Tag Archives: celtics

Greg Monroe Available, DPE at Disposal…What’s up Ainge?

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Yesterday, the Phoenix Suns agreed to buyout the contract of Greg Monroe, essentially making him available to go elsewhere. The 6’11” center spent some time in Detroit and Milwaukee as well, and now he’s got a lot of interest from around the league. But wouldn’t Boston make the most sense?

Greg Monroe as a Celtic

The Celtics only have one true center in Aron Baynes, which I’m sorry to say isn’t enough. Baynes is only averaging 5.2 rebounds a game. A bit low for a big man don’t you think? Don’t get me wrong, he’s defended other big men very well, but the Celtics need more help. Greg Monroe would be more than ideal. So far this year, he is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. And not to bring age into the conversation, but Monroe is 27 and Baynes is 31. I think having someone like Monroe starting and have Baynes come off the bench could only make this team better. Besides, Baynes has proven himself sufficient in that role thus far. It’s always great to have guys like Horford and even Theis who can switch and play the 5, but at some point you’re going to need a true center. More than one to be exact! Nabbing Monroe would fix that AND the rebounding problem. More possessions = more point opportunities.

What Else Can You Do with that DPE?

I’ve heard some rumors circulating that the Celtics, among other teams, have expressed interest in the Grizzlies’ Tyreke Evans. He didn’t even play last night— that’s how serious the Grizzlies are about trading him. But if I’m not mistaken, wouldn’t the Cs have to give something in return? Would it mean… no. Not even going to think about it because it’s ridiculous. We don’t need another guard. We need another TRUE center to get blocks and most importantly, rebounds. The Cs lose the battle on rebounds sometimes, and it’s usually the difference between a win and a loss. I’m telling you, Greg Monroe is the way to go!

 

Shout out to Terry Rozier for his first career start AND triple double. I’m sure Kyrie was very proud. Let’s hope the Cs can carry that momentum into Friday when they host the Hawks. Oh, and let’s hope Danny get’s moving on using that DPE (*cough* on Monroe *cough*).

Champions

Boston: The City of Champions

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City of Champions

In recent years Boston has been called the City of Champions. It has inherited this name due to its sports teams winning an incredible ten championships since 2000. Each professional team has won at least one championship, while the Patriots have won the most with five titles. Even when the quartet of teams that includes the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots don’t win it all they’ve still been successful. This year has proven to be no different.

New England Patriots

Over the past eighteen years, the Patriots have been the most successful franchise in football and all of sports. They’ve won five titles and made the playoffs fourteen times. They have arguably the best coach and quarterback in the history of the game. Every year they are competitive, and unlike other teams have not needed to rebuild. They are the most controversial team in sports, but that’s what happens when you’re good for eighteen straight years. Today they play the Tennessee Titans to begin their playoff run. They are again favorites to win another championship, which would give them three in a four-year span.

Champions

Photo Credit: AP/ Photo Darron Cummings

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have struggled at times over the years. That does not mean that it’s all been bad. In 2008 after acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce, the Celtics won their first title since 1976. The Big three made back to the finals in 2010 but lost in seven games to the Lakers. They were unable to win another championship before the blockbuster trade that changed the franchise in 2011. The Celtics, however, have used that trade to build the current roster and speed up their rebuild, which only took two seasons. For the past three years, the Celtics have made it to the playoffs but have been unable to advance very far. This year the Celtics are primed to win a title and have a core in place to keep them competitive for the foreseeable future.

Champions

Photo Credit:  Tim Cato

Boston Bruins

Boston is said to be a hockey town at heart and that was apparent when they won the Cup in 2011. Since 2000 the Bruins have made it to the playoffs eleven times and the Stanley Cup Finals twice. Last year they made it to the playoffs for the first time in two years. This season they have been one of the best which has come as a surprise to many. Like the Celtics, they are full of young talent and primed to be good for years to come. The Bruins have struggled at times over the years but have made the playoffs the majority of the time. Their future looks bright and they are primed to win a title with this core before the end of the decade.

Champions

Photo Credit: Elsa- Getty Images

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox like the Patriots have been very successful since. They’ve won three titles and made the playoffs nine times. They’ve provided the city with some of its most thrilling postseason moments. In 2004 they came back and stunned the world against their arch-rivals. Some seasons have been tough, but the Red Sox have been able to recover without going through extended rebuilds. They’ve lifted up the city when it needed them the most such as in 2013 after the marathon bombings. In what is a common theme among Boston sports teams they are rich with young talent. Going into next year the Red Sox are not the favorites, but they aren’t that far off from being champions again.

