Tag Archives: Oklahoma City Thunder

Three Takeaways: Celtics 101, Thunder 95

Leave a reply

After a disastrous start, the Celtics pulled off a miraculous comeback after a 16-point deficit at half-time. Boston scored just 34-points in the first half, going 0/11 from the 3-point-line in the process. Luckily, they outscored the Thunder 40-23 in the 3rd quarter, giving Boston a 74-73 lead entering the fourth. They finished off the winless Oklahoma City Thunder with a 16-1 run in the final 4:22 minutes of the contest.

Here are three takeaways from the Celtics third win of the season.

Celtics

Marcus Morris (13) leaps into the arms of teammate Jayson Tatum as they celebrate Morris’ game-winning 3-point shot in the team’s NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Boston, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. The Celtics won 100-99. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A Tale of Two Halves

The Celtics played a horrific first half, shooting 0/11 from beyond the arc, though they would not be deterred. Boston shot 11/21 in the second half, with seven 3-pointers coming from Marcus Morris and Al Horford.

Marcus Morris is Key

The Tommy Award winner of the night had an incredible performance in Oklahoma City. In 30 minutes, Morris posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and one assist on 50 percent shooting. His game-high four 3-pointers were key, specifically a 25-footer to take a 98-95 lead with 28.7 seconds in the game. His five fourth-quarter free throws were also important to seal the deal. Boston will need similar performances out of Morris in the future.

Celtics

Marcus Morris, top right, puts up his game-winning 3-point shot over Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) and forward Paul George in an NBA basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. The Celtics won 100-99. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Celtics are Back on Track

With this win, Boston is back above .500 at 3-2. Overcoming a 16-point half-time deficit is huge for the young team’s confidence. Their next test will come in Detroit versus the Pistons on Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 PM ET.

ESPN Releases Projected Records For The 2019 NBA Season

Leave a reply

ESPN Pegs Golden State as Consensus No.1, Boston Not far Behind

In what may come as a surprise to nobody, the Golden State Warriors are projected to win 53.8 games this season. ESPN had recently dropped their projected win totals for all 30 NBA teams. Rounding out the top 3 for the Western Conference is the Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Eastern Conference shows little surprise as well. The Boston Celtics earned a projected 51.1 wins. With Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving ready to rumble, this team is finally back to full strength. This Celtics team can and will give the Warriors a huge run for their money this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors round out the top 3. Both teams are great second tier talents. They just do not have enough to keep up with this dangerous and versatile Celtics roster.

The 2019 NBA Draft Could be Boom or Bust for Boston

One of the biggest implications towards next year’s draft would be the projected record of the Sacramento Kings. They owe Boston their first round pick( number 1 protected) which means that we own the pick as long as it doesn’t land number 1 overall. Sacramento is going in no apparent direction at the moment and appears in all likelihood to be the worst team in the league this year. ESPN has their projected win total set at a league low 25.4 wins. Under the new lottery rules if Sacramento finishes the season with the worst record the No.1 pick would land in the hands of the 76ers. That would be a disastrous outcome for Boston.

This is a stacked draft class this year, as some pretty good freshman can go one and done. Zion Williamson, Rj Barrett, Nassir Little, Cam Reddish, and Bol Bol are all great talents. There are a lot of guys from Duke this year.   Not to mention the Celtics can also take the Memphis Grizzlies’ first rounder as long as it falls outside the top 8. Boston could have as many as four first rounders this year. If disaster strikes they could be handing over their golden pick to the rival 76ers. We shall see in due time.

While this season can and will be something to watch for Boston fans, we still have teams to keep an eye on throughout the season. Be sure to root for Sacramento to be bad, but not THAT bad. Let’s hope Memphis can land somewhere in the back half of the bottom 10 teams. The future of this team looks bright.

Boston Celtics: The New Favorites?

Leave a reply

From Ashes to New

The Boston Celtics have overcome adversity with great defense and rebounding. Is this enough for them to be called title contenders?

Just five minutes into the season, All-Star Gordon Hayward went down with a potential season ending injury. The Boston Celtics fought hard against the Cavs in their first game but lost by three. Then they lost the subsequent game to the Milwaukee Bucks. It looked like it was going to be a long season, then something sparked. The team didn’t lose another game after that until November 20th.

