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Sloppy Defense Costing Celtics In Standings

Since the All -Star break, the Celtics have played inconsistent basketball. Embarrassing losses to the Knicks, Rockets, and Cavaliers have plummeted the Celtics to second place behind Milwaukee. Currently, the team is 2 games in front of the 76ers and 2games behind the Bucks. Any hopes of returning to game seven rest on tough defense and focus on making the right decisions. In this post, we will review three areas the Celtics need to focus on heading into the postseason.

Solid Defense

Despite, a strong first half the club needs to play tight defense and focus on mental toughness. Sloppy turnovers will not cut it against teams like Milwaukee and Golden State. Currently, the team is on a three- game winning streak and playing as a club ready for the playoffs.

Quality Rebounding

Getting to the championship will require clutch scoring, defense, and rebounding. Unfortunately, the Celtics rank near the bottom in the rebounding department. The top rebounding teams are the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. However, the Celtics are rebounding better than the Golden State Warriors. The Celtic’s top rebounders are Jayson Tatum 8.9 rebounds per game, Robert Williams 8.7, Jaylen Browns 6.7 rebounds per game, and Al Horford 6.9 rebounds per game.

Strategic Coaching

Head coach Joe Mazzulla is under a lot of pressure. Recently named head coach, they have been criticizing how he manages the players. Namely Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both players need to be fresh in order to win the championship. Brown suffered a serious facial injury earlier in the season. Mazzulla is the youngest coach in the NBA.

Conclusion

The Celtics are under pressure after last year’s loss to Golden State. Playing smart and solid rebounding will play a significant factor in the outcome. At 51-23, the team needs to regain its first- half form.

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Celtics Need To Reclaim Their Identity

The Celtics need to reclaim their identity. In the last sixteen games, they are 8-8. Poor passing is creating turnovers. With the All-Star game around the corner, the team needs to regroup and focus on defense. In this post, we will evaluate three categories the club needs to focus on.

Focus On Defense

The Celtics have failed miserably on defense. In their latest loss to the Thunder, they gave up a franchise= high 150 points. It was 1979 when the Celtics suffered such a humiliating defeat.

With the second half approaching, the organization has to toughen up. Losing close games, the Celtics will slip further and further in the standings. With the Nets red hot, it’s time to play smart.

Solid Coaching

First-year head coach Joe Mazzulla is learning fast. Being a top seed, the team needs solid coaching. Managing Jayson Tatum’s minutes along with Jaylen Brown is crucial.

Getting balanced scoring is essential not only in winning but in preventing injury. The Celtics have one of the deepest benches in the league. Depth was the key to the early season success.

Contributions from Peyton Pritchard, Blake Griffin, and Sam Hauser need to continue. If the Nets continue their torrid winning streak, the organization will need help from the whole bench.

Strong Communication Amongst Each Other

History has shown that the Celtics win through teamwork. Communicating with each other is important down the stretch. Although it’s still early, the team is making costly turnovers. Sloppy passing has been too obvious this season. Closing out games is the difference between success and losing.

Conclusion

If the Celtics learned anything from the finals, playing tough defense is one example of winning. The club needs to work together and improve on its decision -making. They are still making the same mistakes as they did last spring in the finals against Golden State.

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Celtics Defense Will Determine The Outcome

The Celtic’s defense will determine the outcome in the playoffs. Wednesday the Celtics went up 2-0. Boston was down by seventeen. The Celtics are shooting 35% from the three_point range. Brooklyn is shooting47% from the three _point area. Both teams are tied in turnovers and rebounds. In this post, we will review three areas the team needs to focus on.

Durant Struggling

Star player Kevin Durant is struggling. Durant was 8 for 17 from the field in game two. Jayson Tatum’s defense has shut him down and frustrated him. Point guard Kyrie Irving just had ten points. Forward Jaylen Brown had a monster game making clutch shots. In two games, Brown has a total of forty_five points while shooting 300 from three _point land.

