Celtics Chronicle Newsletter + YouTube | Words For: USA Today SMG | Big Wrestling Fan

West Midlands, England
The prophecy was fulfilled. He did, in fact, have a career year...
Bald Derrick White might have a career year next season 👀 (Via @303league / h/t @ClutchPoints)
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Swapping “Woj bombs” for “Fisch Hooks”
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Considering Kawhi is a primary reason why they won, I’m inclined to disagree.
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It wild how suddenly, everyone is on Tatum's side after MONTHS of him being shit on across the mainstream media...
“The rest of the league, you can thank Steve Kerr for what Jayson Tatum is about to do to you.” 👀 @KendrickPerkins agrees with @stephenasmithon how Steve Kerr coached Jayson Tatum in the Olympics.
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Replying to @TheDunkCentral
Joe's face whenever Tatum stumbles into adversity😂
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Honestly, I think a lot of us owe Ime Udoka an apology
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Replying to @TheDunkCentral
Can't hate a guy for trying to instill a culture when we praise teams like Miami for...their culture.
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Mind games. He’s doing what Kidd tried to do before the Finals. Won’t work.
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Me when I didn't see Tatum's photo included in that tweet...

ALT Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum GIF

Who's the best player in the NBA right now? 🧐
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Replying to @TheDunkCentral
Just a reminder, the biggest change this summer was hiring Atkinson. The same head coach Durant and Irving got fired to replace him with Steve Nash…
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So, the Celtics end a “prove yourself week” with a 3-0 record. They’ve arrived
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How did the recently traded Celtics do in their first games for their new teams: Marcus Smart: 17pts, 3asts, 2stls, 5 t/o's, 54.5 FG% Rob Williams: 10pts, 7rbs, 3stls, 1blk, 71.4 FG% Malcolm Brogdon: 20pts, 5asts, 3rbs, 50 FG% Grant Williams: 17pts, 6rbs, 1blk, 3tos, 54.5 FG%
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This still doesn't feel right.
Marcus smart got a haircut
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Tonight will be the 68th game that Kristaps Porzingis has missed since the start of the 2023-24 season - this includes the playoffs. That means Porzingis has missed 41% of the Celtics totals games since joining the franchise (68-of-164)
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Draymond Green to Jayson Tatum: “If you don’t get MVP next year, you’re weak as fuck”
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I don't care how many times I see plays like this from Rob Williams. This isn't normal. It should be celebrated.
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Dear Celtics...I would like Nurkic, please...it seems there is a fire sale in Portland...everything must go...80% off
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Denver has lost Bruce Brown and KCP since winning a chip. They haven't added any high-level rotation guy, either. Shooting might be an issue, keeping core role players is a problem...
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I see you, Pritchard...I see you
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It takes serious balls to ask for both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while keeping a straight face
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Dear Celtics, I’m not mad. Just disappointed Kind Regards
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Celtics fans: who remembers Phill Pressey?
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These same people were calling Tatum trash compared to Kuzma for like three years.
Future Laker Jayson Tatum thinking about how he’s gonna call this place home in a few years.
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"See you guys on Sunday. Keep chanting 'We want Celtics. We will continue this conversation after the first round." - Oshae Brissett.
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I've said this a bunch through the week, but Grant Williams being trusted to switch onto Kyrie and KD on the perimeter - and limiting those guys - speak volumes to his development since last season
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Woke up to see the Celtics had signed Queta to the 15th roster spot on a multi-year deal. Here are some of my favorite plays from him throughout the season. A 🧵
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There's a world where Porzingis will need to eliminate the Knicks and Mavericks to win his first championship. That would be some sub-plot to end the season.
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Jayson Tatum: "When I get a cut, I'm top-5." Derrick White: "Hold my beer."
Bald Derrick White might have a career year next season 👀 (Via @303league / h/t @ClutchPoints)
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The Celtics; Have 2 developing stars acquired via the draft Have an All-NBA point guard A revitalised Gordon Hayward Solid young pieces such as Romeo, Grant & Rob Williams A DPOY candidate coming off the bench And people still worry after every loss?
