Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 Here I go again! I truly miss the run-the-opposition-into-the-ground, fast-paced basketball we saw from the Celtics in the 60's and 70's. Coaches Red Auerbach and (later) Tommy Heinsohn demanded it. Few centers could match Bill Russell and Dave Cowens at ripping the ball off the boards and starting the fast break. Bob Cousy preferred the long outlet pass, while his replacement, K C Jones , would drive the ball down court before passing off to the open man. Cowens, JoJo White and John Havlicek were just born to run . That tradition carried on in the early 90's with former-Celtic, Don Nelson , and his RUN TMC  Warriors trio of  Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin . . Nellie was an integral part of that  70's Celtics crew as a player under Tommy Heinsohn.  Now, back to today. We might expect a little more running game from the projected starters for Boston, but more-likely we may see it from the bench, possibly from A aron Nesmith, B r uno Fernando...

         How many Celtics fans remember when they drafted Carsen Edwards and says he's gonna be the steal of the draf t?! How's many fans remember when he dropped 30 in a preseason game vs the Cavs?! Other than those few minutes of hope, what does his career look like??       Has his career hit the wall? Is he nothing more than a career G-League guy or over-seas player? Will Ime be able to get a lot from him? Will he even crack the rotation?!       Carsen had a great college career and could light it up, but since he's been in the NBA those moments are few and far between. There's no question the effort and work ethic are there but it never really translates into much. Is it lack of consistent minutes or just about a guy who was a star in college and just can't cut it in the NBA?       As the season approaches with the guards on this roster it does seem there may not be room for him to even sniff the ...

      This summer league team for the Boston Celtics has a lot to look for while watching the games. Will Carsen Edwards finally turn into that steal in the draft that Celtics fans thought, or will his play be just another tease of the college moments he had? Is this where Romeo finally shows why Danny took him so high in the draft? Can he stay healthy?       Will Nesmith build on that good rookie campaign where when given valuable minutes showed he's willing to hustle and play hard D? He proved he will crash the boards, run the floor, and knock down threes! Is it his time for that next step to becoming a key player on this Celtics roster?       Are these games the stage in which Pritch shows fans he's the point guard of the future? A PG who can knock down threes from anywhere? A hard nosed defender and player who isn't afraid to go to the hoop! A player who can spread the floor when teamed up with JB and JT?      ...

 Celtics fans knew this game was going to be focused on the play of Boston's young guards when 6'4" Romeo Langford was penciled in as the starting center , and the back court consisted of 6'1" Payton Pitchard and 5'11" Carsen Edwards . Boston came away with the 85-83 win , but the rust was evident in the first minutes of the game, with The Green missing their first eight shots . Yam Madar was inserted, and that seemed to be the right move. Madar only played 17 minutes, but came away with eight points, two rebounds and two assists . He had a decent NBA debut. But the stars for Boston were Pritchard and Edwards. While fully understanding the limited importance of Summer League, I like this relatively-undersized duo. Payton's Pace is always on fast mode, but Edwards, once he gets the ball, just goes for it . His speed and strength were on display , and he finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists . At least for one game, he showed he is m...

 I am not writing this accolade for Tremont Waters based solely on his solid performance versus the Knicks yesterday, although it does play a role. In the Celtics 96-92 loss, and despite a few miscues early (3 turnovers), Waters contributed 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and a team-high plus minus of +20 . He is the pass-first backup point guard that The Green needs. Granted, he would most-likely be the second PG off the bench behind Payton Pritchard , but Payton has shown to be more of a scorer than facilitator. Tremont's per-36-minutes stats reveal 9.4 assists per game, along with 2.3 steals/game and a 94.1 % accuracy on free throws. He leads the team in all three categories on a 36-minute basis .  One other point. Opponents can't leave the 5'10" guard alone past the 3-point line. He hits roughly 40% (.395) of the long balls, and Tre' was 3-of-8 on treys yesterday .  This off-season will be a time of significant change for the Boston Celtics, and ri...