 

Champions

Photo Credit: Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Why Boston Fans Should Be Thankful

For the past eighteen years, Boston fans have been spoiled. Unlike any other city, the teams are almost always good and at least one team is always a favorite to win a championship. Some sports fans never see their team win a championship. In Boston, it’s considered a failure if these teams go two years without a title. That excellence is rare, and all these teams are filled with young talent. This impressive run won’t end anytime soon meaning Boston will be considered the city of champions for a while.

Where Are the 2016-2017 Celtics now – Free Agents

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I covered the players that got traded in my most recent article. The players that left via free agency had some say in their new contracts. A lot of these guys would have loved to stay on the Celtics. The fact of the matter is we couldn’t afford to re-sign everyone from last year’s team. Some of the most difficult decisions Danny Ainge made in the offseason was who fit into the team’s long-term plans, and who he would have to let go. The players that were lost all found great spots for their careers, and should be happy with the outcome.

A lot of these guys got an opportunity as a Celtic that allowed them to sign bigger contracts in free agency elsewhere. This can be attributed to the system that Brad Stevens runs. He maximizes a player’s talents while hiding their flaws. I view it as Ainge helping out players land in the right spots via trades. Brad Stevens helps players earn better contracts and be attractive free agents. It all comes down to the organization doing great work.

If you click on each players name, it will take you to their basketball reference page so you can see what they’re doing this year statistically and compare with what they did in Boston. I did this so I wouldn’t have to bore you with statistics here, but they are linked in case you’re interested.

KELLY OLYNYK

KO didn’t play less than twenty minutes a game in any of his four seasons as a Celtic. In turn he had some big time contributions. Game Seven against the Wizards last year comes to mind, where he went off in the fourth quarter and helped the C’s advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was a hero in Beantown after that. But Ainge couldn’t afford to keep him and stay out of the luxury tax, so he hit free agency and chose the Miami Heat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzssSy0l4LY

In Miami, Olynyk has an expanded role and has been a starter for the last eighteen games. His averages are career-highs across the board. With Olynyk continuing to progress, it’s safe to say the Heat got what they paid for. He signed a four year, $50 million deal. That means he is now making more per year than he made over four years in Boston combined. This is what you want to see out of guys. Stevens was able to set Olynyk up for success when he was with the Celtics, which turned into a big paycheck and bigger opportunity for him.

The Celtics have already played Olynyk and the Heat three times this season. The most recent outing was Olynyk’s return to Boston, and he went off for thirty two points and seven assists. I think it’s safe to say he feels comfortable playing in TD Garden. He also recently posted twenty-five points and thirteen assists, and is making a serious push for even more minutes.

JORDAN MICKEY

Another player that signed with the Heat in free agency is Mickey. After being drafted thirty-third in 2015 but never gaining traction with the Celtics, he has carved out a bench role for his new team. He has had a few games over twenty minutes when Whiteside was out, and is fighting to try to stay in the rotation. It would be nice to see him stick and have a successful career as a role player. He signed a two-year deal that holds a second year team option, so he will have to prove himself this year to stay in Miami.

JONAS JEREBKO

Jerebko singed a two-year $8.2 million contract with the Jazz. He is earning less than his $5 million per year in Boston. His decision was more about fit. He wanted to sign somewhere he felt he could make a difference, and has done that in Utah. What stands out from a similar stat line to what he posted in Boston is his three-point shooting. He’s taking more threes than he has in any year in his career, and is shooting a career-best 43% from deep. His role is to shoot and get defensive rebounds. In his return to Boston, he posted seventeen points, a season-best to date, to go along with seven rebounds.

Another interesting fact is Jerebko has started fourteen games already this year, more than his entire 2.5 years in Boston. The Jazz want to put shooters around rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is great at penetrating and kicking back out, making Jerebko a perfect running mate with the rookie. Quin Snyder likes to play what he calls advantage basketball, which is supposed to allow players that might not be as quick as the competition to get an advantage. The concept is centralized on off-ball movement, and is something that many teams, the Celtics included, practice. Because of this, the move from Boston to Utah has been pretty seamless for Jerebko.

AMIR JOHNSON

Amir is now in his thirteenth season. As a traditional big with below-average quickness and footwork, his value is quickly declining. Yet, the OG was able to land one of the better deals in free agency, signing a one year contract with the 76ers for $11 million. Just $1 million less annually than he earned in Boston.

