Tag Archives: #BostonCeltics

Top 10 Boston Sports Moments Since 2010

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?

Leave a reply

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

Leave a reply

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

Shaking Up the East

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

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

Blake Griffin vs Celtics

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

Still Time for Things to Change?

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

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

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

Leave a reply

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

Loss to the Magic

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

What’s the Issue?

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

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

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

How Do the Celtics Feel About Their Recent Woes?

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

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

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

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

Cover image courtesy of NESN.com.

Celtics Look to Bounce Back Before West Coast Trip

Leave a reply

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

Loss to Pelicans

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

Loss to 76ers

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

Getting Ready for the Magic

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

Dominance Over the West

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

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

Are the Raptors the Celtics Biggest Threat in the East?

Leave a reply

To everyone’s surprise, the Eastern conference has been quite competitive this year. It’s usually a sure bet that the Cavs get the one or two seed, then everyone else is fighting for a spot. But with all the offseason trades and quiet development of some of these Eastern teams, we’ve got ourselves a real race.

Celtics Dominate the East

The Celtics sit atop the East with a record of 34-10. They started the season by losing two straight, only to then go on a sixteen-game win streak. At that time, they led the league in defensive efficiency, which was definitely a huge shock to everyone. They hit a bump in the road after the streak ended, mainly due to spotty defense and slow starts on offense. But let’s be real: they were tired! I’m pretty sure they were the only team that played forty games before we rang in the New Year. Anyways, the Cs still reign supreme having already beaten seven of the league’s top teams and holding them all under 100 points. There’s always room for improvement of course, though a more relaxed schedule should help with that.

Raptors Quietly Climbing

With all the focus on the Cavs trying to chase the Celtics in the East, no one is paying attention to anyone else. This has allowed the Raptors to quietly make their way into second place. Currently three games behind Boston, the Raptors are 29-11. On Thursday, they handed LeBron his second blowout loss in a row. Toronto put up 65 points in the first half alone—without Lowry and Ibaka! This team has all-stars in DeRozan, Lowry and Ibaka who lead by example and have a pretty decent bench to depend on as well. After watching the way they dismantled the Cavs, all of my doubts about the Raptors went out the window.

Other Notables

If I’ve learned anything watching sports this year, it’s that you don’t count anyone out. Here are some teams in the East that I’m keeping a close eye on:

Miami Heat. These guys play the Celtics hard every single time. Pretty sure they won that series 2-1. But in all honestly, Spoelstra is a heck of a coach with a great group of guys. Though they’ve lost Waiters to season-ending surgery, I believe they can still shake things up come playoffs.
Indian Pacers. Victor Oladipo (24.4 ppg) is the best thing that could’ve happened to the Pacers after Paul George wanted out. Although we won both match-ups, the Pacers still fought hard. I expect the third meeting will be just as tough.
Detroit Pistons. The revitalized Pistons anger me every time we play them. I only know the names of two people on their roster, but the way they play is going to make me remember them all soon.

I’m not worried about the Wizards simply because they caught the Cs on a bad stretch. Plus, as Stephen A said, they are a disappointment. How are you going to have the fourth-easiest schedule and have eighteen losses? Not to mention having a disgraceful record against sub-.500 teams. Get it together Washington; or don’t. Doesn’t matter to me.

Am I Asking Too Much of Jaylen Brown?

Leave a reply

In his second year with the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown has become the starter at the two position. He averages14.4 points per game, 1.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds. This is a huge improvement from his rookie season stats. It’s important to remember that he was coming off the bench last season as well. Although he has given us some spectacular performances, the inconsistency still looms large.

Much Needed Improvements

When a second-year player gets the opportunity to start, there are expectations to perform well. I am in no way belittling the good games that he’s had. The opener against Cleveland, the November 18th match-up against Atlanta, and the game against Denver, just to name a few. However, I would like to point out two areas where he can improve:

Points per Game. Jaylen Brown now averages 14.4 points per game, and that’s great. However, I think a good eighteen to twenty points from a shooting guard isn’t a ridiculous expectation. The sporadic nature of his scoring cannot be afforded when they still have a developing bench. And with Irving stepping back a bit to let others shine, Brown will have to step it up—consistently.
Free Throw Percentage. I love his willingness to drive to the basket for the dunk or layup. Sometimes he gets the basket. Sometimes he gets the foul call. But if he’s going to get the call, he has to make the free throws. He’s left too many points out there, and the team could have used them! I don’t want to sound mean, but centers have better free throw percentages than he does.

