Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 Now, all of a sudden, many Boston Celtics fans are up in arms against the reigning executive-of-the-year, Brad Stevens. Give me a break! An NBA fan since 1960 , I also have been disgruntled with the "Celtics ownership and leadership . But for good reason . Former Celtics owner John Y. Brown and "Head Honcho" Rick Pitino immediately come to mind.  Brown trading away three first-round picks for Bob McAdoo almost sent the basketball genius, Red Auerbach , away to New York. Pitino basically put Auerfbach on a shelf and proceeded to make bad decisions that led to a losing stint in Beantown.  Brad Stevens is a class act, and he has done a great job at the helm, both as coach and team president. There is no way he deserves the bitter criticism , mostly based on his trade of Jaylen Brown to the rival 76ers. He is taking the "long view" of a franchise that may be the most-successful sports franchise ever. There is no immediate gratification for Stevens. He is p...

 Here we go again. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have always been fierce rivals since I started following the NBA.in 1960. Bill Russell versus Wilt Chamberlain. Larry Bird against Julius Irving. Now it looks like Jayson Tatum versus Lebron James. Yes, that is the word. Lebron James is leaving the Lakers behind and joining former Celtics star, Jaylen Brown, in Philly. The pressure on Brad Stevens post Jaylen trade has just hit a new level https://t.co/qv0ypR2Waa — Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) July 24, 2026  Despite a number of seasons pitifully tanking, the 76ers have not been able to equal,, or surpass, Boston's 18 Championships. Well, Lebron's plans for the upcoming season focused on winning another Title - or maybe a few more. And it is no surprise he chose Philly. On paper, the 76ers are loaded. Apparently, "The King" felt that Philadelphia was a better choice for his quest. Really curious to see how this 76ers team is actually gonna look VJ Edgecombe Tyres...

 It is quickly becoming obvious why Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have high hopes for the Spanish import, Hugo Gonzalez . In the Celtics first Summer League contest, he was team-high in minutes (36.57) and field goals attempted (16). Boston won the game in OT, 83-80, versus the Raptors and "The Spaniard" was everywhere - on offense and defense. He came close to a triple-double, with 17 points, 10 boards and eight assists . The problem was Hugo's shooting efficiency. He was only 3-of-16 from the field and 1-of-9 on 3-pointers. But Stevens knew this kid needed work on his offensive game prior to the draft - so no surprises here. The real pluses with Gonzalez are his length (6'6" in height} - age (20 years old) - versatility (close to a triple-double) - and his hustle and tenacity at both ends. He takes no plays off . Particularly if Hugo improves his offensive game significantly, the Boston fans will love this guy. And with Brasd Stevens, defense gets a player o...

 The Boston Celtics wasted no time in signing two free agents, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley. Neither signing automatically launches "The Green" into winning Banner 19, but the roster is shaping up for the upcoming season. Robinson is listed at 7' and 240 pounds . He is not a stretch-5 by any analysis (has never attempted a 3-point shot), but he rebounds and defends very well. Last season he averaged 5.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 1.2 BPG. Mitchell is 28 years old and was the 36th-overall pick by the Knicks (his present team) in the 2018 NBA draft. He supposedly signed for three years at a total of $47.4 million Free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Boston Celtics, with a player option in third season, sources tell ESPN. Robinson departs the Knicks after serving a key role on the historic championship team. pic.twitter.com/tl3R6nlU1m — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026 On the smaller side, Conley stand...

 The media has pegged the Celtics Brad Stevens as willing to trade everyone except his close family members over the past several weeks. That won't end entirely, but the furor should subside . NBA analysts, whether pro or amateur, have as much chance at predicting Stevens' future transactions as a "snowball in Hell" . He is smart , but he is also clever enough to obscure his plans until they come to fruition. At 6:00 PM ET this evening , NBA teams can start negotiations with free agents from other teams, and actual signings can begin on July 6th . Most GMs have already talked with ttheir own free agents. Just as "everything is for sale at the right price" , League players are always facing possible trades . It is a general manager's job to try to keep their individual teams in the fight for a Title, and that certainly holds true for Boston sports teams, particularly for the Celtics, winners of 18 Championship trophies. And many Celtics fans have a st...

