Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 We read and hear repeatedly that this Celtics team is not what Boston fans saw last season - meaning not only are their new important additions - but this version of T he Green is not expected to wilt against the once-again eighth-seeded Miami Heat. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis gives Boston a third major piece on offense and defense. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White add toughness on the defensive end, coupled with the ability to score big points on any given night. Last night, the Heat - minus Jimmy "Playoff Machine" Butler and "Scary" Terry Rozier - eliminated the Chicago Bulls from the post-season. The Miami crew are major underdogs versus Boston, but as the Celtics saw last year, anything can happen in the playoffs . It all starts tomorrow (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET) in Beantown. Butler is not expected back for a couple of weeks, but any thoughts by The Green that this will be a cakewalk could be disastrous. Owner, Wic Grousbeck , chastised his boys when they...

 We knew it was coming. The Charlotte Hornets have started their rebuild, and former-Celtic, Terry Rozier, is reportedly heading to the Miami Heat for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick . The Hornets rank 13th in the Eastern Conference standings - with a 10-31 record - and are going nowhere. Terry should strengthen the 24-19 Heat (6th in East) as Charlotte transitions into tanking mode. The Charlotte Hornets are trading Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat for a 2027 first-round pick and Kyle Lowry, sources tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 23, 2024 Rozier, who will be 30 years old in March, can play both guard positions, and we can expect him to play his best against the first team that traded him, the Boston Celtics - especially if the two teams meet in the post-season. 

 The Marcus Smart trade rumors are rampant. This proposal has Marcus, Tristan Thompson, Romeo Langford and a first-round pick going to the Pelicans for former-Celtic, Terry Rozier . The theory behind the idea is that the Celtics need a pass-first point guard. One of Danny Ainge's biggest regrets was allowing defensive ace, Tony Allen , to walk away in free agency. In my estimation, Smart has more value to the Celtics than Allen had at the time, and Brad Stevens should not trade The Wolverine away. Marcus will be in the final year of his contract this coming season, earning a bargain-level $13.8 million . This past season, he had career-highs in minutes (32.9 MPG), points (13.1 PPG), blocks (0.5 BPG) and guess what - assists (5.7 APG). The downside was his shooting. He only hit 40% of his field goals and 33% of his three-pointers. He will never be the second-coming of Ray Allen in the accuracy category, but he supplies energy, fire, ferocious defense and the willingness to do ...

 Despite the fact that the Celtics have the second-best record in the NBA (7-3, behind the Lakers), I still wonder what might have been if Boston had been able, and inclined, to retain Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier. In my December article, after the Charlotte Hornets upset the Brooklyn Nets, I cynically asked the question, "Why can't the Celtics get (and keep) players (Hayward and Rozier) like that?" Now I mean it. Charlotte sits in sixth place in the East with a 6-5 record and have won their last four games, including last night's 109-88 win over the Knicks. Gordon had 34 points in that one, hitting 11-of-17 from the field, 2-of-2 on treys and 10-of-10 from the foul line. Hayward is averaging All-Star-like numbers this season: 21.4 PPG (49&/38%/91%), 5.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.5 SPG   Rozier is not that far behind this year: 20.3 PPG (47%/44%/77%), 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 SPG Admittedly, if the Celtics had been able to retain both players, it is possible that they may ...

Is Rozier returning to Boston? Could happen . Yes, it happened last night! The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 106-104 with former Celtics, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier, leading the way with a combined  47 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. The question really has to be asked. Why can't the Celtics acquire and retain star players? Granted, Terry was traded to Charlotte in order to bring in Kemba Walker. Gordon simply walked away in free agency. But we may also add the Nets Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant into this conversation. To many Boston fans, Kyrie's departure in free agency was a blessing, but Durant choosing the Warriors over the Celtics in 2016 was a blow to the Beantown faithful. And Al Horford leaving town took Boston locals by surprise.  Boston's often-crummy weather can't be totally to blame. We can understand when players might head to warmer climes, such as Los Angeles or Miami - but Horford to Philadelphia? Charlotte is somewhat warmer th...

The Boston Celtics are now tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for best record in the NBA. After Boston's convincing 108-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, both teams have a 6-1 record. It was a close one, but 54% of respondents to my Twitter poll agreed with my stance that Marcus Smart needs to start over Jaylen Brown . Brad Stevens obviously did not agree with my proposal and went with Jaylen in the starting unit last night. I still feel strongly that Marcus needs to start games against strong teams with a superstar that needs to be slowed down - read the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo here. Jayson Tatum was high man for Boston with 23 points, and he was second in rebounds with nine. Tatum was right on target, shooting 47% from the field and 67% on 3-pointers. Gordon Hayward kept up his strong play with 20 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and six assists. Kemba Walker won the battle of the point guards over former-Celtic Terry Rozier. Walker scored only 12 points...

Last night said it all.  The Celts moved to 5-1 with a win on the road against a Cleveland team that has two monster rebounders on it in K Love and T Thompson.  In years past we would have been manhandled by such a big physical interior.  Not this season.  The Celts outrebounded the Cavs by a 45-44 margin.....proof positive that the Celtics can bang with the big boys. This Green Team is T-O-U-G-H - TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH. We rebound at every position.  Heck, Kemba grabbed 8 himself last night.  The dude truly is a beast on the boards from the PG spot. This is a totally underrated aspect of his game. So now that we have pounded the Bucks and beat Toronto on the way to building a 5-1 record, let's recognize the new guys who have joined the team this season.  Kemba Walker - I said it earlier.  Oh My God is this guy a tough SOB.  He defends at an incredibly high rate.  He takes charges.  And he rebounds.  The guy truly is everythi...

Former-Celtic, Terry Rozier has moved on to the Charlotte Hornets and is off to a good start in preseason play, at least on paper. The Hornets are 1-3 in exhibition, and T-Ro averaged 24.5 MPG, 15.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG and 1.3 SPG. For the four games, he shot 49% from the field, 47% on 3-pointers and 100% from the foul line. Pretty solid numbers. In a preseason 120-99 win over the Grizzlies, Terry put up a line of: 24P/7R/8A/2S. It all looks good on paper, but at least one NBA scout doesn't like him. Anonymous NBA scout doesn't hold back on the Hornets: "They’re gonna be bad. They might be the worst team in the NBA. Terry Rozier will put up a lot of points, but I don’t like him at all" https://t.co/UiW3l1xf1k pic.twitter.com/G0CACyWOnC — The Crossover (@TheCrossover) October 18, 2019 SI Staff : CHARLOTTE HORNETS They’re gonna be bad. They might be the worst team in the NBA. Terry Rozier will put up a lot of points, but I don’t like him at all. I just don’t k...