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I don’t care how old I am, this gift kicks ass
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When Jaylen Brown was drafted, most analysts didn't think he would become an All-Star. Now he's an All-Star, most analysts don't think he can be the second option on a championship team. Moral of the story is: People keep sleeping on Jaylen Brown
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Celtics: "Twist Ghost" for Sam Hauser to get the open 3
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Six years? Let's go through it... 2017-18 - ECF - Primary playoff rotation Terry Rozier Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Marcus Morris Al Horford Marcus Smart Aron Baynes Semi Ojeleye Greg Monroe Yabusele Kyrie Irving missed the entire playoff run after having surgery. Boston still made it to the ECF. This was also the season Gordon Hayward broke his leg on opening night. Year 1 of 6 where the Celtics 'had one of the best-supporting casts,' yet their top-2 players at the time didn't even play in the postseason. The Celtics still go to the conference finals. ------ 2018-19 - 2nd round exit - Primary playoff rotation Kyrie Irving Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Marcus Morris Al Horford Gordon Hayward Terry Rozier Aron Baynes Semi Ojeleye Daniel Theis This was a tough season. Tatum and Brown were ready for bigger roles, and Rozier was unhappy with his spot off the bench after his 'Scary Terry' run the year before. Multiple locker room issues and players-only meetings illustrated the Celtics' lack of connectivity. Boston has a disappointing exit from the playoffs. Kyrie Irving bolts to Brooklyn. Al Horford leaves for Philly. Danny Ainge starts to re-construct the roster with a focus on personality and fit. Can't really pin this run on Tatum and Brown - this wasn't 'their team.' ------ 2019-20 - ECF - Primary playoff rotation Kemba Walker Marcus Smart Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Daniel Theis Gordon Hayward Grant Williams Brad Wanamaker Enes Freedom Rob Williams The Bubble Year. Kemba's knee is already done, it started after the All-Star break and began to go downhill quickly. This still isn't Tatum and Brown's team, as Kemba is there along with Hayward. Two aging stars, both far from their best, with two wings waiting their turn. Boston probably should have made it to the finals this season, but another ECF run made it 2 in three years. --- 2020-21 - 1st round exit - Primary playoff rotation Kemba Walker Marcus Smart Evan Fournier Jayson Tatum Tristan Thompson Robert Williams Jabari Parker Aaron Nesmith Payton Pritchard Jaylen Brown missed the playoffs due to a wrist injury. Boston is nowhere near as deep as in previous years. This is as bad as it's been during the Tatum/Brown era. Doesn't help they faced a KD-led Nets that season. Again, can't blame Tatum & Brown when one of the duo didn't play, and you're bench rotation included two rookies and Jabari Parker. Big changes came that summer. --- 2021-22 - NBA Finals - Primary playoff rotation Marcus Smart Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Al Horford Rob Williams Derrick White Grant Williams Payton Pritchard Daniel Theis This one hurt. Jayson Tatum was playing with a hairline fracture in his wrist. Rob Williams came back from surgery during the postseason but was miles from his best. Boston's inexperience in the Finals saw them get outworked by the Warriors, with Tatum's injury getting the best of him. Multiple 7-game series also took their toll. Also, Ime Udoka was a rookie head coach going against Steve Kerr. Probably should have won this one. ---- 2022-23 - ECF - Primary playoff rotation Marcus Smart Derrick White Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Al Horford Malcolm Brogdon Robert Williams Sam Hauser Grant Williams Ime Udoka got suspended right before training camp. Joe Mazzulla comes in and has to implement a system on the fly. The Celtics lose Stoudamire and are short-staffed with assistants. Tatum gets hurt in game 7 against Miami. Brogdon is playing through an injury, too. Jaylen Brown can't lead the Celtics past Miami; the Celtics lose. Tough loss. Multiple factors why. Mazzulla gets heat for his three-point-heavy offense (I HATE IT), and the Celtics make more changes during the offseason. ---- That's the six-year span where Boston apparently had 'some of the best-supporting cast.' Sure, on paper, it looked that way. But in reality, injury, age, and ego all got in the way at one point or another. The Celtics have rarely had a healthy run - I get it; lots of teams can say that. But we can't then bash a franchise that's made 3 ECFS and 1 NBA Finals in the last 6 years while their two best players have only been front and center for 2 of those seasons. Tatum and Brown are doing great. They're going to keep doing great. And a championship isn't that far away.