Amir was a leader by example in the locker room in Boston. He is now looking to set that same example in Philly for their young core. On the court, he has given Joel Embiid some spot starts here and there. When Embiid plays, Amir gets in sparsely. In his return to TD Garden, he posted a full stat line of 6-6-4-3.

TYLER ZELLER

After picking up plenty of DNP-CDs as a Celtic despite his $8 million contract, Zeller had to take a huge pay cut in free agency. It’s a shame, because he really did contribute whenever he got in the game. He has always been a solid player, and I felt there would always be a place for him in the league. Regardless, he found himself more concerned with finding a team that would pay him rather than how much the contract would be worth.

He settled for the Nets on a minimum contract, but it has worked out well for him. After not seeing much time through much of the first month, Zeller broke through with a twenty-one point game. He entered the starting lineup for good a few games later. His playing time has seen a slight decrease since Jahlil Okafor was sent over via trade, but he is still starting. It will be interesting to see how long he can hold off the inevitable of Okafor taking the starting role.

JAMES YOUNG & DEMETRIUS JACKSON

James Young recently signed a two-way deal with the 76ers after averaging over twenty-two points per game in the G-League. He was the least valuable piece that came out of the infamous Brooklyn deal, never able to crack the rotation in Boston after being selected seventeenth overall in 2014.

Demetrius Jackson signed a two-way deal with the Rockets before the season, but it has apparently been terminated. He has since signed a ten-day deal with the Rockets, which started on January 6th. He is averaging sixteen points in the G-League.

BONUS: GERALD GREEN

GG was invited to Bucks camp, but inexplicably cut before the season. It seemed as if he would sit the season out, and perhaps retire. However his hometown team came calling. Green grew up in Houston, and was ecstatic when he got the call that they wanted more shooting. It didn’t make sense that a team that already shot more threes than any other team wanted to add more shooting, but it didn’t matter. Green came in and has made an instant impact. Through seven games, he is averaging twenty-five minutes and over seventeen points, shooting 50% from deep. He has made a big time impact off the bench.

CINDERELLA STORY

( Boston, MA, 03/24/17) Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson (90) congratulates Boston Celtics forward Gerald Green (30) after his 3 pointer with a foul as the Celtics take on the Suns at the Garden. Friday, March 24, 2017. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill)

Gerald Green’s contributions during his second stint in Boston can’t be forgotten. In the first round of the playoffs when the Celtics were down 0-2 to the lowly Bulls. Stevens needed to make some changes. He inserted Green into the starting lineup for the third game. Green had logged just over five minutes in the first two games combined. He also hadn’t started the entire regular season. It didn’t matter. Green was ready to go. He scored eighteen points in Game 3, and sixteen in Game 5. The Celtics won four games in a row with Green in the starting unit to win the series 4-2. This is the stuff of legends.

It was only fitting that when the Rockets called Green, they needed him to suit up that night. Oh, and the Rockets were visiting Boston. Conveniently, Green was sitting at his house, in Boston. He still enjoyed the city, and kept his house after last season. He has the role in Houston he has always wanted, as a key piece to an all-out offensive assault. Averaging over eight threes a game, he is right where he needs to be, at home in Houston. Basketball has taken Green around the world and back, so it would be a fitting ending for his career to finish in Houston. Again, this is the stuff of legends.

FINAL THOUGHTS

For the most part, all of these Celtics landed in favorable spots, especially the players that were traded. It has been fun to see some of them come back to Boston and give them the love they fought for while they were here. It hasn’t been as fun to see them all torch the Celtics in their returns, back in a familiar place. Regardless, I wish all these guys the best of success in their careers as they continue to thrive in new roles.

Am I Asking Too Much of Jaylen Brown?

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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!

Where Are the 2016-2017 Celtics Now- Trades

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With the early success, and the new-look Boston Celtics have had, it’s easy to forget how the team looked a year ago. Eleven guys, from star player to the end of the bench, and everything in between, no longer wear the green. The 2016-2017 Celtics were full of overachievers. The team couldn’t afford to keep everyone. The roster overhaul was one for the ages. I felt it was necessary to take a look around the league to see how these former Celtics are doing in their new roles.

This will be a two-part article, first covering the players that were traded, looking at the management side of things. Then, a follow-up will focus on the players that left in free agency and where they chose to sign, since there was more choice and usually ends with more joy than pain. Let’s start with the pain.

