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[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/13/25

Herald Luka Garza’s ‘inspired’ play for Celtics draws high praise from Joe Mazzulla

Haircut, then breakout: How Payton Pritchard got his mojo back vs. Memphis

Celtics’ season-best shooting paves way for rout of shorthanded Grizzlies

Celtics make big change to starting lineup for matchup vs. Grizzlies

Globe Payton Pritchard scores 24 points, Celtics roll past Grizzlies 131-95

Small mistakes have hounded the Celtics, but rout of Grizzlies shows what’s possible when they’re in control

Payton Pritchard, Derrick White get back on track to help Celtics rout Grizzlies

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side – Grizzlies 11/12/25

CelticsBlog 10 Takeaways from a complete Celtics win over Memphis

A haircut may have helped turn Payton Pritchard’s season around

“It’s all part of the journey”: Derrick White patiently embraced his shooting slump — and finally broke out

Celtics set several season-highs blowing out Grizzlies

Celtics crush Grizzlies 131-95 with five players in double figures

CLNS Media How Jordan Walsh Became a Starter for Celtics Team That Rarely Played Him

Boston Dominates Memphis in Home Victory | Celtics vs Grizzlies Postgame Show

Celtics .com Pritchard, White Lead Celtics to Season-Best Rout of Grizzlies

Keys to the Game: Celtics 131, Grizzlies 95

Mass Live Grizzlies coach calls out team after Celtics dominant rout

Celtics surprise starter shows intriguing potential in Grizzlies win

Boston Celtics coach explains reserve big man’s ‘special gift’

Payton Pritchard makes honest admission following recent struggles

Payton Pritchard is the Celtics ‘Name to Know’ Player of the Game in Wednesday’s win over Grizzlies

4 takeaways as Celtics crush Grizzlies after unveiling new starting lineup

Boston Celtics promising wing gets 1st start after recent stellar play

NBC Sports Boston 13 for 13, Part 1: Assessing Celtics’ core four starters through 13 games

Celtics-Grizzlies recap: C’s bounce back and cruise to blowout win

NESN Stunning Statistic Emerges After Celtics Blowout Victory Vs. Grizzlies

Payton Pritchard Shines As Celtics Obliterate Grizzlies

Proposed Trade Lands $97 Million Rim-Runner With Celtics

No, The Celtics Should Not Target Domantas Sabonis Via Trade

Celtics Wire Jeff Teague says Celtics should trade for Mavs star Anthony Davis

Payton Pritchard likes what he sees from Jordan Walsh in recent Celtics games

Luka Garza on the Boston Celtics finding their shot from deep vs. the Memphis Grizzlies

Boston Celtics jersey history No. 43 – Derek Smith (1990)

Celtics legend Larry Bird weighs in on the NBA’s 3-point revolution

Celtics history: Gamble, Hamer, Stump born; Mariaschin, Ehlers debut; Duerod passes

Joe Mazzulla spoke highly of Luka Garza’s effort vs. Grizzlies

The Celtics earned a blowout win over the Grizzlies and some rest

The Athletic The Decision, the Bubble and the Process: Key NBA off-court moments of the 21st century

Boston Sports Journal Karalis: Process is important, but results against Memphis is nice reward for slumping Celtics

BSJ Game Report: Celtics 131, Grizzlies 95 – Boston hit shots, executes well, and earns an easy win

Hardwood Houdini Celtics might already have the perfect Anfernee Simons trade partner

Luka Garza credits his parents and self-awareness for his standout trait

Celtics’ breakthrough makes slow start to season even more confusing

4 instant reactions from Celtics’ dominant win over the Grizzlies

Celtics make bold starting lineup change before Wednesday’s game vs. Grizzlies

Chowder and Champions Celtics Offseason Signing Already Boston’s Biggest Disappointment

CLNS Media/YouTube LIVE Garden Report: Celtics vs Grizzlies Postgame Show on CLNS Media

5 Things to LOVE from Celtics Win Over Grizzlies | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell

Luka Garza’s Goal is to Play HARDER Than Everyone | Postgame Interview

Derrick White on trying “Everything” to get out of Shooting Slump | Postgame Interview

Payton Pritchard said he was DISSAPOINTED in himself in last two games | Postgame Interview

Joe Mazzulla on Celtics 36 point BLOWOUT Win | Postgame Interview

Audacy The Celtics just need to be average to be good

Raptors Republic 905 continue historic start by steamrolling Celtics

Locked on Celtics From BAD to WORSE: Grizzlies NBA season spirals after being embarrassed by Celtics in Boston

Celtics DOMINATE Memphis as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard BREAK Out of Slump

Celtics Chronicle Buckets…Buckets Everywhere

The Sports Hub Impressive shooting leads Celtics to blowout win against Grizzlies

NBA/YouTube GRIZZLIES at CELTICS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | November 12, 2025

Clutch Points Shaq ‘fools’ on Celtics’ Jaylen Brown for hair dye faux pas

NBA .com Shaqtin’ A Fool: Jaylen Brown nabs top ‘spot’

Fan Recap Celtics Linked to Former Trade Target Amid Early Season Struggles

SI .com Celtics, Ja-less Grizzlies shuffle lineups ahead of second of back-to-back

Bleacher Report 1 Trade Every NBA Team Would Make If the Deadline Was Today

NBA Analysis Payton Pritchard called out for performances by former Celtics star, ‘I was wrong’

Sporting News Mavericks predicted to cut ties with Kyrie Irving via blockbuster three-team trade to Celtics

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-celtics-daily-links/124717/boston-celtics-daily-links-11-13-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Are the Celtics good?

Through thirteen games, the Boston Celtics are sitting at 6-7 and 11th in the Eastern Conference — nothing special which was too be expect when you lose your best player for most of the season and your top three centers from last season’s roster leave for nothing in return.

However, when you look under the hood, the Celtics may be better than their record leads us to believe.

The Celtics are 8th (4th in the Eastern Conference) in net rating for the season per NBA.com. Cleaning the Glass filters out ‘garbage time’ and they have the Celtics at 11th in net rating (6th in the East), at +4.1 points per 100 possessions, less than NBA.com but still the markings of a good basketball team.

Cleaning the Glass also tracks a teams expected wins and what the difference is between that number and how many wins you have. This is tracked based on net rating and how many games a team has played. The Celtics are dead last in the NBA in that category at -2.1 expected wins. The Rockets are 29th, they are at -1.1, a whole game better than Boston is.

The Celtics net rating is indicative of a team that is on pace to win 51 games this season; that is higher than the 7-4 76ers and the 8-4 Lakers (though that Lakers number is skewed a bit due to their blowout loss in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night).

The Celtics also have not shot the three-pointer well this season. Since coming to the Celtics, Derrick White has been a 38% three-point shooter, but he is at just 29% this season. Payton Pritchard who is a career 39% three-point shooter is at just 28% from beyond the arc this season. Sam Hauser who is a career 44% three-point shooter is shooting 32% this season.

Water is likely to find its level with those guys because they are too good of shooters to keep shooting like this. As a result, there is an argument that the Celtics could be even better than the numbers suggest.

Why is the Celtics net rating high but their record mediocre? They just have not done a good job at closing game.

The Celtics are one of two teams to have four 20+ point wins this season, Boston is 4-1 in games decided by 20+ points. The early indication is that they blow teams out and don’t get blown out themselves.

That makes sense because, no matter how many people want to deny it, they are an extremely well-coached team. Joe Mazzulla has put their players in positions to be successful throughout the year. That, coupled with a championship DNA, and you have a team that isn’t going to get blown out very often.

