Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 Celtics fans saw it all from Payton Pritchard in the Celtics win over Chicago. First of all, he pulled down seven rebounds , and four of those were off the offensive glass. He uses his lack of height to be all-but-invisible when an errant shot comes off the glass or rim. He has great timing and the physical strength to hang onto the ball. His 29 points were the second-team highest behind only Jayson Tatum. Payton shot 10-of-16 from the field - 7-of-11 on threes - and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.  His terrific body control are most on display when Pritchard takes the ball all the way to the hoop . Not being particularly quick, he needs that body control to finish on his drives - and it works. Above is the game shot chart for Pritchard. No mid-range for him, apparently. It was go for the long ball or take it in.  Payton is already in the conversation for 6th-Man-Of-The-Year , and just keeps getting better as the season progresses. The last Celtic to cop the John...

 Five (5) ex-Celtics players are not having a great week. It starts with the Big One! Adrian Griffin: The Milwaukee Bucks just fired Adrian Griffin . Griffin was hired as Head Coach by the Bucks this past summer, and despite the team's 30-13 record (2nd in East) , management apparently wants a veteran presence on the bench, and former Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers , may be that guy to take over. Rob Williams: Williams III was sent packing to Portland this past summer and was quickly out of action for the remainder with another injury. Rob's injury history does not bode well for a long, productive NBA career. And he may be on the trading block once again. Malcolm Brogdon: Brogdon was also traded by Boston to the Trailblazers this summer, He is having a fairly-productive season thus far - when he plays. But he has already missed nine of Portland's 43 games due to recurring injuries. And his team sits only behind the Spurs in the West with a 12-31 record. Marcus Smart: Since ...

 Three years ago, I broached the idea of Brad Stevens giving Jayson Tatum more time at the point guard spot - and took some heat from readers. The title of the piece was: Putting Tatum at the Point Sporadically Could Fast-Forward MVP Contention Now, prior to the 2023-24 NBA season, it appears that the 6'8" combo forward will play more than "sporadically" at the "one" spot. I think the Celtics play at a slower pace when Tatum brings the ball up, but he has proven he can initiate the offense effectively. It speaks to Tatum's ability to adapt to what his team needs. It's hard to come up with a situation where he's a bad fit. pic.twitter.com/SICug6BnL5 — Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) September 21, 2023 Jayson's name should be in contention this season for MVP, but his assist numbers would need to take at least a small leap. Logging more time at the point would also help to propel him into the oncourt leader of The Green.  . Derrick White ...

According to anonymous sources, granted anonymity because they were not authorized to give out this information, the Celtics Malcom Brogdon has been playing through an injury to his right arm ( per TheAthletic's Jared Weiss ):  Malcolm Brogdon  has been playing through a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm, team sources told  The Athletic. Brogdon suffered the injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to the sources, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. The  Celtics  guard was initially dealing with golfer’s elbow soreness during the second-round series against  Philadelphia , but an MRI after Game 1 against the  Heat  determined he exacerbated the injury by tearing the tendon in boxing out  Miami Heat  big  Kevin Love  midway through the first quarter. This would explain why the current Sixth-Man-of-the-Year has...

1st...  Here we are with a big game. I fully expect Jayson Tatum to show up tonight. We need to see stout hardcore defense tonight! I hope these refs don't make crucial calls against us as they typically do. C's definitely were shafted a few times last game. I for one am sick of watching Harden as a whole. With Embid he's a giant FLOPPER!  Malcom Brogdon is looking sharp as ever, hitting the three! GWill and RWill diving for the loose ball is good to see. Marcus beats the buzzer and the C'seas after one. The first quarter wasn't a bad start but the C's need to pour it on in the second.  The way Embid flops all over the damn floor is DISGUSTING! Hes a damn joke! 2nd... JT to Marcus for the ALley OOP! BOOM! Malcom for three! Dudes a damn assassin! Love seeing Tatum attack the giant FLOPPER! Embid seriously makes basketball unwatchable! As does Harden who really needs to let go of that hideous beard.  Everything about Hardens game is what's wrong with basketbal...