They’ve had some of the best supporting casts in the league over the past 6 years. This isn’t a duo as special as it may seem. They should’ve gotten it done by now.
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Am I the only one who is legit STOKED about getting Moses Brown? Or is everyone else feeling the same?
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Marcus Smart has been everywhere recently. ESPN yesterday, Celtics Talk podcast today. Total press run - and well deserved at that
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10 years from now, there will be a young star in the league talking about how he based his game on Tatum's.
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This Grant Williams is not the same Grant Williams as last year. Improved every aspect of his game.
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Or, and hear me out…. Both Tatum and Brown are untouchable for the next 3 years, and you see what roster you can build AROUND them….
“There are a couple of players out there that I think the Celtics would move for Jaylen Brown. One would be Bradley Beal . . .The other is Damian Lillard." - @SIChrisMannix (Via @NBCSBoston )
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I am 100% against an early Jayson Tatum return next season. Let him take the year to heal up. Ramp up during the offseason, training camp and preseason, then head into 2026-27 with Tatum as close to 100% as possible.
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Sitting Tatum once is an insult. Sitting him twice is 100% negligence. Tatum would have been better off resting up and working on his game. Disgusting.
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That first Robert Williams block is going to hit so hard today
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Wanna know what I love about this Celtics team? Smart, Tatum, Brown, Rob, Grant, Pritchard, Hauser - we've seen every game of their career. That just makes their success hit a little different.
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Makes sense. He has a vital role on the Suns roster as the primary ball-handler and an opportunity to contend for a championship. Take less money for a better opportunity. True Hooper.
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Pritchard...This is...New...
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Serious question... How can you justify Tatum having the same amount of shots as Pritchard?? KP + JB both took more. Now, I'm no NBA head coach, but it feels like you should put the ball in your best players hands more frequently.
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Grant Williams on Duncan Robinson's Podcast - A Thread On off-season work-outs "They told us not to touch a basketball for at least 3-4 weeks. This past week, when I went to the facility, that was the first time I touched a ball. But, I've been working out, lifting."
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Payton Pritchard in the last 3 games: 18.7 points, 7.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds 54.5% from 3.
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Fracture in his wrist...7 30+ point games in the playoffs - dropped 46 against Milwaukee in game 6 And y'all were calling JT soft?
"I played with somewhat of a fracture for two months" 🤯 Jayson Tatum opens up about playing through an undisclosed injury during the playoffs in live interview with Taylor Rooks in B/R app
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THIS. IS. HOW. YOU. LEAD
NESN
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Celtics are now 1-1 - I can not understand any overreactions at this point. -Walker is out - Rookies and FA signings being integrated - Guys are still getting into rhythm - Brown has seemingly taken an offensive jump - Grant and Semi both look improved. - Stay patient
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Replying to @TheDunkCentral
11.1% on 9 attempts per game is ROUGH. But he's played 2 games. New team. New system. At least give him time to try and figure things out before we start this narrative again...
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Is it me, or are the Celtics just not fun to watch this year? Forget the loosing - that is what it is - but their lack of identity and substance has really made them a tough team to enjoy
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How the recently traded Celtics did in their second games for their new teams: Marcus Smart: 20pts, 5asts, 5stls, 2rbs, 53.8 FG% Rob Williams: 6pts, 3rbs, 2asts, 60 FG% Malcolm Brogdon: 18pts, 1asts, 7rbs, 40 FG% Grant Williams: 5pts, 6rbs, 2tos, 33.3 FG%
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Oh dang, Theis last moment in a Celtics uniform was missing a game winner. He didn’t deserve to go out like that. Best of luck Theis!