Ainge Trades Heart and Soul

Isaiah Thomas was understandably shook up by the trade that sent him and Jae Crowder to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finally felt like he found a home in Boston, and gave everything he had to the team and city. Isaiah played until he literally couldn’t run anymore. He fought through a hip injury to have some truly gritty performances in the playoffs. This included a 53-point game against the Wizards in the second round on his sister’s birthday. She passed away weeks before, and Isaiah didn’t miss a game. That game epitomized everything IT was talking about in this quote. Fighting like hell through a serious injury, and perhaps more excruciating, a personal tragedy.

“I might not ever talk to Danny again. That might not happen. I’ll talk to everybody else. But what he did, knowing everything I went through, you don’t do that, bro. That’s not right.”

It’s easy to sympathize with IT’s point of view, but Danny Ainge didn’t exactly throw him to the wolves. Actually, he made sure he set up all his former players nicely. At least, to the degree that he had control over it. He made some genius moves in the offseason, but what gets overlooked is how well he set up the players he was shipping out.

Isaiah Thomas

Thomas wanted to be a Celtic for life. What he accomplished in his short time in Boston surely won’t be forgotten. But what he does in his next chapter as a Cavalier is what really matters for him now. He made his season debut on January 2nd, scoring 17 points in just 19 minutes. In his second game, he scored 19 points in 21 minutes. He is already showing he is ready to put the injury behind him, the last order of business before his separation from Boston is complete.

Seeing him playing for a different team was weird, but it was good to see him get in and contribute at a high level. He is in a perfect situation playing alongside LeBron James, something that will allow him to work with much more space than he’s accustomed to. There were times when he was triple teamed with the Celtics. Now, he’ll be shocked if he sees a double team at all. He’s a perfect complementary star, and should thrive in his role in Cleveland. They will be a true force this year, and are still the team to beat in the East.

Jae Crowder

Another big piece in the trade that brought Kyrie to Boston has been playing for the Cavs since the beginning of the season. When he heard of the trade, he didn’t really have time to think about it because his mom passed away on the same day. He apparently got to tell her of the trade before she passed, stating that “they were going to Cleveland to win a championship.” He took the news as an overall positive and didn’t foster any hard feelings as IT did.

Underwhelming to this point, Crowder was noticeably more active in IT’s first game back. He scored 17 points on 50% shooting and posted a full stat line. It was perhaps Crowder’s best game this season, as he showed great chemistry with his old pal. This comes as no surprise to Celtics fans, as the two were staples in the starting unit for a close Celtics team last year. Crowder should continue to perform better with his old running mate back in the lineup. He should be back in the starting unit now. Right next to IT, where his value is maximized.

Avery Bradley

Avery to the Pistons was the first trade of the offseason for the Celtics. It was a move done to free up cap space to sign Gordon Hayward. The Celtics got Marcus Morris on a two-year value contract in return, so the deal wasn’t terrible for the Celtics. It wasn’t bad for Bradley either. He went to a team that saw him as an important piece to their continued progress. After missing the playoffs last year, they started off the season hot with Bradley. They are in the middle of the playoff hunt again this year.

Bradley has had a slow year thus far, with averages similar to last years, aside from averaging about 4 less rebounds a game. Rebounding was a strength of his on the Celtics, but Drummond takes up most of the boards on the Pistons. Bradley is really turning into a glorified 3 & D player in Detroit. He is shooting 40% from three which is a slight uptick from 39% last year. With Reggie Jackson out for extended time, he should see more touches offensively in the near future. Now is his time to show his new coach and team what he can do.

Looking Towards the Future

Avery Bradley praised the Celtics for helping him get his career started. He looks at his time in Boston as growth. Jae Crowder was equally grateful for the opportunity he got in Boston. At the same time, he looked ahead with wide eyes at the opportunity that awaited him in Cleveland.

Ironically, the man who was put in the best situation of all- starring next to the best player in the world- has had the hardest time accepting the reality of it. IT has said the trade hurt him, and it hurt us as fans. But when he realizes how well his new situation is for his future, that pain will start to turn to joy, as it has for us fans when we see how well off we are for the future. Something that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the hefty contributions by these three, especially Mighty IT.

Rozier and Smart: Sparking the Celtics Bench

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The Celtics beat the Timberwolves 91-84, which was a season low in scoring for the Wolves. According to EVERY sports media outlet, the Cs have now beaten seven of the top teams in the NBA, holding them all under 100 points.  It’s also important to point out that they’ve won their last five games, with heavy contributions from Rozier and Smart off of the bench.