They have had some brutal losses this season, many of which can be traced back to their inability to grab a late game rebound here and there. The loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday was decided because Jaylen Brown was out of position on a rebound and Kelly Oubre Jr. tipped it in. Their loss to the Jazz on November 3rd was decided on a Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound when he went over Neemias Queta to grab it and put it back in. In the Celtics October 26th loss in Detroit, the Pistons had five offensive rebounds in the last 3 minutes of the game that led to eight Pistons points in a game Boston lost by 6.

That’s three games decided by the Celtics inability to get defensive rebounds. Instead of a potential 9-4, Boston is 6-7. Sure, 9-4 is not promised but they could be 8-5, which is where Cleaning the Glass says they should be.

So, are the Celtics good? I do think the Celtics have the makings a good basketball team.

They have gotten contributions from players we did not expect to play as well as they have. Neemias Queta is 7th individual net rating for players who have played 20+ minutes per game. Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott and Hugo Gonzalez all look like they can be real contributors next year. Jaylen Brown mid-range game has carried the Celtics offense at times this season.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...lla-derrick-white-brad-stevens-nba-net-rating

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/14/25

Herald Ex-Celtics guard applying lessons from Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla in new G League job

Celtics notebook: How NBA rule change has altered Boston’s game prep

Globe How to watch Boston sports in 2025: The best streaming services for Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics fans

Small mistakes have hounded the Celtics, but rout of Grizzlies shows what’s possible when they’re in control

CelticsBlog Are the Celtics good?

CLNS Media Ja Morant: the Poster Boy for NBA Haters

NBC Sports Boston 13 for 13, Part 2: Assessing key Celtics role players through 13 games

NESN Jordan Walsh Is Second In NBA In This Stat, Ahead Of Nikola Jokic

Maine Celtics Coach Calls Big Man A ‘Monster’ With ‘High Upside’

Celtics Enjoying Much-Needed Break From Grueling Schedule

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Leads NBA In This Unique Statistic

Mass Live Former Celtics forward suffers injury, tough Pacers season continues

Celtics Mailbag: Will Boston regret making intriguing trade at NBA Draft?

Celtics Wire Phil Pressey (like Joe Mazzulla) uses film as a tool for coaching

Celtics jersey history No. 43 – Lorenzo Williams (1993)

Today in Boston Celtics history: White debuts; Sanders fired, Cowens hired; Wesley born

Havlicek Stole the Pod: Larry Bird, Boston ghosts, Celtics grail stories y Expensive Basketball

How Jordan Walsh has been supercharging the Celtics defense

Hardwood Houdini Celtics regret in passing on Ryan Kalkbrenner grows as Neemias Queta needs help

Payton Pritchard opens up about the mental funk he had to shake out of

Derrick White finally found missing piece that could change everything

What do the Celtics need to happen in NBA Cup Week 3 to have a chance to advance?

Phil Pressey’s foundation will be why he flourishes as Maine Celtics’ head coach

Warriors finally learn why Celtics felt fine letting Al Horford go

Chowder and Champions Key Celtics’ Statistic Hints Early Boston Concerns Are Overblown

CLNS Media/YouTube Sam Hauser: Josh Minott is FUNNIEST New Celtics Player | Practice Interview

Joe Mazzulla Asks Reporter About His Haircut | Celtics Practice

Who Should Be Celtics 5th Starter? | Garden Report

Barstool Sports After Their Biggest Blowout Win Of The Season, The Boston Celtics Remain An Extremely Hilarious Team

SI .com Celtics Face Crucial $2.4 Million Decision On Rising Forward This Summer

Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Reveals How He Handled Shooting Slump

M Sports Jordan Walsh stuns Celtics fans with breakout November: “Just staying ready”

Hoops Rumors Atlantic Notes: McCain, Barlow, Walsh, Minott, Ingram

NESN/YouTube Did the Celtics Prove Anything by Beating The Grizzlies?

Are the Celtics Regretting These Offseason Moves?

Hoops Wire NBA Notes: Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Celtics, Jordan Walsh, Bulls

Clutch Points Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla finds silver lining to shaky first 13 games

Marcus Smart drops Celtics’ Jayson Tatum admission amid his injury recovery

Sportskeeda “This is so evil”: NBA Fans Lose It After Sixers Mascot Brutally Mocks Jaylen Brown’s Fake Hairline

Heavy Celtics Floated in New Trade Idea for Impact Center

Marcus Smart Reveals Conversation With Celtics’ Jayson Tatum

Proposed Trade Flips Celtics’ Sam Hauser For Frontcourt Help

Lakers Reportedly Discussed Anthony Davis Trade with Hated Rival Before Luka Doncic Deal

The Ringer OK, So What Are the Boston Celtics?

AJ Dybantsa Isn’t Your Typical Boston Story

Hoops Rumors Atlantic Notes: McCain, Barlow, Walsh, Minott, Ingram

Fan Recap Celtics Eye Perfect Simons Trade That Solves Two Big Problems

Bleacher Report Grading Every NBA Team’s Starting Lineup So Far

Hardwood Heroics “He’s the Ultimate Competitor” – Boston Celtics Starter Draws Praise for Setting the Tone in Win Vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Locked on Celtics Boston Celtics ‘CANDY’ win over Memphis | Need MORE Neemias Queta?

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-celtics-daily-links/124787/boston-celtics-daily-links-11-14-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

The Maine Celtics could have their next great prospect

BOSTON — Ron Harper Jr. didn’t know he’d be spending the week with the Boston Celtics.

But, the 25-year-old two-way Celtics player hopped on a commercial flight on Sunday to meet the Celtics in Orlando amid their three-game road trip.

It wasn’t smooth sailing; the same flight delays that have plagued the country meant Harper missed the Celtics’ win over the Magic; he ultimately arrived in Orlando after the game ended.

The schedule didn’t let up from there; he ended up traveling with the team to Philadelphia for a Tuesday game against the 76ers, and then back to Boston for a game against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Then, on Thursday, he attended a fundraiser for Jaylen Brown’s 7uice Foundation, along with several other Celtics teammates.

“It’s just life as a two-way,” Harper told CelticsBlog.

He’s intimately familiar with the grind.

After going undrafted in 2022, the Rutgers star signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors. Then, in December of 2023, he was waived in the midst of his second two-way contract with the Raptors after suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Season-ending surgery set him back both mentally and physically, and after months of rehab, he ultimately joined the Celtics for Summer League and training camp last fall. Harper spent the first few months of last season with the Maine Celtics and then signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons, his third such NBA contract.

But the Pistons didn’t re-sign him, and in August, Harper returned to the Celtics for a second training camp. After a training camp battle between multiple Exhibit 10 players, the 6’5 guard signed the Celtics’ third two-way contract.

The life of a two-way player​

Last week, Harper didn’t know what his week would hold. He didn’t have any insight that a roadtrip was in the cards, nor did he know how long he’d be staying in Boston two nights upon his return.

“You don’t really get much notice, you feel me?” he said. “But every time you get called up, you’re grateful for the opportunity.”

On Wednesday, that opportunity resulted in a 4-minute, 6-point stint with the Celtics, in which he sank both of his three-point attempts in front of a raucous TD Garden crowd.

Back-to-back threes for Ron Harper Jr. pic.twitter.com/6mzAEOrrj3

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) November 13, 2025

Before the game, he knew that real minutes were possible, though they only ended up coming with the game out of reach.

“Joe don’t care if you haven’t played in 20 games,” Harper said. “If you go out there, he wants you to produce, and he wants you to compete.”

