Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

  LUKE KORNET SIGNS A ONE YEAR DEAL!!! 🍀☘️🏀 Neemias Queta signs a multi year deal! 🍀☘️🏀

 As no surprise, the Celtics have picked up the $2.1 million team option on Sam Hauser for the upcoming season, and the team is expected to extend his contract in the coming weeks. Hauser was one of eight Celtics players who logged double-digit minutes in the NBA Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks - with the other seven being Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford . In the five Finals contests, Sam averaged 8.2 PPG and 3.0 RPG - while hitting on 57.6% from the field and 47.8% from the hinterlands. Brad Stevens is determined to go for Banner 19 in 2024-25, and Hauser is expec ted to play a major role in that quest.

Celtics center, Kristaps Porzingis , has recently undergone foot/ankle surgery, and is not expected back on the floor until late November or early December. I have already broached Daniel Theis as a viable free agent option for Boston who might sign on for a vet-minimum deal , and there are a few other possibilities out there ( per Yahoo Sports Morten Stig Jensen ): 4.  Andre Drummond ,  Chicago Bulls Andre Drummond C - CHI - #3 2023 - 2024 SEASON 8.4 Pts 9 Reb 0.9 Stl 0.6 Blk 17:06 Min Status: unrestricted free agent 2023-24 salary: $3,360,000 2023-24 digits: 8.4 points, 9 rebound and 0.5 assists In recent years, Drummond has come off the bench. He's made the pivot that Valančiūnas is on the threshold of. However, Drummond's impact could be viewed as starting caliber-worthy through the proper lens. As his generation's best rebounder and one of the best of all time in that department, Drummond is elite on the offensive glass (3.4 in 17.1 minutes this year), whi...

 We all know how important muscle mass is for older folks. When sarcopenia (muscle loss) occurs in the later years, frailty results - and the loss of strength can severely limit activities that were once routine. But beyond that,  Will Brink of Brinkzone,com has broached the importance of muscle to keep the elderly alive after suffering a traumatic event and subsequent hospitalization ( per Brink ):  “ A loss of muscle mass also has far ranging effects beyond the obvious loss of strength and functionality. Muscle is a metabolic reservoir. In times of emergency it produces the proteins and metabolites required for survival after a traumatic event. In practical terms, frail elderly people with decreased muscle mass often do not survive major surgeries or traumatic accidents, as they lack the metabolic reserves to supply their immune systems and other systems critical for recovery.” Muscle as a "metabolic reservoir" is not a new concept for me. I have experienced signifi...

 It is noteworthy that the Celtics, in choosing to draft Baylor Scheierman , with the 30th pick in last night's draft - they got a guy that is almost a carbon copy of present-Celtic, Sam Hauser. The 6'7", 205-pound Creighton product is a true sharpshooter, specializing in the 3-pointer. Brad Stevens will almost surely pick up the team option on Hauser by the deadline on June 29, 2024, paying him $2.1 million for the upcoming season. Extending Sam's contract by July 6, 2024 is not totally assured. Scheierman will turn 24 years old this September, making him one of the oldest draftees taken last night. He could surprise, but it is doubtful if he will log significant minutes this season. And the odds are good that Stevens could work our an extension for Hauser within the tight financial framework facing Boston. If not, Boston may take a shot on Scheierman seeing more floor time this season - and hopefully show enough promise to work him into the rotation in the near ...

  Could Daniel Theis return to the Celtics this season for a third stint in Boston? It may be more-likely that he heads overseas, but Brad Stevens may be thinking of bringing the German C/F free agent back into the fold on a vet-minimum deal . In the 2020-21 season in Beantown , Theis averaged 9.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.0 BPG in 24.4 minutes per contest . He is an active and willing defender and a solid guy on the boards . Daniel may be looking for significant minutes with any NBA team he eventually chooses, and with Kristaps Porzingis being uncertain for the start of the season after ankle surgery - in addition to Al Horford turning 38 this coming season - Theis could see those kind of minutes.  At 6'8" and 245 pounds , the German import may be somewhat undersized for the center spot, but he has a lot of experience at Five-spot and won't turn 33 until April. He may have enough left in the tank for Brad Stevens to give him another shot - if indeed Theis wants to ...

