Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 Hugo Gonzalez is quietly making an impression on his coach, Joe Mazzulla. In last night's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, he was on the court for 30-plus minutes and led his team in plus/minus with a +3. The rookie contributed 13 points, six boards, three assists and two steals. "The Spaniard" is in fourth place in plus/minus this season ( per NBA.com's John Schuhmann ): "The Celtics have still outscored their opponents by 17.2 points per 100 possessions with González on the floor. That’s  the fourth-best on-court mark   among 332 players who’ve averaged at least 10 minutes in 15 games or more. (He’s the only player in the top seven who’s not on the Thunder.)" The kid is not particularly flashy but he is relentless on defense and opportunistic on offense. Coming into the League, Hugo was known for his defense, but his offense is better than advertised. He finds ways to score simply by being in the right place at the right time. As I recently wrote , Gon...

  "Trailblazers lose their minds with Simons-Holiday trade". That is the title of an article by   BlazersEdge.com's Dave Deckhard. Deckhard doesn't seem to like the Blazers trading away Anfernee Simons for the Celtics Jrue Holiday (to put it mildly) . His argument follows: Portland definitely did not get younger. Simons was 26. Holiday is 35. Portland did not save money. Simons was owed $27.7 million on his deal, the final year of an extension signed three seasons ago. Holiday will earn $32.4 million next year—more than Simons—and is owed $104 million for the life of the contract. That’s nearly four times what Simons is scheduled to make. Portland not only hard-capped themselves at the first apron of the luxury tax this year by taking back a player making more money than Simons (a theoretical issue since they weren’t going to exceed it anyway), they’ve seriously imperiled future cap flexibility by taking on Holiday’s contract. Portland did not get future draft capita...

 Well, it happened. Most NBA analysts had the Boston Celtics trading guard Jrue Holiday this off-season, and now the 2-time All-Defense combo guard is heading to the Trailblazers in exchange for = 6'3", 200-lb. shooting guard, Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks. Simons just turned 26 years of age and averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists for Portland last season. He is listed as a shooting guard but has played the point position for the Blazers. BREAKING: The Boston Celtics have traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/2ycXQicGkT — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025 Taken with the 24th-overall pick in the 2018 draft , Simons is set to earn $27.7 million this season, the last season in his current contract.  The Celtics cost-cutting has begun. The loss of Jrue truly hurts, but this appears to be a trade that had to be made.

  Payton Pritchard verified once again that he needed more playing time to show what he can do to to help his team win. In the victory over the Blazers last night, the s hort, not-extremely-quick-or-athletic combo guard registered (in 41 minutes) 43 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. This season, Payton is averaging (almost) starter minutes (28.1 MPG) . He appears to be the front runner for 6th-Man of the Year . With increased floor time, it is not inconceivable for him to gain All-Star status before the end of his career. But the question still remains whether he will remain in Boston or end up as trade bait during the off-season. Pritchard has two more seasons after this one on his current 4-year deal with the Celtics. He will earn $8.3 million in the 2027-28 season under the current contract. That will be cheap money considering what the Celtics stars are making now and down the road. And Boston is certainly into cost-cutting of late. But a starting job with another team...

  NBA.com listed the Boston Celtics 20-game win streak as 1-of-10 Things we've learned halfway through the 2023-24 season (per Shaun Powell): " Celtics are clutch at home.  The  1985-86 Celtics  are considered one of the greatest teams of all time and they  went 40-1 at home . In that lone loss, they fell to an ordinary Blazers team, Larry Bird shot 6-for-29 and Boston had 26 turnovers. So anything’s possible. This year’s Celtics team is headed in the same direction in terms of home protection, having run the table so far. Jayson Tatum and pals have beaten the Bucks, Sixers and Wolves and dropped 155 on the Pacers at TD Garden. Denver’s up next ( 7:30 ET, ESPN ). If the Celtics mirror ’85-86 and maintain home-court advantage for the playoffs, how many teams are capable of beating them in a best-of-seven?" That 1985-86 Celtics crew is considered by many, including myself, to be the best NBA team of all-time. Bird, Parish, McHale, Johnson, Ainge, Walton, Sichtin...

