Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  The Athletics "Bouncies" Awards are out for this season, and the Boston Celtics are tied to two of the awards.  Kristaps Porzingis: Runner-up for "Best Acquisition". That's the good news for Celtics fans. The bad news is that he lost the top award in this category to the Clippers James Harden . But Harden has apparently found his place in LA. The Clips are on a roll. But so are the Celtics, and Kristaps Porzingis has a lot to do with that.  Grant Williams: Runner-up for "Worst Acquisition" Being runner-up for Grant in this category is actually a good thing since no player wishes to be tagged as the "WORST' anything . The Wizards Jordan Poole takes top (bottom) place in this category.  The trade for Porzingis and the deal that sent Williams packing had their share of critics, but at the mid-point of the 2023-24 season, Brad Stevens' moves are looking damn good.

 The 76'ers win over the Celtics tells us that the rivalry is alive . J oel Embiid and Company took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and here is what The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey , had to say about the two teams. The Celtics have All-NBA wing players in Jayson Tatum and Brown. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday may be the best backcourt in the NBA. Porziņģis has played well, scoring a team-high 29 points on Wednesday. He’ll stretch the floor, forcing opposing centers to cover him away from the basket. That creates space to drive for Tatum and Brown. Boston’s starting five is better, but it doesn’t have a deep bench. That’s something the Celtics may need to address during the course of the season. “I don’t think [this win] is a certain message to us,” (Patrick) Beverley said. “We know exactly who we are. We compete every day. We are deep as [crap]. We are really deep. We know what we have. We’re really deep. So we know what we have. The season is merely 8.5...

 Yes, ESPN's Tim Bontemps voted the Celtics signing of Al Horford in 2016 as their most-impactful free agent signing since 2010. And Bontemps makes a good case for the positive impact the "Dominican Gentleman" has had on the franchise. Boston Celtics Al Horford , 2016 Four years, $113 million It's easy to forget now, but in 2016 after Durant signed with the  Golden State Warriors , Horford was down to two choices to sign as a free agent: with the  Washington Wizards , or the Celtics. His decision to sign with Boston helped tip the balance of power in the East for years to come, as he has become a fixture of Boston's many deep playoff runs since then, while the Wizards failed to beat the Celtics in the second round in 2017 and haven't been back to the playoffs since.  -- Tim Bontemps Sending Horford back to Philly would be nasty work https://t.co/fNlQK5ms0F — Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) June 30, 2023 The Green may not have Banner 18 flying in the rafte...

 It's not over yet. The Celtics still have a shot at making the Eastern Conference Finals, but I must admit the thought of the 76'ers potentially ending Boston's run for Banner 18 this season makes me nauseous . Here's the deal. It's not the fact that Banner 18 would have to wait at least another year before being raised at TD Garden. It has only been 15 years since Beantown's last NBA Title, and the last I knew, there are 30 teams in the League. Do the math. I am not a "Title-or-nothing" Celtics fan . I can handle another "almost-made-it" season, but what I can't stomach is the thought of the Philadelphia 76'ers moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals - and possibly going all the way this season. My basis for this stand? Doc Rivers walked away from Beantown because he did not want to take on a rebuild after the departure of Paul Pierce andf Kevin Garnett . Nothing personal, but Doc has not exactly flourished since he left the Cel...

  "The Process" in Philadelphia basically involved shameless tanking to pick up Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz . None of that trio were on the TD Garden parquet when the 76'ers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game-1 of the Eastern Semi's. Oh, the shame of it all! With Embiid out with a knee injury and Simmons and Fultz gone from the City of Brotherly Love, it was James Harden (45 points, 6 assists), Tobias Harris 18 points, 5 boards, 3 assists) and Tyrese Maxey (26 points, 4 steals) that too over, with former Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers gloating on the sideline.  The Celtics were heavy favories to take Game-1, particularly with the 76'ers big man out of action. But, alas, that was not to be. Boston seemed to rely on their offense to win the contest They shot 74% from the field in the first half but onloy led by three points (66-63) at the end of the half. That was the red light for Boston - as analyst Charles Barkley stated - the Celtics should have ...

