Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  Where is the drama in this season's version of the Boston Celtics? Hell, the major story may be the lingering Kristaps Porzingis injury , but fans are (sadly) getting used to that. The past drama of Payton Pritchard wanting more playing time or a trade has faded - with the 6'1" combo guard proving he was right all along . Despite starting zero games this season, he places fifth in minutes per game (28.6 MPG) on the team. He is having a great season. The Celtics have no one whining about wanting (demanding?) a trade a la the Heat's Jimmy Butler . And there is zero chance of Joe Mazzulla getting canned early in the season - as did the King's Mike Brown. Boston was slated to have a fine season, and they now sit with the third-best record in the League. Despite a dip to mediocrity over the past 10 games (6-4 record) , they are 3-0 in their last three contests. But today, they face the team with the second-best record - the Oklahoma City Thunder, winners of their...

Former-Celtic, Marcus Smart may still be on the Memphis Grizzly's injured list , but he proved that he was not totally inactive when his team lost a close contest to the Sacramento Kings. With a bit more than one minute to go in overtime , Smart was called for two technical fouls and ejected from the game. Never known as a quiet presence , even on the bench, Marcus became a little too boisterous as his comrades were about to lose to the Kings. The refs didn't take kindly to his protests - and he was off to the locker room. If the Wolverine could not help his team out on the court, he was determined to do so from the bench. Marcus Smart ejected. 😳 pic.twitter.com/krERaCkCUD — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 19, 2024

 The Celtics rugged center, Neemias Queta , is starting to prove that this Portuguese Man O' War will never be described as a jellyfish ( per Wikipedia ): "The Portuguese man o' war is a conspicuous member of the  neuston , It has numerous venomous microscopic  nematocysts  which deliver a painful  sting  powerful enough to kill fish, and has been known to occasionally kill humans. Although it superficially resembles a  jellyfish , the Portuguese man o' war is in fact a  siphonophore ."  Queta is an absolute handful for opponents under the rim . He uses his 7-foot, 250-lb. frame to roughhouse his way to the hoop for layups and battle repeatedly for missed shots , particularly off the offensive glass. In the two road games versus the Warriors and Kings, he took down a total of 16 rebounds in limited minutes. Ten-of-the-16 were offensive boards. He is also a combined (2 games) 8-of-16 from the field for 50% accuracy. Queta's career stats show ...

 I am now into my seventh (7th) decade of following the NBA and Celtics basketball, and I am in total awe of Jayson Tatum and his game.  From his arrival in Boston, I have tagged as possibly the smoothest Celtic to ever take to the parquet. Tatum seemed to glide down the floor like no Boston player before him. But my argument was that the youngster, unlike his predecessor, Paul Pierce , always seemed to avoid contact. That has not changed to a large extent. Jayson's smoothess remains, but he is stronger and can take the buffeting on the way to the hoop - and still finish. He is a solid defender - skilled rebounder - and willing passer. Tommy Hainsohn once labelled The Truth as possibly the best scorer in Celtics history, but Tatum may take over that label. Originally, I placed Tatum's potential ceiling somewhere between Pierce and Larry Bird, and that may come to fruition. He is that good. MVP is far from being out of the question. In last night's 122-104 win over the Ki...

 The NBA trade deadline is February 10th, two weeks away. Celtics bulldog, Marcus Smart , is now eligible to be traded, and this his tenure in Boston will be in the limelight . Despite his shooting woes, I view Smart as a vital piece-of-the-puzzle for Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka . In the past two games, both wins for Boston, the fiery guard posted team-highs (+36 in each game) in plus/minus . Against the Wizards, he shot 4-of-9 from the field and 2-of-6 on treys - not bad. Versus the Kings, he took only three shots, missing all of them - but still came away with plus-36. NBCSports' Chris Forsberg  recently wrote that the Celtics quartet (call if "core" if you see fit ) of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Rob Williams and Smart ranks fifth in the NBA in net rating when they are on the floor together: Working in his favor: The Celtics’ four-man lineup featuring Tatum, Brown, Williams, and Smart has a net rating of plus-15.3 in 363 minutes together over 20 appearances this s...

        1st Quarter        Open the game with a BANG! BING BANG BOOM JT for Three! JT to JB for THREE! So far consistent ball movement on offense. We need to see a sustained effort to keep the ball moving. If we can do that guys should be able to capitalize. RWill saving another possession on the follow up, getting an uncontested dunk! JT and JB coming out hitting haymakers! Gotta love the start.        Where can the Celtics find those missing pieces for the roster?! I feel we all know this team needs a true point guard. That doesn't mean I want the Wolverine gone. This roster also needs shooters who can compliment the Jay Team! We have to be proactive this deadline. Unless Brad knows something we don't about this current roster. Nice play on both ends for the good guys in green!        2nd Quarter       Need to sustain this lead and intensity. By no means do I expect the Kings to shoot t...

