Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  "The Unicorn" is back and  "The Portuguese Man O' War" continues to improve . The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Clippers as Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta manned the center spot for the entire game. Boston is powerful without Porzingis on the court , but they become almost omnipotent when he is healthy and active (as in not injured). His rim protection was sorely missed during his rehab from ankle surgery, and "The Unicorn" just makes it easier on his teammates with his ability to hit from distance and catch-and-finish lobs. He is indeed a luxury for Joe Mazzulla . Queta just keeps improving with more floor time. He remains a bit raw and still a work-in-progress, but his work around the rim, on both ends, is fun to watch. Versus the Clips, the two big men played a combined 48 minutes and produced: 28 points - 15 boards - 5 assists - 3 steals - 6 blocks  Kristaps was a bit off (understandably) on his 3-point shooting, but the cent...

 Don't look now, but Doc Rivers is once again in turbulent waters . His Milwaukee Bucks are mired in the standings with a 2-8 record and have lost twice to the Boston Celtics , the team he deserted in 2013 because he did not want to be part of a rebuild. His two stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard, are having fine seasons, but the rest of his cast just can't get the job done. In 2020, Doc left his position with the Clippers - and in 2023, he was fired as coach of the 76'ers. But the veteran coach took over the reins of the Bucks in January of 2024 after Milwaukee fired Adrian Griffin . Such is the lot of the modern NBA coach. So what happens now in Milwaukee? Trading The Greek Freak and tanking won't help due to a paucity of future first-round picks. Ditto for trading Lillard. The Milwaukee Bucks have little in the way of tradeable players or draft picks, so almost realistic any trade scenario would not improve their immediate future . So, back to Doc. Ri...

 Maybe not! Not if you compare win-loss records with-and-without Porzingis. Boston has virtually identical records with Porzingis in action (.758, 25-8) as without him (.769, 10-3 ). The difference is minimal. Last night's horrid loss to the Clippers may cause Celtics fans to lean towards blaming the trouncing on not having Kristaps on the floor. But maybe the Guys in Green were just plain flat and needed a few more offensive boards and second-chance points  in the first half ( per NBA.com's Kyle Hightower ): "The Celtics started flat, tying a season low for points in the first quarter (21). They also went the entire first half without registering a second-chance point." This was a contest where Porzingis' presence may have made a difference . Boston started the game sluggishly - and never recovered. A few early offensive boards, second-chance points by the big guy - aided by a block or two - may have made the difference. This morning, we hear various reasons fo...

 We know Doc Rivers is a good coach, but why does he keep going joining Celtics Eastern rivals? First it was three seasons coaching the Philadelphia 76'ers - until they fired him following a Game-7 loss to Boston in the conference semi-finals.  Now it appears he has become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks following the controversial firing of Adrian Griffin . So what's going on here. It seems obvious that Milwaukee wanted a seasoned, veteran coach to get them back to Championship caliber, but does Doc look to lead an Eastern Conference team to take out the top contender for the 2023-24 Title - the Boston Celtics?  Our guess is that it is both. When Rivers chose to leave Boston for the LA Clippers, it was clear h e did not want to coach a team on the rebuild. Well, that rebuild happened nicely without him , and there was no second Championship in Clipper-Land or the City of Brotherly Love. He wants a second Title , beyond the one with Boston in 2008. Will that h...

 This big guy seems to be the real thing - a bit of a throwback that doesn't score from any distance but does everything else quite well. Neemias Queta supplied 14  points, 12 rebounds (6 offensive) and three assists in Boston's 145-108 blowout of the Clippers in only 23 minutes  - while hitting 4-of-7 from down low and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Queta exhibited an array of soft layups and power jams . His teammates are constantly looking to feed him anywhere close to the hoop. Celtics Portuguese Man O' War becoming an integral part of Mazzulla's rotation and the reliable 3rd-string center Boston sorely needs. Neemias Queta - 14 Pts, 12 Reb, 3 Ast Full Highlights｜Boston Celtics vs ... https://t.co/yP26Lw2KYc via @YouTube — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) December 24, 2023   In eight games this season, The Portuguese Man O' War is hitting on 50.0% of his field goals and 76.9% of his free throws. The Boston Celtics may have found their third-string center . He ...