  NBA.com's Michael C. Wright listed eight guards from the Eastern Conference that will be in competition to head to the annual All-Star game, The Celtics Jaylen Brown is having a season that should send him to his second All-Star stint, but nothing is guaranteed. Brown will be competing with DeMarar DeRozan, Darius Garland, James Harden, Tyrese Halibuton, Donovan Mitchell, Dejounte Murray and Trae Young. In last year's All-Star game, a total of 14 guards participated.  Jaylen's averages this season show 26.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 3.7 APG . His competitors have similar stats, but Boston's number-one ranking  in the League Standings could give him the needed boost. Brown's high-level athleticism and ability to score in so many ways may also help his cause. His game is made for the All-Star type of play. He can be fun to watch.

      Last week beating the Hornets was a must win , now as the Celtics enter Brooklyn, it is a must, must win. Let's see what my esteemed mentor Tom has to say .  . Kyrie is not cherished by many Celtics fans, and a Nets win would end their losing streak and give them hope, and in Irvings's  case - a higher (lower?) level of arrogance.      The Nets were the arrogant team last year who came into the Garden and flung disrespectful comments at Celtics fans. They also led by their petulant leader Kyrie who chose to stomp on the Celtics logo as a child would.       Now if I were the Celtics I'm going into Brooklyn tonight looking to BREAK this team even more. Injuries are mounting up and so are losses. Well deserved if you ask me, after what they did. The Nets are proof that three stars doesn't always work. They need to be selfless like the Original Big Three were and the KG Big Three.       The Nets small thre...

 Where do I begin? Boston will be facing a severely-depleted Brooklyn team in enemy territory , and this is not the time to relax or take anything for granted. The Nets should be without Kevin Durant (injury), James Harden (injury and cloudy future) and Kyrie Irving (anti-vaccine stance) . Joe Harris remains out following ankle surgery and LeMarcus Aldridge could be among the missing with ankle issues of his own. The Nets are on an 8-game losing streak coming in to this contest. Conversely, Boston is quite healthy and is on a 5-game winning streak . There's more. The Green can leapfrog the Nets in the standings with a win. The Celtics would end up in the 7th-spot in the East with a 31-25 record (.554), just ahead of Brooklyn (29-25, .537).  A loss by the Toronto Raptors tomorrow would then raise Boston to #6 in the standings , but we are getting ahead of ourselves. The Celtics MUST win tonight . Kyrie is not cherished by many Celtics fans, and a Nets win would end their l...

      What if I told you the Boston Celtics have the same amount of wins as the Nets, with KD, the Beard, and half a Kyrie. What if I also told you the Celtics will leap frog them in the standings this season.       What if I also told you that I feel the Celtics are a better team than the Nets! The Celtics play great defense and are surging as one of the best defensive teams in the league.       The Nets are 2-8 over their last ten games. Is the turmoil surrounding Harden the issue?! Or is it that pain in blank Kyrie whose return seems like it's failing like I did in Algebra. Sometimes talent doesn't outweigh the other things and he's a prime example. What if I told you that it's deserving of the Nets and Kyrie to be on a 7 game losing streak after what he did to the Celtics and to the Garden floor last season.       I will say this, I know KD is an amazing player, but even he can't save this team. That's becaus...

 Over the past 60 years, the Celtics two greatest players, Bill Russell and Larry Bird , never played for another team during their careers on the hardwood. And Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, The Jones Boys, Tom Heinsohn never played elsewhere. Okay, Cooz did a brief comeback as a player at the age of 41 when he coached The Cincinnati Royals, but I'm not counting it. Hell, you get the idea! First, let me get something straight! My moniker, The Wolverine , for Marcus has ZERO to do with the film series - and everything to do with one of the most ferocious critters to roam the woods (per Wikipedia):  It (wolverine) is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. [2]  The wolverine has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself. Sound about right? "Muscular carnivore". ""Ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size." That's our guy. Smart admits to having a...

