ones dealing it.

Where are the Celtics in all of this uproar? Sitting at the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the C’s are virtually carefree. Well, for the most part. Thus far, they’ve had what it takes to assert dominance over some of the league’s best squads. The talent of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and more, have rocketed the Celtics to a commanding record. That being said, there are a few loose ends that could be addressed this week before the trade deadline.

Offensive Rebounding

The Celtics have done a much better job with crashing the board, compared to recent years. From two seasons ago to last season, Boston’s offensive rebounding ranking dropped from fourth to twenty-second. GM Danny Ainge attempted to address this problem by bringing in center Aaron Baynes from Detroit, to add center depth. After Gordon Hayward’s injury on opening night, Brad Stevens moved Al Horford to the four, and moved Baynes off the bench into the five slot.

Baynes’s job is to crash the boards, while the other four guys do their thing on offense. However, his abysmal rebounding numbers have only hurt the team. Baynes averages 1.4 offensive boards a game, and 3.8 on defense. Those shouldn’t be starting center numbers. With the lack of rebounding on offense, Boston has only advanced to the twenty-first spot in the league rankings this season.

Enter Greg Monroe. After playing twenty games with the Phoenix Suns, his contract was bought out. About a day later, he found himself signing a contract with the Celtics. In his seven season career, Monroe averages 2.9 offensive rebounds a game, and 5.8 defensively. Monroe isn’t washed up, he just needs a team where he can be under the rim on both ends of the court. He will fit nicely in the role Brad Stevens sets up for him.

Will signing Greg Monroe cause some competition with Baynes for minutes? Yes. Will Aaron Baynes be subject to trade sometime before the deadline? Probably not, but he could be a valuable asset in a multi-man trade.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images.

Secondary/Bench Scorer

Kyrie Irving is Boston’s true primary scorer. He wanted his own team to lead, and the Celtics have embraced that in every fashion. But after Kyrie, who is the Celtics’ second best shooting option? Jaylen Brown has been in a sophomore slump, and Jayson Tatum is still learning the ropes of the NBA. Gordon Hayward was supposed to be Kyrie’s running mate for scoring options, but without him there is a little confusion as to who’s in that role now. Brad Steven has done a masterful job of getting production out of every player.

However, some nights have resulted in losses because Kyrie wasn’t able to get a hot hand. That should not be the case. Someone needs to step up. There have been flashes of brilliance from different players on different nights. One night the bench could be hot, and other nights they could be quiet on offense. Terry Rozier is the latest to get hot in the past few games.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Boston to add some depth at guard to have more consistent scorers. Rumors have linked the Celtics to the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans, and the Clippers’ Lou Williams. Williams, a valuable sixth man, hasn’t really found a role for the Clippers, who are trying to clean house. Both teams want to make moves before the trade deadline.

According to the Boston Globe, the C’s have recently become less interested in Williams as a trade option. This leaves the opportunity to trade for Tyreke Evans up in the air. The Grizzlies have made it clear that Evans will be traded, after last week when the front office decided to take him out of games until the deadline. Evans has averaged a career high 19.5 points in Memphis, and 31.1 minutes per game. He can make a difference on Boston’s bench, and can be inserted into the starting lineup more often than not.

The only question for Boston is if the asking price is right for them. Boston has announced that they are willing to trade Marcus Smart for a first round pick before the trade deadline. Danny Ainge has been quiet lately, but as the deadline comes down to the final hour the Celtics might pull the trigger. There are reports that the Celtics might just mull over the buyout pool after the trade deadline anyway.

Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images.

Three Team Trade

I’m not a NBA GM, nor will I probably ever be. If the Celtics want to move Smart and acquire someone like Tyreke Evans, they certainly have options. The Nuggets are reportedly interested in Marcus Smart, so a three team trade might be in place. Boston could exchange Smart to Denver for a first round pick and flip it to Memphis for Tyreke Evans. It seems unlikely, but it doesn’t seem too unrealistic. Regardless of what happens the Celtics will still be a deep playoff contender.

Featured image courtesy of clutchpoints.com

The Blake Griffin Trade from a Competition Point of View

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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!