  The list is long - NBA superstars that have spurned Boston . Hell, even Jayson Tatum didn't want to be drafted by the Celtics . He preferred tha Phoenix Suns and the Arizona sunshine.  Kevin Durant wanted no part of Boston. Ditto for Anthony Davis. Now it's Damian Lillard expressing no desire to travel to Beantown. And perhaps soon-to-be-bought-out Chris Paul may follow suit in discarding Boston as a destination. NBA superstars seem to want the sunshine, warmth, beaches and "Party City" environments. They flock to the Lakers and Clippers in California, and Miami seems to draw a few. I personally think that the elite players don't shun the Celtics for any real-or-perceived flaw in the team's structure. I honestly think these superstars visualize a solid five months of cold weather - driving in snow - and not having the party atmosphere they can find in Miami or California .  We can't finish this piece without mentioning the bright lights and endorsem...

 The best duo in the entire NBA? Mavericks star, Luka Doncic, thinks it is the pairing of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown   ( per Yardbarkers Darryn Albert): Luka: “They’re probably the No. 1 team (Celtics) in the league, and they probably have the best duo (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown)  in the league too,” he said of Boston,  per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps . “And we’re in the Garden. It’s always a special game. You have to come 100 percent. If you’re not, you’re probably going to lose. It’s a big game.” The Celtics star duo bested another standout pair in Boston's 116-110 win over ther Clippers last night. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard need to be mentioned in any such discussion. The same with the 76'ers Joel Embiid and James Harden - Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kris Middleton (Milwaukee) - and Lebron James and Anthony Davis (Lakers). But when both Tatum and Brown are on their games - raining jump shots down on opponents and getting to the rim - they often seem unbeata...

  This will be short, but not quite so sweet! You can lose a game by playing the right way, but the Celtics 91-82 loss to the Clippers last night was wrong in so many ways - bringing up the question of what lies ahead. This loss hurts… We are going to be alright. Stay with us Celtics fans!☘️☘️☘️☘️ #together — Al Horford (@Al_Horford) December 30, 2021 Yes, we are staying with you, Al - all the way - but the Clippers zone defense was not the whole issue. Very often, Marcus Smart is the only Celtic fighting his way into the paint. Last night, Boston was 4-of-42 on 3-pointers. That's a whopping 9.5% from behind the arc and 34.7% from the field . Where was the penetration? Jaylen Brown was high-scorer for Boston with 30 points but ZERO assists. That seems a harsh reminder of the Antoine Walker days . Also, Brown was 1-of-13 from 3-point-land . WORST 3-POINT SHOOTING - CELTICS HISTORY (Minimum 20 attempts) 1-25 At Houston - Nov 1, 2014 1-21 Vs. New Jersey - Mar. 18, 2003 2-26 At Wa...

 Received Cedric Maxwell's book as one of my Christmas gifts, and it brought back memories of his time in Boston. Let me say this - I really enjoyed watching him play. We hear the nickname, Cornbread , a lot connected to Max, but I always liked the moniker, Rubber Band Man . It clearly described his resilient, wiggle-his-way-to-the-hoop-maneuver for a layup or a foul. Kevin McHale may have had better footwork close to the basket, but The Rubber Band Man was adept at getting a short-range shot up, with or without being fouled. @cedricmaxwell81 We never hear your nickname, Rubber Band Man, anymore. It all had to do with your resilient, flexible maneuvering under the hoop, getting the layup or picking up a foul. One of the best at it I have ever seen. — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) September 19, 2020   Maxwell may have peaked too soon . The 1978-79 season , his second in the NBA, may have been his most-productive season stats-wise. For a full season, he led the Celtics in poin...