Why can't the Boston Celtics sign and retain NBA stars? With 6-time All-Star, Blake Griffin,  preparing to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, Coach Steve Nash seems to have a near-invincible crew on board. Blake Griffin has cleared free agency waivers and the six-time NBA All-Star is expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2021 That crew, aside from 9-time All-Star James Harden , includes one player ( Kevin Durant ) who snubbed Beantown in favor of the Warriors in 2016 - and another star ( Kyrie Irving ) that signed with the Celtics in 2017, but departed to Brooklyn after two tumultuous seasons in Boston. Despite his declining value, Blake Griffin's arrival in Brooklyn, at least on paper, gives the Nets the best shot at a Title this season. So it appears that the Nets have assembled a powerhouse despite mortgaging their future   for the second time in recent years with the acquisition of Harden....

The Brooklyn Nets obviously didn't learn any lessons when they traded for fading Celtics stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, in effect for three first round picks and a pick swap. That deal brought rising stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to Beantown, while the Nets went into a slide. Now comes a reported trade that is sending James Harden to Brooklyn in a transaction involving four teams. As part of the trade, the Houston Rockets appear to be gaining three future first-round picks (2022, 2024, 2026) and pick swaps in 2021, 2023 and 2027.  The Nets are clearly mortgaging their future (once again) to win a Championship as soon as this season. Conversely, the Rockets are obviously building for the future by potentially acquiring a bundle of talent via the draft should the Nets fail to live up to expectations. On paper, the Nets Big 3 should virtually guarantee a Title this season or next. But Championships are not won on paper. They are won and lost on the hardwood. Many questions...

If you ever wonder about uncertain times in the history of the NBA, you are in it! The NBA has become a players League, and dissatisfaction and wanderlust abound. Star players are constantly seeking greener pastures, even while COVID-19 continues to ravage the League landscape, James Harden is the latest, and loudest, malcontent of late. James Harden asked if he’s surprised the #Rockets didn’t make a run: “We’re just not good enough..Chemistry, talent-wise, everything. It’s clear..I love this city I’ve literally done everything that I can..It’s crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed.” pic.twitter.com/1bbfrytyUj — Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 13, 2021 Harden came into the season out of shape and out of patience. Despite having superstar status,  the 2018 MVP and 8-time All-Star lacks a Championship ring. He is 31 years old, and his performance on the court thus far this season has been lackluster. The Rockets are currently seeking a high price for his serv...

Rob Williams & Payton Pritchard may be emerging Rob Williams per-36-minutes stats remain impressive Brad Stevens has been displaying some un-Brad-like behavior in this season's first three games. Four of his young guys have averaged 15-or-more minutes this far. The question is, does this significant floor time indicate Stevens is devoted to developing his fledgling troops, or are they being showcased for an impending trade. Celtics fans need to think this way with Danny Ainge at the helm. Rookie Payton Pritchard leads the foursome in minutes at 20.3 MPG, followed by Grant Williams at 18.7 MPG - Robert Williams at 17.0 MPG and Semi Ojeleye with 15.3 MPG. To answer my own question, I believe the Celtics boss is covering the middle road - having Brad play and develop all four youngsters, while showing potential trade partners what these guys can do. The small 3-game sample shows Pritchard and Williams III as the players that stand out, either as trade bait or potential, solid...

Is it from the roster, trade or free agency? With Kemba Walker still nursing an ankle issue and Gordon Hayward gone to Charlotte, it has become very obvious that there is no reliable, third-option point producer on the current Celtics roster. Those two players put up a combined average of 39 points/game last season, in addition to nine assists. The Jay Team has put 110 points on the board over the 2-game span, but things fall off rapidly after that. That third point-producer has to emerge from the current roster or be acquired via trade or free agency. Volume scoring won't be coming from the center spot. Daniel Theis, Tristan Thompson and Rob Williams don't have that potential in their arsenal. Neither do Semi Ojeleye or Grant Williams. Marcus Smart has been handling point guard duties and disrupting opponents' offensive attacks, so he should not be relied on to be a volume scorer. Of the two rookies, Brad Stevens seems to have more faith in Payton Pritchard than Aaron Nes...