Carsen Edwards' rookie season is behind him. and I am guessing that suits him just fine. Prior to this season, I wrote that Celtics fans should not give up on this energy-filled youngster , and I stand by that. With injuries and COVID protocols rampant among The Green, the minutes are there for the 5'11" guard, and he is taking advantage of the shot. In nine games so far this season, he is only averaging 11.3 minutes per game, but projecting his numbers to per-36-minutes status shows close to 20 points/game on 51% from the field - 40% on treys - and 86% from the foul line.  In Boston's recent win over the Clippers, he was on the floor for 30 minutes and came away with 16 points, four rebounds and two assists. His quickness and ability to pull up off the dribble allows him to always get his shot off, despite his lack of size. Taken with the 33rd-overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, Carsen had a rugged first year in the League, but he is showing valid promise as a role pl...

The Celtics had to come from behind in this one, and it came right down to the wire, but they prevailed over the Los Angeles Clippers, 119-115. Jayson Tatum was the star of the game with Jaylen Brown out of action, scoring a team-high 34 points and taking down seven rebounds. Kemba Walker had a solid outing with 24 points, but it was Boston's ever-evolving Pine Platoon that proved so vital in the victory. Grant Williams, normally one of the first guys off the bench, started in place of Brown - logged 32 minutes - collecting 11 points, four boards and two assists.  As Carson Edwards' hair continues to grow, so does his game. He played a key role in the win, contributing 16 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes of floor time. He was 5-of-8 from the field, 3-of-8 from 3-point land and a perfect 3-of-3 on foul shots. There was no tentativeness in his play. He was decisive, and it worked. Rob Williams was only active for 15 minutes, but he made it count - scoring 10 points on 5-of-...

Many unknowns surround the Celtics young-and-untapped talent pool. Think about this! We have started to see rookie Aaron Nesmith emerge in the past two games, both wins for Boston. In the two contests, Nesmith logged a combined 35 minutes and scored 20 points on 7-of-11 (64%) from the field and 6-of-10 from 3-point land (60%). The 14th-overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft  also managed seven rebounds over the 2-game span and received some accolades on his defensive effort. There may be more to Aaron's game than sniper-level marksmanship. Aaron Nesmith showing off his defensive skills. #Celtics @NBCSCeltics pic.twitter.com/IiXlCOcSpk — Celtics Updates (@allhailtacko) December 16, 2020 Fellow rookie, Payton Pritchard, is another story. He has looked poised (and been productive) since he first stepped on the parquet. Despite lacking elite athleticism, he is quick, decisive - and has terrific body control. He looks more like a 3-year vet than a raw, first-year guy taken late (26th) in...

Did we ever expect to see a lineup of Carsen Edwards, Payton Pritchard, Grant Williams and Rob Williams on the floor with Jayson Tatum versus the Heat towards the end of the third quarter (and the start of the fourth period) with the score tied at 71-71?  How about rookie Payton Pritchard out there in crunch time  with less than a second to go in the game, getting perfect position for a put-back to can the game winner? Both happened to seal the win for Boston with a final score of 107-105. His offensive rebound & put-back with less than a second to play for the win (and the enthusiasm) - against a major Eastern Conference rival was magical. https://t.co/sH840CeYUo — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) January 7, 2021 I have been one-of-many critics of Brad Stevens' all-too-rigid substitution patterns, but early in this season he has loosened up.  Five Celtics subs logged a combined 66 minutes in the victory, putting up 28 points and taking down 20 boards.  Grant Williams...

My readers will notice that I did not employ the term "happy" (with the present roster), nor did I go crazy and suggest the Celtics boss is "thrilled" with the crew he has right now. And I am sure that upon writing this piece, we will get bombarded with noise of a major deal he has in mind. But for now, I do believe Danny is (somewhat) content with what he has at hand. Do not be fooled by the smile on Ainge's face in the above photo. He is being stalked by my daughter, Lisa Lane McCarty, outside the old Boston Garden back in the mid-80's. He just wants to go home or out to eat. Danny wants to win. Period! Can he do it with his present roster? Of course he can, but it is far from a sure thing. Things are library-quiet in the Celtics environs concerning any impending deals, and it just may be that Ainge is going with what he has - and will look more at developing his young guys. Tristan Thompson's arrival in Beantown brings the much-needed toughness that w...