That stint with the Celtics came after Harper excelled in his first two games in Maine, averaging 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. In Maine’s second game, he caught fire down the stretch, sinking four threes in the final minutes.

Harper’s shotmaking ability could be what translates most in the NBA; in his senior season, he averaged 15.8 points and shot 39.8% from beyond the arc. Last year in the G-League, he shot 37% from three.

“He’s been great,” Joe Mazzulla said last month. “His professionalism has been great. His basketball IQ has really improved. He’s shooting the ball really well.”

Maine Celtics head coach Phil Pressey — who doubles as a member of the Celtics’ player development staff — is often in Harper’s ear, providing encouragement and motivation.

“Ron Harper goes from playing in the G-League one night, getting 28-30 points, playing 40 minutes, to going to the NBA to not playing at all or playing very little,” Pressey said. “In the G-League, his usage rate is extremely high. Then, he goes to the NBA, and it drops dramatically. You have to be adaptable. So, that’s something that we talk about on a daily basis.”

Part of what makes life easier is that Maine and Boston work in tandem; Harper might learn a new play in the G-League and then have to run it with the Celtics in Boston.

Mazzulla and Pressey work closely together, making the back-and-forth transitions far more seamless.

“The play calls are usually the same, the coverage, terminology, stuff like that,” Harper said. “So, it’s easier for me to get a grasp on it quicker.”

When Harper is in Boston, Mazzulla views him as any other player on the roster.

“He worked hard this preseason and his training camp, and so depending upon the night, he could give us a chance to impact winning just as much as anybody can,” Mazzulla said.

Could Ron Harper be the Celtics’ next development success story?​

Plenty of Celtics have their roots in Maine. Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta — who currently have the best net rating of any two-man lineup in the NBA (minimum 30 mins) — both played together in the G-League two years ago.

Then, there are stories like Luke Kornet’s; Kornet revived his career with the Maine Celtics and is now a critical piece of an excellent San Antonio Spurs team after spending the last few years as a backup center for the Celtics.

Sam Hauser, now playing on a 4-year, $45 million contract, also got his start in Portland after going undrafted in 2021. He credits his time in Maine for his eventual NBA success.

“They put the time in to invest in you, and as long as you reciprocate their investment, and you put in the work every day, they’re gonna give you a chance, and you just have to take advantage of it,” Hauser said. “We have a few guys who’ve shown that you can work your way up, and the G League’s not a bad thing by any means. Honestly, it’s a great thing to go down there and get game reps, game speed, game reads, and all that.”

Upon returning to Boston this week, Harper Jr. reviewed film from his G-League game with his Celtics player development coaches. He’s been working hard on getting better at handling ball pressure: “Playing with the ball in my hands, making the right decision 8 out of 10 times — that’s the goal.”

Earlier Friday morning, he headed up to Portland for the Maine Celtics’ first home game of the season. Sometimes, he makes the drive back and forth. Othertimes, he uses a car service. Harper has a place in Boston and a hotel room in Portland, which makes the uncertain lifestyle more convenient.

Harper tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds in Maine’s Friday night game, a 116-92 win over the Long Island Nets. He’s continued to show promise throughout as one of the team’s most veteran players.

Now, he’s just waiting for a breakthrough moment into the league, the same one so many before him have experienced.

“He’s right there, right?” Pressey said. “He’s knocking on the door.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/nba-pla...arper-jr-celtics-two-way-player-maine-celtics

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/15/25

Globe Brown around town: Celtics ‘fashion fits’ from the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season

Mavericks make necessary move to fire GM Nico Harrison, which clears the path to better future

Joe Mazzulla finds fulfillment facing the challenges of his fourth season with Celtics

CelticsBlog Jaylen Brown’s special event showcased everything great about Celtics

The Maine Celtics could have their next great prospect

Celtics Film Round-Up: Week 4

CLNS Media AJ Dybantsa Talks Boston Return and Fans Wanting Him on Celtics

Celtics .com Phil Pressey Makes Celtics History as he Leads Maine into Home Opener

NESN Lakers Reportedly Shopped Anthony Davis To Celtics Before Luka Doncic Trade

Mass Live Celtics star guiding new starting center in emerging role

Former Celtics guard calls out Grizzlies after trade deadline deal

Celtics Wire Did the Celtics try to trade for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis?

Sam Hauser is a believer in the G League as a path to the NBA

Boston Celtics two way guard Max Shulga sanctioned by FIBA

Boston Celtics jersey history No. 43 – Tony Harris (1994-96)

Celtics history: Acres, Pavlovic born; Sykes debut; Noszka, Russell pass

Derrick White on getting through shooting slumps

Should the Celtics trade for Ja Morant?

First as player, now as coach: Phil Pressey on growth of the G League

For Celtics (and NBA) fans, Shea Serrano’s ‘Expensive Basketball’ is a must-read

Jayson Tatum doing fine, flexing leadership skills with Boston Celtics during rehab

Boston Sports Journal Celtics practice notebook: What’s slowing down Jaylen Brown, and will Hugo Gonzalez play in Portland?

Picks ‘n Pops: Bizarre stats, how Queta levels up, and a picture that stings

Hardwood Houdini Forget the box score—this is where the Celtics are actually winning

Celtics’ Xavier Tillman found real leadership in an unexpected place

Sam Hauser shares what he leans on when struggles arrive

Sam Hauser brings perspective to teammates’ recent promotion

Hawks quickly making Kristaps Porzingis realization Celtics have known

Joe Mazzulla details the growth that led to Phil Pressey’s ascent

CLNS Media/YouTube Hugo Gonzalez Prepared to Play in Boston OR Maine | Celtics Practice

Jaylen Brown: Celtics Need to Take “Whatever Shot We Can Get” | Practice Interview

Joe Mazzulla Gives Jayson Tatum Injury Update: “He’s Doing Well” | Celtics Practice

AJ Dybantsa EXCLUSIVE: Potentially Playing for Hometown Celtics

Xavier Tillman Talks Jayson Tatum Rehab and Celtics Playbook Initiative

Neemias Queta READY to Play 40 Minutes if Necessary | Celtics Practice

Clutch Points Watch Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla ask reporter about haircut in middle of interview

SI .com Celtics Almost Traded with Lakers for Anthony Davis Last Season

Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla Gets Honest About Rotation

Mock Trade Lands Nets Center Nic Claxton with Celtics

Heavy Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Quietly Leads NBA in a Stat Even SGA Can’t Touch

Celtics Secretly Held Early Trade Talks for 10-Time NBA All-Star: Report

Celtics Linked to Rising Prospect After Eye-Opening Comments

M Sports Joe Mazzulla’s bold rotation shake-up stuns Celtics fans: “Complacency breeds entitlement”

Bleacher Report Could Kristaps Porzingis Be Traded By Hawks? Rival NBA Execs Weigh In on Possibility

Basketball Network Bill Simmons breaks down why Detroit’s young core suddenly looks like the toughest team in the East

Nets Daily Danny Wolf flirts with double-double but Long Island collapses vs. Maine, 116-92

WMTW Maine Celtics win home opener

Essentially Sports Jaylen Brown Confirms Jayson Tatum’s New Role in Celtics Amid Injury Recovery

CBS Sports Celtics set to face Clippers with adjusted rotation

Mavericks make necessary move to fire GM Nico Harrison, which clears the path to better future

Joe Mazzulla finds fulfillment facing the challenges of his fourth season with Celtics

CelticsBlog Jaylen Brown’s special event showcased everything great about Celtics

The Maine Celtics could have their next great prospect

Celtics Film Round-Up: Week 4

CLNS Media AJ Dybantsa Talks Boston Return and Fans Wanting Him on Celtics

Celtics .com Phil Pressey Makes Celtics History as he Leads Maine into Home Opener

NESN Lakers Reportedly Shopped Anthony Davis To Celtics Before Luka Doncic Trade

Mass Live Celtics star guiding new starting center in emerging role

Former Celtics guard calls out Grizzlies after trade deadline deal

Celtics Wire Did the Celtics try to trade for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis?