The latest James Harden-to-Boston rumors have the 8-time All-Star and MVP (2018) putting the Celtics on his wish list .  The conventional wisdom is that any trade package for Harden is constituted in two forms: promising young players or a star player plus picks. For the Celtics, that could mean a package of Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart or flipping Kemba Walker (who is still nursing a balky knee post-stem cell injection) and trade ballast for the eight-time All-Star. After Brown's potent performance in the Celtics season-opener versus the Milwaukee Bucks, he appears to be ready for All-NBA consideration . His present contact where he will earn $28.4 million in the final season (2022-23) of his deal, may very well prove to be a bargain. Any talk about sending any of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart is just that - talk. I can't envision any members of this trio going elsewhere, even for James Harden. That leaves the only viable option sending Kemba Walker to Houston fo...

  Making All-NBA may come down to Brown at SG or SF Here’s the short answer: It depends on what position he plays.  If Jaylen Brown is considered a forward then it’s unlikely (but not impossible) that Brown could be awarded all-NBA status at year end. The forward position is absolutely stacked. Jaylen would be competing not only against Jayson Tatum who was third team all NBA last season but against Giannis, Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler and others for one of 6 spots.  If Jaylen is considered a guard (which is the position he played last night on his way to 33 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists) then his competition is not nearly as formidable  Steph Curry will get one of the six spots on reputation alone. Doncic will get one (and could also win his first of many MVP’s), and so will Bradley Beal who in my opinion is playing the shooting guard position as well as anybody has since Kobe. Let’s not forget a guy named Damian Lillard...

It had to happen. James Harden is unhappy in Houston, and Celtics boss, Danny Ainge is always on the lookout for dissatisfaction within rival teams to possibly work a deal. Houston ESPN radio host, @johngranato , provides an interesting James Harden trade rumor. (via @johngranato ) pic.twitter.com/MAWunMntUO — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 20, 2020 On first glance, Boston acquiring Harden just seems like a bad idea. And it well could be. The former MVP and 8-time All-Star is a ball-dominant scoring machine who averaged 34.3 pointers per game last season. Pairing him with another volume scorer, Kemba Walker, in the backcourt doesn't help the Celtics defense whatsoever, and it would significantly lessen any chances of Brad Stevens' wish for more team play coming to fruition. But here's the argument for putting The Beard in Green. What if Kemba Walker's knee issues severely limit his effectiveness this season - a distinct possibility. It was vividly apparent that...

Once former Celtics coach, Doc Rivers , parted ways with the Los Angeles Clippers, it didn't take long for the Philadelphia 76'ers to latch onto him. His team takes the court tonight at 7:30 ET for an exhibition contest versus the Boston Celtics. Doc indicates it is all about conditioning, timing and pace - along with a large dose of 4-man, position-less basketball. We can assume that Philly center, Joel Embiid will reamain glued to the 5-spot ( per Philadelphia Enquirer's Keith Pompey ): They will run more pick-and-rolls under Rivers compared to the past seven seasons with Brett Brown. They’ll also run a motion offense with every position interchangeable besides the five spot. Right now, the offense is a day-to-day process. “Obviously, Shake [Milton] and Furkan [Korkmaz] being together,” he said, “I definitely want to see Tyrese [Maxey] with that group because of his ball-handling ability and his ability to shoot. Mike Scott has had a phenomenal training camp, not a ...

Until now, I have taken the middle road in my analysis of former-Celtic, Kyrie Irving . I just left that road. If Kyrie continues on this path, wanting his way with teammates, coaches and media, he will never be content in any venue, including the one (Brooklyn) he's in now. He played with the media when it worked for him, but now he says, "No". https://t.co/poa39LyLv9 — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) December 11, 2020 Yes, I played Irving's game shortly after his arrival in Boston. I wrote about his "Flat Earth Theory" , hoping that he was toying with the media to gain attention. And I had no issue with that.  Even when he chose to depart Boston as a free agent, I viewed, and wrote, that the inner-team turmoil that existed was on a number of participants, not simply just Irving. What I din't like, when he was in Boston, was his on-court explosion at Gordon Hayward for not passing him the ball on an inbounds play.  Now Kyrie Irving has been fined $25.000 f...