 Anyone else tired of hearing that stupid Hawk sound?! C's come out in the first and weather the Hawks storm. The passing was a little iffy, but they hit shots when they were needed. JT seems to be locked in despite not getting any calls. He gets no respect from the refs. When will they give this man some respect.  I absolutely love how both Malcolm and Derrick are playing tonight. Those two guys have been a joy to watch this season. This freaking Hawks team is absolutely annoying to watch. Trae Young is a pouty little baby who needs to be put to bed. Murray seems to be an overrated player in my opinion.  C's need to sure up their defense. JB lost the mask and the wrap and is stepping up now! I fully expect these C's to put the Hawks away either in this second quarter or in the third! I really want to see the D step up and send these mediocre Hawks home for the night. Rob Williams looks good tonight. Very active and spry on the offensive and defensive ends.  C's have...

 We here at the Sentinel called this earlier! Welcome your Sixth Man of the Year.... Malcolm Brogdon! He receives the John Havlicek trophy fitting isn't it! If this award had gone to anyone else I'd be sick to my stomach. What I love about Malcom is he was very thankful for the award, but said this isn't the trophy he came to Boston for. Gotta love that mindset!  Malcolm Brogdon has been a favorite of mine the day he was traded to the Celtics. I was on vacation when I heard the news and was pumped. He has not disappointed this season. Every time he enters the game, he brings a calmness. He's a smooth operator!  Whenever this team has needed a big basket he's right there. His ability to get inside and in the paint has been incredible. His three point shooting has been unreal this season. He's an assassin! Excellent passer, pretty solid rebounder and very stout on defense.  I fully expect him to win us a few games in the playoffs, by making big plays. The next tro...

  Robert Williams III is such a damn delight to watch . And his entry into Game-2 versus Atlanta turned the contest in Boston's favor. The Green were stumbling until Rob entered the game at the 6:45 mark of the first quarter - with the score at 17-9 with Boston trailing. Here's what then took place: 5:04 - Williams III layup on a feed from Jaylen Brown 3:45 - Defensive rebound by Williams III 3:37 - Layup by Rob on feed from Malcolm Brogdon 2:29 - Another layup by Rob on feed from Brogdon The first quarter ended with Boston leading, 28-25 . The Hawks were flying high until the appearance of Boston's SkyLord into the fray . Rob finished the game with eight points, five boards, one assist and two blocks. The Celtics are now uo 2-0 in the Atlanta series, with Williams III doing his efficient and effective work close to the hoop.  Did I mention what a delight he is to watch?

  The oddsmakers have it wrong . Most show the Knicks Immanuel Quickley having the best shot at being named NBA 6th-Man-of-the-Year over the Celtics Malcolm Brogdon. Immanuel Quickley's odds to win Sixth Man of the Year at @BetMGM +25000: Two weeks ago +6600: Last week +175: Before Celtics game -130: Now pic.twitter.com/AGcj6FXuAV — John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) March 6, 2023 Quickly's rise over the last month has a lot to do with his scoring and the fact New York defeated Boston ( per HardwoodHoudini's Eric Fritts ):  " Malcolm Brogdon was and still is among those with high odds but the favorite has shifted to New York Knick Immanuel Quickley, whose odds went from +175 before defeating Boston to -130 after, per MGM Sportsbook." Here are the comparative stats for both over the regular season: Brogdon: 14.9 PPG-.484 FG-.444 3s-.870 FT-4.2 RPG-3.7 APG Quickley:  12.2 PPG-.435 FG-.352 3s-.803 FT-3.7 RPG-2.9 APG The Sixth-Man-of-the-Year award is determined (or shoul...

 Jaylen Brown has won the Red Auerbach Award given annually to the player that "best exemplifies the spirit and meaning of what it means to be a Celtic" . It is a well-deserved honor for the star wing , but at CelticsSentinel we tend to focus on those members of The Green that may be somewhat-unheralded when presenting out CelticsSentinel Citation Award. Here are some thoughts from Tom and The Celtic Knight. Tom: My attention for our award goes to Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White . Brogdon was a starter in Milwaukee and Indiana before coming to Beantown. He has accepted his bench role with professionalism and grace, and he is a major reason Boston has such a winning record.  “Coming off the bench it can be a challenge sometimes, to be honest," Brogdon said. “That's where you've got to suck it up. You're not going to score as much. You're not going to play as much. I think that is what makes a great team - having guys that are able to do that. Guys tha...