In_ game two, Brown had his biggest game as a pro. helping the Celtics overcome a seventeen_ point deficit.

Marcus Smart Shutting Down Opponent

One player frustrating the Nets is Marcus Smart. Smart is having one of the best playoff series of his career. In two games, Smart has forty_five points. he is shooting 333 from the three _point area.

In order to beat the nets, Smart must continue to score. In two games, Kevin Durant is completely frustrated by Smart’s play. Games three and four will be pivotal for Smart and the Celtics.

Play As A _Team

As the series progresses, the Celtics will have to play together. Keeping the turnovers down and rebounding will be significant. The Celtics have committed fourteen turnovers. In the rebounding department, they have a total of 39.5.

Getting big points from the bench has been crucial. Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Daniel Theis have been spectacular. Pritchard especially has been clutch, off the bench.

Conclusion

Head coach Ime Udoka has the Celtics believing in themselves. It’s only two games but the team is playing together. Believing in one another is the key to beating any team. personally, i like the Celtics in six. Boston has a deeper bench and is better defensively than Brooklyn.

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Celtics Playing Like Contenders In The NBA East

The Celtics are playing like contenders in the NBA East. Boston has been one of the hottest teams in the league as of late. With, the trade deadline hours away, the Celtics will be buyers. For the first time in two years, the Celtics are the talk of the town. In this post, we will review three areas the club needs to focus on to stay, in the hunt.

Number One Defensively

The Celtics are number one defensively in the NBA. They are currently riding on a six_ game winning streak. Their longest winning streak this season. Basketball has resurrected again in Beantown.

Not as popular as the Bird era, the team is getting a lot of attention. Led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have one of the toughest clubs defensively. Jayson Tatum was selected for his third straight All_Star appearance.

Head coach Ime Udoka has the club believing in one another. The results have been positive as the team sits as a seventh seed in the East. Playing defense is been a priority for Udoka. Winning in the playoffs will depend on playing together and defense.

Consistent Ball Movement

Consistent ball movement has been another bright spot for the Celtics. The team has been passing more than in previous seasons. Jayson Tatum has a total of 203 assists. Point guard Marcus Smart has a league_ high of 249 assists.

Playing together and strong communication are essential tools for winning. The group is likable and it shows on the court.

Creating Less Turnovers

The Celtics are still committing unnecessary turnovers. Making lazy passes is still a problem. Communication is important in order to pull out close games. Winning close games will determine how far the Celtics finish this season. Blowing large leads will only cause disappointment. Being patient is a sign of an intelligent playoff team.

Conclusion

If the team expects to keep winning, playing together is a must. Having trust in one another and strong defensive stands are two ingredients for success. With, the trade deadline here, adding another role player is important for the chemistry. I like the Celtics winning two rounds in the playoffs.

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Boston Celtics 2122 Team Preview

The Boston Celtics 2122 season is underway. The team is coming off a disappointing playoff loss. After finishing 3rd in the East, the Celtics hope to go deep in this year’s post season. But first, the club needs to win and win consistently. They had one of the busiest offseasons in team history. They said goodbye to Kemba Walker and welcomed back Al Horford. Semi Ojeleye is now a Buck and Tacko Fall is a Cleveland Cavalier. General Manager Brad Stevens acquired Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, and Juancho Hermangomez.

They also gave up their number one pick as part of the Kemba Walker trade to Oklahoma. In this post, we will review three areas the Celtics need to focus on to reach the finals.

Consistent Scoring

Last season, the organization finished fourth in the league in scoring. Averaging 113 points per game, the Celtics hope Dennis Schroder can add some firepower. Josh Richardson will add punch off the bench. Forward Juancho Hermangomez adds muscle and rebounding.

Free _agent sam Hauser out of Virginia was signed to provide depth. The club finished second overall in the three _point shooting area. Boston should be much deeper off the bench with Dennis Schroder and sharp_shooter Sam Hauser.