Issues of Confidence?

I don’t know if Jaylen Brown’s up and down performance has to do with confidence, but it sometimes appears that way. Especially if his BFF on the team is outplaying him. Rookie Jayson Tatum plays like a seasoned pro, and doesn’t seem to get discouraged by missed shots. I think Tatum’s smooth transition and confidence in his play may make Brown feel a bit inadequate at times. Brown’s wavering confidence affects his performance and in turn affects the team. There was an instance in the game against the Nets last weekend where he gave up on a play. Not okay, especially since he didn’t have a very good game.

New Year, New Jaylen Brown

I’m not going to count the first two games of 2018, even though he had a decent one against the Cavs. We’re going to start fresh in London against the 76ers. A second -year player surrounded by so many diversely talented teammates should be thriving. But I know he missed a few games due to injury. Also, the Cs had a brutal schedule, which was not good when you consider the bench situation at the time. But with 39 games over a span of 95 days means more rest, or more time to practice! Hopefully Jaylen can use some of that time to work on his free throws and get out of his head a bit.

Remember, I’m a huge fan of this team and I never want to be divisive in any way. I’m just calling it like I see it. But I’m always rooting for my guys. Go Cs!

The Impact of Marcus Morris

Leave a reply

Celtics Trade Bradley for Marcus Morris

Last offseason the Celtics traded fan-favorite Avery Bradley for Marcus Morris to make room for Gordon Hayward. By giving up Bradley the Celtics lost their best defender, but gained a good player in Morris. So far this season Morris has battled injuries causing him to miss extended time. When healthy Morris has shown his scoring abilities, which was one of the reasons the Celtics acquired him.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Sue Ogrocki

What Morris Brings to the Celtics

Coming into this year Morris was coming off one of his best seasons. Last year with Detroit Morris averaged 14 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. He is categorized as a stretch forward with post prescense, something the Celtics do not have other than with Al Horford. Morris can also shoot three pointers, making him even more valuable. By dealing Bradley for Morris the Celtics did lose something on defense. Morris is an upgrade offensively, and the Celtics still have Marcus Smart who is a very good defender.

Photo Credit: Matt Stone

Morris Before Boston

For the past two seasons in Detroit Morris has been used as a starter averaging thirty minutes a game. Before that in Phoenix he was used as the sixth man of the bench. For the past few years he’s been known as a prolific scorer, something the Celtics needed coming into the season. This acquisition became even more important once Hayward was lost for the season. Morris has also had success covering LeBron. That will be key for the Celtics come playoff time if they end up facing off against the Cavs.

Photo Credit: Buddy Grizzard

Performance so Far

Despite battling injuries Morris has been effective this year. In 21 games he’s averaging 11 points a game while shooting 40.7 percent from the field. Morris has started and come of the bench and has been effective in both roles. If Morris can continue to be productive then the Celtics will be very happy with the trade when looking back at it.

Open Letter to Isaiah Thomas

Leave a reply

Dear Isaiah,

This letter is long overdue for two very different reasons. But first I would like to say, as a fan, that I could not be happier for you and how your recovery has progressed. I watched the game against the Trailblazers and you looked like your of self out there. It brought me back to watching you in Boston, and I got a bit sad.

Boston will always appreciate what you did for our team. After our big three disbanded, we went through a rough patch. Although Boston fans are loyal to a fault, it can still be difficult to sit through a game if your team is losing. Then you came along I.T, and you revitalized us. You made the game fun to watch, putting on a show night after night. It would be a sin to forget all the sacrifices you made for us, like playing through your hip injury and the loss of your sister. When I initially found out about the trade, I almost cried. I felt like we betrayed you somehow, and I couldn’t fathom it. But I tried to look at the bright side, for you in particular. You were now a member of the Cavs, a solid contender in the East.

I will say that after a while, myself and Boston fans alike had to look at the bright side for ourselves. We got Kyrie Irving out of the deal! How could we stay mad at Danny Ainge, the mastermind that took Jayson Tatum instead of Markelle Fultz in the draft? My point is, everyone benefited from this deal, as painful as it was. I know it sucks to get that call when you and the fam have already settled in. Though, as a Boston fan who loves her Celtics, I can’t take any more of the public shaming of the organization. Your frustration with Danny is understandable, but you know that the world of professional sports is a business. And I won’t get into the hip controversy because it’s too much. There are three sides to this story: yours, Danny’s and the truth— whatever that may be.