Sam Hauser is a believer in the G League as a path to the NBA

Boston Celtics two way guard Max Shulga sanctioned by FIBA

Boston Celtics jersey history No. 43 – Tony Harris (1994-96)

Celtics history: Acres, Pavlovic born; Sykes debut; Noszka, Russell pass

Derrick White on getting through shooting slumps

Should the Celtics trade for Ja Morant?

First as player, now as coach: Phil Pressey on growth of the G League

For Celtics (and NBA) fans, Shea Serrano’s ‘Expensive Basketball’ is a must-read

Jayson Tatum doing fine, flexing leadership skills with Boston Celtics during rehab

Boston Sports Journal Celtics practice notebook: What’s slowing down Jaylen Brown, and will Hugo Gonzalez play in Portland?

Picks ‘n Pops: Bizarre stats, how Queta levels up, and a picture that stings

Hardwood Houdini Forget the box score—this is where the Celtics are actually winning

Celtics’ Xavier Tillman found real leadership in an unexpected place

Sam Hauser shares what he leans on when struggles arrive

Sam Hauser brings perspective to teammates’ recent promotion

Hawks quickly making Kristaps Porzingis realization Celtics have known

Joe Mazzulla details the growth that led to Phil Pressey’s ascent

CLNS Media/YouTube Hugo Gonzalez Prepared to Play in Boston OR Maine | Celtics Practice

Jaylen Brown: Celtics Need to Take “Whatever Shot We Can Get” | Practice Interview

Joe Mazzulla Gives Jayson Tatum Injury Update: “He’s Doing Well” | Celtics Practice

AJ Dybantsa EXCLUSIVE: Potentially Playing for Hometown Celtics

Xavier Tillman Talks Jayson Tatum Rehab and Celtics Playbook Initiative

Neemias Queta READY to Play 40 Minutes if Necessary | Celtics Practice

Clutch Points Watch Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla ask reporter about haircut in middle of interview

SI .com Celtics Almost Traded with Lakers for Anthony Davis Last Season

Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla Gets Honest About Rotation

Mock Trade Lands Nets Center Nic Claxton with Celtics

Heavy Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Quietly Leads NBA in a Stat Even SGA Can’t Touch

Celtics Secretly Held Early Trade Talks for 10-Time NBA All-Star: Report

Celtics Linked to Rising Prospect After Eye-Opening Comments

M Sports Joe Mazzulla’s bold rotation shake-up stuns Celtics fans: “Complacency breeds entitlement”

Bleacher Report Could Kristaps Porzingis Be Traded By Hawks? Rival NBA Execs Weigh In on Possibility

Basketball Network Bill Simmons breaks down why Detroit’s young core suddenly looks like the toughest team in the East

Nets Daily Danny Wolf flirts with double-double but Long Island collapses vs. Maine, 116-92

WMTW Maine Celtics win home opener

Essentially Sports Jaylen Brown Confirms Jayson Tatum’s New Role in Celtics Amid Injury Recovery

CBS Sports Celtics set to face Clippers with adjusted rotation

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-celtics-daily-links/124834/boston-celtics-daily-links-11-15-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

The Celtics’ gap year gives them options going forward

Six months ago, Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon and the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs. That triggered a series of events that led to the departures of beloved players like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis. It also led to a resetting of the Celtics cap sheet.

By now you know the story, but here’s a reminder of the numbers. By shedding salaries through trades and free agency, the Celtics went from a projected $20M over the 2nd apron to currently standing just $4M above the 1st apron. And as it stands, they’ve saved themselves something in the range of $238M in luxury tax payments.

Perhaps more importantly (at least to fans), by being under the 2nd apron, the team avoids some the harsher penalties under the new CBA. Teams over the 2nd apron have additional trade restrictions and repeat offenders can see their future draft picks frozen and/or moved to the end of the first round.

So now what?

We haven’t even made it 20 games into the season and the unofficial start of “trade season” doesn’t really start until December 15 (when most free agents signed in the offseason are eligible to be traded). But it is never too early to think about what’s coming next. Especially when it seems like the whole season is just one long reset for the future.

Brad Stevens hasn’t just saved the new owners a boatload of cash. He’s set the team up with the flexibility to make moves for the future. Even if Tatum had not been injured, the team was widely rumored to have made some cost cutting moves this past summer. They didn’t want to be locked into a roster with aging support players with increasing penalties from a CBA designed to tear down teams just like this. Instead, the team has options and assets.

Inventory

As we approach trade season, let’s review some assets that the team holds.

Draft Picks:

• 2026 – Celtics own their own pick.
• 2027 – Celtics own their own pick.
• 2028 – The San Antonio Spurs have the right to swap 1st round picks with the Celtics in the 2028 draft (as part of the Derrick White trade).
• 2029 – The Celtics also owe a 2029 first round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the deal that brought Jrue Holiday to Boston.
• 2030 – Celtics own their own pick.
• 2031 – Celtics own their own pick.
• 2032 – This pick is frozen at the moment so it cannot be traded for at least the next three years. To un-freeze it the Celtics will need to stay under the second apron in at least three of the next four seasons.

Trade Exceptions:

• $4 million exception expiring in February 2026 (from the Jaden Springer trade)
• $8.2 million exception expiring in August 2026 (from the Georges Niang trade)
• $22.5 million exception expiring in July 2026 (from the Kristaps Porzingis trade)

And of course there’s every player on the current roster, including Anfernee Simons and his $27.7M expiring salary.

Different Paths Forward

The whole idea behind this reset is to prepare the team to be better in the future (both near and long term). There are an infinite number of possible paths forward, but I think it is reasonable to rule out a few. With Jayson Tatum expected to recover fully (or as much as one could expect), I don’t see the team tearing things completely down to the studs. With Jaylen Brown playing so well, I tend to believe that he’ll be part of the plan going forward as well (at least for now). Other than that, the crystal ball gets a lot more foggy.

One possible path is a more concerted effort to tank the current year. Injuries to any of the starters could create a natural soft tank scenario, but if everyone is healthy the team might be too good for that plan. Would the team consider trading Derrick White for a haul of future assets that they could use to build a long term roster around Jayson and Jaylen?

On the other end of the spectrum would be an all-in move for this year. The team could move Simons and/or use their trade exceptions to add established talent on deals that last beyond this season. Conceivably they could do so without exceeding the 2nd apron. They would still be over the 1st apron and subject to increasing repeater tax penalties, but under the right circumstances it could very well be worth it.

Perhaps the more realistic path is somewhere in between, where the team makes minimal moves this season and reevaluates where it stands in the summer (theoretically having seen the progress Jayson Tatum makes on the court). Many expect the team to make some kind of cost cutting move to dip under the 1st apron, if only because they are so close they might as well.

Sometimes the best path is to be flexible enough to pursue the best options that present themselves to you over time. Who knows what player might become available in the coming months that might not have seemed reasonable a few months ago? Who knows how league trends will shift over the next several months? The Celtics seem to be stuck in the middle ground between tanking and competing, which traditionally is not a great place to be for the long term. However, in a gap year or soft reset (or whatever you want to call it), it might just be where this team needs to be to hit the ground running next year.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/124814/the-celtics-gap-year-gives-them-options-going-forward

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics survives late scare, beat Clippers 121-118

The Boston Celtics made it two straight wins with a home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Jaylen Brown led the way with 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Payton Pritchard added 30. The win moved Boston to 7-7 on the season. The Celtics led by as many as 24, but the Clippers kept clawing back and made it close late. Boston has struggled in tight games this season, but it held on despite James Harden’s clutch-time heroics.