      No George, No Leonard, No Problem??? Another late game in LA vs the other team out there.        1st Quarter       Have we heard this before? Drive The Ball       Watching this first quarter, we see how well the Celtics can get to the hoop. Why don't do they it more often? Smarts ability to get there and dish is very solid, DS is lightning quick and generally scores. JRich even took his turn yet missed. Today's game is driven by the three, but this teams bread and butter should be going to the hoop. Romeo was listening and went hard a few times.        Turnovers will hurt you       We saw some decent offense in the first, for a team on the second night of a back to back we shouldn't complain. The turnovers however deserve the complaints. To win this game, being sloppy isn't going to do it. We needs crisp passing, strong drives, and good shots taken. Protect the ball!!! Cel...

 This was going to be a trade-for-Domantas-Sabonis article, but I decided to keep things on a positive note. We often forget this was going to be a "bridge season" to "greener pastures" down the road . Well not sure this is really a moral victory but the effort was there after they dug themselves that hole. I also like what im seeing from Jayson except for the sloppy turnovers and that seems easy to clean up. — RyanBB (@GreenTeamer247) December 9, 2021 RyanBB must have read my thoughts . Were it not for an explosive game from an opponent named after the Celtics home tow n, The Green may have left with a win. Brandon Boston, Jr . was in flames with a team-high 27 points on 69% shooting. But Jayson Tatum , other than the six turnovers, revealed once again how special he is. He put up a team-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, while going to the foul line 10 times - making nine of them . The Celtics rely on this young star so much, things start to crumble when he is off ...

It wasn't just the Celtics 117-win over the Claw-less Clippers last night, but we should be seeing a lot more of the 9-man rotation that Brad Stevens put out there. There were no major surprises. Brad went with his two-big starting lineup featuring Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson, putting them alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker . Tatum had another off shooting night, but the four subs filled in nicely, with Payton Pritchard, Rob Williams, Jeff Teague and Semi Ojeleye combining for 38 points on 65% from the field and 64% on treys. Add do-everything dynamo back to the mix post-All-Star Break and acquire another player or two that Danny Ainge tells us probably won't happen - and this crew, aided by good health and good fortune,  can do some damage in the playoffs. “I can fix that” https://t.co/mctX81UcRb pic.twitter.com/4jOBAFsYSI — Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) March 2, 2021 Yes I am still plugging to see Al Horford back in Boston. Meanwhile, Kemba's r...

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-...

I won't be overloading my readers with tons of statistics here, so don't leave me. This is simply a rough comparison between the Celtics "Potent Pair" of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with the Lakers "Dynamic Duo": of Lebron James and Anthony Davis, in addition to the Clippers Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. All six players are regarded as high-level defenders, so I will stick to the 2020-21 offensive stats here. Here we go: Tatum/Brown:      53.9 PPG - 12.6 RPG - 7.3 APG - 2.4 SPG - 1.3 BPG James/Davis:         47.0 PPG - 16.8 RPG - 11.0 APG - 2.3 SPG - 2.3 BPG Leonard/George:  49.8 PPG - 11.6 RPG - 11.1 APG - 3.2 SPG - 1.2 BPG Not a lot of surprises here . The Celtics pair takes honors on combined points. Jayson and Jaylen are known as volume scorers this season. Lakers take it on rebounds and blocks, and with the size and athleticism of The King and The Brow, it would be expected. The Clips win on assists and steals (barely), and we see the...

The BOVADA betting site has given the Los Angeles Lakers the best shot at re-signing former Celtics guard, Rajon Rondo, to a contract. They also gave the Lakers LA rival Clippers the second-best odds of landing the veteran point guard.  Rondo's former coach, Doc Rivers is now in Philadelphia, so Philly lands in third place, tied with the Boston Celtics. I recently proposed a return to Boston for the irascible, 2-time NBA Champ, a move I envision as beneficial to both parties.  The reaction to the BOVADA odds generated a mixed reaction from Lakers fans on Twitter: Odds: Lakers -150 Clippers +550 76ers +650 Celtics +650 Bucks +1000 pic.twitter.com/KULFiKBqcP — 👑📍Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) November 14, 2020 I need DeRozan odds  I think sixers make alot of sense. history with doc and morey. also wants to be a coach. mentoring ben is a move in that direction  I don’t care where he goes as long as it’s not the Clippers!!!  Lebron James will have...