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Per @BobbyMarks42, "Because Boston is a repeater tax team next year and the NBA is set to implement more stringent penalties, a new contract for Hauser starting at $8 million adds over $60 million in tax penalties."  The Celtics have a TOUGH decision to make on Hauser's future.
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Not only is this disrespectful to the Celtics & Hawks, it completely ignores how well Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat played. Sick of this 'Player X was out' narrative. You can only beat what's in front of you. Still gotta stay locked in, then go out and execute.
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Being a Celtics fan this season: A toxic relationship. There are a bunch of red flags, but we stick around because we love them, and they say the will be better. Only to keep repeating the same inexplicable performances on a consistent basis.
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It's wild so many Celtics fans are unhappy with this trade. Never happy.
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I haven’t seen nearly enough praise for Al Horford on the timeline today. The dude was instrumental in the Celtics game plan for game 1
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If Tatum said this, the entire of Twitter would be melting down.
Anthony Edwards on being the face of the NBA someday: “Well, I’m capable of being that guy. But I don’t want to be that guy, put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
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So...errrr....Maybe the Celtics need to find more minutes for Jaden Springer...Either to build his trade value or to actually let him grow into a legitimate bench role.  Helluva night for him against LAC.
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Oshae Brissett is STILL my No. 1 option to fill an open spot. Won a chip with the team last season. Knows the system, players and coaching staff. Fills a need in terms of wing depth, and replaces some of the deep bench defense lost by Springer trade.
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Hurts to lose JRich.
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Like it or not, the Celtics are still a young team, and that means inconsistencies are part and parcel of their development.
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In retrospect, after the season Smart has had, this is a steal for the Celtics.
ESPN Sources: Boston Celtics G Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $77M extension. New deal starts in 2022-‘23 with no player option and secures him at $90M-plus through 2025-‘26.
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Pat Bev being the voice of reason. Who would Of thought? He right though.
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I really hope Nesmith is next years Grant Williams…
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This is the only answer that matters!
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In Al Horford and Rob Williams, the Celtics have two of the best passing big-men in the league
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"From a coaching standpoint, he's one of my favorite players. He plays the game the right way... He doesn't care who gets the credit or who scores...He's playing to win. And he's affecting winning." Dwane Casey on Tatum...
“From a winning standpoint, he affects winning the right way.” Former NBA Coach Dwane Casey tells @BGeltzNBA and @SamMitchellNBA he doesn’t understand why Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum gets so much criticism.
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Harden did LITERALLY the same thing earlier in the game? Where's your tweet about that?
HOW IN THE ACTUAL HELL IS THAT NOT A PUSHOFF ON TATUM?!?! IN WHAT WORLD?!?!??
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Good! He’s on the path to being a Celtics legend. Lakers would have drafted him and traded him when LeBron came to town. It all worked out
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I think it's fair to say Luke Kornet won the battle for third-big off the bench. Neemy put up a good fight, but Kornet has taken his game to another level. Brad must find a way of locking him in long-term this summer. What would be a fair contract for Kornet?
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The Celtics have taken a total of 564 threes so far this season. 470 of them came when open or wide open. That means 83.3% of Boston's perimeter shots have come with a defender AT LEAST four feet away from the shooter.
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Holiday has 43 points, 18 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals in the first two games of this series. He’s shooting 69.6% from the field and 58.3% from 3-point range. He's turned it up multiple notches.
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This dude has no sources. None. Do not take a word he says seriously.
Per sources, Boston is "enamored" with Paul George. 👀
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This is what Kobe, and since, JT and Edwards are talking about. You don't know how many families have saved up for months, so their kids can see LeBron/Tatum/AD/Brown face off.
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Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis—have played just 187 possessions together. The Celtics have played 2948 non-garbage-time minutes. That means Mazzulla has had his primary starting five for 6.3% of the season. The Celtics are 23-8
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This time last year, Pritchard was struggling for game time. He averaged 5.7 minutes per game in the postseason. This year, he's averaging 20.9 minutes, has a consistent role and is knocking down 45.5% of his 3.1 perimeter attempts per game. Crazy how much can change in a year
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Bring Jrue Holiday back to Boston. He doesn't deserve this.