First Quarter Moments  Blake Griffin gives up his body to start tonight's game! That's a Tommy Point! Fitting as the C's are honoring Tommy throughout tonight's game. DWhite opens up the scoring with a pure three!  How refreshing it is to have Eddie House with Mike Gorman tonight. JT hitting the paint hard draws a foul. Lately JT has been excellent at getting in the paint. C's ball movement has been very crisp. Now they need to start knocking down these shots.  Every time I see Kelly O and his man bun I get sick, why.... Because we could have drafted Giannis. In a basketball dream world, we would drafted Giannis and then the Jays in their prospective drafts. My oh my! Seeing these Tommy Heinsohn highlights, touches my heart. Boy do I miss him on these games. I was lucky enough to meet him at a game and he gave me his autograph. What I remember most was how kind he was to me. Memory Eternal Tommy!  JT has been excellent finishing with his left hand lately. Malcolm Br...

  Grant Williams didn't take the floor at all last night in the Celtics win over the Cavaliers, picking up yet anothyer DNP-CD. He has participated in only nine-of-the-last-15 Celtics contests .  His floor time in those nine games has been significant (19.9 MPG) - but not his production. In that span, he has averaged: 4.6 points 3.8 rebounds 1.4 assists 29.3% FG 25.8 3s plus/minus of -4.3 This doesn't bode well for the post-season. Boston essentially went 7-deep with Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon coming off the pine. That won't work in the playoffs. Sam Hauser and Mike Muscala also saw limited action, but Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet and Blake Griffin rode the bench the entire game Hopefully, Grant's stats lately are simply a limited slump, but his effectiveness as a rotation guy appears to be in question.

I know the NBA is a long season and this Celtics team sure needs rest. As a fan I'm feeling a little lonely without any Celtics basketball until tomorrow night. Last we saw this team they were watching the self proclaimed goat writhe on the floor like a toddler having a tantrum. Looking for a foul after he clearly traveled. A guy who wants to win so bad that he and Mr Glass sat out as his team lost to the Nets. Winning doesn't matter to him or the Lakers, what matters is this scoring record. The greats never play for stats, they play for wins.  Rant over because I could go on and on as to how he has ruined the game I love.  What's discouraging about this team is they play to the level of their opponents. That's why they lost to Orlando, Miami, and New York. I also see a bit of boredom too, do they believe they are that good?! To achieve the ultimate goal you need to put the work in every night.  What's encouraging about this team, is when they move the ball, it'...

 The Celtics 6th-Man-of-the-Year candidate, Malcolm Brogdon, is hard to define but I describe him as quietly-intense. One analyst on Twitter acutely portrays Brogdon playing basketball with "the personality of an 8th-grade world history teacher" . I get that, and I agree with the comparison: Malcolm Brogdon hoops with the personality of an 8th grade world history teacher Does that make sense? I think it makes sense — Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) January 29, 2023  Some may misinterpret that analysis, but not me. We are not looking at a loudmouth with child-like antics on the court . Malcolm is inwardly intense, professional and dedicated to the task at hand, but he hardly ever displays emotion. He and Payton Pritchard are very much alike in that sense. Now to the 6th-Man-of-the-Year battle . I won't bore you with the stats, but for bench players participating in 40-or-more games, his only competition is Benedict Mathurin or Russell W@estbrook . And for the past five game...

Why do I say historically speaking because both franchises are tied with 17 titles. Even though five of their titles belong to Minneapolis and they only started claiming them when they needed too close the gap on us! So in essence it's Boston 17- Lakers 12. If dig deeper it's really only 11, that bubble crap was not a real title. I've never held my feelings back about the Fakers and Leflop and I will continue to be a Bleed Green, Celtic Pride, I Am A Celtic, C Us Rise guy! We own the Lakers in regular season wins, and we own them in the Finals. We also own them in integrity, always winning the right way. While they get gifted players.    1st Quarter ☘️ JT starts things off with a great left handed layup. JT to the hoop and draws and foul! Boy do I despise James.....  LEflop James is the worst thing to happen to basketball in my lifetime. Guys chasing rings, and flopping their way into eternity. I'm also going to say he's a hypocrite, calls Boston racist yet owns par...

