Tag Archives: #NBA

Jayson Tatum Wins Eastern Conference Rookie of Month for December

Leave a reply

NOT A TRADE CHIP, A BUILDING BLOCK

When I was 19, I was just trying to figure out how to pay rent and tuition. At the same age, Jayson Tatum is proving he can play at a high level in the NBA despite still being in his teens. Plus, I can only assume has no problems paying bills on time. It’s easy to see Tatum is light years ahead of his peers, but hard to imagine what his ceiling might be.

“I don’t think water will find its level because I don’t think there’s a level with Tatum, because he’s so young. I think he’s untouchable. He has the potential, from what we’ve seen … to be a multi-time All Star in this league.” -Mike Gorman, Boston Celtics Broadcaster (reeling Tommy Heinsohn back in for over 30 years)

STRONG ROOKIE CLASS

Ben Simmons is better than anyone in this class right now, but he’s not exactly in this class. It’s almost a shame he’s considered a rookie. It’s robbing us of what is probably going to be an incredible race for second in the ROY running. This is a strong rookie class, with some guys showing star potential. Lottery picks like Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Dennis Smith Jr. and Tatum are showing the future of the league is in good hands. Others further down the draft board such as Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Bell & Dillon Brooks are a testament to the depth of the class. Plenty of other rookies are getting opportunities and showing signs of being contributors early in their careers.

Even without Simmons in the mix, Tatum would have a tough time winning the award. This is a strong class with the unique blend of depth to compliment the heavy hitters at the top. Donovan Mitchell has already had a 41 point game, something that hasn’t been done by a rookie since Blake Griffin in 2011. He was the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December. Tatum winning the same award in the East over Simmons shows the race for ROY isn’t over yet.

At the end of the day, Tatum just doesn’t have a big enough role offensively to win the award. While it is increasing by the game, he won’t come close to the usage rate of Simmons (23.9) or Mitchell (27.6). Tatum is sitting at 17.7, but is also chipping in 4.9 win shares through 42 games, good for 13th in the entire NBA. This is where you can start to see the difference in Tatum and rookies on teams that aren’t winning. He is learning how to win from guys that have done it early in his career. This is something that can’t be overstated for his development. The sky really is the limit with this kid.

TAKING IT IN STRIDE

Stevens trusts Tatum despite his teenager status. Further, he wants the youngster in the game late, especially if it’s close. Some might say Stevens leaves him in so he can learn and get better. It’s also because he is one of the best options Stevens has at his disposal. The rookie has shown the ability to make the right play, and is starting to find his spots to be aggressive offensively. This has resulted in some big-time finishes at the rim in addition to his elite shooting from deep. He has been in the top 10 in 3pt% the entire season thus far. If Stevens is serious about upping Tatum’s touches in the second half of the season, teams could be in trouble. His efficiency might take a hit, but his overall production should be on the rise.

CLUTCH TIME

Tatum has been impressive late in games, and definitely has the clutch gene. His calm and collected approach towards life is unwavering in heated moments on the big stage. It’s rare for a rookie to have such a big role, especially in the 4th quarter on a talent-rich team. More impressively, his clutch time numbers are truly jaw-dropping. He has 45 points on 71% shooting in the last 5 min when the game is within 5.

“Some people have it and some people don’t. It’s just as simple as that. I think he’s pretty much shown that he can play, as people say, with the big boys at the end of the game.”       -Kyrie on Tatum in the clutch

Further, he’s 3/4 in the last minute when the game is on the line. When the game gets hectic, it slows down for Tatum. Nothing seems to shake his confidence. After his recent Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award, Stevens did his part to keep Tatum level-headed, not that he needed it.

“I sent him a text that there’s a lot of things that can derail forward progress.” -Stevens, when asked about Tatum’s achievement

WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Danny Ainge traded the #1 pick in the 2017 NBA draft fro the #3 pick and a future pick. After selecting Tatum 3rd overall, he stated he would’ve taken the Duke product at 1 if he didn’t make the deal. It was a risk, but he got his man. Still, the rookie has gone above and beyond what Ainge thought he was capable of already in his young career.

“We’ll see what minutes [Tatum] will earn. I’m not worried about how they will play when the lights go on. It will be unlikely that Jayson is Rookie of the Year because it will probably come from a team that starts their rookies and plays them 35 minutes a night.” -Danny Ainge, before the season started

A guy who should be a sophomore in college right now is instead beating out NBA vets for starting roles on the NBA’s best team. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He is already able to impact the game on both ends of the floor, and is contributing to winning on the highest level. Yet, he still has a long ways to go. What is sure to be a long and achievement-filled career has only just begun. The Tatum hype train, now far past Boston and still gaining steam, is running out of room for passengers.