With news of Tristan Thompson, Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford looking at a late start to the season due to injuries, the bright side of the story is that the Celtics youngsters should see more floor time early on - and that includes second-year guard, Carsen Edwards. The 33rd pick in the 2019 NBA draft didn't exactly separate himself from the rookie pack in his debut season, the main issue being his inability to hit his shot consistently. Carsen spent a lot of time with the G League Maine Red Claws, but in the Big League, he only managed to hit 33% of his field goals, 31% on 3-pointers and 68% from the foul line.  Call it a fluke perhaps, but on November 13, 2019, in 20 minutes versus the Wizards, he produced 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Beyond his questionable start as a marksman in Boston, his size (5'11") may be the major detriment to the youngster getting on the floor. But at a lean 200 pounds, he seems to have the body that won't get pus...

With all of the trade rumors taking flight, the NBA news front is looking like Logan Airport. The latest buzz has the Pelicans Jrue Holiday coming to Boston for either Kemba Walker or Gordon Hayward. But frankly, Danny Ainge does not have to pull of the deal-of-the-decade to get his team back to the Finals. Flash back to the 2018 Eastern Finals when Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Terry Rozier gave the Cleveland Cavaliers all they could handle in the 7-game series.  Al and Terry are gone, as are Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris, but Daniel Theis and Kemba Walker are now on board. And the present Green Crew battled well in the Eastern Finals once again. Tweak #1 is: Aron Baynes needs to come back Baynes is a proven veteran that knows the Celtics system and brings toughness and physicality ( see tweak #2 ). He earned $5.5 million last season and is an unrestricted free agent. Celtics need more strength, toughness and physicality The 2019-20 version of the Celt...

With the Celtics playing the tail end of a back-to-back tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and looking very much like a walking emergency room, Brad Stevens may have no choice but to play the youngsters. Kemba Walker (rest), Gordon Hayward (knee), Jayson Tatum (cold), Marcus Smart (possible suspension) and Jaylen Brown (hamstring) are either out, questionable or doubtful for this evening's contest, although nothing has been announced about action against Marcus for his tirade last night. It just may end up being Daniel Theis and a cast of kids facing the Cavs. That may not be so bad. I personally would love to see a Carsen Edwards-Tremont Waters backcourt for at least part of the game. Both have excelled at the G League level. Romeo Langford has shown flashes as a defensive stopper in his limited minutes on the floor as a Celtic, and Grant Williams, Javonte Green and Semi Ojeleye would fill out the gang of Young Guns. In addition to Theis, the "old codgers" for...

Marcus Smart's ferocity strikes fear into most of his opponents, but he has a tender side. The same dogged defender that harasses opponents into making mistakes and picks up floor burns diving on the floor for loose balls took the time to comfort my family when we were hosted at TD Garden on Saturday, February 29, 2020. This all started following the November death of my granddaughter, Courtney, after a 25-year battle with cystic fibrosis. She left behind my great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane, and I made a very simple request to Carson's namesake, Celtics rookie Carsen Edwards. My Twitter followers stepped up immediately with countless retweets and notifications. Edwards responded promptly via Twitter, as did Marcus Smart, who prompted Twitter followers to "send mail that uplifts & showers this kid with love" . Carson Thomas Lane- I lost my mom recently to. But it’s people like ur great grandpa who will get u thru the tough times as you grow up. Much love youn...

After more than two years, my "Jay Team" nickname for the pairing of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is catching on. On October 25, 2017 one of my earlier articles ( The Jay Team - their time is now ) as an aging, but fledgling, sports writer proposed the moniker for the young, dynamic duo. These two 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/hyn0jD8Q9M — Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 7, 2019 My colleague at the time, Justin Quinn, and I tossed it around a lot, but it never caught on - at least not in 2017. Hopefully that has changed. Now I see the "Jay Team" nickname supported by none other than the Boston Celtics organization. And this coming after the Celtics heartwarming reception of my 4-generation family at TD Garden on Friday night, topped off by Taylor Snow and Carsen Edwards taking so much time with my Great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane. Watch: The Jay-Team took care of business against the Bucks in Game 1 https://t.co/vqK9Tw2Ymz via @CelticsLife — Dr. Justin ...

