Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

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GWILL and PP lift Celtics up to move on to Eastern Finals

This post will be short since my computer is acting up, but the Celtics dominance of the potent Milwaukee force needs attention. It has been some time since I have been this excited by the success of a Celtics team. The Green Team as a whole held the line and will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after taking out the World Champ Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7, 109-81. Grant Williams had a career game, pouring in a team-high 27 points on 10-of-22 from the field and 7-of-18 on 3- pointers. Payton Pritchard stood out with 14 points, 5 boards (how does he do that!) and 3 assists. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-6 on treys. All of that in 17 minutes. I am proud of the team - of their coach - and their GM. And the many Boston fans that stood by this crew. More to come.

Resilience, Heart, Grit - The Green are my Team

As many of you know I've been given a chance to write for Mr Lane and his blog. It's been quite a ride to this point. Watching and writing about this team has been an escape since my Mom passed and I was in the hospital with what could have been life threatening injuries. Through all of that writing about this team has given me joy more often than not. I can remember being in the hospital watching and writing during one of their games. Let's talk about last night, first about the Bucks. This team has the heart of a champ and yes while he does get calls and travels a bit Giannis is other worldy on the floor. He's carried this team as the thru greats often do, watch out for a big performance from him on Sunday afternoon. It's been six games of hearts beating fast and plenty of emotions. Now can we talk about this Celtics TEAM. They are still young yet they are learning to win. They have come to realize that they need to trust in each other and also never stop exec

Celtics vs. Bucks: The kind of series fans live for

Celtics and Bucks fans are only watching the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, but pro basketball doesn't get any more exciting than this. It's Jayson Tatum (46 points last night ) against The Greek Freak (44 points) - as Boston evened the series at 3-3. Perhaps the greatest player on the planet (Giannis) versus one (Tatum) that may some day take over that label. And we are seeing two savvy coaches preaching tough defense, and neither team giving an inch. The matchup brings me back to the Bill Russell-led Celtics against Wilt Chamberlain and the 76'ers or Warriors. Sam Jones matching up against Hal Greer - and sometimes against Wilt (see photo below) . K C Jones against Wali Jones. The outcome was never assured for either team. We see the same with the Celts and Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo has no weaknesses , and he never takes the easy way out. He very well could be the most-omnipotent physical force the NBA has ever seen . And Jayson Tatum? When he is on his game,

Celtics need better board work to rebound in this series

Time for the Celtics to get back to basics , and improved rebounding may be a good start. It wasn't just the Bucks Bobby Portis grabbing an offensive board - and laying the ball in - after a Giannis missed free throw. The Celtics were outrebounded 49-36 for the game , and Portis had 15 all by himself - with seven coming off the offensive glass . Boston had a mere five offensive caroms , compared to 17 for Milwaukee . The Celtics clearly miss Rob Williams' scores off put-backs and lobs . Boston's offensive spacing on the floor for uncontested 3-pointers may be partly to blame for the low offensive-board count. They often are poorly-positioned to follow through on their missed shots . There will be those that put some blame on Marcus Smart for his execution in the closing seconds of the game, but The Green generally should have kept their composure - and, yes - worked harder to bring their offense into the paint and grab several more caroms off the offensive boards f

Slow start But Epic Finish

Another slow start to last night's game, and another 3rd/4th quarter deficit, yet this team FOUGHT! They fought hard and ended up coming out with a HUGE win. What makes this team different from past year's and even earlier this year is they DONT GIVE UP. The Bucks and Celtics have been evenly matched up so far this series. Each teams D has frustrated the other, Giannis is Giannis and we have witnessed JT and JB along with Al come up big. We have also seen in each of the Celtics win a true team effort. We are also a few bad calls away from being up 3-1. Let's talk about Al, he has truly found the fountain of youth being back with the Celtics. All year we here at the Sentinel have felt that way. After Giannis getting in his face last night, Al was changed into a different player and he showed it last night. Hitting big shot after big shot and when he drove and DUNKED on the Greek the game was won in my mind. On a different note when interviewed after the game Al gave glory t

Al Horford making a case to stick in Boston

It is isn't just his career-best 30 points in Boston's win over the Bucks last night. Al Horford has been irreplaceable in the Celtics lineup in the eight post-season games thus far. "Playoff Al" has been on display. The Green exploded in the fourth quarter to take the game, 116-108 . Jayson Tatum came alive in the final period, making difficult-shot-after-difficult shot with Bucks defenders all over him . But it was Horford who kept the game close enough to finish with the win. He added eight boards and shot 11-of-14 from the field and 5-of-7 on 3-pointers, all while defending The Greek Freak for much of the contest. The Celtics are 6-2 in the 2022 post-season, and "Awesome Al" has put up the following stats: 15.9 PPG - 9.4 RPG - 2.8 APG - 1.0 SPG - 1.1 BPG Brad Stevens will have a major decision with respect to Al's final season in 2022-23. He is owed $26.5 million for next season, with only $14.5 million guaranteed. Always a gentleman and &q