Rozier: Finding Comfort in His Role

I know when I used to watch Rozier with the ball, I would get nervous. Why you ask? Because he dribbles too much! But as of late, I don’t mind his dribbling because his shots are falling. In the last six games, he’s averaged 15.3 points and hit 17 threes. He’s been able to do this in an average of 23 minutes off of the bench. Impressive huh? Well, I sure think so, especially when you consider is performance against Cleveland: 20 points and 4-6 from three. After that clutch steal and basket in Indiana, I knew it was just a matter of time.

Smart: Consistent Confidence

Although Smart is only averaging 11.5 points in the last six games, as we go further back we can see his production on offense. I wrote an article back in December about him finding his confidence on the offensive side of the ball. I’d say he’s been pretty reliable since his turnaround, only having six games under 10 points since late November. And of course, if he can’t give you his best on offense, he’s always going to do his job on defense. Don’t believe me? Go watch the final seconds of that Rockets game where he drew two offensive fouls off of Harden — back to back! Though, something else I have noticed is Smart’s unwavering confidence. He’s not afraid to continue taking shots even if the first few don’t fall because he knows eventually, he’ll get hot.

Rozier and Smart Creating Depth

Rozier and Smart’s sparking of this Celtics bench has rubbed off on everyone. Theis, Larkin, and Baynes when he comes off the bench, have each had a couple of productive nights. Irving is also starting to take somewhat of a backseat in scoring, as we saw in the game against Cleveland. Him doing so is allowing for the development of all the younger guys on the team, bench and starters. This is the type of consistency we’ve called for this season. Let’s see if they can keep it going!

The Celtics have a game at Brooklyn, then they’ll be getting ready for their London match up against the 76ers. After the Brooklyn game, we won’t see our guys on the hardwood until the 11th. But don’t fret Boston fans— this means some more rest for the Celtics, which they so rightfully deserve.

32-10 and leading the East. Go Celtics!

 

LeBron Knows the Answer to the Big Question About Kyrie

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“…I don’t have any advice for him now. I got no advice for him or any other people that’s on any other team. Noooo.. Listen man we trying to win a championship here, I don’t have time to give advice to other guys…”

LeBron seemed sincere in his opening press conference for the season, and it’s a fair point to not want to help players that aren’t helping you win a championship. The thing is, LeBron has been giving advice to all kinds of young players in a very public manner after games. We saw it with Lonzo Ball. The very next game against the Jazz we saw him and Dwayne Wade pull another rookie, Donovan Mitchell, aside and give him a short lecture. You might remember last year when he did the same thing with a rookie Jaylen Brown.

So, why does he have nothing left for Kyrie?

KYRIE IS READY

The answer is simple: he knows Kyrie is ready to win without him. He’s already given his former protegé more than he would like the leader of a serious contender to have. Kyrie is no wide-eyed rookie. Still, LeBron has established himself as a “big brother” of sorts for young players around the league. The two have built a bond together. Now, he doesn’t have anything left to say to Kyrie. He can act like it’s everyone, but it’s not. It’s just guys he sees as a threat to his legacy, and that list now includes Kyrie Irving. His explanation of why he has nothing left for Kyrie seems inaccurate and pointed. If you ask me, he is legitimately worried about Irving and the Boston Celtics.

“…The only thing I’m upset about is he took a lot of the DNA and the blueprint to Boston.”

LeBron has been to 7 straight NBA Finals. He knows what it takes to get there. He also knows Kyrie Irving knows what it takes to get there. Kyrie Irving is ready to be the #1 guy. LeBron may have been ready to give him the keys, as he said in his preseason interview. But Kyrie was tired of riding in the backseat. So he went out and found himself his own car. One that he could drive. And one that has yet to reach its top speed.

KYRIE VS LEBRON ON THE BIG STAGE

The Celtics are still a work in progress. They have cooled off a bit since their 16 game win streak at the beginning of the season, but they are still an obvious force. Even without Hayward, the general consensus is that there will be an Eastern Conference Finals rematch between the Cavs and Celtics. The biggest difference this time around would be the size of the storylines.