 At the 7:11 mark of the first quarter, it looked like this Summer League Title game night be a walkaway for Boston over Sacramento. The score was 12-2 in favor of the Celtics , but things got out of hand quite rapidly. The final score of 100-67 and a Sacramento victory tells most of the lurid tale. Payton Pritchard's shooting arm had to be fatigued from his 92-point output in the Portland Pro-Am. And the intense defensive pressure of the Kings' Davion Mitchell didn't help Payton's cause. He scored only six points on 3-of-9 from the field and 0-of-6 on 3-pointers . Many of his shots fell short of the rim, showing his fatigue. Sacramento's defense and transition points off Boston's 28 turnovers were the main culprits for The Green. The Kings only racked up seven turnovers in the contest. They picked up 18 steals to Boston's two, and made the most of those opportunities to score. The Kings were constantly firing away, totaling 95 shot attempts to the Celt...

Any true Celtics fan knows what Brad Stevens' ideal lineup would look like. The starting (and game-closing) five would all be in the neighborhood of 6'8", with the ability to score, in addition to the tenacity to defend any opponent of any size.  Brad is not alone when one of his shorter players gets caught in a mismatch down low. We cringe right along with him. That is why the Boston faithful may never see Isaiah Thomas back in Beantown - and why Kemba Walker is often included in trade rumors. The NBA Trade Deadline hits on March 25, and Danny Ainge has made it known that he is looking for "shooting with size"   via the Trade Exception. I have written recently on 6'8" wings, Aaron Gordon and Harrison Barnes being near-perfect targets to fill that need. The Magic's Gordon is currently out of action with an injury, and Barnes may be available from a Kings team that appears to be going nowhere this season. Either wing would be a nice fit in Bosto...

Let me be honest here. I have wanted Harrison Barnes on the Celtics roster since he was drafted 7th-overall in the 2012 NBA draft. He just seemed the right fit in Boston. At 28 years of age, he may seem a year or two older than what Danny Ainge may be looking for, but everything else works. His 6'8', 225-pound frame is tailor-made for Brad Stevens preferences and schemes. He can score, rebound and defend. But beyond that, he is used to playing third-or-fourth fiddle. In his lone Championship season (2014-15) with the Golden State Warriors, he took a back seat to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He is conditioned to not being the star of the show. That would work well in Boston. Keep an eye on No. 40 in Sacramento tonight 👀 @ChrisForsberg_ on why Harrison Barnes is an ideal TPE target for the Celtics: https://t.co/Ejtc8IAexn — Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 3, 2021 His present team, the Sacramento Kings, currently sit in 11th place in the...

This move may be lost in the archives, but yes, in 1989 Red Auerbach traded Danny Ainge to the Sacramento Kings. Danny was in his prime at the time, and Bill Russell was the General Manager of the Kings. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale were nursing injuries and not getting any younger. Big men, Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney came to Boston in the trade in an attempt to shore up the center and power forward spots. . This is ironic since Ainge later criticized Red for keeping players on the roster well past their prime. But it was Ainge in his prime that Auerbach sent packing. Danny got a small bit of revenge on Red in Sacramento on December 27, 1989. Ainge poured in 39 points against his former team - grabbed six rebounds - and handed out nine assists. But the Kings lost in overtime, 115-112, with Bird coming close to matching Danny's scoring with 37 points. The King's loss was the only glitch in Danny's revenge, and you can bet that he cherished every shot that hit its mark. ...

I drafted Marcus Smart for my Fantasy Basketball team, and I am reaping the rewards. His offense is slowly catching up with his runaway defense, and he is piling up Fantasy points for my team, just as he continues to make winning plays for the Celtics, particularly in the fourth quarter. Flashback to May of 2017 when so many NBA fans were badmouthing Marcus for what they viewed as ill-advised shots and erratic play. Former-Celtic, Chauncey Billups had a few words of his own back then: Y'all say what u want about Marcus Smart but that kid makes winning plays every game in the 4th. — Chauncey Billups (@1MrBigShot) May 22, 2017 "Winning plays in the 4th?" Well, Smart did it once again last night as the Celtics tweaked out a 103-102 win over the Sacramento Kings. In the final 49 seconds of the contest, Marcus made several critical plays that decided the game in Boston's favor. With the score tied at 99-99, he put up a fadeaway 3-pointer that bounced around and finally ...