  My grand daughter, Courtney, was born with a fatal illness, cystic fibrosis . She died at the age of 25, but not before she gave birth to my great grandson, Carson Thomas Lane - risking her own life to bring him into the world. This is her story. Carson turned 12 today. He told me, "I love my life"! June 25, 2012 (Written by Courtney Lane) What was supposed to be an amniocentesis, turned out to be the day that I was induced. See turns out that I wasn't sporadically pissing the bed, my water had just sprung a leak and it would soon no longer be safe for Carson inside me, because there was not enough amniotic fluid. They Assembled my team of specialists to come in and speak to me about the induction process. I could tell by the looks on their faces that this was not going to be an easy conversation. But I'll be honest, it was a conversation I had already had 1000 times. The induction process was going to put a lot of strain on my body, and there was a very good po...

Oshae Brissett is reportedly declining his player option for the upcoming season and will test the market as a free agent. Brissett signed a 2-year deal last summer, with the s econd season set at $2.5 million and with a player option . He will be looking for a bigger role and more money . His minutes in Boston last season were the lowest (11.5 MPG) since his rookie season. Oshae Brissett is declining his $2.5M player option with the Boston Celtics for the 2024-25 season, a league source told @spotrac . Brissett will now be an unrestricted free agent this summer. — Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 23, 2024 So now begins the off-season for the newly-crowned Champion Boston Celtics. Brissett's decision may be beneficial for a Boston team that is looking for low-cost bench players to complement its very-expensive core. 

 Boston may not have the sun and warmth of Los Angeles - or the bright lights of New York - but the city's status as a preferred destination for free-agent veterans may be quite elevated. It's not simply that the Celtics won the Finals against Dallas - or that the Title window is very wide open. The Celtics franchise as a whole has earned a ton of respect , from the bench crew - to the starters - to the coaching staff, execs and ownership. Wic Grousbeck was willing to spend the cash, while Brad Stevens was determined to build a squad on both talent and high character. And let's not forget Joe Mazzulla . He is one-of-a-kind - often a bit of a wise guy (which I like) - but he got the job done. One more word on character. This team played like a T-E-A-M! Any vet that comes on board would need to fit in with what has been built. That requires character. Lebron James would not fit that profile. Could be an interesting off-season.

 The primary rule of survival is:   "Be aware of your surroundings" Okay. So what can kill you? The specific list is long, but the basic things that do people in include: 1.) Serious disease 2.) Traumatic injury 3.) Suicide 4.) Murder 5.) Terrible genetics I have survived several bouts with #1, serious illness - including dangerously-high blood pressure, prostate cancer and aortic stenosis . Any of the three maladies could have done me in had my doctor not detected the issues while they were still manageable.  The lessons are clear . I have almost-always been in good-to-excellent shape - and remain there at the age of 80-plus. It is always a good practice to go into surgery lean and muscular. The benefits of doing so far outweigh the work and mental discipline required. And another point. Avoiding the medical profession is not advisable for those seeking longevity. Referring to #2, I have had very few injuries in my life, with none being traumatic. Wherever I am - be it ...

  Danny Ainge was generally a willing disciple of Red Auerbach , but Danny veered away from Red's practice of retaining stars well-past their prime. Auerbach traded Ainge in his prime but kept Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in the Celtics fold even when age and injuries were stifling their production. Not so Danny. It was his trade of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett that brought Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to Boston. The pair were taken with the third-overall draft picks in successive years. It took a while, but the Jay Team improved every season - learned to play team ball - and finally ended the season earning Banner 18 for TD Garden. #Celtics brothers and sisters how about a big shout-out to #44 Danny Ainge. Danny's hands are all over #banner18 . He brought us Tatum/Brown, Brad Stevens, and I could go on! pic.twitter.com/R9o68ZmImD — Ty Ray (@coug88) June 18, 2024   The general feeling around the League is that this present Celtics crew may not be done in their Champions...

