Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

          When the Cs needed plays the Jays stepped up and made winning plays. Yet how about that freaking rebound by Derrick White! I tell you this much the Sixers are playing off their butts. Yet it's through hard work and good coaching. With that said this game gave me some real anxiety. I'm so impressed with Tatum and Brown making those clutch plays throughout the entire game but especially the fourth. What can I say about these Celtics but I love them and want them to succeed.       PP made some HUGE shots tonight and I live his grit. That kid makes huge plays and never fails to impress me. Vuc played well but he's lacking on D. His passing overall was good and he made some big shots. Queta didn't have his best game but he did what he could. Garza made some plays especially his three ball. Cs will have to use the three bigs in a way to compliment the other guys out there. Baylor showed no fear tonight going after Paul George. He mad...

 Start your day with a little "make-believe" . How would superstars who played 40-plus years ago fare against the stars of today? This is totally objective fantasy, so I expect differing views. My choices assume all players are at their peak. Old School Stars Honestly, I went with the 40+ year cutoff to get Larry Bird and Magic Johnson into the mix as starters. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain are there also. Michael Jordan is obviously the 5th starter.  The bench consists of Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Dirk Nowitsky .  Today's Elite Eight Four of the starters are non-USA players , and a two more are in as backups . That says a lot about the modern NBA. Starters are Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum . The bench consists of Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama and Steph Curry. In a given era, any NBA team has the ability to win a contest against another - as evidenced by Philly's win over the favored Celtics i...

       Cs take on the Sixers yet again in the playoffs. Cs own a huge advantage historically. If the Cs lock in on both ends they will win this series in 4 or 5. Maxey is friends with LBJ and flops just like him. Cs have moved the ball really well so far this afternoon. Defensively they are running down shooters. Cs need to force other guys to beat them and lock down on Maxey because he knows how to get calls. I like what I'm seeing from JB and JT. They will need to be at their best today and all playoffs. Cs with a solid start and decent lead after one.       Nice to see Garzilla getting some early run here. Grabbed the offensive board and heads to the line. Dude has been a beast all season! Baylor is in and already making impact plays, on both offense and defense. Garzilla for three! Bang! Brown is starting to pick it up and I love it! Cs are exposing the Sixers in the post as we speak. Queta especially here in this second quarter. Imagine this ...

 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...

      Cs have shown us vs the Raptors and Hornets that come playoff time they will beat them. Overall the Cs have been playing solid basketball and are coming together at the right time. Queta has been solid and Vuc is back which helps a lot. Garza when called upon comes in and does his job. JT seems to be averaging just about a triple double every game. JB continues his MVP like performances. This roster is deep and suited to cause problems in the playoffs.       The fact that espn keeps riding that Knicks train is a joke. That team is so blown out of proportion its insane. What's also horrendous is how Brunson flops constantly. He's a damn joke as a player. Cs will beat them when they face them in the second round. Cs come playoffs will have the best duo in the game of basketball going. Not to mention a complete roster that gives all they have out there. Tonight the Cs will face the Pelicans and claim the second seed in the East.      ...

      Cs have come out throwing punches vs this bad Bucks team. Sam Hauser has been en fuego. He looks locked in and the Cs are finding him in rhythm. Congrats to Doc for getting into the Hall, but KC Jones deserves to be put in as Coach. I admire Doc as a Coach but KC did so much more as a coach. NBA needs to get their crap together and get KC in! Cs have totally dominated this first half. These Bucks should just forfeit the second half  because they suck.      We have five guys in double figures and DWhite isn't far off with 8 points. Now that's some balanced scoring right there. The mark of a damn good team. I mean I have complete confidence in this team making it to the Finals. Whether it's OKC or San Antonio I like our chances against them as well. This team defends extremely well and when needed can lock teams down. Offensively we have the Jays who both can put a team on their back. Winning players make winning plays and our roster is full of the...

      How about that first quarter and first half from the Cs! JB was straight balling and the entire team came out to make a statement. This Celtics team is gearing up for a deep playoff run. Goodness gracious the Jays are the best duo in the NBA! The Cs have made the Heat look like a g league team so far tonight. Man do I love this Celtics team. Brad Stevens has done an amazing job with this roster. Brad will go down as one of the greatest GMs of all time. The man us a basketball savant! Joe Mazzulla has been incredible this season.       Early in the third and JB is over 30 points! He looks locked and he should be the MVP. The Cs lead has shrunk to eighteen and Joe calls a timeout. I expect to see a much more focused group. Time to land some knockout blows and send the Heat home with a loss. Off the timeout we get back to back buckets from our two stars! Now that's how you answer the bell after being a bit lax. JB is destroying everyone who tries to...