“It will be four, five, six years before we see his best,” Ainge said. “The question will be how badly he wants to keep working to get better.”

Rozier and Smart: Sparking the Celtics Bench

Leave a reply

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

Leave a reply

“…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.

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.

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

Leave a reply

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

Leave a reply

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?

Leave a reply

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.

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics’ Ups and Downs – Week 9

Leave a reply

For the first time since the opening week of the season, there wasn’t a ton to like about the Celtics’ play. They went 2-2, which isn’t terrible, but it was more about who/how they lost. A blowout to the lowly Bulls and a loss at home against the shorthanded Jazz left a bad taste in your mouth, and wins over Denver and Memphis weren’t convincing enough to cure that. The Celtics are working through one of the most grueling parts of their schedule. Fatigue has played a big factor, but Boston hasn’t done a good enough job working through it. The next few weeks will tell us a lot about this team, but until then, lets check out some Ups/Downs from Week 9 of Celtics’ action.

The Downs

WE ARE SWITCHING THINGS UP THIS WEEK PEOPLE

The Celtics’ Bench Is Regressing to the Mean

During Boston’s 16-game winning streak, team defense and grittiness covered up some of the offensive deficiencies of the bench. In the last few weeks, though, those issues became more glaring. With Marcus Morris sidelined with more knee soreness, the Celtics’ bench has been even less effective than usual. As of Dec. 17, the Boston bench is ranked 23rd in scoring (30.4) and dead last in field goal percentage (37.4 percent). The bench is streaky and can get hot, especially at home, but the Celtics need a more consistent effort on the offensive end. Brad Stevens may need to think about switching up his rotations to avoid such devastating droughts.

Kyrie Sitting Out

Missing Parts Make the Machine Slow Down

During the Stevens era in Boston, the Celtics have run like a machine. With no transcendent talent prior to this year, you could swap personnel without too much going wrong. But adding Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward cost the Celtics some depth, and replacing All-Stars with rookies makes for a very obvious drop-off in talent. When Kyrie misses time, Boston struggles to make up that gap. We saw that in a loss to the Bulls last Monday. When everyone is healthy, this team is dangerous. But take out a few key pieces, and the high-powered machine starts to look like a beat-up toaster you found at a garage sale.

Rebounding Has Become an Issue, Again

After being a terrible rebounding team last season, the Celtics started this year’s campaign as one of the better rebounding teams in the league. Aron Baynes, Daniel Theis, and some great rebounding guards limited second-chance points and cleaned up defensive possessions. Through November the Celtics ranked in the top-10 in rebounding. Over nine games in December they rank 23rd. Boston doesn’t need to win the rebounding battle every game to win, but they do need to keep it close. The Celtics got out rebounded by at least 18 in two out of the four games last week, and that won’t cut it.

The Ups

The Celtics Don’t Stay Down

With the exception of the first two games of the season, the Celtics have not lost back-to-back games all season. With the recent stretch of, lets say, not so pleasant play, Boston has found a way to bounce back after each loss. A team this young could allow bad losses to turn into losing streaks, but thus far the Celtics have been able to compartmentalize ugly performances and stop any negative momentum.

Shane Larkin Remains a Quality Backup

Shane Larkin

With Morris missing extended time, the Celtics were looking for some extra pop off the bench. Larkin has been a pleasant surprise this season and, much like a change-of-pace back in football, makes the most of his limited opportunities. Larkin competes on the defensive end, runs the pick-and-roll well, and has shown the ability to add a scoring punch off the deep bench. His 14 points on 6-6 shooting against Denver really helped turn the tides in Boston’s favor.

The Youngsters Bounce Back/Show What They Can Do

Jaylen Brown

Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum bounced back from some less than ideal play this week. Brown had a huge 26 points (9-12 from the field, 3-4 3PT) against Denver, and Tatum put up quality numbers after lack luster games against Chicago and Utah. Brown has been a bit too inconsistent so far this season, but Tatum shows real maturity in putting poor performances behind him.

Who Will Win a Championship First: the Boston Celtics or Boston Bruins

Leave a reply

On the surface it may seem as if the Boston Celtics are miles ahead of the Boston Bruins. At least in terms of contending for a championship. However the gap between the two franchises is not as great as it may appear. While the Celtics have a promising young pair in Brown and Tatum, the Bruins have their own franchise player in Charlie McAvoy and plenty of young promising players. Now which franchise will be able to piece it all together first and bring another title to the city of champions?