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I'm considering tracking them each time they play, and just posting their stats and averages. Aside from Brogdon, we spent years rooting for these guys
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I can think of no logical reason why the Celtics wouldn't be looking to extend Grant Williams. Not a single one.
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Let’s not start this bs. Seriously. Enjoy Mike’s last few months. He’s been the voice of the Celtics for (most of our) entire lives. Don’t tarnish is with this “he’s a legend…but” narrative just to get your engagement up.
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This pass from Tatum is wildly underrated.
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JB's knee is a major talking point right now. The bigger issue is that if his knee isn't right during the playoffs, the Celtics' path to repeating gets considerably harder. Right now, I'm not sure we see him at his best during this postseason.
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Let someone suplex you off the turnbuckle, then say wrestling is fake. Chorographed is the better term.
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Jumper looks quicker and smoother, am I right?
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Boston, Miami, and the Lakers. That’s 3 of the 4 semi finalists from last year eliminated in the 1st round. So can we get past the “Celtics didn’t try. And everyone is to blame” narratives?
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Potential end-of-season awards for the Celtics - Brogdon 6MOY - JT + JB All-NBA - JT Scoring Champion - Derrick White All-Defense - Maybe Smart All-Defense? AND Horford + Brogdon to finish top-5 in 3% Solid season.
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Celtics Lose, but some positives -Tatum can't play worse -Hayward was solid (both ends) -Brown has bags of confidence -Smart was best Celtic on floor -Theis double-double -Wanamaker was very active -Kemba looked great in his 20 -If Tatum shot 50%, C's win
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I found this quote from Dominique Wilkins about Jayson Tatum’s recovery super interesting… “If he does a lot of water therapy and a lot of individual workouts to get his range of motion back – he’s got to learn how to walk again – the mobility and the stretching will help him get back quicker, as well as getting the calf stronger. Because when you tear that Achilles tendon, you lose some muscle mass in that leg. You’ve got to try to stay ahead of the game.” It’s so easy to forget about the personal battle these players face when trying to come back from a major injury. Just getting back to an NBA level is a victory. The fact some players get back to a top-10 status is proof of their commitment and work ethic.
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Let’s be honest. Kyrie sitting out until KD is back. It’s that simple. Couldn’t lead the Nets just like he couldn’t lead the Celtics. Face it, he’s robin not batman - nothing wrong with that
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Just in case you forgot - Daniel Theis was averaging 28.4 minutes a night in the starting 5, the last time Boston went to a conference finals.
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Derrick White's been watching some Steph Curry tape I see...
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Remember when everyone wanted a 'true point guard' or a 'pass first point guard'? Well, Over his last 5 games, Smart is averaging 12.2 points, 9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. Looks like Smart was 'that guy' all along...
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There's been so much internal development from the Celtics this season, and we're not talking about it enough. Tatum Playmaking Grant's shooting from deep Rob's defensive positioning Pritchard's off the dribble game The entire defensive scheme And more...
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I get it was a bit of fun, BUT, I was not a fan of the broadcast celebrating Pritchard hitting the over in the fourth quarter. Sports Betting has become too ubiquitous within the NBA, which is fine, I guess...But I don't want to hear it bleed into the game coverage. Poor form, imo.
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The Celtics have an open roster spot. A three-and-d wing with championship experience, who is willing to play a marginal on-court role, could be enticing. Assuming they're happy with thier center rotation
The 76ers are waiving veteran guard Danny Green, sources tell ESPN. Philadelphia needed the roster spot to complete the trade with the Clippers.
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I honestly can’t go through another summer of Bradley Beal talk…
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Kyrie Irving has had his best season as a pro and everyone is too busy focused on his interviews... • 23.4 PPG (3rd Best) • 7.0 APG (Best) • 4.9 RPG (Best) • 49.8 FG% (Best) • 41.9 FG% (Best) ☘️ He’s only 26 years old ☘️
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