 The Boston Celtics went with Chris Cenac, Jr. with the 27th pick in the 2026 NBA draft. He is listed as a power forward/center out of Houston - at 6'11" and 240 pounds. His wingspan is a massive 7'5". Chris is 19 years old and won't turn 20 until February. Brad Stevens needed to add more size to his roster, but it is doubtful if Cenac, Jr. will contribute right away. He remains a work in progress< Chris Cenac Jr: 6'10 (barefoot), 240lbs / 7'5 wingspan, 9'0.5" standing reach Pre-Draft Analysis from ESPN: Strengths: Cenac has excellent length, moves fluidly for his size and has made strides as a rebounder. He has also flashed natural shooting touch, giving him an… pic.twitter.com/3lpQp8MK1S — ThrowbackPATS (@ThrowbackPATS) June 24, 2026 The Houston product's college numbers don't stand out - with averages of 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, but the word out there is that the kid is "fluid" , particularly for someone...

 The Milwaukee Bucks ended up reportedly sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Rumors are that the Celtics' Brad Stevens was unwilling to deal away Hugo Gonzalez and/or Baylor Scheierman, in addition to Jaylen Brown . As usual, Stevens sees the whole picture and is looking to the foreseeable future - as well as the coming season.  Brad did not capture the Exec-of-the-Year without a solid basis for the award. The Boston Celtics may be the most-successful franchise in sports history, and he fits Boston like a glove. Miami was looking for the best deal possible, and that apparently included acquiring a couple of talented young guys from the Boston ranks. Boston didn’t want to give up Hugo Gonzalez AND Baylor Scheierman on top of Jaylen Brown & two first-round picks they offered to Milwaukee. (via @ShamsCharania ) pic.twitter.com/mVcjfgoCu8 — Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) June 23, 2026 Stevens is looking down the road . He obviously feels both Hugo and B...

  Pat Riley got his wish. Giannis Antetokounmpo will reportedly join Bam Adebayo in Miami, with the Bucks'  Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez and Kel'el Ware ending up in Milwaukee. . "The Celtics were not willing to part with enough young players and assets to get a deal done." @ShamsCharania says Boston offered Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo before he was traded to Miami 👀 pic.twitter.com/WvGCveMwjE — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 23, 2026 So the drama centered around "The Greek Freak"  possibly going to the Boston Celtics has ended, Celtics fans can be assured that Brad Stevens is not done constructing his 2026-27 squad. Granted, Giannis remains a top-tier talent in the NBA, but less-radical moves may be in store for perhaps the most-storied  franchise in sports history. In the end, Pat Riley apparently has assembled a potent front-court duo in "The Freak" and Bam, but a few questions remain about Giannis' age,...

 The Boston Celtics' time for Banner 19 is now , but there is a wider Title window. Assuming both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain with "The Green", most of the championship hopes lie with them. Generally, an NBA player's peak occurs between the ages of 27 and 31 . Brown is 29 and Tatum is 28. Derrick White is 31 and Payton Pritchard is 28 . A player's peak theoretically combines top physical performance, max basketball savvy and sufficient on-court experience . The Celtics Title window should remain open for a few more years with the above-mentioned crew members onboard. NBA dynasties are virtually dead , and championships are becoming tougher to achieve. Boston's 60s run of Titles will never be seen again. But the Celtics leadership is top-notch with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla leading the charge, so Banners 19-and-beyond are within reach. Some roster changes are coming . Stevens has mentioned getting more opportunities at the rim , which may sugg...

