Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  We are talking Grant Williams here . You remember him - the Boston Celtics first-round pick (#22 overall) from the 2019 NBA draft. The 6'6" do-everything center/forward has made an appearance in five-of-Boston's eight playoff games thus far, averaging 13.8 minutes per game . Known for his 3-point accuracy, Grant has connected on 56.3% of his treys over that post-season span - but for some rerason, Joe Mazzulla has chosen to not call his name on a number of occasions. He has been called on to take those long-range shots, and he has become very adept - particularly from the corner. Williams has the weight and strength to guard the big men such as Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo , and surprisingly, appears capable of handling the smaller, quicker oppnents on the perimeter. Williams will be a Restricted Free Agent this summer , and the question remains whether he will end up in Boston. In the past, the Celtics lost two quality players to free agency , in part becaus...

 This is the second year in a row that the Celtics Marcus Smart has won the NBA Hustle Award , and the third time over a 5-year period. The Award is based on a number of hustle stats, including,     Deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs   Smart may play in the shadow of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown , but his contributions to winning are always there for everyone to witness. The 2021-22 Defensive-Player-of-the-Year knows his role - accepts it - and never backs down. Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is the winner of the 2022-23 NBA Hustle Award. Smart has earned the annual honor for the second straight season and the third time in five seasons. A look at his impactful effort plays ➡️ https://t.co/BltE74x3oT pic.twitter.com/TraGOE0jyh — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 4, 2023  Should the Celtics finally earn Banner 18 this season, The Wolverine will be one of the main drivers. It is just so rewar...

  Joe Mazzulla has made it clear that he wants the long-distance shooting barrage to continue versus the Philadelphia 76'ers, particularly with Joel Embiid doing his Wilt Chamberlain impression under the hoop on defense. And previously little-used Payton Pritchard fits that plan. In last night's blowout of Philly, Pritchard played the entire fourth quarter , producing eight points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal. Granted, the Celtics were ahead 92-65 upon his entry to the court, but the fact he can hit from anywhere on the court, sometimes in bunches (he was 3-for-3 last night) could mean fans may expect him to be the 9th-man, at least in this series. Payton Pritchard NBA player Highlights CELTICS vs 76ERS Play-Offs 03-05-... https://t.co/IgwJ09paJr via @YouTube — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) May 4, 2023 Despite what some may see as Payton being a liability on defense, he works hard at it. Barring injuries to Marcus Smart, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon , don...

1st...  Here we are with a big game. I fully expect Jayson Tatum to show up tonight. We need to see stout hardcore defense tonight! I hope these refs don't make crucial calls against us as they typically do. C's definitely were shafted a few times last game. I for one am sick of watching Harden as a whole. With Embid he's a giant FLOPPER!  Malcom Brogdon is looking sharp as ever, hitting the three! GWill and RWill diving for the loose ball is good to see. Marcus beats the buzzer and the C'seas after one. The first quarter wasn't a bad start but the C's need to pour it on in the second.  The way Embid flops all over the damn floor is DISGUSTING! Hes a damn joke! 2nd... JT to Marcus for the ALley OOP! BOOM! Malcom for three! Dudes a damn assassin! Love seeing Tatum attack the giant FLOPPER! Embid seriously makes basketball unwatchable! As does Harden who really needs to let go of that hideous beard.  Everything about Hardens game is what's wrong with basketbal...

  "The Process" in Philadelphia basically involved shameless tanking to pick up Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz . None of that trio were on the TD Garden parquet when the 76'ers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game-1 of the Eastern Semi's. Oh, the shame of it all! With Embiid out with a knee injury and Simmons and Fultz gone from the City of Brotherly Love, it was James Harden (45 points, 6 assists), Tobias Harris 18 points, 5 boards, 3 assists) and Tyrese Maxey (26 points, 4 steals) that too over, with former Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers gloating on the sideline.  The Celtics were heavy favories to take Game-1, particularly with the 76'ers big man out of action. But, alas, that was not to be. Boston seemed to rely on their offense to win the contest They shot 74% from the field in the first half but onloy led by three points (66-63) at the end of the half. That was the red light for Boston - as analyst Charles Barkley stated - the Celtics should have ...

 Remember the line, WHERES THE BEEF?! Well here's my line WHERES THE D! How do you should 72 percent in the first half and be up by only three? I'll freaking tell ya, No DEFENSE! TOO MANY STINKING TURNOVERS. This team will never learn will they?? Another thing Tatum gets slapped right in his manhood and not even a foul. Anyone else and it's a flagrant two! What about Doc acting and cursing out the refs was there a T, Nope! Can we look at Harden that flailing flopper, he pushes off every play. Another thing Harris when he sets screens holds players.  In all reality this loss falls on coaching and the players. Everytime the C's grab a double digit lead, and it starts to evaporate call a damn timeout Joe. That's what good coaches do so all that hard earned work of grabbing a lead doesn't go for nothing. For these players stop being to damn wreckless with the ball. Your weak protection of the rock cost us so many points and eventually the game. You should feel sick ...

 The Celtics Second-Round series is against the Philadelphia 76'ers and starts Monday. Here are some tidbits from the City of Brotherly Love via PhillyVoice.com's Kyle Neubeck :  " It is Sixers-Celtics in the playoffs for the 22nd time in the playoffs, the most meetings between a pair of franchises in the history of the NBA." " As it pertains to the big man,  Philadelphia has been guarded about Embiid's availability, with Doc Rivers coy about what he knows during sessions with the media. The overwhelming consensus, though, seems to be that Embiid should be ready to go at some point early in this series, with much of the reporting centered around nice words like "optimism" and "hope" rather than "crying in a corner" and "praying for a miracle from the flying spaghetti monster."  "If Philadelphia has to go into Game 1 next Monday without Embiid, it should be noted that the Sixers' record without the big man is up...