 I personally consider the NBA Finals MVP Award one of the highest honors a player can achieve , and that is what the Celtics Jaylen Brown has accomplished. It was a close call, since Jayson Tatum finished with t eam-highs in minutes, points, rebounds and assists for the 5-game series. Biu in the end, it was probably Tatum's poor shooting percentages (.388 FG, .263 on 3s) and Brown's lock-down defense that made the difference. Regardless, the present and future of The Green rests primarily with the Jay Team - and Jayson and Jaylen certainly are a team-within-a-team. Take either one out of the picture, and Banner 18 may not have happened. So congrats to Jaylen Brown . He earned this prestigious award . The Finals MVP Trophy indicates he was the most-indispensable player in the series - and in this case, it was awarded to a player on the winning side. Brown has worked hard to get where he is. Nicely done, Jaylen!  

Not sure about anyone else but this sure sums it up. JT overcome with emotion and Al right there with him. I'm damn sure most C's fans were emotional seeing JT like this. Afterwards during the celebration he hoisted up Deuce! I'm sure we all were celebrating with a loved one as well. For me it was with my old man who has seen his share of Celtics rings. My nephew was with us as well. Last time the C's won he wasn't born. I thought about my mom who died from cancer, during their magical run two years ago that ended in defeat. What truly made me smile was the love in which guys like the Jays, Joe, Jrue and Al all gave to God. It's always been God and family for me. These C's have God and family for sure.  For me the Celtics have played a huge role in my life. Sharing so many games and moments with loved ones. My father and I met and shook Larry Birds hand after Magics enshrinement. Getting to meet Dave Cowens, KC Jones, and Robert Parish together. Meeting Tomm...

C's enter the TD Garden with an opportunity to clinch a title! First Quarter 🏀 Tip off is next! Jrue Holiday opens up the scoring! DWhite with a huge steal on the other end. Jrue again with a sweet inside shot! Jrue has six early points, I like where he's going tonight. Al for three!!! I like where this game is going so far. Defense wins championships!!! Blow the doors off these guys! DWhite gets to the line. KP is in the GAME! DWhite for three! KP doesn't look like himself at all right now. C's need to go on a run after this timeout. It was needed and Joe called it. C's are leaving some points out there. If they start clicking tonight could be a run away. Yet it's still tight right now. C's finish on a 9-0 run and we are up ten! Second Quarter ☘️☘️ I look for the C's to push their lead here in the second. I need even more out of Tatum and Brown. They both finished strong in those last two minutes. Thanks to Jrue for controlling that first quarter. I ne...

 Call it evolving- or call it adapting - but remaining active and viable past the age of eighty requires a boatload of changes.  "You can't tweak your little finger without your brain initiating the action." -- Tom Lane Everything starts with your brain . Having passed the 80-mark half-a-year ago, I spend a good amount of time pondering how I will fill the next day. This is as basic as it gets . Spending eight decades on this earth creates a lot of habits - both good and bad. Lethargy wants to take you out of the action, and it needs to be fought. A lazy lifestyle is a killer and will take you out sooner than later. "Lack of curiosity in older folks separates them from the younger set." -- Tom Lane I learn more from my mistakes and those of others than I do from success. Daily movement is critical. Mental stimulation is vital. Living in the past on previous glories and not getting out of your comfort zone creates a downward slide.  My family members (dad, mo...

  Red Auerbach may be "dead-and-gone" but his undeniable mark remains . Danny Ainge learned much from the the Celtics Patriarch and used that knowledge and experience to  wheel-deal-and-construct Celtics teams that were almost always in the fight.  And now we have Brad Stevens at the helm . He is more subdued than either of his predecessors, but he is damn  clever - and outright smart. His present crew sits at 3-1 in the NBA Finals following a disastrous loss in Game-4 of the series . But Brad's team does not consist of robots. Their Game-4 performance versus Dallas made them look like an overmatched YMCA assemblage. They went from dominant to vulnerable. But don't be fooled. This current version of The Green was masterfully put together to win Banner 18. They are good - very good. And seasoned to withstand one lousy performance . Tomorrow night they will be back home at TD Garden and out to prove just how good they are. I refuse to use the metaphor of Red smiling d...