If the Celtics can stay healthy, then they will be stronger this year than in 2020.

Tougher Defensively

Last year the Celtics ranked fourth defensively, giving up 107 points per game. Rebounding_ wise, they finished eleventh overall. Closing out tight games was an issue with the team last season. Adding Hermangomez, Richardson, Enes Kanter, and Al Horford should help in that area.

Forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are getting better with age. Brown is taking his game to a new level. A healthy Marcus Smart will keep the Celtics near the top.

Improvement in Communication and Cutback on Turnovers

One area that needs improvement is in the turnover department. Far too many times did the Celtics commit silly mistakes that cost them leads. Holding down large leads is a top priority. New coach Ime Udoka will have to be strict with his players and stress fundamentals.

Former general manager Danny Ainge left. Brad Stevens was promoted to General Manager. Good communication is essential. If Udoka is going to be successful then strong communication is a step in the right direction.

Conclusion

Being a new coach in Boston is not easy. The Celtics played sloppy basketball too often last season. Having good ball movement creates opportunity. Udoka needs to push his players and stress defense. Hopefully, banner number eighteen is in reach.

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Celtics Shakeups Signaling Signs Of Urgency

The Boston Celtics shakeups are signaling signs of urgency. Shakeup number one was the resignation of President Danny Ainge. The second move was to announce that Brad Stevens will be President of Basketball Operations. In less than twenty_four hours after the Stevens move, Kemba walker was an Oklahoma City Thunder. The team shipped the disgruntled playmaker to the Thunder for Al Horford and center Moses Brown. In this post, we will evaluate three reasons why the organization is signaling urgency.

Celtics Receive Financial Flexibility

By dealing Kemba Walker away, the club saves $ 9,000,000 dollars in cap_space for the 2021 /22 season. With that capital, the Celtics can restructure Evan Fournier and Robert Williams’s contract.

The Celtics acquired Evan Fournier at the trade deadline. An unrestricted free agent it is expected that Stevens will go all out to resign the accomplished guard. In Williams, he has one_year left on a four_year deal. He will make a base salary of over $2,000,000 dollars this season. I look for both players to be in Celtics uniforms this upcoming season.

The key to the deal was getting out of Kemba Walker’s $83,000,000 dollars salary. The Thunder who are rebuilding received the Celtics number one pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft.

More Deals Ahead

Celtics fans can expect a very busy off _season. Nobody on the current roster is safe. Outside of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, anyone is expendable. Veteran Marcus Smart has value and will be an attractive trade talk chip this summer. Center Robert Williams is injury prone and is also on the block. The club is loaded with centers and Williams’s age will be intriguing to other teams.

Free Agency

The cash _strapped Celtics do not have the wiggle room this year. I do not expect the organization to even attempt to pursue a DeMar DeRozen, Kawhi Leonard, Victor Oladipo, Jure Holiday, or Rudy Gobert. look for the team to pursue current player Evan Fournier. Fournier when healthy is an excellent shooter. If anything I see the club signing an inexpensive veteran.

Conclusion

With, all the activity in recent days, the Celtics need leadership. With the signing of Ime Udoka as head coach, the need needs to mature and close out games better. Blowing large leads was the story in 2021. Focusing on defense and ball movement will significantly improve the franchise.

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Lack Of Defense Costing 2021 Celtics

The Celtic’s play as of late has been disappointing. Lack of defense is costing the 2021 Celtics. Any chance of a top seed in the NBA East is quietly dwindling before our eyes. If there is a bright spot, it’s the healthy return of Kemba Walker. Walker recently came off his best effort in a win over Indiana. In this post, we will evaluate three why the Celtics are struggling.

Brad Stevens Coaching Style Has Been Questionable

Head coach Brad Stevens is being criticized for his lack of toughness with the players. Fans and the media question Steven’s toughness with his veteran players such as Jayson Tatum.