      No Derrick White and no Jaylen Brown... No problemo! Cs came out punching tonight vs the Hornets. A little payback for that loss in Boston. JT was straight balling in that first half looking like himself. PP was lighting it up and all the stay ready guys did their job. Ron Harper Jr came in and made some big plays. He's such an asset off the bench and going forward. This entire Celtics roster has done an exceptional job this season. I love these guys and want them to win it all. Anyone watch that Uconn finish?! College sports are incredible! What a clutch shot by Mullins!      It's remarkable that Jayson Tatum is playing as well as he is. For a guy who had a major injury and to be looking like this is unreal. Modern medicine is simply amazing. The will of JTs heart and work ethic are second to none coming back this year. Reminds me of another great if not the greatest. Remember when MJ broke his foot and came back and went bananas in the playoffs vs t...

 It appears that Celtics Coach, Joe Mazzulla , is mentally constructing the post-season, 8-man rotation that he feels may deliver Banner 19 to Boston. In the last 10 contests , the seven players averaging more than 25 minutes per game are Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Baylor Sheierman and Payton Pritchard . And it is expected that Nikola Vucevic , upon his return from injury, will round out the 8-man playoff crew. Sheierman is the wild card here . In the 10-game span, he is producing 6.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 2.3 APG in 27 minutes per contest. He only played very-limited minutes in four playoff games last year, so it is uncertain how he will handle the pressure of more floor time in the up-tempo post season. But the second-year man at 25 years of age has handled himself well on the court during the regular season, and Mazzulla is hoping that holds true come playoff time. The same can be said for Queta. In the past two post-seasons, he never ...

      Big game and the big Dawgs came to play! How about the Jay's both coming to play and impacting this win! Jaylen Brown was making Shai look like just an average guy on D. Is it me or does Shai get more calles than prime MJ did?! It makes the game unwatchable when the refs baby him. Kid is very talented and doesn't need the assist from the refs. Last night was a team win given how each and every Celtic impacted the game. Queta stood out to me with how well he played.       What's really something about this year's Celtics team is guys who have stepped up and given everything they have. Baylor was balling yesterday and has no fear at all! He rebounds and defends like his life is on the line. PP and Sam both hit key threes that really frustrated the Thunder. That Thunder team is legit but these Cs can beat them in the Finals. I love watching Derrick White play basketball. It's like watching a painter create a masterpiece. Whether on defense or offens...

      How about them Jays! The NBA has a problem and it's Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. These dudes are shaping into form and come playoffs they will be on a mission. They took what was the remains of a Warrior's roster and beat em down. It was good to see old friend Kristaps Porzingis. If he's healthy last season I bet we go back to back. When he's healthy he's incredibly good. Defensively he's a stud and offensively he's elite. Maybe just maybe he will come back here next year on a team friendly contract.       It's so fun watching everyone on this roster excel. Baylor has become a dawg on D and can rebound with any guy his size. His offensive game is tight. Whether he hits threes or gets to the paint. He's going to come up big for us in the playoffs especially on defense. Derrick White seems to be invigorated now that JT is back. His shot if finally looking like it did last season. Our two headed monster in the middle continues to play solid bask...

      These Wizards are an absolute joke, they should be banished to the GLeague. Cs are handling their business in this 6 o clock start. Queta is having himself quite a damn good game. His teammates are finding him in the flow and he's making em proud. I have enjoyed watching Queta grow as a player. He's been such a hard worker for the Cs and I guarantee he only gets better. This Wizards team plays absolutely no defense what so ever. It's disgusting and disrespectful to the game of basketball.       Anyone watching the NCAA conference tournaments? I've seen some really good games and teams today. Michigan hit a 3 to win their game today and they are my favorite to win it all. Arkansas looks solid as former UMass Coach John Calipari leads them to an SEC Final. I remember so many epic games from the past. My first true memory of a title game was watching Michigan beat Seton Hall. I remember all the runs UMass had with Calipari. Those UMass teams were ju...

      What could have been an incredible game turned out into disgust for me. No other star would ever be thrown out of a game. The only two that are on the NBAs radar are the Jay's. JB gets fouled and there is no call, he voiced his disgust to the ref and got a T. Given his frustration he was very talkative and a different ref trying to make a name for himself throws him out. Apparently the NBA didn't think the Spurs could beat both Jay's so they canned em. I mean realistically if the Cs were healthy and had JB they beat the Spurs easily. We were missing Pritch and Vuc.       Overall the Cs played well but Wemby is clearly unstoppable and an amazing talent. I mean what can't that young man do?! With that said if we see them in the Finals I expect a better job to be done defensively. Overall we saw everyone give their best last night. The Spurs play really tough D but damn near foul guys every time. They are similar to how OKC defends and fouls every t...