  It's all led up to this moment... Celtics fans have been waiting sixteen long years for this opportunity. Get the job done! 1Q🏀  Perk picks the Mavs in pregame, to me it's a good sign for the C's. I need JB and JT to lead by example tonight. With that said it's going to take a total team effort tonight. Work hard on defense and move the ball on offense. Take it one play at a time. One quarter at a time and bring home the trophy. All I know is if these Celtics play a full 48 minutes this series is a wrap with all the fixings! Celtic Pride needs to be on full display tonight. The Jays both score early one tonight. Jrue with a nice defensive stop early on. I love Jrue Holiday! C's are in an early dogfight, but I believe if they go on a run the Mavs will turtle. C's have missed good looks so far, need those to fall for a victory. C's need to attack the cup and continue to force Luka and Kyrie to play D. C's trail early and need to get things going. Please...

  C's will be without KP tonight due to his injury. The prognosticators are already picking the Mavs. 1st Quarter ☘️ C's with pinpoint accuracy to start off the scoring. C's are off to a poor start though overall. Joe takes an early timeout and I'm already disgusted by this game. C's should have expected to get hit in the face and they are doing nothing about it early on. Your dream of winning a ring is two games away. Yet you come out like this... I hope Joes timeout gets in their hearts and they play like the Celtics. Settle everything down and play some damn Defense. Out of the timeout Al nails a three. Al also blocks a shot on the other end! That's leadership! This game sucks right now. JT hits a three and the lead is down to ten. They really need to buckle down. Trim this lead down and go on a run. JB gets to the cup and scores. JT gets a basketball bounce on the three and the lead is down to six. Finish this quarter strong! JT is going to have to take this...

  This just isn't right! K. C. Jones is well-overdue for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. Has he been forgotten - and tossed aside - in that capacity? The time is right to correct the slight. The Boston Celtics currently have the most HOF inductees , with 40 . Is the feeling among the voters that 40 members of The Green is sufficient? Well, it's not! K. C. is in The Hall as a player, which is much-deserved for the guy that took over the reins from Bob Cousy and constantly played under the shadow of Bill Russell . And Jones was voted one of the . 15 greatest coaches in NBA history. 5 #NBAFinals appearances and 2 titles as an #NBA head coach. 2 championships as an assistant. 2nd highest winning % for any head coach with 500 wins Help induct Coach K​.​C. Jones Into the National Basketball Hall of Fame - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/rQTWMSt6SN via @Change — Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) June 10, 2024 So what's going on? I have felt for som...

 It's only two games, but some too-early guesswork of the eventual winner of Finals MVP for 2024 tells us quite a bit. The first revelation is that the Boston Celtics are loaded - but we knew that. Kristaps Porzingis came back from injury in Gane-1 and powered his team to the win. Game-2 saw Jrue Holiday prove why Brad Stevens was so smart in signing him long-term. And Jaylen Brown  played so well in both games, he has quieted his many critics. But despite his poor shooting and propensity for turning the ball over, Jayson Tatum had done everything else on the floor in the two games thus far . And don't forget Dallas' Luke Doncic . His team may be down 0-2, but he has generally excelled. Here are the basic stats for the foursome: Tatum: 43.5 MPG - 17.0 PPG - 10.0 RPG - 8.5 APG - .5 SPG - .5 BPG Brown: 40.0 MPG - 21.5 PPG - 5.0 RPG - 4.5 APG - 3.0 SPG - 1.5 BPG Holiday: 38.0 MPG - 19.0 PPG - 9.5 RPG - 4.0 APG - 1.0 SPG - .5 BPG Doncic: 40.5 MPG - 31.0 PPG - 10.5 RPG - 6....

 Your Boston Celtics have grabbed a 2-0 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite shooting poorly from beyond the arc. Despite that they still found a way to win and to me that marks a great team.  I love the fact the C's had more assists then Dallas. Defensively they had more steals and blocks. As I always say defense wins championships! C's despite having multiple turnovers, Dallas won that stat! C's had 21 points off of those turnovers. You must capitalize when your opponent gives you opportunities. Celtics may not have been lighting it up but they made their free throws and closed when they needed to. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White were the back court of destruction! Offensively they made the plays and on defense they were once again incredible! JT nearly had a triple double yet still doesn't get the calls like Luka. JB once again was nails on both ends. Most national fools I mean pundits will look at the Jays and say it wasn't enough. I disagree, those ...