Tatum has been up and down with his play this season. One night he’s on, the next night he’s off. Trade rumors are surfacing. If the Celtics do not put together a winning streak, the road may get a little bumpier for Brad Stevens.

In any event,the the club needs to tighten up and close out games. Overall,the team has blown leads to the Pelicans and have fallen off the top of the NBA East.

Playing Soft Defensively

As a whole, the organization ranks 16th in the league defensively. Last season they were one of the best defensive units in the NBA. Losing large leads against weaker teams has hurt them. The confidence has slipped. The Celtics need to get back to fundamentals and start to regain some ground they lost in the East.

The tough defense is what kept the Celtics deep in last year’s playoff run. Closing out games has been an issue. Forward, Jayson Tatum needs to get his confidence back. The only consistent player has been star forward Jaylen Brown.

Team Needs To Improve In The Shooting Department

This season the Celtics rank 12th in shooting with 358% from the 3 point area. With Kemba Walker getting healthier, time will tell. But overall, the club has been inconsistent. Guard Marcus Smart will be out for quite some time. Rookie Payton Pritchard has been piling up considerable minutes as a two_ guard.

Conclusion

With 35 games left, time is on the Celtics side. Kemba Walker is getting better with each game. If the team can stay healthy and Marcus Smart returns soon a deep playoff run is possible.

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Celtics Making A Statement In the NBA East

The Celtics are making a statement in the NBA East. Saturday the team learned Jayson Tatum needs quarantine for fourteen days. Tatum has been the team’s best player up until now. In this post, we will examine three reasons why the team still has a good chance to gain the first seed in the NBA East.

Payton Prtichard,/ Tacko Fall,/Robert Williams Contributing,Leading Celtics

With half the team sidelined, the Celtics are making a statement in the NBA East. With Jayson Tatum in quarantine, the club has gotten valuable contributions from all three. In a recent game rookie, Payton Pritchard scored the game_winner over Toronto. Center Tacko Fall brings a strong physical presence to the front line.

Rookie Payton Pritchard has started all ten games for the Celtics. Teammate Aaron Nesmith has also impressed the coaches with his shooting but has appeared in only 3 games. The young Celtics are playing at a high energy level. The club is tied for first place in the NBA East. Rookie Payton Pritchard has been one of the reasons for the team’s fast start.

Team Dealing With Multiple Coved Issues

Despite the club having multiple Coved issues, their record is 7-3. The club has been playing well at home and on the road. Point guard Kemba Walker is close to a return. He has been practicing with the team. Sophomore guard Romeo Langford continues to miss significant time.

First place Indiana, continues to stay ahead of second_ place Philadelphia and Third place Boston. If the Celtics hope to gain the first seed in the East then they need Kemba Walker and Tristan Thompson healthy.

Overall, Boston’s bench has kept them in the hunt. Center Tacko Fall has been impressive with his defense and shot _blocking.

Conclusion

With Jayson Tatum out, the Celtics will turn to Tacko Fall to get his minutes. The Celtics have Grant Williams, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, and Semi Ojeleye have all tested positive.

The team’s New year’s resolution is to stay healthy. For such a talented team as the Celtics, everybody needs to be healthy for a significant playoff run.

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Latest Celtics Moves Will Not Improve The Club In 2021

The NBA free agent frenzy has begun. The latest Celtics moves have Gordon Hayward leaving for Charlotte on a max contract. Celtics fans welcome Cleveland center/power forward/center Tristan Thompson. Also, sign veteran guard Jeff Teague to a year deal. Fan _favorite Enes Kanter is dealt with Portland for draft picks. In this post, we will explore three reasons why the latest Celtics moves will not improve the club in 2021.

Latest Celtics Moves Will Not Improve The Club In 2021

Failed On the Gordon Hayward To Indiana Deal

Reason number one is Danny Ainge overplayed his hand with Indiana. Rather than get two players in a sign and trade they get zero in the Charlotte Deal.