As the Celtics went on a sixteen game win streak, their notable weaknesses from last season withered away. Rebounding and defense. As last season limped to an end, centers Al Horford and Amir Johnson were struggling to grab more than six boards a game. It feels like Hayward’s injury forced the team to mesh together quickly. There are only four players from last year’s squad in addition to all these new guys that have helped the Celtics grow stronger. They are playing younger and quicker basketball.

Before the season started, the Celtics were tied for the third best chance to make an appearance in the Finals along with the San Antonio Spurs at 12/1. Since then they have fluctuated, but the odds have gone towards their favor at 10/1. You can follow along with the Celtics odds, as well as betting on the team here.

The Competition

Per usual the Western Conference appears stacked this season. The Golden State Warriors have some competition with the Houston Rockets and potentially the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs might be able to make their usual run as long as the injury bug leaves them alone in the second half of the season. The Eastern Conference looks like a dog fight for second place. For the first time in almost a decade LeBron James’s team is closer to ninth place than first. The Cavs are currently third in the East but are riding six games behind first place. They are also ranked almost last in defense efficiency at twenty-eighth. No team has made the playoffs with a ranking as poor as that.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Eastern Conference is shaping up to be as expected. Teams like Toronto, Washington, and Milwaukee are all within contention of making playoffs. Adversely basement dwellers like New York, Chicago, and Brooklyn are not surprising anyone.

With the All-Star break and trade deadline quickly approaching the Celtics have room to improve. With the disabled player exception under Danny Ainge’s belt this team has options. They could trade for a player or sit comfortably until the buyout deadline. No matter what moves are or aren’t made, this team is a favorite to win the 2018 NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics Ups and Downs – Week 3

Leave a reply

Another week, another handful of wins for the Boston Celtics. A blowout against the Kings, an 18-point comeback on the road against OKC, and the first win against San Antonio during the Brad Stevens Era highlighted a perfect 4-0 week. Kyrie was amazing, Al Horford was a force on both ends of the floor, and Marcus Morris made his team debut. Let’s take a look at all the Ups and Downs from last week’s Celtics action!

Kyrie Irving

THE UPS

Kyrie Irving Dazzles

Kyrie, understandably, took some time to adjust to leading Boston. With a ton of new, young players around him, it took Kyrie a few games to learn how everyone wanted to play. It’s still a work in progress, but he is stepping up in a big way. He has scored 20+ points in seven of the teams eight wins and has done a great job of finding his teammates. His chemistry with Horford has unlocked the offense and he has completely bought into Stevens’ system. Kyrie’s wizardry with the ball is unmatched, and the more comfortable he gets with this roster around him, the better he will be. He is even competing on the defensive end, leading the league with 24 steals. Kyrie is special, and Celtics fans are getting a front row seat to his evolution.

Marcus Morris Makes His Celtics Debut

Morris missed the first eight games of the season with knee soreness, and as you can imagine it will take him some time to get back into game shape. In two games, on a 20-22 minutes per game restriction, Morris averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. The numbers won’t jump off the page, and Morris is certainly still trying to find a rhythm with his shot (7-18 from the field, 0-5 from three), but his impact is already being felt. His physicality and intensity nearly match that of Marcus Smart, which is saying something. His versatility on defense is key and his skill on the offensive end is rare for a power forward. Boston will work Morris in slowly, but a starting spot will be waiting for him. His ability to contribute on both ends will be greatly needed as the season goes on.

Boston Defense

Boston’s Defense Is No Joke

In last week’s Ups/Downs, I wondered if Boston’s strong start on defense was for real, or just an early season abnormality. Well, during their 4-0 performance this week, the Celtics held their opponents to under 95 points, something that they have done in all eight of their wins this season.

The elite defense is here to stay, and everyone is stepping up to keep it that way. Horford continues to be a star on the defensive end, but the entire starting lineup have been holding their own. Horford (1st), Kyrie (2nd), Jayson Tatum, (6th), and Jaylen Brown (7th) all rank in the top-10 for individual defensive rating. The fact that a rookie, second year player, and Kyrie, a known poor defender, have been leading the league on the defensive end has been eye-opening. Add in defensive mainstays like Smart, Rozier, and Aron Baynes and it’s no wonder Boston has been suffocating opposing offenses.  Let’s see how many points they are able to rack up tonight when the Celtics face off against the Hawks.

