Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

The Celtics remain mired in sixth place in the East with a losing (15-16) record. Expect things to change after the All-Star break, and certainly post-Trade-Deadline (March 25). That change could be in the form of different lineups, tweaks to the style or pace - or finally, some new faces. Boston's rotation is suddenly solidifying. Jeff Teague's appearances are dwindling, but Tristan Thompson seems to be finding his niche.  Rookie Aaron Nesmith has emerged from the mist, averaging 22.7 minutes per game over the last five contests. Over that span, he has hit 7-of-14 from the field - 4-of-10 on 3-pointers - and collected an encouraging 4.2 rebounds per game. Expect to see more of the ever-moving sharp-shooter after the break. Grant Williams seems to fading into the mist from whence Nesmith emerged, playing only seven minutes in Boston's loss to the Mavericks last night. Rob Williams? He saw 14 minutes in the loss, and despite some very-obvious improvement in his game, it...

As expected, Celtics boss, Danny Ainge, bypassed the February 6 trade deadline without making a move, and there is a good chance that fans won't see Danny acquire a player from the buyout market. The reasons for "Trader Danny's" bargaining lethargy include his contentment with the present roster, the odds for a bright future and the financial decisions over the next several seasons. Here's a quick look at the ghosts of the Celtics past, present and future. Ghost of Last Season The Ghost of Last Season was a sinister one indeed. Ainge has no desire to repeat it. The 2018-19 season was one of stagnation and turmoil. Thus, Danny's wish not to rock the Celtics boat that is floating high on calm waters. The Serene Ghost of The Present Trading prior to the deadline would have meant the departure of at least one member of the present Celtics roster. Since Vincent Poirier's contract is fully-guaranteed for next season, Javonte Green may have been a casualty. B...

"Trader Danny" Ainge avoids mid-season trades like the the plague, but this February 6th deadline may see that trend change. It is all about timing. If Ainge passes the deadline by without any moves, putting all of his chips on potential buyout candidates is simply too chancy. Players that are bought out and waived may already have a team other than the Celtics in mind. Here are some thoughts: Major trade shipping Gordon Hayward out Nix on this one! Gordon has deferred to his teammates this season , but has stepped up when the injury bug hit. In the last four games, he is averaging 36.3 MPG, 24.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 2.8 APG, while hitting 56% of his field goals, 47% of his 3-pointers and 91% on free throws. In what is, in effect, a contract season (player option for 2020-21), he has stepped back to allow the Jay Team to do their thing. But with Jayson Tatum out for several games, and playing limited minutes in the last contest, Hayward took over. He will do the same in the po...

Both the Sixers' Ben Simmons and Nuggets' Jamal Murray are being extended from their rookie contracts for five years and $170 million. A third member of that same 2016 draft class, the Celtics' Jaylen Brown, can't expect the same from Danny Ainge - at least not yet. Extending players on rookie contracts is a rare occurrence for Danny. It could still happen, but not before Ainge gets to analyze Brown's play this coming season and how that performance meshes with the rest of the team. Jaylen's minutes were reduced significantly last season from his 2017-18 campaign, and his numbers dropped accordingly. Still, on a per-36-minute basis, he showed 16.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 APG and only 2.0 TOPG, while hitting 51% on field goals, 35% on treys and 77% on free throws. With increased floor time and improvement in specific areas (read: passing), Danny may break down and lock him in long-term, maybe before he looks as old as this image projects. 🤣🤣 #IsItOctoberYet pic...