Boston opened fast, taking a 9-2 lead after a Jaylen Brown mid-range jumper forced Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to call a timeout with just under nine minutes left in the quarter.

Los Angeles missed its first five shots, while Boston started 5-for-10. James Harden ended the Clippers’ drought with a three-pointer.

Payton Pritchard and Derrick White knocked down back-to-back threes to push the lead to 21-9 with 5:35 remaining, prompting another timeout. White had seven points, five rebounds and two assists during the early surge.

Derrick White with the shooter's bounce!

His triple caps a 21-9 Boston run to open the game… pic.twitter.com/7iaokLqzSP

— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2025

Brown stayed aggressive, blocking Harden on one end before going coast to coast for a layup that made it 29-13.

JB said DON'T pic.twitter.com/1G93TIlR1w

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 16, 2025

Pritchard continued his strong start, scoring all 12 of his first-quarter points from deep on 4-for-6 shooting.

The Clippers closed the quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by a corner 3 from Kobe Sanders, cutting the Celtics’ lead to 37-30 heading into the second.

The Clippers’ run carried into the second quarter, fueled in part by a 21-5 bench-points deficit for Boston through the first 15 minutes. A banked three-pointer by Nicolas Batum cut the Celtics’ lead to 40-35, capping a 13-2 stretch.

Boston answered with a run of its own, pushing the margin back to double digits at 47-37 after a Jordan Walsh steal and dunk. The Celtics increased their defensive pressure and converted turnovers into transition buckets.

Jordan Walsh just had two steals on James Harden, a minute apart.

He has at least 2 steals in 4 of the last six games.

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) November 16, 2025

A scary sight for Clippers fans as Derrick Jones Jr.’s knee was hit by Jaylen Brown as Brown fell on the floor and had to be helped back to the locker room.

It continued to be a game of runs. Each time Los Angeles trimmed the deficit, Boston countered but couldn’t land the knockout blow it delivered against Memphis.

With 15.9 seconds left in the half, Neemias Queta tipped in a miss to extend Boston’s lead to 63-49. On the other end, Walsh blocked Harden’s 3-point attempt to close the half.

Brown led Boston with 16 points at the break. White added 15, and Pritchard had 14. John Collins paced the Clippers with eight.

Boston opened the second half on an 8-0 run. Payton Pritchard hit a pair of 3-pointers before Jordan Walsh tipped in a Derrick White miss, forcing a Clippers timeout.

Look at Jordan Walsh go!!! pic.twitter.com/XnVW4j0KTb

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) November 16, 2025

The timeout did little to slow Pritchard, who knocked down his seventh 3-pointer on 10 attempts. He later drilled his eighth, pushing the Celtics’ lead to 79-55 with just under nine minutes left in the third.

Walsh’s defense continued to stand out. Midway through the quarter, he had held James Harden to 12 points on 1-for-9 shooting, with nine of those points coming at the free-throw line.

Rearview contest on Harden

Looks like DWhite. He might be JWalsh now. https://t.co/22vOgX3M5j pic.twitter.com/C9n8cwt4Xs

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 16, 2025

Boston maintained an 81-64 lead midway through the frame, but despite being up by as many as 24, the Clippers surged again. A 23-7 run cut the deficit to 86-78 after a Bogdan Bogdanović 3-pointer, prompting a Joe Mazzulla timeout with 4:07 remaining.

Harden later buried a trademark step-back three with 2.4 seconds left, trimming Boston’s lead to 90-85 entering the fourth.

Brown steadied Boston early in the fourth, knocking down a 3-pointer to push the lead to 95-87 and force a timeout.

Out of the break, Brown picked off a pass and finished through contact, converting the three-point play to make it 98-87.

Despite another strong showing on the glass and several timely buckets, Luka Garza (13 points) fouled out early in the quarter.

Brown continued to cook in the midrange, repeatedly finding his spots to keep the Clippers at bay.

Jaylen omg. Sweet little combo pic.twitter.com/1tWcNIPn1k

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 16, 2025

With 5:16 left, Harden drove and attempted to dunk over Derrick White, but White—one of the league’s best shot-blocking guards—turned it away. The block led to a Neemias Queta and-one on the other end, though he missed the free throw for a 108-96 lead.

Potential game winning sequence by Queta. pic.twitter.com/IKO0806hlN

— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) November 16, 2025

Harden answered by drilling a straightaway three to cut it to 108-103 with 3:36 left, then drew a questionable foul on Walsh in the lane, sinking both free throws to make it 108-105. The free throws capped a 9-0 run.

Queta ended the surge with a layup off a White feed in the pick-and-roll.

White later buried a clutch three to extend the lead to 115-105 with 1:29 remaining.

A few possessions later, Harden drew another foul on Walsh on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws, trimming the lead to 115-112 with 21.8 seconds left.

Against pressure and a double-team, Pritchard found a cutting Brown for a dunk. Harden responded again with a step-back three over White—his 29th point of the second half—to make it 117-115.

White was fouled on the next trip and hit both to restore a two-possession lead. Harden then drilled yet another three with two seconds remaining to cut it to one.

Pritchard made two free throws with 1.6 seconds left. Harden got a clean look at the buzzer, but finally missed, and the Celtics escaped with the win.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics...ics-survives-late-scare-beat-clippers-121-118

 

[Boston Celtics]

Clippers-Celtics Ten Takeaways

With five of six games at TD Garden and a couple of practice days at the Auerbach Center, Boston has an opportunity to work out the kinks before their schedule ramps back up. It’s admittedly small sample size theater, but the Celtics have been “good” to start off the year. They’re one of just three teams in the league with a top-8 offensive and defensive rating. Rebounding has been an issue, but they’ve kept their turnovers down and have weathered below average shooting nights controlling pace and winning possessions one at a time. After a 121-118 win over the visiting Clippers, everything seems to be coming together.

Queta’s floater​

The league average in the restricted area FG’s is 60.8%; Neemias Queta hits 73.4%. A lot of those looks are alley-oops and putbacks after offensive rebounds because Neemy has great hands. However, he’s also developed a short roll floater that’s become an important part of his offense and a nice release valve around the rim.

Neemias Queta 1st quarter highlights pic.twitter.com/yEzuB9cvep

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) November 16, 2025

Payton’s place​

In Wednesday’s win against the Grizzlies, Pritchard hit five threes in the blowout. He credited a fresh haircut for the breakout game and now, with three days off and more home cooking, he continued his hot shooting streaking, hitting 8-of-13 from behind the arc.

Hot in a hurry pic.twitter.com/BsFRul2ETE

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 16, 2025

Transition​

Before the game, Boston Sports Journal’s John Karalis asked Joe Mazzulla about the Celtics’ 30th rank in pace (possessions per 48 minutes). He remarked that that might be a product of defensive rebounding, generating turnovers, and racing out for transition buckets, but he didn’t seem too concerned.

Against Los Angeles, it appeared that Boston may have made it a priority to run in the Sunday matinee. They outscore the older, on-Pacific-time Clippers 22-9 in fastbreak points.

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Baylor Scheierman vs. Hugo Gonzalez​

Baylor Scheierman collected three DNP’s on the road trip in Orlando and Philadelphia, but he’s played non-garbage time minutes so far in the homestand against Memphis on Wednesday and LA on Sunday. As effectively the 10th man in the rotation, Mazzulla has elected to either go with his rookie or sophomore wing and they’ve both shown out in that role.