Embed from Getty Images

Boston Celtics

Let’s start with the talk of the town, the Boston Celtics.

The green won the hearts and minds of the city with their impressive 16 game win streak. They have kept that level of dominance up on way to a 24-6 record. While most people point to Kyrie Irving when mentioning the success of the Boston Celtics, the thing that makes them a championship threat is their young talent. Both of the Celtics’ number three overall picks Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have flashed excellence in different ways. Tatum has been the more impressive and consistent of the two, averaging 13.8 PPG 5.6 RPG and 1.3 APG. The most exciting thing about the small forwards game is his poise and ability to make opposing teams pay when they leave him open behind the ark.

Brown on the other hand has always been a fantastic athlete. Now he is starting to learn how to use his athleticism. Brown has the length to be an elite defender and if he can develop a more consistent outside shot could be an absolute force on the offensive end. Along with having two superstars signed in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward and a very talented big man in Al Horford. It seems like only a matter of time before the green bring home banner number 18.

Embed from Getty Images

Boston Bruins

Only a few months ago many (including myself) thought that the Bruins should tank the season. But after a couple of adversity filled months all of a sudden the black and gold are showing they will not be slept on. Somehow even with the insane amount of injuries this team suffered they have fought their way into third in the Atlantic division. On top of that the Bruins have played the least amount of games in the division. Many may be thinking that the recent run of success by the Bruins is just a fluke. But that is not the case at all; similar to the Celtics the Bruins have a great mix of veteran and young talent up and down the roster.

Everyone knows about the future star of the Boston Bruins Charlie McAvoy. His importance to this franchise cannot be stated enough. McAvoy is the key to everything how good the young defenseman becomes will determine if the Bruins are able to win their second cup this decade. On top of that the promising young forwards Bjork, Debrusk, and Pastrank provide some creativity and skill on the offensive end. While Bergeron and Marchand continue to be the best one-two punches in the NHL. With Backes providing some much-needed snarl to the lineup. Along with Tuukka Rask being a solid enough backstop out of nowhere this Bruins team is starting to demand attention. Not just for this year but for years to come.

Verdict

Yes the Celtics are closer to a title and have a great future. However the Boston Bruins will win a title before the Celtics do. This is more of a reflection on the NBA then it is on the Celtics. LeBron and the Warriors have at least three more years of dominance in the NBA. While the Celtics are talented and promising they need a few more years to develop and for James to age. The Bruins on the other hand have the luxury of playing in the NHL where all you have to do is make the playoffs and you have a shot. Mark it up now your 2019 Stanley Cup Champions will be the Boston Bruins.

 

Celtics Reveal Their NBA 2K League Affiliate

Leave a reply

The NBA is joining the rapidly growing world of eSports

Back in February of this year the NBA announced that they are partnering with Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. to launch a professional competitive gaming league that will showcase some of the best basketball gamers in the world. Coined as the NBA 2K League, it will display NBA-branded teams from across the United States. Eventually the league hopes to branch out world-wide like other prominent eSports leagues.

A few months later the NBA released that seventeen teams will create 2K League affiliates for its inaugural season. The Boston Celtics will represent the league as they switch platforms to the gaming world.

The Celtics revealed their new 2K League affiliate, CLTX Gaming, yesterday afternoon. CLTX Gaming advertises themselves as a new team of pro basketball troops for a new league in Bean Town. They will keep the same green and white color scheme and will have Lucky the Lepracauhn as their logo like the real Celtics. Their team’s website states that they wish to incorporate the Boston tradition into their brand:

“Gaming is our heart; Boston is our soul. Each season, our players will represent the sports mecca of New England. CLTX Gaming is committed to building the infrastructure to support our team’s competitive edge, behind the scenes content to share with our passionate fans, and regional events to connect gamers to the competitive world of NBA 2K.”

2K League Logistics

NBA 2K18 gamers 18 and older will be eligible to try out for the 2K League in early 2018. Due to the competitive nature of the league, players must win at least 50 games in 2K18’s Pro-Am mode. Those who prove themselves will be invited to league tryouts, and from there the top players will be entered into the 2018 2K League Draft. Each team will select five players who will compete together all season. The league will release more information in the coming weeks.

Back in February Managing Director Brendan Donohue showed his excitement for the league, saying, “Our teams have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for eSports, and we are looking forward to forming something truly unique for basketball and gaming fans around the globe”.

CLTX Gaming will be exciting to watch as the NBA attempts to bring basketball to the electronic stage.