The Downs

Jaylen Browns Home/Road Splits

Let me qualify what I am about to say; Brown is 21 years old and is only in his second professional season. Every criticism of him could go out the window as his career continues to progress. BUT, after 10 games, his performances on the road and in Boston are drastically different. In four games at home, Brown is averaging 20.3 points on 60.9 percent shooting from the field and an ungodly 61.1 from beyond the arc. On the road, though, Brown drops down to 12.8 points on 37.8 percent shooting and just 31.0 percent shooting from three. Brown has still been able to be a net positive in road games because of his presence on the boards and defensive effort, but consistency will determine whether he remains an above average role player or becomes a star.

Can We Please Make Some Free Throws?!

We are pulling at straws here a bit considering a 4-0 week doesn’t garner much criticism, but the inability to consistently make free throws is starting to get frustrating. Boston gets to the line 12th most in the league but ranks 20th in the league in free throw shooting at 75.4 percent. At some point the young players will need to show some improvement from the charity stripe.

Daniel Theis

Where in the World is Daniel Theis?

After Morris’ return, players like Theis and Shane Larkin were obviously going to lose playing time. Theis has been very effective in his time on the court, but saw just three minutes on Sunday night against the Magic. Theis has earned minutes. He can add rebounding, and his chemistry in the pick-and-role game with Smart has been undeniable. Let’s see if he can work his way back into the rotation as Boston’s fourth big.

Kyrie Irving

The Celtics Have Their Signature Win

Leave a reply

After the first half of the nationally televised matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it looked like the Celtics were cooked. This was without a doubt the toughest team they have played, and it was showing. The OKC defense was stifling the Celtics’ offense, and an 18-point halftime deficit seemed insurmountable. But in the second half, the script was flipped.

The Celtics ramped up their defensive intensity, and forced OKC into a lot of difficult shots. Possessions that resulted in open layups and dunks in the first half, were swapped out for contested mid-range jumpers. While the defense was making things difficult for the Thunder, the offense exploded. Kyrie Irving shook off a 1-9, 3-point first half to drop 22 points and six assists. Al Horford added 17 of his 20 points in the second half, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter on 4-4 shooting.

The Celtics shot just 31 percent from the field in the first half. OKC’s length and athleticism were mucking up Boston’s ball movement, and forcing them to play more isolation ball. Kyrie is one of the best iso scorers in the league, but the Celtics are at their best when the ball is moving. Kyrie, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier got back to that style of play after the break. The ball was moving from side-to-side, which opened up more driving lanes for the guards. Kyrie attacked the basket, and was effective either scoring or kicking out to open shooters. The shots that weren’t falling in the first half started to drop, and the comeback was on.

Kyrie Irving

Welcome to the Celtics, Vintage Kyrie Irving

Boston fans are still waiting for Kyrie to have a big time scoring game. Forty or 50 points, crossovers, broken ankles, and ridiculous finishes, this is the Kyrie the Celtics need. There will undoubtably be times when Kyrie goes off to carry the offense, but Boston succeeds only if Kyrie can balance his scoring and passing. Kyrie is near unstoppable on offense, but when he can break down the defense, and find shooters like Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, this team is dangerous

Not So Average Al Horford

Horford has been criminally underrated during his time with the Celtics. Casual basketball fans tend to not understand the impact that he has on both ends of the floor. Horford has been silencing his critics this season, and his fourth quarter performance was just the latest example. In what can only be described as a Defensive Player of the Year start to the season, Horford has picked up his offense and rebounding. Horford is the linchpin of the Celtics offense. His screen setting and play making ability have always been paramount, but his shot making and rebounding have spiked this year. Horford has had seven or more rebounds in eight of the team’s first nine games, something he did only 33 times last season. Big Al has been a monster, a monster the Celtics need to be successful.

Boston Celtics

Is It Too Soon for a “Signature” Win?

Games in November and December don’t typically matter much in the NBA. Teams are still trying to figure out rotations, and, in most cases, aren’t close to the team they will be at the end of the season. Why was this Celtics win so important? Two reasons: 1) This win legitimizes the team’s current seven-game win streak; and 2) It gave the Celtics an identity.