Kyrie will be trying to put the last stamp of approval needed to validate his move to Boston. Maybe more accurately, out of Cleveland. It would be truly epic to see Kyrie take down LeBron and end his Finals reign. Instead of LeBron handing Kyrie the keys, Kyrie will be looking to take them from him, head to head. We could see these teams clash in the playoffs for years to come. It seems inevitable the Celtics take the crown and reach the Finals.

THE MAKINGS OF A TRUE RIVALRY

For Celtics fans, perhaps watching Isaiah Thomas try to exact revenge on his old team and new rival will be the hardest thing to watch. It is tough not to root for this guy. It is tough to realize he could be heavily responsible for ending the Celtics’ season.

It would also be the 2nd year in the row the two play in the ECF, and could mark the start of a true rivalry. The Celtics are getting better every year and will soon be the favorites in the East. But until somebody knocks him off, LeBron holds the key to the Finals. As long as he is in Cleveland, they will be a force in the playoffs.

Eventually, there will be a team that comes along and beats LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most would agree that team will most likely be the Boston Celtics. Even if LeBron isn’t willing to give Kyrie any more advice. Kyrie has everything he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we’ll see LeBron give the rookie Jayson Tatum some love Wednesday after the game. Or, maybe he’ll see him as a member of a team that is a serious threat to his championship aspirations and stay far, far away.

Marcus Smart’s Value Won’t Stare You in the Face

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The 4th Quarter Hero

Anyone who watches the Boston Celtics has some sort of opinion on Marcus Smart. Mostly you’ll see negative views. “He can’t shoot, why is he playing instead of Rozier?”. The list goes on.

However, his value is there. It just won’t always be on the stat sheet. Take the end of the Houston game as an example:

Why He’s Here When Celtics Win Banner 18

Marcus Smart makes plays in the 4th quarter that win games. If it wasn’t for Smart drawing the first offensive foul, there was a good chance Houston would have won. Al Horford would never have had the chance to score that winning basket.

So, that begs the question: why do so many people want him traded? Simply because he can’t shoot? I agree that he isn’t a good shooter. Currently, he’s shooting 33.8% from the floor and 30.7% from behind the arc. He is a 72% free throw shooter. Not someone you’d want taking a shot late in the 4th quarter, or at all.

That’s why Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jason Tatum and a ton of other guys are here. The biggest thing is to let Smart play in the late minutes to do what he did against Houston.

Now, if you told me Smart had to be involved in a trade for someone like Anthony Davis, then okay. I’d be the first person to say “smell you later” and drive him to Logan. However, that deal probably isn’t coming.

This group of guys, along with Gordon Hayward, will win multiple titles while in Celtic Green. Anything else would be a disappointment. Marcus Smart will be on that roster. I agree I’d like to see Terry Rozier get more minutes for how he plays. That being said, Marcus Smart is a key cog to what makes this Celtics team run. A defense-first attitude and doesn’t care who he has to guard.

 

Marcus Smart NBA Champion with the 2018-19 Boston Celtics.

REMEMBERING KOBE: THE CELTICS’ BIGGEST ENEMY OF THE CENTURY

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Earlier this week, the legendary Kobe Bryant had not one, but two jerseys retired in the Staples Center in LA. He put up amazing stats in both #8 & #24, and when asked, was hard-pressed to choose between the two.

“It’s really, really tough for me. I think 24 was more challenging, and I tend to gravitate to things that are harder to do. And physically for me it was really, really hard for me to get up, night-in and night-out, man. It’s a grind. … Thinking on the Boston Celtics. Having a bone fragment in my foot during that series. Having a broken finger. Muscling through that back half of the career. Some of the toughest stretches of basketball ever, man. And so, I guess if you force me to pick one, I’d probably go with No. 24 because of that.”

Truly one of the all-time greats, he was the man who went toe-to-toe with Paul Pierce in the Finals in 2008 & 2010, and generated real hate from Celtics fans across the world because of how good he was. I thought it would be fun to look back on his run from a Celtic point of view.

THE BEGINNING OF AN ERA

Before Kobe Bryant became a Laker, he was a lifelong fan of the organization. He watched old tapes of the Lakers-Celtics Finals as a kid, and grew to hate the Celtics as much as he loved the Lakers. So when the Celtics called him in for a workout, he was reluctant, but he did it. According to Celtics management at the time, he was more than impressive. But they wanted somebody who could come in and contribute right away. Bryant was a high schooler that needed to develop his game further. So, the Celtics passed on him with the 6th pick and went with Antoine Walker. Kobe was drafted 13th by the Hornets, immediately traded to the Lakers, and the rest is history.