The rumored names the Celtics would be getting were Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner or Doug McDermott. McDermott or Oladipo would provide depth in the shooting department off the bench.

In any event, the Celtics need to explore other options if they expect to get any better in the upcoming season. There is still the possibility that the team gets to do a sign and trade with Charlotte.

Sign A Proven Player In Tristan Thompson

Boston did land veteran center, Tristian Thompson, from the Cavaliers. Thompson agreed to a two_year 19,000,000 Dollar deal with the Celtics. In Thompson, the organization gets a veteran center and a proven winner.

Thompson was on the 2015/16 Cavalier championship team that won the NBA title. In Thompson. the club gets a big physical center who averages10 rebounds a game. Offensively he struggles at the three _throw line and averages 10 points a game. He is a significant upgrade over Enes Kantor and Daniel Theis.

Tatum Not Worth The Max Contract

Other than coming close to a championship twice, Jayson Tatum still has a lot to prove. Like other NBA greats, he needs to make the crucial shots every night. Showing great leadership skills as former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce did in the past.

Beating Toronto and Philadelphia was an essential step for this current Celtics team. In order to reach the finals, they need a healthy Kemba Walker to challenge for the title.

Conclusion

General Manager Danny Ainge once again has Celtics fans disappointed. After a successful bubble campaign, it seems Ainge has taken a step backward.

Without Gordon Hayward and nothing to show for his leaving I do not expect the Celtics to regain their 2020 post _season form

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Best Possible Celtics Moves In The Upcoming 2020 Draft

This week the NBA will hold its annual draft for the upcoming season. Once again, the Celtics went out in defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat. The Celtics failed to make clutch shots. With three picks available, we will discuss the three best possible Celtics Moves in the upcoming 2020 draft.

Best Possible Celtics Moves In The Upcoming 2020 Draft

Jalen Smith/PF/Maryland

Probably the best two_way defender in this year’s draft. He has the frame to be an exceptional NBA forward. Is known for his excellent shooting in traffic and three _pointers.

With the 14th pick, it is unlikely that Jalen Smith will be available .with his shot_ blocking. In three years at Maryland, he averaged 15ppg and 11.5 rebounds. Would be an asset off the bench as Grant Williams continues to develop. He would also provide solid defense and rebounding help.

A perfect big man which the Celtics desperately need to clog up the middle. Miami literally controlled the paint in the playoffs which cost the team the series.

Isaiah Stewart/C/Washington

Best Possible Celtics Moves In The Upcoming 2020 Draft

This talent may be worth the Celtics trading down. With Atlanta drafting 6th and Detroit 7th one of these could be a possibility. He may be the first player taken in the draft.

Ranked slightly ahead of Isaiah Stewart, Okongwu does not have too many weaknesses. The only knock on him is his three_ point shooting skills. Other than that he could make an immediate impact on an organization.

As fans recall, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo dominated the paint in the playoffs. If Okongwu slips in the draft he would be a gem of a pick. But the reality is he will be gone after the third selection.

In Okongwu a team is getting a gifted rim protector and defender. He has the frame of 6’9 240 lbs to be an immediate force in the NBA. Other attributes of Okongwu are his defensive skills. He creates havoc in the paint. He is an above _average free throw shooter. Also, an overpowering rebounder both offensively and defensively.

If I had my pick between Okongwu or Stewart it would have to be Okongwu. The Celtics lack a true center. Enes Kanter and Robert Williams are adequate but not dominant By drafting Okongwu the organization would have a legitimate center for the future.

Conclusion

The Celtics own the 14th,26th, and 30th picks in this year’s draft. The club needs added scoring off the bench. My best prediction would be Jalen Smith. Smith is big and physical. If the club trades down he would be a diamond in the rough. Lack of scoring wings costs the team in the playoffs. Its highly unlikely that either Smith or Okngwu will be available after the 5th pick.