Tag: Boston Celtics

Celtics’ Kemba Walker Down To Get Wild With Revamped NBA Playoff Format — NESN.com

It sounds like Kemba Walker just wants to play. It’s unclear when the NBA season will resume, but several team and league officials told SI.com that any chance of a traditional postseason is out, suggesting this year’s path to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy could get weird. NBC Sports Boston recently floated the idea of…

Celtics’ Kemba Walker Down To Get Wild With Revamped NBA Playoff Format — NESN.com

t sounds like Kemba Walker just wants to play. It’s unclear when the NBA season will resume, but several team and league officials told SI.com that any chance of a traditional postseason is out, suggesting this year’s path to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy could get weird.

NBC Sports Boston recently floated the idea of a single-elimination playoff format — a la the NCAA Tournament — to Walker, and the Celtics point guard acknowledged he’s open to such a change.

“I guess I wouldn’t mind it,” Walker said. “I love to hoop. At this point it doesn’t really matter because of the way things went and suddenly the season just got postponed.”

The NBA suspended its season indefinitely on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Several other players since have tested positive, including Celtics guard Marcus Smart, and a dark cloud of uncertainty continues to hang over the entire sports landscape as the world fights the coronavirus pandemic.

But sports will return at some point, and the hope is the NBA will be able to salvage its 2019-20 campaign, even if that requires radical changes to the usual postseason format. If nothing else, a one-and-done tourney sure would be entertaining, and Walker already knows a thing or two about thriving under such conditions, having won a national championship with UConn in 2011.

“It would be fun,” Walker told NBC Sports Boston. “It would be different.”

The Celtics (43-21) currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, trailing just the Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) and Toronto Raptors (46-18). All three teams have clinched playoff spots. Walker, an All-Star in his first season with the Celtics, also told NBC Sports Boston he’s “doing well” with his lingering knee issue during the current sports pause. More Celtics: How C’s Staff Prepares For NBA

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/04/celtics-kemba-walker-down-to-get-wild-with-revamped-nba-playoff-format/

Here’s What Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Surprisingly Credited For His Strong February — NESN.com

Jayson Tatum admitted to something not many others will. The 22-year-old Tatum, who took his game to another level en route to earning the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, explained how he became obsessed with becoming an NBA All-Star entering the 2019-20 season. Tatum, who earned his first All-Star selection Jan.…

Here’s What Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Surprisingly Credited For His Strong February — NESN.com

Jayson Tatum admitted to something not many others will. The 22-year-old Tatum, who took his game to another level en route to earning the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, explained how he became obsessed with becoming an NBA All-Star entering the 2019-20 season.

Tatum, who earned his first All-Star selection Jan. 30, opened up about the situation on John Goodman’s “Good ‘N Plenty” podcast Monday. “It was like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders when I found out,” Tatum told Goodman. “And kind of ever since then I’ve just played a lot more relaxed and a lot more free, and I think that had a lot to do with it.” Tatum followed it up by averaging 30.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocked shots during February. It was a world of difference from his mindset prior. “Early in the season, I put so much pressure on myself mentally,” Tatum said. “Obviously, I wanted to win. I wanted us to be a really good team, but I also thought about making the All-Star Game every day.

“Every time I had a bad game I remember I would text (shooting coach) Drew (Hanlen) and I’d be like, ‘Drew, I don’t think I’m gonna make it anymore’ and he’d be like, ‘Bro, relax,’” Tatum continued. “And then I would have a good game and I’d be like, ‘Bro, I think I’m gonna make it.’” Tatum added that the death of Kobe Bryant in late January, around the same time he learned he was an NBA All-Star, also played a role in his incredible stretch. “It was kind of intertwined,” Tatum said. “All those things happened at the same time.”

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/03/heres-what-celtics-jayson-tatum-surprisingly-credited-for-his-strong-february/

Celtics’ Guard Marcus Smart Announces He’s Finally ‘Corona Free’ — NESN.com

The coronavirus didn’t want the smoke. Marcus Smart was recently diagnosed as the only Boston Celtics player to test positive for COVID-19. The guard reported no symptoms, and now, he’s already been cleared. “Corona Free as of two days ago,” Smart said in a Tweet on Sunday evening. “Cleared by Mass Dept of Health. Thanks…

Celtics’ Guard Marcus Smart Announces He’s Finally ‘Corona Free’ — NESN.com

Brad Stevens Delivers Encouraging Health Update On Marcus Smart — NESN.com

Marcus Smart is on the mend. The Boston Celtics guard last week revealed he tested positive for COVID-19. The 26-year-old was the only member of the organization to contract the virus, as it was reported earlier this week that remaining tests among players and staff members all came back negative. Smart’s teammates were confident he’d…

Brad Stevens Delivers Encouraging Health Update On Marcus Smart — NESN.com

Danny Ainge Talks To Celtics Players, Staff ‘Every Day’ During COVID-19 Crisis — NESN.com

The COVID-19 crisis currently has millions of Americans — including the Boston Celtics — confined to their homes as the country attempts to limit the spread of the dangerous virus. But that hasn’t stopped Danny Ainge from staying in contact with members of the organization after the NBA indefinitely suspended its season two weeks ago.…

Danny Ainge Talks To Celtics Players, Staff ‘Every Day’ During COVID-19 Crisis — NESN.com