As was predicted by many GMs around the league, Kobe took some time to find his groove. In his first season, he averaged just over 15 minutes a game. He showed flashes of his potential, but wasn’t a regular rotation player. In his second year, the mamba came out. Kobe made a huge leap, right into the all-star game. He was just 18 years old. By his fourth year, he was one of the league’s top players. Along with Shaq, the Lakers won 3 championships in a row from 2000-2002.

RIVALRY RENEWED

The Lakers were riding high, but the Celtics couldn’t get over the hump with Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce. After surprisingly making it to the Eastern Conference Finals and taking a 2-1 lead over the Nets in the 2002 playoffs, the Celtics-Lakers chatter was starting back up, but the Lakers were clearly a better team at the time. The Celtics were swept in the second round the next year and by 2004 were sold and under a massive change from top to bottom. New GM Danny Ainge decided to blow it up and enter a full rebuild, keeping franchise cornerstone Paul Pierce to build around.

It wasn’t until the summer of 2007 that the Celtics were stirring things up around the NBA, but all of a sudden they were being talked about as a serious championship contender. Ainge pulled off deals for both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and the Big 3 in Boston was ready to set the league on fire. But across the country, Kobe was determined to show the world he could win a championship without Shaq. He had his unforgettable 81 point game the year before and was entering full Mamba mode.

When the Celtics won the east and the Lakers won the west, talks of the rivalry reignited, and before long the teams were set to face off and attempt to write the next championship story. Kobe had already won 3 rings, but this was different. This was against the CELTICS. This was what he grew up dreaming about.

2008 FINALS

The Celtics had the better overall record and therefore had home court advantage. The drama began in Game 1, when Paul Pierce injured his knee early in the second half and had to be carried off the floor. He would return before the end of the 3rd and hit two big 3’s in a row, sending the TD Garden in a frenzy. The Celtics had all the momentum after and won what was eventually dubbed “the wheelchair game”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdU5pk7UXPM

After winning game 2 as well behind Pierce’s 28, the next 3 games were in LA. Kobe went off for 36 in Game 3 to propel the Lakers to an 87-81 win, but he was off in Game 4, and the Celtics took a 3-1 series lead. The Lakers won the next game with their backs against the wall, but all it did was let the Celtics celebrate on their home floor in front of their own fans in a game 6 blowout.

The Celtics won by 39 and the Celtics were NBA champs again. Paul Pierce won Finals MVP, and solidified himself as a true Celtics Legend with the help of his new all-star teammates. Kobe watched the team he hated most celebrate, and was already thinking about getting revenge. He averaged 25.7 points, 5 assists and 4.7 rebounds on 40.5% shooting to Pierce’s 21.8 points, 6.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds behind 43.2% shooting.

2010 FINALS

 

In 2009, the Lakers won in the Finals, but the Celtics didn’t make the party. They dealt with injuries all season and would have to wait till 2010 to get another chance, and the Lakers were waiting for them. Worse, Kobe was looking for revenge in the midst of one of his best seasons in which he hit 6 game winners. He was getting old, but he was still capable of things no one else could do on the court. That showed in the 2010 Finals, when he helped the Lakers pull off a comeback game 7 victory to seal his fifth championship and second consecutive Finals MVP. When asked which of his 5 championships meant the most to him, Kobe didn’t hesitate.

“The Celtics one. Not just because it was the hardest one to get but also being a Laker fan, there’s no greater feeling or dream than facing the Celtics in the Finals. We came up short in ’08, so now it was like the Basketball Gods were smiling down upon us all, because now we finally get a chance to get revenge. It would’ve been really painful for me to retire and not be able to have revenge on the Celtics. I know the history of the Lakers and Celtics, and I don’t want to be one of those players that was a Laker great that lost to the Celtics and never had a chance to redemption. So that Finals to me was the most important one.”

KOBE BEEF

It was official, Kobe Bryant was the most hated player, and possibly person, in Boston. Celtics Nation had to watch Kobe win his three rings with Shaq when we were just trying to get to the Finals. We watched him get another after falling short of the Finals in 2009. Injuries plagued the Celtics that year, most namely Kevin Garnett. He would come back from a knee injury in the playoffs, but wasn’t the same. And now, we had to watch him crush the hopes and dreams of hanging Banner 18.