 Most Celtics fans heard the noise from NBA analysts . They chant that the Mavericks duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are superior to the Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown pairing . That simply doesn't ring true, at least using a limited sample of Game-1. Using win/loss as a category, and including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, FG%, 3-pt% and FT% , the Tatum/Brown take out Luka/Irving by a score of 7-to-3. Dallas duo wins points, steals (barely) and turnovers (barely), while the Celtics pair takes all the rest. The rebounding (17-13), assists (7-3) and blocks (4-0) for Tatum/Brown over Luka/Irving were outstanding . Also noteworthy that the Boston team as a whole took honors on blocked shots, sending nine shot attempts away - to only one for the Dallas team. It is vital for the Celtics to lose any complacency from their convincing win in Game-1 - and to take ZERO plays off in Game-2. I have mellowed on any negative feelings for Irving, but I would ...

 I assume it would be difficult to be the "Latest Basketball Hero In Town" when the home team has seen the likes of Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce , etc., etc., etc. Off nights for a star can come with flak. But Jayson Tatum is up to the task . Tatum has matured and is one of the most-skilled Celtics to ever take to the parquet. But we will hear from some fans and analysts about his "quiet" performance in Game-1 of the Finals versus Dallas . His 16 points came in third place to Jaylen Brown (20) and Kristaps Porzingis (20) , he was 6-of-16 from the field and had six turnovers. But Jayson was team-high in rebounds (11) and came in a close second to Jrue Holiday in plus/minus (+19) . And he tied the backcourt duo of Holiday and Derrick White with five boards . Granted, this was not a Tatum win. It was a team win, with six guys scoring 12-or-more points. That is the ultimate goal, and Jayson knows it. Unlike previous sea...

 A number of NBA analysts have stated that a healthy Kristaps Porzingis is an absolute requirement for the Boston Celtics to hoist Banner 18. I don't agree entirely, but the "Long Latvian's" performance last night demonstrated just how valuable he is. A total of 20 points in less than 21 minutes - on 62%/50%/100% accuracy from the field, beyond the arc and free throw line, respectively. Add to that three blocks and six rebounds. Porzingis hit from deep, mid-range and down low. His length allows him to simply shoot over opposing defenders. And his three blocks took a lot of air out of the Mavericks . Kristaps' presence alone altered at least a few other shots by Dallas. So Kristaps may not be vital for Boston's success, but he is damn important - so much that Celtics fans (me included) constantly worry as to whether or not he can stay injury-free the rest of the series. He will have three days rest prior to Game-2 on Sunday. Just occurred to me that the Cel...

The Stage is set and the Finals are finally here. The C's welcome the national media darlings in Complainer Luka and Logo Stomping Kyrie. Well we have JT, JB, Jrue, DWhite, KP, AL, and so much more. The start of Banner 18 begins tonight. I can't believe it's been 16 years since the last time the C's won it all. That's way too freaking long... 1st Quarter 🏀 Here we go! Al JAMS IT HOME! Jrue for a pure three! We get JB guarding Luka so far tonight. Gotta love seeing JT crash the boards already tonight. C's are missing some good looks so far but those will fall. Al gets a three followed by a JB steal and jam! C's are moving the ball pretty damn well tonight. KP has entered the conversation! Welcome back, no go ball out! It's been a busy first quarter as both teams are locked in. Need to see some tighter D from the C's though. Force both Luka and Kyrie to play defense. KP forces Luka into his first foul, smart basketball play. KP JAMS IT HOME! KP is a m...

 The 1971 film, Billy Jack , was far from one of my favorites, but Tom Laughlin's portrayal of the heroic skilled combatant was very well done.  "You know what I'm gonna do then - and there's not a damn thing you're gonna be able to do about it." Larry Bird was the Celtics Billy Jack. Told the opponent what he was going to do - he could not be stopped - and then did it. Is Jayson Tatum heading there? 'Billy Jack' (1971) I'm gonna take this right foot... https://t.co/jtBluG1s7s via @YouTube https://t.co/vdsz3GqvP8 — Tom Lane (@CelticsSentinel) June 6, 2024 That is what the hero said to the prominent local enemy and his crew of cronies. Laughlin then explains how he going to kick the side of his foe's head - and there was nothing he could do about it. Then he did it! Sounds like Larry Bird, doesn't it . Bird did that to so many opponents - told them what he was going to do - there was nothing they could do to prevent it - and then Larry c...