North of the Border

 ☘️

     C's will be without Jrue, Al, and Luke tonight. This should open up minutes for the stay ready group tonight. C's have to stay focused with who is front of them. Tonight against the Raptors and  tomorrow in Detroit. We all know who is on tap Friday night. It's the Cavs, who I believe are extremely overrated. C's are 2-1 against the Cavs this season. Honestly it should be 3-0. I guarantee we will see the Celtics best game of the season Friday night. 

     Last time we faced the Raptors here in Toronto we lost. It was a garbage less then and it still feels that way now. Tonight needs to be the C's going out here and wiping the floor with them. It's time to make the Raptors extinct. It still boggles my mind this franchise has an NBA title. While plenty of other deserving franchises don't. I saw a graphic the other day and in the four major sports there are so many teams that don't own a championship. 

     Wow, apparently Torrey Craig will be starting at center tonight. Not sure what the story is with KP. Both JB and DWhite have hit their first shots tonight. As has Sam I Am! JT gets inside the paint and scores on his first shot! Torrey Craig with his first attempt and... You guessed it he scores! All five Celtics starters have scored here in the first. 

     Joe with a timeout as there is a lack of defensive pressure tonight. C's can't allow the Raptors to score whenever they want. Grab a guy and lock him the heck down. I still can't believe how many guys are down for the C's. Derrick White is locked in tonight! His shot looks flawless early on. Look at Sam I Am with the BLOCK! Defense baby! It wins championships! I love the way the C's are pushing the ball right now. 

     This Raptors team is absolutely horrendous. I love the way Queta plays and gives his all out there. There's going to be a lot of guys exceeding their typical minutes in tonight's game. C's lead after the first, as they should. 

🍀🍀

      C's have a decent lead to start, but I want to see it hit twenty by halftime. The offense seems to have lost itself here in the second. Someone needs to pick it up and it should be JB. He needs to lead by example out here. A very well executed fast break ends with Torrey Craig layup. 

     JT is back in the game and we need him! Joe calls timeout as things are taking a turn in the wrong direction. The lead is down to one, and I'm appalled. JB is starting to dominate in the paint. Raptors can't guard him at all, he bullies all of them. I love when JB just goes straight strong man out there! C's offense is starting to hum right now, just need the D to do the same. 

     The C's have about four minutes here to jack this lead up. They damn well better make it happen. Stop giving this Raptors team any life out here. I like what I'm seeing as the offense is doing is job. The lead isn't where I want it but I'll take it. C's lead at the half. 

☘️☘️☘️

     I would really like for the Celtics to come out here in the third and knock the Raptors out. Give your guys some rest as we have a back to back tomorrow. It's going to take the Jays leading by example out there. As they often do night in and night out. We are very lucky to get to watch such amazing players. Watching their growth since they were drafted is beautiful. Beautiful from a basketball perspective of course. 

     I don't think C's fans realize how special these two guys have been for us. We have watched two very young men become elite NBA Stars. The maturity they both have is quite amazing. The fact the journey has made them champions is very special. Imagine if they can go back to back?! I mean doing that here for the Celtics would make them legends! I fully expect them to fulfill my words in June. 

     C's are missing way too many shots right now. Until JB gets in the paint and scores! I tell you this Payton Pritchard knows how to rebound, not only that he has a nose for the ball. For such a small guy in stature, man does he play big! The lead is ten, hopefully it gets to twenty. Back to PP, that young man deserves to win sixth man of the year and if he doesn't it's a travesty. Derrick White with the epic block right there which leads to PP scoring on the other end. 

     Joe Mazzulla to me has grown so much as a Coach. When you watch his in game adjustments you have to appreciate it. In his first year he was frustrating, but these past two years he's grown so much. His lineups are intriguing but he finds guys who fit with each other. Joe has the ability to go down as one of the best Celtics coaches of all time.  C's lead after the third.  

🍀🍀🍀🍀

      Watching PP and Sam play on the floor together is fun. Both offer such important and impactful play each time they are out there. They play off each other really well. The C's have about ten minutes left to close this one out. The lead is eleven, but should be more. Right now the offense is very stagnant, and they need to get it together. 

     Great play finding JB for the lay in. One thing about Joe is his ability to diagram great plays. These types of plays are key to the success of winning basketball. C's have so many weapons on sets being run on out of bounds plays. This Raptors team has such a crappy defense in the paint. Derrick White is living up to his Mr 4th Quarter nickname I've given him, as he calmly nails the three. 

     There's some players in the NBA that I can't understand how they made it. I know I shouldn't be saying that but it's true. Most of this Raptor roster should be pumping gas somewhere. What an excellent out of bounds play to Queta for the lay in. I love everything Queta gives when he's out here. The shorthanded C's do what's needed and win vs the lowly Raptors. 

Celtic Pride! C Us Rise! Bleed Green! 

High praise from JT about LB! I love it!