For those that have been following my tweet-turned-tornado journey, let me first tell you that the hundreds of cards and gifts for my great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane, have not stopped. They just keep coming. I can't even write about this without getting teary-eyed. I was only asking for one card from Carson's namesake, Carsen Edwards. Who knew? 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 My readers and Twitter followers quickly jumped on the tweet, and responses from Carsen Edwards and Marcus Smart came almost instantly. My idea to get Carson Thomas Lane, at age seven, into TD Garden with me, my wife, Linda, my daughter, Lisa Lane McCarty and Josh Farrell, Carsen's surro...

Following Kemba Walkers head/neck injury last night in Boston's 96-92 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Celtics will have to dig deep into their limited point guard lineup. Kemba supplies so much for Boston on both ends of the court, and his loss for at least several games is a test of team-resiliency. The Celtics really do have a shortage of pure point guards. Brad Stevens has used Brad Wanamaker in that role for the last two games, and that has worked fairly well. Most analysts don't regard Marcus Smart as a pure point guard, and I agree. Marcus is not a pure-anything. He calls himself a "stretch 6", and that works for me. All that aside, he is a very good facilitator that takes care of the ball, currently planted in the NBA's top ranking in assist-to-turnover ratio for players averaging more than 24 minutes/game. We can expect point guard, Tremont Waters, to be brought up from the G League Maine Red Claws. Waters is on a two-way contract, and the time is ri...

If things went really wrong in the world, Marcus Smart is the guy I would want at my side. Well, things did go very wrong for my family after my grand daughter, Courtney Lane, with Cystic Fibrosis was denied a double-lung transplant by two Boston hospitals and quickly ferried off to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire to die. Courtney was taken off life support and passed away at 4:30 P.M. on Friday, November 8, 2019. While I truly feel that two hospitals failed her, Courtney's medical team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock did not. She had been in their care for much of her life, and they were there at her death. The anger and grief that followed was pervasive for my family, but it didn't last. 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.tw...

This is the short version - because my family is absolutely tired. I promise the full version tomorrow morning, but there is still much more to the story. If you have watched the Boston or New Hampshire news, you have seen what started as my very simple plea for a single card to be sent to a grieving 7-year-old. It has truly gone viral. Channel 7, WMUR, Fox News and possibly channel 4 covered it. I put out a simple request to the Celtics Carson Edwards for one card to be sent to my great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane. His mom, my grand daughter, died one week ago from Cystic Fibrosis. The flood of gifts and well-wishes went into the thousands from all over the planet. Marcus Smart was the first to respond - no surprise there - love the man - as my readers know. Isaiah Thomas had already stepped up a while back, and rookie Carsen Edwards followed suit. The tears from my daughter, Lisa, and my great grandson, Carson, are all too real. So is the whole story. Watch for it tomorrow. 💔 7-y...

The Detroit Pistons' back-up guard, Vinnie Johnson got his nickname, the Microwave, from none other than Danny Ainge. The moniker was derived from Vinnie's ability to come into a game and heat up fast. Johnson was the 7th overall pick by Seattle in the 1979 NBA draft, but he played most of his 13 NBA seasons as a back-up on the Detroit Pistons. The 6'2", 200-pound Johnson picked up two Championship rings with Detroit and had a rather pedestrian rookie year, averaging 8.6 MPG, 3.2 PPG, 1.4 RPG and 1.4 APG. For his career, he averaged 24.7 MPG, 12.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 3.3 APG. He was a decent marksman from the field (46%) but not so from beyond the arc (25%). His real claim to fame was entering the game and hitting his first few shots within seconds - or so it seemed. Carsen Edwards sees Isaiah Thomas as more than just a regular player. 👀🍀 #CUsRise #Celtics pic.twitter.com/fnGqrOrR4i — Celtics Nation (@CelticsNationCP) November 14, 2019 Before the Celtics win ove...