Curiously, I wonder what the thought process is behind who plays on any given night. Is it how they do in prior practice? Does he only use Gonzalez when the game needs a little energy? Is Baylor the better decision maker?

Walsh’s D​

In his second start, Walsh’s individual defense has become an impactful part of Boston’s approach against the opposing team’s best player. He pestered Paolo Banchero and Tyrese Maxey off the bench and as a starter, his lockdown D has made a difference against big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and yesterday, point guard grifter James Harden.

Harden’s 37 points were a product of getting hot late in the game. Before that, the Clippers’ offensive engine stalled out, shooting 4-of-14 through three quarters in large part to Walsh’s defense. Here’s LA’s head coach Tyrone Lue:

https://t.co/TB1rI5Y48S pic.twitter.com/jQoJ6TEDaC

— Bill Sy (@deliberatepix) November 16, 2025

Defensive breakdown​

After beating the Clippers, the Celtics’ defensive rating went up a tad to 113.2 points per 100 possessions. A strong first half at 108.9 crumbled to 140 in the final two quarters, but Boston won anyway. They’re rebounding the ball a lot better over the last five games. LA grabbed just 10 offensive rebounds on Sunday and had just a two-point edge over Boston in second chance points.

However, fouls were still an issue though…

…Free throws​

In the third quarter, Boston was in the penalty with over seven minutes remaining. That led to twelve Clippers free throws in the frame, fueling a 36-27 run to make it a five-point game to start the fourth quarter.

After the Thunder modeled an overaggressive, handsy style last season and hung a banner, teams tried to duplicate that defense in the preseason, but the league has cracked down on fouling. The Celtics are still guilty of committing too many fouls that can lead to too many free throws.

Conversely, the Celtics are last in the NBA in free throw attempts by a large margin. They average just 18.3 trips to the charity strip a night and on a night when Harden went to the line 15 times, that disparity can eat into the little margin that you already have.

Lovable Luka​

Garza collected six fouls in just under fifteen minutes, but was effective in his time on the parquet. Yes, he was a -14 in his playing time, but he filled the box score with 13 points and four rebounds, making 5-of-6 including two threes and grabbing four rebounds.

Brown bag it​

After the Clippers cut a 24-point lead to just three early in the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown scored 13 of his 33 points and grabbed seven rebounds, playing all twelve minutes in the final frame. After the game, Brown said, “my team counts on me to play a little bit better. Tonight, I really didn’t play well. I’m looking forward to the next two games and kinda bounce back.” Good luck, Nets.

Despite scoring 33 points, Jaylen Brown was unhappy with his performance:

“My team counts on me to play a little bit better. Tonight, I really didn’t play that well.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/IDeYNEP8RY

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) November 17, 2025

.500​

Coming into the game, the Celtics were 2-7 in clutch opportunities. Make that 3-7 and 7-7 on the year. They’re finally back even in wins and losses with a home and home with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and Friday night.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/124921/clippers-celtics-ten-takeaways

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/17/25

Herald Celtics notebook: Jordan Walsh impresses teammates in ‘great’ game vs. James Harden

Jaylen Brown, Celtics hold off James Harden charge to beat Clippers

Globe Jaylen Brown, Celtics hold off James Harden, Clippers late to claim rare clutch win: 8 takeaways

Celtics’ Jordan Walsh get first-hand look at the James Harden Experience

Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard help Celtics survive late comeback bid in win over Clippers

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side – Clippers 11/16/25

CelticsBlog The Celtics season is turning — and there are 2 reasons why

Ten Takeaways from a Celtics win overcoming the James Harden Experience

Boston is curing their athleticism deficiency

“Not a great game from me”: Jaylen Brown shoulders blame for blemish in win vs. Clippers

Celtics survives late scare, beat Clippers 121-118

ESPN Tiers for all 30 NBA teams: Real contenders to play-in dreamers

Jaylen Brown scores 33, Payton Pritchard 30 as Celtics hold off Clippers 121-118

CLNS Media Boston Survives Late Scare From Los Angeles Clippers | Celtics vs Clippers Postgame Show

Celtics .com Jordan Walsh Earns Praise from Clippers for High-Pressure Defense on Harden

Keys to the Game: Celtics 121, Clippers 118

NBC Sports Boston Neemias Queta is a lean, mean screening machine for Celtics

Celtics-Clippers recap: Brown, Pritchard lead the way to clutch win

NESN NBA Writer Says Celtics Have Been ‘Unluckiest’ Team In League

Former Celtics Fan-Favorite Makes Appearance At Practice

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Makes Important Point About His Career

Jaylen Brown Sends ‘Optimistic’ Message After Celtics Defeat Clippers

Celtics Insider Drops Strong Neemias Queta Message After Win Vs. Clippers

Former MVP Passes Celtics Legends On NBA Career Scoring List

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Drops Truth Bomb On Kid Reporter

Mass Live Former Celtics guard has injury, highlights importance for new team

Celtics guard reveals blunt adjustment that ended shooting slump

Celtics star has surprising reaction to his 33-point game in Clippers win

Boston Celtics get valuable reps in early area of weakness in Clippers win

Rising Celtics wing did ‘great job’ in challenging role in Clippers win

Payton Pritchard is the Celtics ‘Name to Know’ Player of the Game in Sunday‘s win over Clippers

4 takeaways as Celtics fend off Clippers in important clutch game win

Celtics Wire Celtics, Shamrock Foundation, New Balance host new Playbook Initiative

Despite close win vs. Clippers, Mazzulla wants Celtics to play the same

Why the Boston Celtics should steer clear of any Anthony Davis trade talk

Does Payton Pritchard hold the keys for the Boston Celtics this season?

Why the Celtics should avoid any talk of a DeMar DeRozan trade

What are the biggest questions surrounding the Celtics right now?

Celtics jersey history No. 43 – Chris Carr (2000-01)

Celtics history: Joe Mullaney born; Allan Ray, Michael Smith debut

According to Joe Mazzulla, all Jaylen Brown cares about is winning

Jaylen Brown and the Celtics curbed a late rally from the Clippers

Should the Celtics play backup guard Anfernee Simons more?

The Athletic NBA Power Rankings: Cade Cunningham, Pistons motor into an elite tier

NBA Rewind: Let’s revisit that incredible Wemby-Draymond showdown (and staredown)

Jordan Walsh’s defensive education continues as Celtics escape James Harden, Clippers

Boston Sports Journal Karalis: The Celtics keep getting themselves in sticky situations, but finding a way out this time matters

BSJ Game Report: Celtics 121, Clippers 118 – Celtics lose big lead, survive Harden’s late heroics

Hardwood Houdini Celtics fans owe Joe Mazzulla a massive apology based on latest developments

Harden gave Celtics a terrifying reminder they can’t afford to ignore

Celtics just failed their easiest job, and Clippers almost made them pay

Celtics’ path to filling a crucial role has become obvious

CLNS Media/YouTube LIVE Garden Report: Celtics vs Clippers Postgame Show on CLNS Media

Are Celtics better than We gave them credit for?