I want you to know that you have touched the hearts of all of us in Boston. We appreciate the passion you gave us and the toughness you displayed on regular basis. Thank you for putting us first when you shouldn’t have; we would’ve had your back regardless. But also remember what we gave you while you were in Boston. We won’t forget if you don’t!

Signed,

A Loyal Celtics Fan AND I.T. Fan

Don’t Go Away Mad IT, Just Go Away.

Leave a reply

Enough already. Every time someone puts a keyboard or microphone near Isaiah Thomas’ face he reminds us more and more of his namesake. We hated that IT.

Our IT was great last year. Huge in the playoffs. We were sad when he left. No more. Kyrie Irving is a better player than Thomas. It’s not even debatable.

He’s also, apparently, a lot more grown up.

Le Divorce

Fandom, especially in Boston, is like a marriage. We love our teams and players until we don’t. And then, like a divorce, we tend to hate their very existence. Sure, there have been some amicable splits. We love Ray Bourque, despite leaving to lift Lord Stanley in Colorado. And, other than that bastard Johnny Damon who went to New York, we don’t hate anyone of the 2004 Red Sox players who went elsewhere. They drink for free forevah!

Thomas came to Boston a pretty average NBA player. He spent three seasons in Sacramento (2011-2014) and had a cup of coffee in Phoenix in (2014-2015). In those three and a half years he averaged just over 15 points, 4.5 assistants, and less than a steal per game. He was 37% from the 3-point line and 44% from the field. He was a nice player.

In two and a half years in Boston he became a star – averaging over 24 points, 6 assists, and 1 steal a game. He was a giant in the playoffs. Boston loved IT. Many of us still do, despite how difficult he is making it.

The Trade

Source: NBC Sports

Channeling his inner Hoodie, Danny Ainge capitalized on Thomas’s breakout year and post season and packaged him in a deal for Kyrie Irving in August. Beyond the machinations of compensatory picks due to Thomas’s health and the emotional outcry by Boston fans who loved IT’s play and heart, the initial reaction was that maybe the Celtics were giving up too much for Irving. Kyrie certainly didn’t take long to dispel those fears.

As much as we loved Thomas, Boston fans, more than most others, understand that even star players come and go. At some point everyone leaves – they are traded, released, or retire. We don’t like it when it happens to a popular player and important piece to our success.

The key for fans, lest we lose faith in the organization, is that these moves need to improve the team. And, over the course of the last two decades, we’ve come to understand that, just maybe, the coach and GM know a little more about the game and the organization than we do.

Theo dumped Nomar – who was the franchise’s most popular player for a decade. We don’t win the 2004 World Series without that deal.

Belichick dumps everyone at some point. There is no Patriots Dynasty without his cold calculus.

Ainge traded Paul Pierce, an all-time Celtic great, and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn in 2013 over the outrage of all of New England. That deal, in hindsight, continues to be regarded as one of the greatest in history. Theo, Bill, and Danny know how to build winning franchises.

The Tantrum

The problem with the IT-Irving trade is simply this: Thomas can’t move on. Rather than thank Ainge and the Celtics organization for the opportunity they gave him – and he capitalized on – to become a star, he’s pouted and cried about how he was treated.

Source: Twitter

Thomas is not a child, despite how he’s behaved since the trade. From snide tweets responding to Boston’s growing appreciation for Irving to criticizing Ainge and the Celtics’ medical staff, it’s been a four-month sulk that would shame even the most melodramatic teenage girl upset over being dumped for the prettier cheerleader.

Thomas contents that he’s moved on. He claims that the drama of the trade is only being kept alive by media. But his actions betray his words.

The week before Christmas, IT dropped the ultimate self-pity party. He posted a fourteen-minute video on The Players Tribune detailing the day he learned of the trade and his FaceTime exchange with his kids about having to move to Cleveland. It is a touching video. It is clear how disappointed IT is about leaving the Celtics and uprooting his family to move to Cleveland.

Time to Move On

That is totally understandable. Anyone who’s ever been to Cleveland would be devastated about moving there. But this, IT, is the life you chose. You are not a rookie. You’ve been through this before.

Thomas needs to stop acting like the original Isiah Thomas – one of history’s greatest and most unlikable whiners – and act like the guy who capitalized on his trade to Boston. Ainge and the Celtics gave you an opportunity to be a star and you took it. They traded you for a better player because that’s what organizations are supposed to do to improve their teams. You have a new opportunity in Cleveland with perhaps the greatest player in league history – grow up and take it.