CelticsBlog Jan 15, 2022
Film study: Celtics break out zone defense against 76ers
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via After going down big in the first quarter, Boston switched strategies. At shootaround before the 76ers game, head coach Ime Udoka stressed the importance of preparedness and game planning, from the coaching staff down to the players. Over three weeks ago, the Celtics had coughed up a seven-point late fourth quarter lead to Philadelphia on the back of Joel Embiid’s 41 points, including 17 in the final frame. Boston was admittedly without Al Horford and Robert Williams, but against an MVP-caliber player capable of an MVP-caliber...
CelticsBlog Jan 15, 2022
Careless turnovers lead to blowout loss: 10 Takeaways from Celtics-76ers
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/ Boston threw it away 20 times and was never really in the game after the opening minutes as they fell back below .500 1. These Takeaways are going to be kind of quick-hit style. The hope is to highlight some of what the Boston Celtics did well, but to not sugarcoat what was a blowout loss. Here we go. 2. The game started out great for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown hit the paint, kicked to Dennis Schroder and he made a quick swing to Al Horford. You know Horford wanted this one to go down: A couple of plays later,...
CelticsBlog Jan 13, 2022
Balanced effort leads to a win streak: 10 Takeaways from Celtics-Pacers
Photo by Dylan Buell/ Boston has won three in a row to climb back to .500 on the season 1. Jayson Tatum had it going early for the Boston Celtics against the Indiana Pacers. In the game’s opening seven minutes, Tatum had 14 points and two assists. Good things seem to happen when Tatum works out of post-ups. This is a nice read and also a solid screen by Al Horford to open up Jaylen Brown for the three: When Tatum is feeling good, there’s no hesitation with his jumper. Caris LeVert is on this shot, but it doesn’t matter as Tatum goes straight rise-and-fire...
CelticsBlog Jan 13, 2022
Must C’s: Celtics cut up Pacers with passes and off ball movement
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Boston sweeps two-game mini-series winning ugly one night, playing beautiful basketball the other. Against the Pacers, it was third time all year that five Celtics registered three or more assists each in regulation: Al Horford (4), Jayson Tatum (4), Josh Richardson (4), Jaylen Brown (3), Dennis Schroder (3). When asked about the synergy between Brown and Tatum, head coach Ime Udoka deflected and instead, complemented the entire team, saying, “the thing I liked was the ball movement, the unselfishness.” It was hardly Boston’s...
CelticsBlog Jan 12, 2022
Boston Celtics Daily Links 1/12/22
Al Horford vs Knicks 1/8/22 | Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place. Globe Here’s why the Celtics shouldn’t trade Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown Why the Celtics shouldn’t trade Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown From Kyrie to KG to Ime to the play-in, here are 22 Celtics things to keep an eye on in 2022 CelticsBlog Marcus Smart out, Payton Pritchard returns in Indy Handing out grades for the Celtics’ bench at the midpoint of the season Rumor: Celtics showing interest in Jeff Green, Jalen Smith Brad Stevens...
CelticsBlog Jan 10, 2022
Boston Celtics Daily Links 1/10/22
Al Horford vs Knicks 1/8/22 | Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place. Globe Open for business’: Here’s the latest report on Celtics’ trade rumors The Celtics need some energy. Maybe signing Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract would do it? Celtics Green Previews: Pacers (15-25) at Celtics (19-21) Game #41 1/10/22 CelticsBlog Which young Boston Celtics players have trade value? Jeff Goodman: Celtics won’t succeed “until Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown learn to play together” Report: Celtics have no...
CelticsBlog Jan 10, 2022
Jeff Goodman: Celtics won't succeed “until Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown learn to play together”
Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald With the Celtics scrambling to find their ground, Jeff Goodman has had it with the excuses. This season has been a rocky road for the Boston Celtics, and unlike the ice cream, there’s been nothing sweet about it. The C’s currently sit under .500 and project to be fighting for the play-in by the time the season wraps up. Health has been a major factor, though, as the Celtics have been affected by COVID-related absences more than any team in the 2021 calendar year. Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Grant Williams, and...