Biggest Takeaway from Celtics Big Win vs Clippers | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell

James Harden Reacts to Jordan Walsh’s DEFENSE | Celtics vs Clippers

Derrick White on Jayson Tatum’s role on the sidelines: “He’s just annoying me” | Postgame Interview

Payton Pritchard on getting his Ankles Broken by James Harden: “He made me touch earth” | Interview

Joe Mazzulla on Jordan Walsh: “I’m never gonna console him”

Jaylen Brown Wasn’t Satisfied with his performance | Postgame Interview

NBA/YouTube Harden (37 PTS) & Brown (33 PTS) Were SENSATIONAL In Boston! | November 15, 2025

NBA Analysis Jaylen Brown claims Boston Celtics star has shown him a ‘great sign’ amid talk of G-League demotion

Essentially Sports Jayson Tatum’s Family Member Shares Recovery Update Amid Impact on Celtics From Sidelines

LA Times Clippers’ rally falls short in road loss to the Celtics

NBA .com Duel: Jaylen Brown and James Harden take Celtics-Clippers down to the wire

Power Rankings, Week 5: Pistons, Warriors take step forward in Top 10

Celtics Chronicle No More Six Seven…

Audacy This is the Jordan Walsh the Celtics need

The Sports Rush Derrick White’s Candid Admission On Jayson Tatum’s Constant Sideline Presence

SI .com Celtics Free Agent Signing Took 12,000 More Practice Shots Than Any Other NBA Player Last Year

TalkBasket Joe Mazzulla details Celtics’ late-game execution in win over Clippers

Heavy Joe Mazzulla Gives Extremely Blunt Answer To Kids Day Question

Jordan Walsh Finds His Niche With Celtics in Win Over Clippers

Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Makes Hilarious Comment On James Harden

Locked on Celtics Boston Celtics SURVIVE James Harden Scare, HOLD On in Wild Clippers Thriller

The Ringer The Celtics Get Back to .500, With Evan Valenti

Dunking with Wolves Jordan Walsh is quietly starting to fulfill his Jaden McDaniels prophecy

Rip City Project Celtics are paying $27 million to learn what Blazers already knew

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-celtics-daily-links/124950/boston-celtics-daily-links-11-17-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

4 Maine Celtics standouts through the first 5 games of the season

The Maine Celtics are 5 games into the season, and several players have already stood out in the early days. The Celtics G-League affiliate team dropped their first three games of the season — all road games — but followed that up with back-to-back wins at home against the Long Island Nets to improve to 2-3 on the year.

Maine’s three two-way players — center Amari Williams, guard/forward Ron Harper Jr, and point guard Max Shulga — have all shown some promising flashes in the early days.

Here’s who has stood out through five games:

Amari Williams: The Celtics drafted Amari Williams with the 46th overall pick in June, and so far, the 23-year-old big man has demonstrated exactly what it is about his game they liked. Through 5 games, Williams is averaging 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds (3 offensive), 4 assists, and 2.2 blocks.

The former Kentucky center has had a few standout performances so far and earned the praise of head coach Phil Pressey: “He’s a monster. He’s a beast. I think he has a high upside. He just has to continue to get better, continue to improve on his offensive and defensive IQ, and that just comes with film study.”

Ron Harper Jr: Ron Harper Jr has been the star for the Maine Celtics so far, and he’s also the player who appears to be the closest to being a real NBA player. Harper Jr. is on his fourth two-way contract and has already appeared in two games with the Boston Celtics, and joined the Celtics on their Orlando/Philadelphia road trip last week.

Through four games with the Maine Celtics, he’s averaged 25.8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals. Harper Jr has the best plus-minus on the roster (Maine’s outscoring opponents by 8 points per game with him on the floor), and he’s been the engine of their offense in the early days. The former Rutgers star will look to become more efficient; he’s shooting 43.2% from the field and 31.8% from three so far this season.

His coaches believe an NBA opportunity is around the corner: “He’s right there, right?” Pressey said. “He’s knocking on the door.”

Max Shulga: Max Shulga was drafted with the 57th overall pick and now serves as Maine’s starting point guard, a role that JD Davison held for the past three seasons. Shulga struggled a bit in the early days, but through 5 games, he’s averaging 12.4 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds.

There have been some early-season turnover woes (he’s averaging 3.6 turnovers per game) and efficiency woes (36.2% from the field, 25% from three), but Shulga has also showcased the playmaking flashes that helped get him drafted.

“He’s done a phenomenal job of running the show,” Pressey said. “He’s coming in from VCU, and he’s a guy who can play both on-ball and off-ball, but I’ve put the ball in his hands, allowed him to grow through his mistakes. Being able to run an NBA offense is not easy. It’s a lot of play calls — defensively, offensively — you’re seeing the best defenders, especially in the G League, on every team. But for him, he’s learned so much. He’s grown so much since day one, since the day he was drafted.”

Kendall Brown: Brown is currently Maine’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points on 49.2% from the field and 35.7% from three, alongside 5.2 rebounds and a team-high 2.2 steals. The former Baylor star spent Summer League and training camp with the Celtics, and thus far has been one of Maine’s most efficient sources of offense.

Brown is not currently on a two-way contract, though he’s previously signed two-way contracts with the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. It’ll be interesting to see if another team scoops him up, just as the Detroit Pistons signed Wendell Moore Jr. to a two-way contract a couple of weeks ago after a strong start to the season with the Maine Celtics.

The Maine Celtics’ next game is at the Portland Expo on Friday, November 21, at 7pm against the Delaware Blue Coats. They’ll look to improve to 3-3 on the season.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...-williams-max-shulga-ron-harper-kendall-brown

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics cut down Nets, 113-99

The Boston Celtics visited the struggling Brooklyn Nets Tuesday night in the first of four meetings between the two teams. In a game that was close for the first three quarters, Derrick White turned in a classic performance for the road team in the fourth quarter as Boston moves to 8-7 on the season with a 113-99 victory. Jaylen Brown had 29 points to lead the team in scoring, Payton Pritchard had 22 points, but it was Derrick White who stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Boston started the same five as the past few games with Jordan Walsh alongside Pritchard, Neemias Queta, White and Brown. Jaylen Brown hit a pair of jumpers to start the game as he continues to be exceptional in the mid-range this season. Nic Claxton and Queta got tangled under the basket early and then Noah Clowney levelled Queta on a screen outside the three-point area. Clowney hit back-to-back triples as the Nets went up 10-4 at the 9-minute mark, forcing Joe Mazzulla to call a quick timeout.

Nets rookie point guard Egor Demin hit on his first three from the corner out of the timeout after Pritchard missed a heat check wide by two feet. The Nets came out of the locker rooms fired up to start and were the more forceful of the two teams early in the first quarter. Drake Powell was first off the bench for the home team, whilst Simons and Hauser saw early minutes for the Celtics in the green road uniforms.

Payton Pritchard converted on a deep triple with the shot clock expiring to get the Nets lead back to 7 points, 21-14. Last year’s Sixth Man of the Year hit his third three-pointer to pace Boston with 9 points after one quarter. Hauser who misfired early with his shot, hit his first three-pointer after missing his first two attempts. Boston ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to tie the ball game 29-29.

Baylor Scheierman got the nod to start the second and made an instant impact assisting to Minott for his first score of the night. Scheierman drilled a triple in front of the C’s bench as they went up 37-34. Jaylen Brown returned to the court and immediately drove to the basket after just playing 6 minutes to start the contest. Brown came into the game ranked 12th in the league in scoring, with 27.4 ppg on an efficient 50.5% from the field.

Derrick White finally got on the scoreboard at the 5 and a half minute mark of the second quarter as Boston kept a narrow lead 46-43. Pritchard kept things rolling for the road team hitting his fourth triple in rhythm. The Nets got some good minutes Porter Jr. and Clowney as both teams traded baskets to round out the first half. Pritchard was red hot in the first half scoring 17 points with five three-pointers as Boston led the game 62-61 at the half.