What goes unmentioned in the abrupt departure of Doc Rivers as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers is the role of Jerry West in the transition. "The Logo" only won one Title as a player with the Lakers, mainly due to the brick wall in the guise of the Boston Celtics. But he garnered eight Championship rings as an exec for the Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Between his stints with the Lakers and Warriors, West joined the Memphis Grizzlies as General Manager. He won no Titles there, but he turned around a franchise that was floundering (per Wikipedia): West's Memphis stint was not as spectacular as his Los Angeles stint, but he turned a franchise which was about to be sold into a reliable playoffs team, making few trades but getting the maximum from the players he had available (such as  Pau Gasol ,  James Posey  and  Jason Williams ) and signing coach  Hubie Brown , who became Coach of the Year in 2004 Jerry West came to the Clippers in 2017 as an executive boar...

As of this mornings ratings, FiveThirtyEight's poll has the Celtics with the best odds (21%) of winning the NBA Title. Boston also is rated as having the best shot (39%) of coming out of the East to challenge for the 2020 Championship. In the same analysis, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are neck-and-neck with the second-best odds (18%) to win it all. The Lakers, however, are favored (32%) to win the Western Conference Finals, with the Clippers following at 29%. #BeatPhila 🧹✔️ Big fight vs Toronto ahead. Let‘s do this @celtics 🦾☘️ #BleedGreen #BubbleTheis pic.twitter.com/XFkrLO6e8k — Daniel Theis (@dtheis10) August 24, 2020 In the East, FiveThirtyEight gives the Toronto Raptors a 10% chance of garnering a Title this season, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks at 9%. The Celtics' manhandling of the Philadelphia 76'ers in their 4-game sweep played a large role in 538's predictions. The fact that the Rockets, Lakers and Clippers all appear to be vulnerable cert...

I am not broaching the idea of Danny Ainge bringing Isaiah Thomas back to Boston without having given the thought a lot of consideration. Isaiah played his best ball in the 2016-17 season during a time which must have been the low point in his life, dealing with the death of his sister and a persistent hip injury. Isaiah Thomas on if he would be open to playing for the #Celtics again. “For sure, if the opportunity presented itself. I hold no grudges, and they know that. I have genuine love for Boston. If that were to happen, I’d love to be part of what they have going on. You never know.“ pic.twitter.com/JK4yaJp2Ab — Celtics Direct (@CelticsDirect) February 21, 2020 In 40 games this season for the Washington Wizards, IT produced 12.3 points per game in 23 minutes of floor time, while adding 3.7 assists/game. He shot 41% on both field goals and 3-pointers and 82% from the free throw line. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and subsequently waived, making him a free agent...

Marcus Smart always plays like he is on steroids, and hopefully this will not mean a random Enes Kanter-type drug test. But in last night's double-OT thriller, Marcus reminded his critics just how valuable he is to his team. In 45 minutes of play, he poured in 31 points on 10-of-20 FG, 5-of-14 3P and 6-of-8 FT, while adding in four rebounds, three assists and four steals. Marcus Smart bullied the Clippers 🔥 📊: 31 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL pic.twitter.com/YmJ378gDyF — Celtics Direct (@CelticsDirect) February 14, 2020 Marcus was just feeling it on offense. He was everywhere and did it all - isolations, 3-pointers, drives, turnaround jumpers and on-the-money passes to his teammates. He did all of this in the flow of the game, and it was obvious from the start that Marcus wanted this win and would control much of what went down on both ends of the floor. His four steals were masterful. Marcus Smart: Splash Cousin pic.twitter.com/wloewfqbqb — Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) F...