 

he COVID-19 crisis currently has millions of Americans — including the Boston Celtics — confined to their homes as the country attempts to limit the spread of the dangerous virus. But that hasn’t stopped Danny Ainge from staying in contact with members of the organization after the NBA indefinitely suspended its season two weeks ago. In fact, the Celtics president of basketball operations says he’s in contact with players and staff “every day.” “I think they’re doing really well,” he told The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett. “I mean, guys have their workouts. They’ve requested stationary bikes and weight and weight vests and bands so they can do all sorts of their workouts that our trainers are giving them. So, yeah, I think everybody’s following all of the rules, staying quarantined, and just keeping to themselves. It feels like, in my conversations with everybody, that they’re all doing well. They all seem pretty upbeat. I’m just trying to keep them motivated.” That said, Ainge’s job during the outbreak certainly hasn’t been easy. With the crisis comes loads of uncertainty, which teams and league officials have had to maneuver day-in and day-out. For Ainge, however, being adaptable is just part of the job description. “You just have to adapt to what is needed at that moment, whereas coaches are going crazy, because they’re used to having and following a schedule. Everything’s laid out in front of them on when they’re going to practice and when they’re going to take a plane to this city. They live on schedules, so it’s completely different for me than it is for them. I’m used to adapting more, and they’re learning about having to adapt under these circumstances.” Now that’s what we call solid leadership.

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/03/danny-ainge-talks-to-celtics-players-staff-every-day-during-covid-19-crisis/

Enes Kanter Calls People ‘Selfish’ For Not Self-Quarantining Amid COVID-19 Crisis — NESN.com

The COVID-19 outbreak has millions of Americans staying home in an effort to curb the virus. That said, some people haven’t exactly been abiding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to limit social exposure as the coronavirus spreads. And that does not sit well with Enes Kanter whatsoever. The Boston Celtics big…

Enes Kanter Calls People ‘Selfish’ For Not Self-Quarantining Amid COVID-19 Crisis — NESN.com.

Marcus Smart Becomes First Celtics Player To Test Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

The Boston Celtics have had their first player test positive for COVID-19. Marcus Smart took to Twitter on Thursday to announce he’s officially tested positive for the coronavirus. He is the first Celtics player to do so as of now. A statement released by the team, which did not identify Smart, noted it is awaiting…

Marcus Smart Becomes First Celtics Player To Test Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

Here’s How Celtics’ Tacko Fall Is Staying Entertained During Quarantine — NESN.com

Getting stuck inside for extended periods of time certainly isn’t ideal, but it’s the reality many people face in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Boston Celtics players are among those after coming in contact with Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell days before the two players tested positive for COVID-19. So, some…

Here’s How Celtics’ Tacko Fall Is Staying Entertained During Quarantine — NESN.com

Celtics Arrive At Hanscom; Some Players Have Faces Covered Due To Coronavirus — NESN.com

The Boston Celtics returned home Thursday afternoon, a day after reportedly being under quarantine in Milwaukee after their game against the Bucks was postponed due to the NBA indefinitely suspending operations. Jazz guard Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday, prompting an abrupt stop to Utah’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to…

Celtics Arrive At Hanscom; Some Players Have Faces Covered Due To Coronavirus — NESN.com

NBA Rumors: Celtics Under Quarantine Amid Jazz’s Coronavirus Concerns — NESN.com

The Boston Celtics reportedly have been told to self-quarantine in Milwaukee. The Celtics are one of five NBA teams that have been told to take the precautions after having played against the Utah Jazz twice in the last two weeks, per ABC’s Ryan Field. It follows the news that the Jazz have the first NBA…

NBA Rumors: Celtics Under Quarantine Amid Jazz’s Coronavirus Concerns — NESN.com

Celtics hopes for second seed in danger with recent rut continuing — Celtics Wire

Celtics hopes for second seed in danger with recent rut continuing — Celtics Wire

Kemba Walker took the Boston Celtics loss Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder to heart, but in truth his recent spate of mediocre games is far from the only problem Boston has right now.

It’s true the UConn product hasn’t managed to find his footing since returning from a sore knee that kept him out of action for much of February. It’s also true that a late turnover by the Bronx native ultimately cost the Celtics their game against the Thunder.

Yet, there are other players on that team, and the blame rests on them as well.

Effort levels have been substandard on both ends of the floor, as noted by unofficial team captain Marcus Smart after Boston’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Mar. 6.

Injuries have been plaguing the team, with a player seeming to go down for each one that comes back.

With one of the least productive benches in the NBA in terms of offense, when one of those players is Walker, forward Gordon Hayward, or shooting guard Jaylen Brown…

…the results speak for themselves.Jay King✔@ByJayKing

Again, the Celtics blew a double-digit lead at home. Again, they squandered chances down the stretch. Kemba Walker took this one hard after his late turnover.

“This is a low for us,” said Gordon Hayward.

On a team trying to find it again: https://theathletic.com/1663572/2020/03/08/kemba-walker-celtics-playoff-hopes-slipping/?source=shared-article …Celtics hopes for second seed slipping away after another…”This is not the first time I’ve had a stretch like this in my career when I haven’t been playing so well, but I’ll be better,” Walker said.theathletic.com45Twitter Ads info and privacySee Jay King’s other Tweets

All that said, good luck trying to convince Walker not to take it personally. “It’s frustrating,” said the former Husky after the Thunder loss (via The Athletic’s Jay King).

How Celtics Can Clinch Playoff Spot By End Of Sunday’s NBA Action — NESN.com

It hardly will be a surprise when the Boston Celtics secure their spot in the postseason, but at the moment their place in the playoffs is not yet confirmed. That can change Sunday though. The Celtics are set to host the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden, and a win is half of what the…

How Celtics Can Clinch Playoff Spot By End Of Sunday’s NBA Action — NESN.com