With Kemba Walker out of action with a neck strain, two-way player, Tremont Waters, came off the bench in Boston's 103-102 victory over the Kings and clearly demonstrated he belongs at the NBA level. Tremont logged 19 minutes and came away with seven points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, two blocks and a team-high plus/minus of +20. No other Celtic was even close to that plus/minus score, with Semi Ojeleye coming in second with a +10. Waters was only 1-of-5 on 3-pointers but the one he made was from way down town. Tonight's Drain of the Game is presented by John’s Sewer & Drain Cleaning. Tremont Waters hits a 3 in his NBA debut pic.twitter.com/CwuFc5NdbC — Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 26, 2019 Tremont is multi-skilled (check his stat line once again above) and damn clever - with and without the ball - and on both ends of the court. His ball-handling and passing prowess may be his best attributes, but his defense and scoring ability make...

Celtics guard, Kemba Walker, has not been totally ruled out for Boston's rematch with the Sacramento Kings this evening. The Kings came away with a close victory (100-99) over The Green on November 17, ending Boston's 10-game winning streak. The Kings' Buddy Heild was a Celtics killer in that one, pouring in 35 points, along with six rebounds. The fact that Walker is even a possibility for tonight's contest is amazing. His head-first collision with teammate, Semi Ojeleye, must have felt like ramming his head into an oak tree. But he is now listed as "doubtful" for the game ( per NBA.com staff ): Walker, who was hurt on a collision with teammate Semi Ojeleye, was released from the hospital late that evening and didn't practice Sunday but did work on an exercise bike in the unlikely case he gets the call against the Kings. "He's been good, and he feels good," coach Brad Stevens said. "It's kind of a minor miracle based on what we...

According to Chris Forsberg, Kemba Walker is officially listed as "doubtful" for the Celtics game against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow. Kemba suffered what looked to be a horrendous neck injury against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, and many, including this writer, envisioned him being out of action for at least several games. But the "doubtful" status for the starting point guard may mean he will be 100% shortly, and that is certainly good news for the team. Further medical tests, however, may be planned, and stay tuned for more updates. From the Celtics: Following further examination in Boston, Kemba Walker will be listed as doubtful against Sacramento with a neck sprain. He remains under evaluation and further updates will be provided as appropriate. — Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) November 24, 2019 Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel, @CausewayStreet and Facebook

The 10-1 Boston Celtics faced the undermanned 4-7 Sacramento Kings on the road yesterday, and just couldn't get it done - final score Boston 99, Sacramento 100. Marcus Smart's last-second floater hung on the rim, seemingly forever, and then dropped out. Marcus Smart talked to Amanda Pflugrad about the need for the Guys in Green not to ever get too high when things go well, or too low when they fall apart. Tonight's loss is a learning experience for Marcus Smart and the Celtics! #CUsRise pic.twitter.com/QeSjuMwnHc — Celtics Nation (@CelticsNationCP) November 18, 2019 The Kings were without point guard, De'Aaron Fox and power forward, Marvin Bagley III, both out with injuries. The Kings Buddy Hield played like an All-Star, pouring in 35 points on 14-of-24 from the field, including seven 3-pointers. This game should not have come down to Smart's end-of-game floater. Marcus Smart was SO close to winning Boston’s 11th straight pic.twitter.com/PhgrDXAHaT — Shane You...

The Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings are not cooperating with Danny Ainge's plans in the 2019 NBA draft. All three teams are outperforming expectations in the early-going this season. Here are the picks currently owned by the Boston Celtics in the first round: Philadelphia/Sacramento: top-1 protected Memphis: top-8 protected LA Clippers: top-14 protected Boston: their own pick The Clippers are rebuilding - have no stars on the roster - and have the best record in the Western Division. The Grizzlies sit just behind the Clips, and neither team was expected to be nearly this successful . The Celtics were originally lusting after Sacramento's pick which was projected to end up high in the lottery . If the draft were held today, Boston would get the Clippers pick at roughly #27 in the first round - the Memphis pick at #26 - the Sacramento pick at #18 - and their own at #13 . It is early in the season, but few would have predicted any of...

There are some problems developing in the Sacramento Kings organization, and that could be to the Celtics advantage. Boston owns either Philadelphia's or Sacramento's first-round pick, top-1 protected, and right now the Kings occupy the 11th slot in the Western Conference. The major disagreement appears to be between the King's front office and coach Dave Joerger. Joeger has elected to go with his vets, with his younger crew not seeing significant floor time ( per Yahoo Sports Chris Haynes ): Sources said the franchise is growing frustrated with how Joerger is distributing minutes and assigning roles to the team’s young prospects. The front office views this season as a development year, sources said, but it was still confident that the team would be competitive and grow with Marvin) Bagley, promising guard De’Aaron Fox, and forwards Harry Giles and Skal Labissiere meaningful minutes. Joerger, generally regarded as one of the best X’s and O’s coaches in the league,...