Regardless of the influx of top-tier talent, this team is going to be gritty, physical, and defense minded. They proved that against OKC last night. They will fight and claw their way back into games, and play suffocating defense. This OKC team will be near the top of the league come playoff time. After beating up on the Knicks, Kings, and Heat, a win against a high caliber team with multiple All-Stars, makes this early season win streak legit. There is work to be done, but just listen to what Marcus Morris, who made his team debut against the Thunder, had to say:

Take notice NBA, the Celtics are for real.

Celtics Must See TV – 2017-2018 Schedule Breakdown

Leave a reply

Now that the on-again, off-again trade finally has closure, and another preseason is among us, the Boston Celtics have yet another new look.   It makes one ponder some of the upcoming dates on the schedule. Which games are must-see TV for Celtics fans? Let’s take a look of what’s to come, shall we?

Celtics Must See TV

October 17th @ Cleveland on TNT – 8:00 PM

Could the season get off to a better start? The Celtics start against the Cavaliers, last year’s Eastern Conference Finals match-up. Coincidentally, these two teams completed a blockbuster deal with each other just a few short weeks before training camp.

While it may be bittersweet to see Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder in Maroon, the drowning out of TNT announcers to the Cavalier fans booing their newest traitor and our newest treasure will be delightful.

November 8th – Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN – 8:00 PM

I do not envision a rebirth of the past rivalry just yet.  But how can you not be interested, even a little, in how Lonzo Ball plays in his first game against the C’s?

Moreover, I can just imagine the buzz around Boston Sports Media and Lavar Ball.  The next coming of Don King in promotion of said event. Not to mention, it is always good to see the Purple and Gold get run out by the Leprechaun.

Christmas Day – Washington Wizards on ABC – 5:30 PM

A little bit of the sting has been taken out of this match-up since the trade of Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers.   The Cavs escalated the battle with the poke/slap fest with John Wall where the Wizards then claimed it was the Celtics Funeral, wearing all black to their next contest.

The seven-game contest in last year’s playoffs is still fresh.  With John Wall claiming the number-one point guard crown, the Kyrie Irving and John Wall competition should make for must-watch television.

The Return

January 3rd, 2018 – Cleveland on ESPN – 8:00 PM

This will be the first return of fan favorites Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder to the Garden. All eyes will be on the diminutive 5′ 9″ guard with the heart and will of a GIANT.

He may not be ready for court action, but one can only imagine a fitting tribute will be played on the jumbotron for Thomas.   In Celtics green, he played with undeniable grit, passion, and fire during a most difficult time in his life and throughout the season.

The accomplishments and impact in Boston, on and off the court will not be forgotten.

February 11th – Cleveland on ABC –  3:30 PM

The game will be second to the retirement ceremony honoring Paul “The Truth” Pierce, number #34 in your program. He will be forever immortalized high in the Garden rafters, in a building where he played so many epic games.  None more memorable than the 2008 Eastern Conference Semis duel between him and King James. Fitting,  LeBron will be on hand.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66FNMqAAmX4]

Honorable Mention

November 3rd, @ Oklahoma City on ESPN – 9:30 PM

Who doesn’t want to watch the dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George with side kick Carmelo Anthony take on the new BIG three incarnation of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford. Not to mention Marcus Smart shines in his College Alma Mater’s state.

November 16th, Golden State Warriors on TNT – 8:00 PM

This will be a great barometer to see where our new look Celtics really rate compared to undoubtedly the team to beat for coveted Banner 18. I wonder what the clever Boston fans will come up with to play off the Kevin Durant Twitter Saga this summer.

December 20th, Miami Heat – 7:30 PM

Good friend Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Mickey (who?) come back to the Garden. This might be more of my own guilty pleasure. I was big into the #KOHAIRWATCH and although he never excelled to the player we all hoped he’d be consistently (Remember Game seven last year against the Wizards?), it’s hard NOT to like KO.

A Team to Follow Throughout the Year

The Philadelphia 76ers.

With top-pick Markelle Fultz (who everyone in Boston thought was coming here until the infamous trade down to #3) and number-one pick Ben Simmons who face number-three Jayson Tatum and number-three Jaylen Brown a number of times throughout the year, will make for an interesting development to follow.

The reality, if you try really hard, you could make any game worth watching.

The Celtics retooled with dreams of having fireworks this June and a Duck Boat Parade to City Hall. Close your eyes. Can you see the Championship banner waving?

Let me know the games you are looking forward to in the comments. You can find me on twitter @bleedcelticgrn