Celtics: Running Thread

by **MattyB** » Sat May 20, 2017 8:10 am

The Cavs came out and took advantage of a hot start again Fri night & the Celtics now trail by 2 gms heading to CLE: http://on.nba.com/2qAROea

by **MattyB** » Mon May 22, 2017 6:55 am

Celts Band Together To Shock Defending Champs

CLEVELAND – Al Horford said Sunday morning that he is proud of his teammate, Isaiah Thomas, for the character he showcased while dealing with major adversity this postseason.

Sunday night, Horford could be proud of all of his teammates for the character they showcased in Cleveland.

The Boston Celtics were without their lone All-Star and leading scorer in Thomas, who is sidelined for the remainder of the Playoffs with a hip injury. They were being laughed at by the nation after two embarrassing losses during Games 1 and 2 back in Boston. They were being looked at as an afterthought, a group that was two games away from being swept out of the postseason by the indomitable Cavaliers.

Then Sunday night happened, when Boston shocked the basketball world – if for only one night – by overcoming a 21-point deficit to earn a stunning 111-108 win at the buzzer during Game 3 in Cleveland.

“We just told each other, ‘No matter what happens, we’ve got to be the hardest-playing team,’ “ Marcus Smart said after the win.

Check that one off the list.

http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar ... 80731991=1

by **MattyB** » Wed May 24, 2017 6:14 am

The Celtics played their best half of the Playoffs during Game 4, but not even Avery Bradley could stop Kyrie Irving Tuesday night: http://on.nba.com/2qNFGXv

by **MattyB** » Fri May 26, 2017 6:41 am

The Celtics' postseason run came to an end on Thursday night, thanks in large part to a dominant performance by LeBron James.

Keys to the Game: http://on.nba.com/2qV5AIT

by **MattyB** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 6:22 am

Why Markelle Fultz isn’t a defensive liability

The Markelle Fultz hype train is rolling high as ever and it won’t be stopping anytime soon. The number one prospect has quickly been gaining widespread praise for his elite offensive game that has drawn comparisons to players such as James Harden, Brandon Roy, and even Dwyane Wade. With that praise, however, has come one specific criticism of the 19-year old prospect, his defense.

Whether it’s Draft Express, amateur scouts, or even casual observers, the consensus seems to be that Fultz is a sieve on defense who most likely can’t share the floor with Isaiah Thomas for long periods of time.

I’m not here to tell you that Fultz will come into the league and become the next Kwahi Leonard, but after reviewing Washington’s season one thing became pretty clear; he’s not the bad defender that he has been made out to be. In fact, I’d even go as far to say that he’s actually a good defender and could be an even better one with the Boston Celtics.

by **MattyB** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:05 am

Fultz meets with Celtics, still undecided on working out for other teams

BOSTON -- Markelle Fultz, the potential No. 1 pick in the June 22 NBA draft, capped a two-day visit with the Celtics with an on-court workout Tuesday, then visited TD Garden, where he marveled at the championship banners and suggested he could envision himself trying to add to Boston's storied history.

"It almost feels like I belong here," Fultz told ESPN's Jeff Goodman during a tour of the arena that included a stop outside the Celtics' locker room, where the former Washington star studied the pictures of Boston legends that line the hallways.

The Celtics, Eastern Conference finalists after earning the top seed following a 53-win campaign, own the No. 1 pick thanks to the 2013 trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1956 ... ther-teams

by **MattyB** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:48 am

Like Jaylen Brown, Markelle Fultz proves there’s good among the bad

Had Ben Simmons spent his only collegiate season playing for a legitimate NCAA power, which Louisiana State certainly was not, early opinions of his ability to win would have been quite different.

“I’m pretty sure that if Ben Simmons went to Kentucky or Duke, they would have won every game with him,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who does not buy into the question that dogged Philadelphia’s Simmons and to some extent the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown as they were assessed for the NBA draft.

Why didn’t they impact winning more? That question has now been applied to Markelle Fultz, the player most likely taken by the Celtics with the top pick in the June 22 draft. Though the point guard finished his career at Washington with sterling numbers that included a 23.2 scoring average, the Huskies won just nine games.

As such Fultz’ leadership potential has been debated. And that would be wrong, Ainge said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celt ... ng_the_bad

by **MattyB** » Thu Jun 15, 2017 6:29 am

Celtics free agency rumors 2017: Team 'really the danger' to sign Blake Griffin

Gordon Hayward has received most of the free-agency buzz this offseason, but The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski believes the Boston Celtics are also a real threat to sign Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers.

On the latest episode of The Vertical Podacst with Woj, published Wednesday, Wojnarowski broke down the Clippers' complicated situation, which includes the free agency of three starters, Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick. While doing so, the great reporter suggested the Celtics have a realistic chance to pry Griffin away.

"Blake Griffin, and I think the Clippers may think this too, and certainly some other teams, Boston is really the danger for Blake Griffin," Wojnarowski said on the podcast. "I think Boston's two primary free-agent targets right now are Gordon Hayward and Blake Griffin. Now they're not going to get both of them, but they're both players who would potentially have interest there, and who Boston I think looks at in different ways with their future.

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.s ... um_25.html

by **MattyB** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:20 am

One anonymous GM believes Josh Jackson will go No. 1

One anonymous rival GM believes the Boston Celtics will pass on Markelle Fultz to take Josh Jackson at No. 1 in next week's draft, according to ESPN's Chad Ford.

From Ford's latest story at ESPN Insider:

"I've picked (Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge's) brain for years," one GM said. "Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1."

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.s ... mor_2.html

by **MattyB** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 5:00 pm

Who Won the Celtics-Sixers Trade for Markelle Fultz?

A week and a half ago, it was reported that Markelle Fultz would work out only with the Celtics, that he said he “felt like he belonged” in Boston. He went on to work out with the Lakers and Sixers, and now, just five days before the NBA draft, he’s Philly-bound. The NBA: Where that happens.

On Saturday, after a three-hour car ride from his hometown, Fultz, wearing a black Sixers hat, showed up to work out for the team at its practice facility in New Jersey — the Sixers’ final formality before agreeing to the deal with the Celtics. It was more than a workout. The event felt like a soft opening to a luxurious — and expensive — new restaurant. The Sixers invited all media, allowing them to watch all of Fultz’s drills and later ask questions of the top prospect, and the team also promoted him and the event heavily on social media, even livestreaming it. All the while Joel Embiid hinted at the foregone conclusion that Fultz would be his new teammate.

Less than an hour after the media availability with Fultz wrapped up, the inevitable was confirmed.

https://theringer.com/2017-nba-draft-wh ... fe116a7ed9