NESN.com Jan 5, 2022
Ime Udoka Seeks ‘Consistency’ From Celtics Starters As Jayson Tatum Returns
BOSTON, Mass — It’s been a rarity for the Boston Celtics to have their top five starters available all at once this season. The core group of Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams has played just eight games together. They’ll log a ninth — and their first since Dec. 13 […] The post Ime Udoka Seeks ‘Consistency’ From Celtics Starters As Jayson Tatum Returns appeared first on NESN.com.
CelticsBlog Jan 2, 2022
A lighter schedule and full health offers Celtics a chance to turn season around
Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via January could be big for Boston. The offseason and training camp gave us a glimpse of what Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka are trying to build in Boston. With their eight-man rotation of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams, Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, and Grant Williams, at their best, the Celtics are a super-switchy, nasty defense and a multi-pronged offensive attack. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the best of that system and the worst of that system in equal parts this year. That’s born out...
ClutchPoints Dec 28, 2021
Jaylen Brown’s eye-opening response to Al Horford call-out of Celtics
All isn’t well in Beantown. The Boston Celtics have struggled to cope with constant roster turnover as they’ve battled both actual injuries and healthy & safety protocols. Boston has failed to post consecutive victories in their last 12 games, going 4-8 in that span to tumble down the standings in a packed Eastern Conference playoff […] The post Jaylen Brown’s eye-opening response to Al Horford call-out of Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints.
CelticsBlog Dec 28, 2021
A new low: 1 Takeaway from Celtics-Timberwolves
Photo by David Berding/ Boston suffered their worst loss of the season against a thrown-together Minnesota squad 1. Well…this wasn’t the plan. Through three quarters, and even a few minutes into the fourth quarter of Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves, there were over 20 notes jotted down. Good plays by Payton Pritchard and Romeo Langford. Al Horford and Grant Williams being back. There was even a Sam Hauser clip to be pulled. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men. After how the game ended, pulling good clips just seems…pointless? Following the...
NESN.com Dec 27, 2021
Al Horford Didn’t Hold Back About Celtics’ Shortcomings After Collapse
Yes, the Celtics were without Jayson Tatum for Monday night’s game against the Timberwolves after the star entered health and safety protocols. And yes, they were missing plenty of other players for the same reason. But Boston suffered a disappointing road loss to an even more shorthanded Minnesota team that was without four of their […] The post Al Horford Didn’t Hold Back About Celtics’ Shortcomings After Collapse appeared first on NESN.com.
CelticsBlog Dec 27, 2021
Skeleton crew Celtics fall apart in second half, fall to Timberwolves, 108-103
Photo by David Berding/ With eight players in health and safety protocols, the Celtics failed to put together a four-quarter effort in second-straight loss. Before recapping the Celtics 108-103 loss in Minnesota, let’s get this mess out of the way. Eight players for the Celtics were in health/safety protocols: Jayson Tatum, Dennis Schröder, Josh Richardson, Aaron Nesmith, Enes Freedom, Bruno Fernando, CJ Miles, and Justin Jackson. Marcus Smart, just because adding insult to injury is funnnnn, was out with a hand laceration. But Al Horford returned after a stint in...
NESN.com Dec 27, 2021
Grant Williams, Al Horford Won’t Have Minutes Restriction In Celtics Return
The Boston Celtics may be missing Jayson Tatum against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll be getting a boost from the returns of Grant Williams and Al Horford — both of whom will not be limited as they return from a stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Head coach Ime Udoka said prior to […] The post Grant Williams, Al Horford Won’t Have Minutes Restriction In Celtics Return appeared first on NESN.com.
CelticsBlog Dec 27, 2021
Al Horford, Grant Williams nearing return from health and safety protocols
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/ Sunday’s injury report was a promising sign after a brutal week. If you’re a frequenter of Twitter, you might have noticed that Christmas Eve’s injury report from the Celtics was a five-tweet thread of bad news that included eight players out in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, four questionable, and another two questionable with nagging injuries. On Sunday, that list mercifully shrunk to three. The headline heading into Minnesota tonight is that Al Horford is most likely available after missing the last five games. He was...