 Brad Stevens is being aggressive!. First trading fan-favorite, Marcus Smart, effectively for Kristaps Porzingas - and now reportedly picking up 2-way guard, Jrue Holiday , from the Blazers for Rob Williams and Malcolm Brogdon. I am thrilled with the move! Williams III is a super-athletic, but apparently fragile, center/forward. It has become a habit with Boston fans to wait for his next extended absence from the court. And if the reports are true on Brogdon's unhappiness with Brad Stevens' attempt to trade him, A trade elsewhere may have been necessary. Plus there was some question on his arm injury and the 6'5" guard's effectiveness this coming season. I view Holiday's addition as near-perfect in the Celtics quest for Banner 18 . Stevens may be on the way to establishing his legacy in the NBA.

  Let's get the Bradley Beal-to-Boston out of the way . The Wizards' guard is owed an average of roughly $52 million per year for the next four seasons - the last one being a player option. Sending Jaylen Brown or other players to Washington and taking on that kind of money is exactly what the Celtics don't want. Beal could end up in Boston with his long-time pal, Jayson Tatum , but the oft-injured Beal would have to arrive via some other path. Now to Brown's potential supermax deal. Should Brad Stevens go with that option, at best, that would reduce the team's wiggle room to roster an effective supporting cast . At it's worst, that move might cripple Boston's ability to remain truly competitive in it's quest for Banner 18. Now I present Option C . The NBA draft is one week away, and Stevens needs to consider sending Jaylen Brown to Portland for Anfernee Simons and the third-overall pick in the draft. Portland would have to send another player over ...

      1st Quarter       When JB hits his threes in stride it's as pure as organic honey, so damn sweet! Celtics fans can we give a shout out to Mike Gorman, just love him doing games. Just wish Tommy was still with him. Not an ideal start IMO, this is a weaker less talented team. Celtics should be coming out ready to bury them!        RWill with a huge block, yet no fast break off if it? JRich my guy coming in and making stuff happen. Drilling a three like he just struck oil! JRich with another nice offensive set with the floater that touched Heaven where my mom is. I'd like to think she guided that one home.        2nd Quarter       Celtics are getting rolled, didn't score until 9:30 left in the quarter come on guys. Unacceptable! How can an NBA team be so cold, really I don't get it. Someone needs to get to the rack and score. What is this team, because right now they look like losers. ...

  "Uncle Jeff Green's" Denver Nuggets blew away the Portland Trailblazers last night to the tune of 140-108 . Green must have heard the negative (and hilarious) vibes from Boston fans relative to his potential return (would be his 4th) to Beantown.  The feeling around Boston is that Jeff plays well when with Celtics rivals, but not in Boston . That played out last night as " Uncle Jeff" came away with 19 points (9-of-11 FG), five rebounds and three assists. At this point I would take Soylent Green. — The GOAT (@gsGOAT)  January 13, 2022  Despite his performance versus the Blazers, Beantown fan shows little support for the fourth return of Green to "The Green". And since 2021-22 was never going to be a serious-contention season, I will second that stance. Nikola Jokic & @unclejeffgreen were rolling in the @nuggets win! #MileHighBasketball Jeff Green: 19 PTS (9-11 FGM), 5 REB Nikola Jokic: 20 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST pic.twitter.com/8ktEH2jVvP — NBA (@N...

       Will the Celtics Blaze to a win? Let's hope they do! They are missing JB, Amazing Al, and Romeo where out thou Romeo. Will Ime get a win in his homecoming? Let's say Bleed Green, and we win! Celtic Pride for life!        1st Quarter        Who Steps Up In Al's Absence       Given how well Al played last night, and all season. Who will be the guy to fill that role? Will RWill be that guy? He's shown all year how valuable he is to this Celtics team. He keeps possessions alive with his effort, gets big rebounds, big blocks, and some hardcore hammer oops. Or could it be Freedom?! Now when I hear his name I think of the George Michael song!        Great First Say What?!      We saw a very well played first for this team, crisp passing, finding the open man and just making shots. Defensively they brought what they did last night into tonight's first. Giving effort and just...

 Can it be? Enes Kanter returning to the Boston Celtics? It  appears that it will happen. Free agent center Enes Kanter has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . Kanter returns to Boston to compete in the Eastern Conference title race. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 4, 2021 Kanter's career has pin-balled between  Portland and Boston the last several years, and thus fat, it looks like this is only a one-year deal in Beantown. The signing definitely goes against Brad Stevens seeming preference for an all-wing, defensive-focused lineup. Enes is an old-school, back to the basket, down-low scorer and rebounder. He is not an accomplished rim protector or defensive standout on the perimeter. But I like the signing. Right now, it is for the vet-minimum ($2.7 million) but that could rise somewhat. The likable Turk can be counted on to rebound and put up points under the hoop when other schemes fail, and I am sure he will...

      Damian Lillard is a guy who any team would love to have, and each and every fan base as well. When you watch him play, you say damn he's got no fear at al l. No moment is to big for him. He's got it all.  He can drive and get to the hoop. He's good at the midrange game. When you talk about his three point ability, you know he can knock it down from anywhere.       Taken sixth in 2012 Draft out of Weber State, the sky was the limit and expectations were high. He did not disappoint in his rookie year where he captured Rookie of the Year honors . He also made the All Rookie First Team . He made the All NBA team in 2018. He's a four time All NBA second team and one All NBA third team as well.       He's a six time All Star and the only other Blazer to ever do that was Clyde the Glide Drexler  Talk about some amazing company. Especially given the players who have graced the Blazers organization over the years. Dame has won t...

 The 129-119 loss to the Blazers last night was a tough one, but three newcomers to Boston lit up the score board, despite not having the "Green Light" mentioned by NBA analyst, Candace Parker. Rookies Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard, in league with newly acquired French import, Evan Fournier , supplied 39% of the Celtics points on 78% shooting from the field and 75% from 3-point-land. In reference to Parker's "Green Light" comment, a guest had broached a supposed sign Doc Rivers had posted in the locker room for the 2007-08 season , reading "No Dancing With The Ball" - obviously meaning that he didn't want to see iso-ball on the floor. Candace responded that the game had changed - Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had the green light to isolate at any point in the game - and that practice has become more common. Well, Payton, Aaron and Evan had no such liberty, but in the flow of the game, they put up 50 points on the board, hitting on 18-of-2...

Jayson Tatum was the star in the Celtics narrow 116-115 win over Portland , but it was reassuring to see Marcus Smart back to himself. This double-hustle play in the second quarter reassured Boston fans that The Wolverine had not been tamed . It was a diving (what else!)_near-steal close to the Celtics basket, followed by a run-the-entire floor for a major theft that really got our attention. . @JetBlue Play of the Game: Marcus Smart’s energy is unmatched ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Y27XXM4wVv — Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 14, 2021 Beyond his usual in-your-shirt defense and hustle , Marcus stat line was back where it should be. He was under control and never tried to put up major points.  36 minutes - 13 points - 4 rebounds - 7 assists - 2 steals - one block - 4-of-9 FG - 3-of-5 on 3's  Smart's main value to his team may be the disruption he causes opposing players. I have argued repeatedly in the past that Boston lacks toughness, and over a short span in the schedule, It was o...

Call it confidence or arrogance, but Larry Bird was so skilled, he would often horse around during a game - even the close ones. Against the Portland Trailblazers on February 14, 1986, Bird said that he was going to play the game left-handed because (as he stated), "I'm saving my right hand for the Lakers", the team next on Boston's slate. Larry Bird was so skilled, he would often horse around - even in a close game. This was one of those games. Read my article later today. Did Larry Bird Really Play A Whole Game Using Only His Left Hand? https://t.co/kZWbaoP8RA via @YouTube — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) March 20, 2020 This game was not a throwaway for either team. It went into overtime, ending in a 120-119 victory for the Celtics. Larry finished with a triple-double of 47 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, with 10 of his 21 field goals scored with his left hand, according to NBA.com . The 1985-86 Celtics squad also featured Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Denni...

Per Woj, Carmelo Anthony is scheduled to sign a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trailblazers. Melo has been out of NBA action for more than a year, but he maintains that he has remained in game shape. Neil Olshey and Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose of CAA Sports, had stayed in contact on Anthony since the preseason, sources said. Conversations picked up over the past two days, and Olshey and Terry Stotts talked directly with Anthony on Thursday before reaching an agreement. https://t.co/fRY5Cz5kba — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2019 Anthony's age (35 years) and lack of NBA involvement over the past year make this a questionable move for both Carmelo and the Blazers. But there appears to be nothing to lose by either party. Per sources, Melo is scheduled to join the Blazers immediately and was no doubt signed, in part, because of a shoulder injury to Zach Collins. Portland currently sits in 13th place in the West with a 4-8 record. Follow Tom at @CelticsSent...