 Jayson Tatum has been the Celtics iron man over the years, particularly in the past four seasons. He has particuipated in 72-or-more games in the past four campaigns and his first two seasons in the League.   A few years ago, I wrote that Jayson may be Boston's "iron man" but he is not the "man of steel" . The Achilles injury to this young star may have ended that moniker for now, but his return to the hardwood has Celtics fans, and Tatum, damn joyful. He looks very fluid out there, and his production has been better than expected. There is little rust on him from the long layoff . Early in his career, there were some concerns about Jayson's toughness. That has been dispelled. He has worked hard-and-long to make a comeback, and thus far, his recovery appears to be nearly complete.

      Slow start at first but the Cs have found water, I need to say James Harden is horrific. The way he throws himself into players is disgusting. With that said JT looks good today and this Cs team has something special brewing. It's a bummer we lose Vuc for about a month. Especially when he was finding a flow with us. Another overrated player is Donovan Mitchell. He and Harden are a perfect combo of two guys who can't win. Forever will they be bridesmaids of the NBA. Man PP is such a dawg on D. I love his tenacity and ability to cut guys off at the dribble.       Cs ball movement has been flowing like the mighty Mississippi! Defensively they are forcing non shooters to shoot and I'm all for it. The way this defense gets down to dance is legit. Very rarely do they make it easy on the other team. Cleveland is all outta sorts tonight and that doesn't surprise me. This Cavs team is decent but they don't move the needle. I see them winning a round in th...

      Cs welcome Jayson Tatum back to the Garden. After suffering that horrific injury in the playoffs he's rehabbed and is ready to help chase Banner 19. It's going to be extremely special getting to see him play tonight. This team has now become a dangerous team. No team will want to face us come playoffs. JT looks fresh so far. He's looked to get his teammates involved early on. He is not on a minutes restriction which should allow for him to get back into game shape. In the sense of getting back into the feel of playing in an NBA game. This crowd has been electric and made sure he heard them.       Personally I love this picture up top. Joe and JT with the cross especially knowing both are men of faith. Last nights game was insight into what this team can be for the playoffs. The Cs continued on their path while adding JT back into the mix. JT finished with a nice stat line and this team looks ready for a title run. If you are anyone in the East I'...

 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...

      Cs go into Golden State and lay the hammer to em. Nice to see old pals Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Memories of one title but should have been two. JB continues his MVP like play having a triple double. I'm not a huge stat guy but damn those numbers he put up were pretty sweet. Cs looked primed to be a top seed in the East. The only team in the East they are trailing is the Pistons. Not only record wise but overall. That Pistons team is nice and Cade is a baller.       Ron Harper Jr has and is making the most out of his opportunity with the Celtics. He's shown that he has a spot in this league and more importantly as a Celtic. Kid can shoot and loves to play D. Joe has found the right spots with him and it's paid off. PP has been thriving coming off the bench these past few games. He just has that it factor off the bench and we are seeing him at his best. Everyone who entered the game made a solid impact. I don't do that plus minus crap I d...

      While he may have doubts which is understandable getting JT back will put us into a great spot. Adding an MVP type player to a team with an MVP player plus this roster could be a recipe for success. JB and JT will be stronger together than apart. The rest of the NBA is shaking in their kicks. If JT is ready and hitting on all cylinders I can't see why we won't make a nice long run in the playoffs. Tonight we welcome the Bulls right before we head into All Star Break. With a win the Cs will be the second seed in the East. Amazing for a team who most said would be in the lottery.       A first quarter that showed us how damn good JB is! He was en feugo and yet cool as the other side of the pillow! He was hitting from deep and his patented midrange. Nice to see Sam get a few shots in. Vuc has some shifty post moves and they could be very valuable. Queta was solid per usual grabbing boards and scoring inside. He has learned the game and puts it into ...

 I recently wrote of the Boston Celtics needing more size up front and the addition of post-season-tested vets. Brad Stevens has (at least) taken care of that need by trading for 35-year-old Bulls center Nikola Vucevic - in exchange for Boston guard Anfernee Simons. Photo by Celtic Life Ph and Facebook Vucevic was the 16th-overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft and is a 2-time All-Star , He has always been a double-double machine in points and rebounds ( career 17.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG ) - can hit the 3-pointer (35.1%) - and can score close to the hoop (49.8% FG) . At 6'9" and 260 pounds, Nikola can mix it up underneath. He has 16 playoff games under his belt , and hia addition to Boston's roster appears to not simply being about cutting costs . With Jayson Tatum probably heading back to action soon, a starting-5 of Vucevic, Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White should be in the cards. Neemias Queta may return to his bench role, but should maintain si...