  Joe Mazzulla wins the NBA Coach-of-the-Year after Brad Stevens takes Exec-of-the-Year. Despite the Boston Celtics blowing a 3-1 series lead versus the 76ers this post-season, the greatness of "The Green" continues on. Stevens, after being forced to "trim" his roster, put together a tenaceous crew for 2025-26, and Mazzulla took what many viewed as a "rag tag" group and ended up with the second seed in the East. The playoffs were a disappointment for Celtics fans, but the future remains bright. In any endeavor, success begins at the top . In the past, the Celtics have been led by duos such as Red Auerbach and Bill Russell - Auerbach and Tom Heinsohn - Red and K C Jones - Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens - and now, Brad and Joe. Congrats to Stevens and Mazzulla. Very deserving of the awards. We look forward to the upcoming season.

  Isaiah Thomas was picked dead last (60th overall) by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA draft . He was a 2-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics and will now be searching colleges and NBA teams for players that will strengthen the current core of "The Green". "IT" played for eight NBA teams , but it was in Boston where he truly excelled . After being traded to Cleveland as part of a deal for the Celtics to acquire Kyrie Irving , injuries took a toll on the 5'9" point guard. He was never the same after leaving Boston. But now he is coming back to Beantown, this time as a scout . Thomas is also known for stating that then-Celtics-head-honcho, Danny Ainge, would have to back up the Brinks truck for his next contract back in 2017. That big money never materialized for Isaiah , but Brad Stevens' move to bring him back in his new capacity could be a sound decision. Isaiah knew how to adapt his game to minimize his lack of height on the court, and he...

 Besides being an extremely-lucrative endeavor, the main purpose of the NBA is to entertain and distract. Despite the pain of the Boston Celtics being taken out of contention by the long-time rival Philadelphia 76ers, I personally enjoyed this past season . I was totally entertained by this present roster and what it accomplished. The general mindset was that they were going nowhere after losing four key players (five if the injured Jayson Tatum is included).  It turned out to be an "overachieving regular season" . Virtually every Boston player played over their heads, resulting in a 56-26 season . Even Tatum's performance upon returning from injury prior to the playoffs was better than expected.  Then things went horribly wrong in the post-season . The Celtics home loss to an Embiid-less Philly team in Game 2 was a killer . Had Boston won that game, they could have swept Philadelphia. But Joel returned to action for the 76ers - Tatum suffered a leg issue - and the re...

 Prior to this season, I wrote that - despite the ravaged Celtics roster - the brain trust of Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla would adapt to the changes and firgure out a way to win. And they certainly did, ending the regular season with the second seed in the East. Losing Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum caused many Boston fans to fear the 2025-26 season would be a waste . But Stevens brought in a number of guys that played beyond expectations, and Mazzulla juggled lineups to find what works and what doesn't. This regular season saw Jaylen Brown excel in his role of on-court leader  - to the point where his name is deeply involved in any MVP discussions. Payton Pritchard went back to a bench role but delivered in starter-type minutes. Derrick White had an off-season shooting the ball, but he was a vital cog in the Celtics fabric. Neemias Queta failed to develop any type of outside shot, but he was spectacular on the defensive end...

 I was not able to watch Jayson Tatum's return to action last nught, in large part due to experiencing one of the worst periods in my 82-years-long life. But watching Jayson performing so soundly in his season debut, and the win itself over the Mavericks has brightened my morning tremendously. Look for my upcoming article, "Survival, Luck and the Angels Among Us". This brings me back to another terrible time for my family when Marcus Smart and "The Green" stepped forward for my family. A plea to Carsen Edwards @Cboogie_3 . My great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane, lost his mom, Courtney, to Cystic Fibrosis on Friday at the age of 25. He loves getting cards & he needs an uplift. 123 Garden Dr., Apt. 2, Manchester, NH 03102. I would be forever grateful. pic.twitter.com/Bb2vj27rHq — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) November 14, 2019 Let me loudly state how much I love this batch of guys that Brad Stevens has assembled, and six decades of Celtics players that have bri...