 This game was in question the whole way, but the Boston Celtics held the fort (barely) in overtime to take the game. And they answered some questions that have been lurking all season. Does the two-big pairing work? It sure does. Al Horford and Rob Williams combined for 34 points on 67% from the field, along with 21 rebounds - 10 of which off the offensive boards.  Is Al Horford ready for the rocking chair? Hell, no! He played 37 minutes and came up with three key blocks and two vital 3-pointers . The Dominican Gentleman won't be occupying that rocking chair at "The Home" anytime soon. Is Jayson Tatum's MVP status valid? It sure is. Despite poor shooting (33% FG, 31% 3s) on his 34 points, he showed how complete his skills have become. He has transformed into a superb rebounder, grabbing 19 boards in this one. He also racked up three steals, six assists - and shot a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. He does everything out there. How's Malcolm Brogdon d...

 I recently wrote about the importance of the Celtics holding their ground in the top-heavy Eastern Standings. Well, as of this writing, they are doing better than that - t hey are separating themselves from the pack. They still hold the top record in the League (32-12, .727) and are on a 6-game winning streak. They are trailed by Brooklyn (27-14) and Milwaukee (27-16). For the Nets and Bucks, injuries to Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo/Kris Middleton , respectively, come into play here. But the Celtics have been without Jaylen Brown for the last two games, both wins for The Green. Certain players have stepped up to fill the void created by Brown's absence. In last night's 122-106 victory over Charlotte , it was Malcolm Brogdon (30 points, 65% FG),  Al Horford (16/7/6) and Marcus Smart (13 points, 12 assists). Can the Celtics keep up their winning ways? It seems quite probable. Thus far they have weathered the blow of being without their second-best (some may think ...

 Good question! Let's take a look at what Celtics player's stepped up to supply Jaylen Brown's 27 points and seven rebounds per game in Boston's victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. It turns out six Celtics ( Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Derrick White, Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard and Malcolm Brogdon)   all surpassed their season averages to supply 27 extra points . The sextet did even better on rebounds, supplying an extra, combined 12 boards. It was Smart (16 points), White (15 points, 7 boards) and Kornet (11 points) who really stood out. You may notice I omitted assists in this discussion. Jaylen is only averaging roughly three assists per game so no fill-in was required in that category. However, Marcus filled that category by himself with 10 assists versus Brooklyn, campared to his 7 APG season average . So the answer to the title question may be "everybody". That's the way it should be.

 As a former Chemical Engineer , I have always had an issue with NBA analysts using the term "chemistry" when describing positive player-pairings or textbook team play. The reaction of various chemicals can be either destructive or "synergistic" . Let me explain. A stick of d ynamite or container of Tennerite requires a blasting cap or high-energy bullet, respectively, to explode . I have witnessed the explosive power of both, and the destruction each can cause. May I suggest the destructive effects that the inclusion of the volatile Kyrie Irving had on the welfare of the Boston Celtics. SYNERGY: (Definition) mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts) "Synergy" , on the other hand, suggests a beneficial combination of participants in an endeavor. There are no negative connotations here . Let me mention the extention of Al Horford's contract and the addition of Malco...

  This Celtics team is DEEP! In last night's 125-98 rout of the Phoenix Suns , The Green went 12-deep (8-or-more minutes) with usual subs, Blake Griffin and Grant Williams, filling in for Rob Williams and Al Horford. It is noteworthy that it was the bench crew of Sam Hauser, Derrick White, Luke Kornet and Malcolm Brogdon, along with Jayson Tatum , that ignited the surge in the final five minutes of the first quarter. The score was tied at 16-16 at the 4:51 mark, and the subs went on a 14-3 run. And Boston never loooked back. White, Brogdon, Pritchard, Kornet, Hauser and even Justin Jackson all logged 10-or-more minutes in this one, much of that in garbage time when the score was well out of reach for Phoenix. Garbage time is a luxury - and valuable for a number of reasons. Resting the usual big-minutes guys and allowing the youngsters to get some seasoning for the post-season works well for everybody but the fans of the opposing team. The Celtics bench crew accounted for 48 poin...