Skip to main content

Is a tri-captain approach worth trying for Boston Celtics


 The Los Angeles Clippers did it with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. And the Orlando Magic did it with Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. I know what you're thinking - none of those players are with their former teams anymore. But Danny Ainge appointing Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to a tri-captaincy could be a make-or-break strategy to get this under-achieving group to respond.

I have written repeatedly on the need for a Celtics captain to finally come forward and act in that capacity. An on-court leader has been sorely needed for some time, but never seems to get done. So it may be time to put the trio out there with somewhat-shared leadership duties.

"Somewhat-shared"? Why not? Marcus was named co-captain of Team USA in 2019, along with Kemba Walker, mainly for Smart's defensive ability and drive. That would also be his position in Boston's tri-captaincy. Marcus is the oldest (27) of the three players, and also the longest-tenured in Boston. Playing the role of defensive coordinator, as did Kevin Garnett in his Celtics stint, just fits.

Jayson Tatum-as-offensive coordinator also seems to fit nicely. He is a deadly closer for the Celtics in the final minutes of a tight game, and his passing skills - and willingness to do so - gives him the nod.

So where does that leave Brown? Jaylen takes over the role of Tatum or Smart when either is out of the game. Brown is a solid second-option on offense when Jayson is on the floor, and he has the ability to create his own shot or get the ball to his cohorts at the right time when Jayson sits. Brown admittedly lacks Smart's defensive dedication, but it may be time for him to find it when Marcus is on the bench.

There it is! Time to act! It could be the stimulus needed to prod this crew into action for the post-season, or like the Magic or Clippers, it may spur a blow-up of the current roster sending all three stars elsewhere. What do my readers think?


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the town police force. When evil and cleverness reside in the same mind, the st

In defense of Marcus Smart

 Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion