Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 The hole left by the "departure" of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday - plus the Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum leaves a major void in the Celtics starting-5 . In some may view as a "rag-tag" roster - still under construction - the starting point guard and center slots may just be filled with Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta - at least to start the season. My personal preference is to give the little guy a shot . Pritchard deserves it - and may flourish in that role. His per-36-minutes stats from last season are: 18.1 PPG - 4.9 RPG - 4.4 APG - 1.1 SPG - .472 FG - .407 3s - .845 FT I don't want the little guy to disappear from the NBA or the Celtics parquet. Guys like K C Jones, Isaiah Thomas and Rajon Rondo were exciting to watch and all three had success in Beantown.  And the old-school center - that rebounded, protected the paint and the rim, and scored in close - has been around since the Bill Russell era . The "stretch-5" is a somewh...

  Jayson Tatum may not be Superman on the court, but he certainly is the Celtics "Iron Man" . He rarely misses games and leads his team in five key statistical categories.   Is he "soft"? I think not. Here are my -eight tough Celtics players from the past as compiled by my readers when I wrote for another blog. Bill Russell . Few in the NBA at the time could handle Russ in the middle. He rebounded and defended like no other. He averaged 42.3 minutes per game in the regular season over the course of his career - and 45.4 MPG in the post-season. He backed down to no one - including Wilt Chamberlain. Larry Bird : Larry could play either way - as a finesse guy or a hard-working warrior. He was tough - both mentally and physically. Never forget his head bouncing off the floor in that crucial playoff game versus the Pacers - and his triumphant return to the court to the surprise of everyone watching the game.  Isaiah Thomas : I am not talking "toughness-per-inch...

  Payton Pritchard and the Celtics are off to a great start this season, and there is a correlation there . The 6'1" guard is averaging an efficient 16.5 points per game - hitting on 47% of his field goals, 43% of his 3-pointers, and 96% of his free throws . Pritchard also rebounds well and works his butt off on defense - but his one weakness (other than his lack of height) would be his passing skills. Some may feel his lack of height is to blame for his low assist rate this season (2.5 APG) , but two former 6'1" Boston guards may prove that theory wrong. K C. Jones , at 6'1" averaged 5.5 assists/game as a starter in Beantown, and later in the Celtics history, Rajon Rondo (also 6'1") averaged 7.9 APG for his entire career. And while we are on it, Isaiah Thomas - generously listed at 5'9" - averaged 5.8 APG in his three seasons with The Green . Being able to see over the opposition may be an asset to any NBA player trying to get the bal...

 It was  October, 2006 , and the Boston Celtics were in Manchester, NH for an exhibition game against the Cavaliers. As my wife and I entered the lobby of the arena, several younger members of the Celtics had been sent out to greet the fans.  Among the players was rookie Rajon Rondo , and he absolutely looked like a "deer in the headlights" . I will never forget that look.  The team at the time also included Paul Pierce (of course), Ryan Gomes, Tony Allen, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine, Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West. Doc Rivers was at the helm. In the previous exhibition contest, the rookie R ondo had a great game in Boston's loss to the Toronto Raptors ( per Toronto City News ) "For the visitors (Celtics), rookie Rajon Rondo poured in an impressive 29 points, including a buzzer beating three pointer that forced the extra frame." I guess that told Doc Rivers (and us) that Danny Ainge made a solid move in acquiring this 6'1", 180-lb ...

  Rajon Rondo has retired from the NBA. I remember a young Rajon playing at the University of Kentucky, then when the C's traded for him. Rajon to me had his best years as a Celtic. He holds a special place in Celtics fans hearts since he was part of the last Celtics title team. Rajon was a dog on defense, and an incredible passer. When called upon he could score and especially during primetime games. He had plenty of spectacular moments and plays during his Celtics tenure. Rajon was acknowledged as an NBA All Star a few times. His tenure in Boston ended when it seemed he became a head case while Brad Stevens was coach.  Going through the list of teams he played for was more vast than I expected. There's one team he played for that really boils my Celtic blood. He played for the hated Lakers and was part of the Disney produced bubble title. The most fabricated title in the history of sports. With that said he's the only player to win a ring for both franchises. I will alway...

 The Celtics coaching staff may be about to be depleted even more. Per the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn , assistants Ben Sullivan, Aaron Miles and Mike Moser are expected to join Ime Udoka's staff in Houston. Former Celtics assistant, Damon Stoudamire , already left Boston to be head coach for Georgia Tech. So here come more headaches for Celtics head honcho, Brad Stevens . He may be still mulling whether to keep going ahead with Joe Mazzulla as head coach, and Celtics fans appear to be divided on that same subject. In my recent Twitter poll, the majority of responders chose to keep both Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown (43.8%), while 18.1% voted to get rid of both. We will be following & writing about the Celtics reshaping the team somewhat over the summer. Started with the situations of Joe Mazzulla & Jaylen Brown. We are interested in your input. https://t.co/sHmH63uA0c — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) May 31, 2023 Maybe it's time to bring another former NBA player into...

  Marcus Smart is not a "true" anything - except one Hell of a pro basketball player that does what is required to win games.  Boston has had its share of "traditional" point guards - Bob Cousy, K C Jones, JoJo White and Rajon Rondo , to name a few. But The Green fared quite well in the 80's with a non-traditional back court pairing of Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge . The Celtics even tried Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker in that role, both of which, for varioous reasons, didn't work out. Now comes Smart at the point - with a lot of fans, analysts and sports writers naysaying the trial as a future failed venture. Why? Because supposedly, the Celtics needed a true point guard to guide them - not some defensive specialist whose offensive game often sputtered. All that has changed. Marcus Smart is orchestrating a team that has the best record (17-4) in the NBA and often produces vibes of being able to waltz into possession of the 2023 Championship trophy. Marc...

 The Celtics system designed by Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka relies heavily on switching defense, meaning guys with sufficient size and strength to handle the task. At 6'1" and 195 pounds, Payton Pritchard may seem out of place . The stats for the post-season, and the eye test, indicate otherwise. Although Payton is averaging only 13.6 minutes per game in the playoffs, his per-36-minutes stats reveal : 14.5 PPG - 5.5 RPG - 4.8 APG - 0.6 TOsPG - plus/minus of +9.5 - 46.5% FG - 37.7% 3s Admittedly, Pritchard's lack of size is sometimes exposed on the defensive end , but he can score from anywhere - takes care of the ball (0.6 turnovers per game) - and works hard on defense . He can get exposed on Ime Udoka's plan to switch one-through-five, but this kid belongs in the League . So what happens from here? That may depend on the outcome of this season. Has the "Little Guy" in Boston become a thing of the past. I hope not . Memories of Bob Cousy, K C...

 What are the Celtics waiting for in the hiring of their next coach? To talk to Mike D'Antoni now that the Nets are out of contention? For Rajon Rondo to finish his season - retire - and potentially head to Beantown as a rookie coach? We hear that a black coach is needed to replace Brad Stevens . Maybe. How about a female at the helm? Possibly. The problem is that both courses narrow the field of candidates. There are only seven black head coaches dispersed through 30 teams, but three of them are now immersed in the NBA Finals . That fact can not be ignored . The Boston Celtics in their search for their next coach need to avoid the extremes - meaning they need to choose the best individual available regardless of color, gender, religion - or any other designation. They can not narrow the field by attempting to lure only black men or women of any color. And don't make the same mistake by limiting choices to only white, male candidates.  Nor can they neglect to go for the ...

The Celtics have not had much luck over the past years in drafting quality players late in the first round . Rajon Rondo does come to mind, being acquired on draft night in 2006 from the Phoenix Suns who took the 6'1" guard at #21. The 4-time All-Star won Championships with both Boston (2008) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2020).  Now comes Payton Pritchard , snatched with the 26th pick in the 2020 draft. After nine games this season, the 6'1" rookie has opened some eyes in Beantown. The 9-game sample is small, but the Oregon product has played like an NBA veteran since his first appearance as a member of the Celtics. Although not a direct comparison of both players, their rookie numbers are somewhat similar: Rondo: 23.5 MPG, 6.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.8 TOs/game Pritchard: 22.9 MPG, 8.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.8 TOs/game Payton is the better shooter in all three categories, but Rondo, even today, is still not known as a dead-eye marksman.  Rondo: 4...

Bringing in Jeff Teague as some guard depth this year could end up being a monumental move for this year's Celtics team. Teague is a well respected veteran in the league, and having gone to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015 with the Atlanta Hawks, knows what it takes to win tough games. Here's a brief look at why I think Jeff will be a great fit with the C's Every Celtics fan loves Marcus Smart , due to everything he brings to the table, from the defensive intensity to scoring outbursts. For all the good things he does, Marcus excels off ball, and can have his effectiveness diminished when he is forced to be a primary ball handler. He is often pigeon-holed into that role with the second unit (or when Kemba is out), and Teague's addition will hopefully allow him to play more off-ball and maximize his abilities.  At the deadline last year, Teague was traded to the Atlanta Hawks to play alongside Trae Young. His usage rate and effectiveness dipped considerably, as he ...

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...

With all of the trade rumors taking flight, the NBA news front is looking like Logan Airport. The latest buzz has the Pelicans Jrue Holiday coming to Boston for either Kemba Walker or Gordon Hayward. But frankly, Danny Ainge does not have to pull of the deal-of-the-decade to get his team back to the Finals. Flash back to the 2018 Eastern Finals when Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Terry Rozier gave the Cleveland Cavaliers all they could handle in the 7-game series.  Al and Terry are gone, as are Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris, but Daniel Theis and Kemba Walker are now on board. And the present Green Crew battled well in the Eastern Finals once again. Tweak #1 is: Aron Baynes needs to come back Baynes is a proven veteran that knows the Celtics system and brings toughness and physicality ( see tweak #2 ). He earned $5.5 million last season and is an unrestricted free agent. Celtics need more strength, toughness and physicality The 2019-20 version of the Celt...

Most of you can recall what happened during the 2004 NBA draft. The Boston Celtics had the 15th, 24th and 25th picks and used them effectively. High-schooler and big man, Al Jefferson was snagged at number-15, and tough-nosed guards Tony Allen and Delonte West were taken with the 25th and 24th picks, respectively. Jefferson acquired most his fame as the major piece in Ainge acquiring Kevin Garnett from Minnesota, but he also had a solid 14-year career with his superior post moves and rebounding prowess. Allen also had a long NBA career, earning a Title ring with Boston in 2008. But it was in Memphis that he truly starred, earning the moniker of "Grindfather" with his relentless defensive efforts, while also being named to the All-Defensive First Team three times and All-Defensive Second Team three times. Despite his recent battles with mental illness and addictions, West became Doc Rivers' starting point guard in the 2005-06 season, averaging 11.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 4.6 APG...

Rajon Rondo has been pegged by many as a future NBA coach since his early years with the Boston Celtics. The two-time Champion has won Titles with both Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers and has four All-Star appearances to his credit. If he chooses free agency, coming back to Boston - first as a member of the rotation - and finally as an assistant coach makes a lot of sense. Rondo will turn 35 years old in February, so a 2-year deal with a player option for year #2 might be sufficient bait if a promise of a coaching position is attached. The Louisville product is expected to opt out of his 2020-21 deal with the Lakers for $2.6 million and head into unrestricted free agency.  In the 2020 playoffs, the 6'1" point guard produced 8.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.6 APG and 1.4 SPG in an average of 25 minutes of action. Long gone are the days when defenders would back off from him when he had the ball at any distance from the hoop. In the post-season, he hit 20-of-50 3-pointers for 40% accuracy....

I have placed 32 Celtics players into eight seedings and came away with what I feel is the best crew to win a crucial contest. Larry Bird over Bill Russell was a tough call, but I went with Larry's versatility. There is nothing he does not do well. Dave Cowens over Kevin McHale was difficult, but I went with Dave's blue-collar, lunch bucket mentality. Dennis Johnson at #3 was my choice - and a controversial one. He was simply a fabulous 2-way player, and his synergy with Bird made the decision. I went with Marcus Smart and Larry Siegfried because of their toughness in the back court. And Rajon Rondo? I needed another floor general out there, and he fits the bill. Al Horford is in there to add more size, playmaking and defense. My 8-man rotation. What's yours? 1- Bird 2- Cowens 3- DJ 4-Reggie 5-Rondo 6-Horford 7-Smart 8-Siegfried — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) March 31, 2020 You will most-certainly disagree with my seedings and 8-man rotation - and you should. There ar...

Marcus Smart will almost certainly pick up a fine for his rant to the officials after Boston's 129-120 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night. A suspension is also a possibility. He doesn't care. The current Celtics squad is certainly a legitimate Title contender, but they lack the internal fire - except for Marcus Smart. Red Auerbach had it. Danny Ainge had it. Larry Bird certainly had it, and so does Marcus Smart - that internal fire that drives the emotions and physical play. Red would punch people out and then accept the consequences. Danny was all-emotion on the court and had his share of physical clashes. Ditto for Bird. Marcus Smart’s heart, tenacity and pride is @celtics to the core. From Bird, to Russell to the Big 3 era, he would’ve been able to fit in with any Celtic team in history. He is 100% what the pedigree of the Boston Celtics represents! — Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 27, 2020 The present crop of Guys in Green are a finesse grou...

I am giving my readers four choices for the top, all-time Celtics point guard, projecting that player propelled into the 2019-20 season. One of the choices, Rajon Rondo, is here already and playing for the Lakers. Two others, JoJo White and Dennis Johnson, have sadly left us. Bob Cousy fortunately, is still with us. In a previous article , I gave my arguments for putting DJ as my choice, with JoJo as his backup. He had size, savvy and a terrific sense of team play. And he was a fierce, dedicated defender. I also have written on legend, Bob Cousy, having less stature in today's NBA . But I understand those that may aggressively disagree. My readers will notice that I chose point guards from four eras, the 60's (Cousy), 70's (White), 80's (Johnson) and 2,000's (Rondo). That was not intended. It just fell that way. Here's your chance! Putting him in TODAY's NBA, who's your top Celtics point guard - all-time. Vote for a starter and backup. And tell ...

Former-Celtic, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul just never get along. Saying they don't like each other simply understates the issue between the two NBA point guards. When an unidentified man mistook Rondo for CP3, the Laker guard was displeased - to say the least. Rondo was ready to swing at this man for calling him Chris Paul pic.twitter.com/mRn2ARPbnr — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 3, 2020 There is clearly hate in Rondo's expression, and we can see the same anger in the October 20, 2018 confrontation between Rondo and Paul. It was the Lakers versus Rockets - and Rondo against CP3 in what came to be known as SpitGate . #SpitGate Part 2 WAS IT MELO???? pic.twitter.com/59wz1xVVef — Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 21, 2018 Whatever case Rondo's making, NBA is evaluating a video clip captured courtside that shows saliva/spit shooting from Rondo's mouth onto Chris Paul's face. It appears Rondo will have to sell league on fact that it was unintentiona...

Because this incident involved two former Celtics players, I took a closer look at Kyrie Irving re-injuring his jaw this morning when his Nets took on the Lakers in exhibition. Even though some news feeds and tweets seem to indicate the Lakers' Rajon Rondo caused the re-injury to Irving's face, that may not be totally correct. Closer analysis of "Kyrie Irving injury by Rajon Rondo" incident Kyrie Irving Injury By Rajon Rondo On Fractured Face In Debut! Nets vs L... https://t.co/5KjzrgDAZ4 via @YouTube — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) October 10, 2019 An announcer in the video states, "He (Kyrie) leaned into Rondo's shoulder" - which appears on close examination to be the case. Irving was wearing a protective mask at the time of the contact due to a previous facial injury. I ask the question, why was Irving even playing if the original injury made his jaw so vulnerable. I also ask why Rondo was made the villain once again by some. to me it looks like...