 In the history of the Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach's acquisition of Bill Russell and Larry Bird have to rank at the very-top of "The Green's" major moves. Add in maneuvering to get Robert Parish and Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge's dealing to get The Jay Team. But I still can't believe how Brad Stevens quickly rebuilt his team when forced to shed the roster of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet - while working to lessen the damage of losing his beast player, Jayson Tatum , to injury. If Stevens is not in serious conversation as Exec of The Year , I will continue to feel the Celtics tend to be ignored at award time. And frankly, his belief in Joe Mazzulla to orchestrate the regular season with a ravaged roster enters into this discussion.  The Russell, Bird, Parish, McHale and Jay Team acquisitions were successful, long-term moves . Ditto on Stevens' masterful maneuvering to cutting costs drastically, while maintaining a trul...

  "SATISFYING" ? You bet!  Westt Coast versus East Coast. Land of sunshine and warmth against a lanscape being blanketed in snow as I write this, A team that seems to have stars drooling to be there pitted against a franchise that almost always comes through via intelligence, strategy and great decisions . The LA Lakers always seem to sign superstars, in large part because of the lights, the stars of the big-and-small screens and the chance for film credits of their own. Lebron James and Luka Doncic were the two latest star additions on the court last night when Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and a cast of able supporters walked away with the victory. In Los Angeles, it started with Wilt Chamberlain heading to the City of Angels. And he was followed by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol . Quite a cast. And meanwhile, Red Auerbach, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens were wheeling and dealing for Bill Russell, John Havlicek, JoJo White, Dave Cowens, Larry B...

 Celtics sophomore, Baylor Scheierman , seems to be getting a lot of attention from his coach, Joe Mazzulla . In last night's win over the Chicago Bulls , Scheierman started his 8th contest of the season and contributed 10 points, five boards, one assist and one steal. The 6'6" shooting guard hit 2-of-7 from the fieeld and 2-of-5 from deep . Baylor is averaging 45% on field goals for the season and 39% on threes . He has started 4-of-the-last five games - four of them wins. His floor time contunes to rise. Scheierman's 4-year contract at an average of $3.2 million per year is fully guaranteed through the 2028 season - with team options for 2026-27 (already exercised by Celtics) and 2027-28. He looks to be a  "keeper" for Brad Stevens.

 Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks. Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza in the starting unit, along with Neemias Queta, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. Boston starts 0-5 on their shooting. Scheierman breaks the ice with two free throws. Baylor looks to be a keeper for Brad Stevens. With both Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic coming off the bench, it appears Joe Mazzulla is still experimenting to find a solid 8-9-man rotation for the second half of the season and playoffs. Celtics hitting 1-of-7 on the long ball - not a good sign. Then it''s "Vooch" with a "3", But Boston is only 2-of-12 on threes. It's 35-24 in favor of NY at the end of the first quarter. Mazzulla once again goes to his 2-big combo of Queta and Vucevic for quarter #2, but Vooch goes out quickly with his 3rd foul. Scheierman with six boards and five assists midway through the second quarter. He can do a lot out there. Baylor is having a great game. Now up to eight rebounds and five ass...

 Newest Celtic, Nikola Vucevic comes to the Boston Celtics a a big man who can score - inside and out, control the boards - and be a major "plus" for Joe Mazzulla , particularly in the post-season. But what we have not heard yet is whether or not he is a man of high character. That question may have been answered by long-time Chicago sports writer, K. C. Johnson . And Mr. Johnson's analysis of Boston's new center is all positive (via "X") Post See new posts Conversation K.C. Johnson @KCJHoop I was told this deal (for Nikola Vucevic) was discussed earlier in season but didn’t gain much traction. Deadlines have a way of creating action . . . Bulls are busy. And on a personal note: Happy for Vooch to chase a title but will miss covering him. As accessible and professional as they get "As accessible and professional as they get" . That suggests that "Vooch" is an NBA player of high character - a quality looked for by most League teams, ...