Bryant may have had the last laugh in the Celtics-Lakers story of his era, but his quote about the 2010 championship being his favorite is really about respect for the Celtics more than anything. He understood this was the hardest thing he had to do in his career. Taking down the Celtics was bigger than taking down anybody else, like the Magic the year prior. That was all good and well, but Kobe wanted to beat the Celtics. He knew putting a championship stamp on the historic Celtics-Lakers rivalry would establish his legacy as an all-time great.

MUTUAL RESPECT

“I learned my lesson my rookie year, when I was talking to him. He fouled me out in like 7 or 8 minutes. From that point on, I knew I couldn’t talk to him. He was kind of buttering me up. He’s asking me where am I from, how you doing young fella? Where you from? I like your heart, young fella. Before you know it he’s head faked you three times and got the and one off the backboard, came off the pick and roll and dunked on you.” -Tony Allen

Tony Allen was the main defender on Kobe in both the 2008 & 2010 Finals. To this day, he is still one of the best defenders in the league. On Kobe’s farewell tour, he gave Allen a gift to show his respect for Allen’s hustle. Along with a pair of signed shoes was a message that read “To Tony, the best defender I ever faced!”. Kobe stated this numerous other times when asked about it. Turns out there was some truth to Bryant’s comments to a rookie Tony Allen.

KOBE’S LAST YEARS

It wasn’t until the Lakers started losing that I could appreciate what Kobe had done for the game of basketball. His last two years he was getting paid too much for the Lakers to bring in any significant talent, and Kobe wasn’t good enough to carry the team anymore. They became the laughing-stock of the NBA, the beginning of their rebuild unable to start until Kobe’s contract expired. His last season was one of the worst in Lakers franchise history, and was simply a year dedicated to Kobe.

In the midst of his farewell tour, Kobe defied human capabilities here and there, turning back the clock with some 30+ point performances late in the year. He could sense the end was nigh, and was going to leave everything he had on the court. Never was this as evident as his final game in which he dropped 60 big ones at 37 years old. But beyond that, he made his worst enemies love him in that game. It took all the way up to that last game, but as I watched him torch the Jazz I found myself rooting for him to score every time he touched the ball.

NO KOBE, NO PROBLEM

It was only acceptable because they weren’t playing for anything. Honestly though, even if they were I’m not sure I would’ve been able to contain my excitement. That performance was one of the grittiest things I’ve ever seen, and something only a true great is capable of. So this is for Kobe, the Laker legend that we all loved to hate, but couldn’t help but learn to appreciate. He has inspired players from everywhere, and is the most popular name among current NBA players when asked who their favorite is. Even players on the Celtics idolize Kobe Bryant. 3rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, Kobe truly is the man, the myth, the legend. I’m certainly glad we don’t have to worry about that problem anymore.

Anthony Davis Just Wants to Win, but Will It Be in Boston?

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Does Anthony Davis Want Out?

Adrian Wojnarowski sat down with Anthony Davis for a story on ESPN. He shed some light on the superstar’s situation in the Big Easy.

Everyone knows that Danny Ainge covets Davis and will pounce if he’s available. However, will he be?

One thing was extremely clear when reading Davis’ quotes. He wants to win more than anything:

“You look at the Warriors, Cleveland, Boston,” he said. “They lose Gordon [Hayward], they’re still playing well. KD-Steph-Draymond-Klay. They play so well with each other, move the basketball and don’t care who scores. Steph and Draymond are out, and they still won. KD is out. They still win.”

Davis in Celtic Green is a long shot and we all know it. However, Davis has concerns with the Pelicans being loyal after seeing what has conspired around the league. IT, who was traded by the Celtics and Demarcus Cousins traded from the Kings to name a few. Woj goes on to mention that Davis knows he’s on the Celtics radar:

Davis remains an obsession of several NBA teams full of the necessary trade assets to unfasten him from New Orleans, should the Pelicans ever consider a rebuild — or should Davis ever request a trade. Boston has remained vigilant on the possibility of acquiring Davis, and Davis knows it. However, the Pelicans have no intention of trading an all-world talent under contract through 2021, no matter the return.

Going through the full article tells me two things. One, it doesn’t seem like the Pelicans want to deal the superstar anytime soon. Two, it might not matter. If Davis simply cares about winning and nothing else, then what’s stopping him from demanding a trade. When you see a star like Davis talking about The Celtics, Warriors and other winning teams, it shows envy.

He wants to win.

So, even though it’s a long shot, Davis could be in a Boston Celtics uniform. He might play next to Kyrie, Horford, and Gordon Hayward… but he might have to ask.