Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 As no surprise, the Celtics have picked up the $2.1 million team option on Sam Hauser for the upcoming season, and the team is expected to extend his contract in the coming weeks. Hauser was one of eight Celtics players who logged double-digit minutes in the NBA Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks - with the other seven being Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford . In the five Finals contests, Sam averaged 8.2 PPG and 3.0 RPG - while hitting on 57.6% from the field and 47.8% from the hinterlands. Brad Stevens is determined to go for Banner 19 in 2024-25, and Hauser is expec ted to play a major role in that quest.

 I personally consider the NBA Finals MVP Award one of the highest honors a player can achieve , and that is what the Celtics Jaylen Brown has accomplished. It was a close call, since Jayson Tatum finished with t eam-highs in minutes, points, rebounds and assists for the 5-game series. Biu in the end, it was probably Tatum's poor shooting percentages (.388 FG, .263 on 3s) and Brown's lock-down defense that made the difference. Regardless, the present and future of The Green rests primarily with the Jay Team - and Jayson and Jaylen certainly are a team-within-a-team. Take either one out of the picture, and Banner 18 may not have happened. So congrats to Jaylen Brown . He earned this prestigious award . The Finals MVP Trophy indicates he was the most-indispensable player in the series - and in this case, it was awarded to a player on the winning side. Brown has worked hard to get where he is. Nicely done, Jaylen!  

 Your Boston Celtics have grabbed a 2-0 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite shooting poorly from beyond the arc. Despite that they still found a way to win and to me that marks a great team.  I love the fact the C's had more assists then Dallas. Defensively they had more steals and blocks. As I always say defense wins championships! C's despite having multiple turnovers, Dallas won that stat! C's had 21 points off of those turnovers. You must capitalize when your opponent gives you opportunities. Celtics may not have been lighting it up but they made their free throws and closed when they needed to. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White were the back court of destruction! Offensively they made the plays and on defense they were once again incredible! JT nearly had a triple double yet still doesn't get the calls like Luka. JB once again was nails on both ends. Most national fools I mean pundits will look at the Jays and say it wasn't enough. I disagree, those ...

 Most Celtics fans heard the noise from NBA analysts . They chant that the Mavericks duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are superior to the Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown pairing . That simply doesn't ring true, at least using a limited sample of Game-1. Using win/loss as a category, and including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, FG%, 3-pt% and FT% , the Tatum/Brown take out Luka/Irving by a score of 7-to-3. Dallas duo wins points, steals (barely) and turnovers (barely), while the Celtics pair takes all the rest. The rebounding (17-13), assists (7-3) and blocks (4-0) for Tatum/Brown over Luka/Irving were outstanding . Also noteworthy that the Boston team as a whole took honors on blocked shots, sending nine shot attempts away - to only one for the Dallas team. It is vital for the Celtics to lose any complacency from their convincing win in Game-1 - and to take ZERO plays off in Game-2. I have mellowed on any negative feelings for Irving, but I would ...

 A number of NBA analysts have stated that a healthy Kristaps Porzingis is an absolute requirement for the Boston Celtics to hoist Banner 18. I don't agree entirely, but the "Long Latvian's" performance last night demonstrated just how valuable he is. A total of 20 points in less than 21 minutes - on 62%/50%/100% accuracy from the field, beyond the arc and free throw line, respectively. Add to that three blocks and six rebounds. Porzingis hit from deep, mid-range and down low. His length allows him to simply shoot over opposing defenders. And his three blocks took a lot of air out of the Mavericks . Kristaps' presence alone altered at least a few other shots by Dallas. So Kristaps may not be vital for Boston's success, but he is damn important - so much that Celtics fans (me included) constantly worry as to whether or not he can stay injury-free the rest of the series. He will have three days rest prior to Game-2 on Sunday. Just occurred to me that the Cel...

 Don't rule this out. NBA.com's Steve Aschburner and Shaun Powell have tabbed the Los Angeles Lakers as having a decent shot to end up coming out of the West in pursuit of Banner 18 . Imagine Lebron James Lakers facing Jayson Tatum's Celtics in the Finals. The Lakers are currently sitting at #9 in the Western Conference, so they may need to get through the Play In Tournament first, but the added drama of both teams vying - not only for the 2024 Title - but also that 18th Banner to hang in their rafters. Los Angeles has "The King" and "The Brow", but there is one big caveat for them ( per Steve Aschburner ): The Lakers are 7-7 with, er, one big caveat: They are 0-3 against Denver this season, 0-8 counting the 2023 Western Conference Finals and the last 2022-23 regular-season clash. Somebody else will need to bump off the Nuggets for this scenario to happen. Count me as a Celtics fan who has some fear of Boston facing Denver in the Finals. They are th...