Brooklyn opened the scoring to start the second half and retook the lead as Boston registered their 13th turnover of the game after a sloppy start. Jordan Walsh picked up his fourth foul and immediately was subbed out for former TWolve Josh Minott. A few plays later, Queta also logged his fourth personal as Joe Mazzulla turned to Luka Garza earlier than normal.

Derrick White was everywhere to start the second as he had 2 crafty steals and a floating 2 pointer spearheading a 10-2 Boston run. Jaylen Brown scored his first three-pointer of the night, his twelfth point in 14 minutes of action as the C’s went by 10 points, 75-65. With Queta in foul trouble Xavier Tillman saw his first minutes since the Utah game on November 3rd. Boston was keeping the door ajar for Brooklyn as they had 16 turnovers in the game with four minutes to go in the third quarter.

Boston struggled to convert anything for 2 and a half minutes as Brooklyn cut into the Celtics lead, 80-75. JB converted six straight free throws on multiple drives as the quarter expired. Brown had an exceptional quarter with 17 points in the third quarter as Boston held a slim margin 89-85 at the end of three.

Both teams went scoreless for the first 2 minutes of the fourth quarter before Scheierman fouled Zaire Williams on a jumper. The Celtics were ice cold to start the fourth quarter, subjecting Celtic fans to a 4-minute scoring drought stretch, as Brooklyn retook the lead at the 8-minute mark 90-89. A Neemias Queta drive and dunk in the lane got Boston going as they reeled of 8 straight points of their own to race back into the lead 97-90.

Derrick White went into takeover mode to finish the fourth quarter, drawing fouls, blocking shots and draining corner triples as the Celtics would do enough to hang on in Brooklyn. Boston next face these same Nets at home in the NBA CUP on Friday.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics-scores-results/125099/celtics-cut-down-nets-113-99

 

[Boston Celtics]

Starting today, comments and Feed posts on CelticsBlog will have activity notifications

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Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/general...-celticsblog-will-have-activity-notifications

 

[Boston Celtics]

High IQ plays of Week 4

We’re back, and we’ve played some good basketball as of late! Welcome to the five highest-IQ plays of the week!

Sure, we love the high-flying dunks and the deep, off-the-dribble step-back threes, but this is a place for the under-the-radar plays that might not get the credit they deserve. The plays that get the basketball psychos and nerds out of their chairs. The plays that even YOU could make in your weekly rec league game.

Each week, the plays will be ranked from five to one—one being the smartest—and will only be taken from games that occurred within the past week. In this week’s case, games from November 12th to November 19th are considered.

5. Modern NBA movement

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The NBA is always changing, and it’s important to not get left behind. One of this year’s innovations seems to be the increased movement we’re seeing from off-ball players on drives. Memphis started their “wheel” concept last season, and Miami has taken it to a new level this year. Now, everybody is stealing it. In the play above, Anfernee Simons does a good job executing this modern spacing concept. On Pritchard’s drive, he moves in the SAME direction as the drive, forcing his defender to lose sight of him and make a longer closeout. Then, without thinking, he attacks the closeout and kicks out to a relocating Pritchard. It’s so simple, but these little off-ball movements can make the difference between an open look and a contested one.

4. End of clock double-team

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In the first week of high IQ plays, I wrote about an ill-advised late-clock double team from Anfernee Simons that resulted in a wide open three. Simons needs to take notes from White, because THIS is how you execute what he was trying to do just three weeks back. White doesn’t double right as Harden begins his move to the hoop, because he knows an overhelp could result in an easy Dunn three or Collins dunk. But once Harden makes his patented step-back move, White knows there isn’t enough time for him to also kick the rock to Dunn for a buzzer-beater – so he doubles aggressively, resulting in a terrible look. Beautiful stuff from Derrick.

3. The Kornet special

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Queta must’ve learned a little something from Luke Kornet. The super niche skill of getting out screens early was something the Green Kornet excelled at, and Neemias seems to be understanding it, too. On this play, he notices that Pritchard’s defender is aggressively trailing the play; so even though the initial call is for him to dribble hand-off and make contact with the defender, he realizes he doesn’t have to because Pritchard has a free lane without his assistance. Once PP gets the ball, Queta is already behind Jaren Jackson Jr. and puts Memphis in an impossible position from a coverage standpoint. Easy lob.

2. Playing the numbers

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This play might seem super simple, but it’s a perfect example of the strategic decisions that NBA players are consistently making at a rapid pace. Garza slips out of the screen and makes a really nice short roll pass. It’s great stuff, but it’s not what I’m most impressed with on this play. Instead, I love everything he does AFTER he gives the ball up. Luka knows two things; one, that three-point misses are usually going to bounce outside the restricted area, and two, that corner misses most often fall to the opposite side of the rim. As a result, Garza boxes out the defensive player (who said boxing out can only happen defensively, anyway?) in the optimal position to receive the offensive board. And the numbers pan out for him in this specific scenario. Excellent rebounding positioning.

1. Starting Walsh

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Starting Jordan Walsh has brought a meaningful jolt to the Celtics’ first five – mostly on the defensive end. He brings unique versatility in that he can defend both guards and forwards, which makes him a feasible option to defend virtually any team’s best player (unless it’s a center like Jokic).

This play is a good example of his ability to guard forwards, but I’m more so using it as a placeholder to shout out Joe for his continued trust and belief in Walshy. Many coaches could’ve given up on Jordan after his underwhelming first few seasons, but Mazzulla is clearly using this year’s roster unknowns as a way to give Walsh a real shot. And it looks to be working out quite well. Walsh knows his role and sticks to it.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics-videos/125187/high-iq-plays-of-week-4

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics overcome season-high in turnovers to secure third-straight win in Brooklyn

Since the beginning of the season, Joe Mazzulla has been preaching the importance of winning the turnover battle every game. It’s been an integral part of their identity this season given the difference in talent from the previous years, the margin for error becoming that much slimmer.

The logic is simple: by limiting their own turnovers and forcing their opponents into turning the ball over, they can reduce the effectiveness of their opponents’ possessions, and generate better looks for themselves. Well, the Celtics royally failed in that department when they faced off against the Brooklyn Nets for the first time this season. Yet, they still managed to come away with their third-straight win.

The game was close throughout. Brooklyn jumped out to an early lead, going up by as much as 10 in the first quarter. The Celtics managed to claw back, getting out to a 5-point lead of their own in the second quarter, but they weren’t able to create any significant separation until about halfway through the third, even losing the lead at one point in-between. Boston was up by as much as 11 in the third, but again, Brooklyn took the lead back in the fourth, until the Celtics finally got it together, and broke through for a game-high 16-point lead.

It may be easy to assume the game was close because the Nets were just shooting better than the Celtics – except they weren’t. At the end of the first half, Boston only led by 1 despite shooting 61.1% from the floor, Brooklyn shooting 47.7%. Even from three-point range, Boston shot 52.4% while the Nets were at 50%. It’s not until you see that the Nets put up 8 more shot attempts in the half that the numbers start to make sense, 36 FGA for Boston, 44 for Brooklyn, with the Celtics only maintaining a 1 attempt advantage on threes.

Once you direct your attention over to the turnover battle, the picture becomes even clearer. In the first half alone, Boston turned the ball over a whopping 12 times, already exceeding their season average for a full game. 8 of those turnovers were steals by Brooklyn, meaning they were live ball turnovers that led to easy buckets. Brooklyn generated 17 points off Celtics turnovers compared to Boston’s 4 points off of 4 Nets turnovers.

Steal and a fast break dun for the Nets#NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/6plESeueGz

— Everything Team USA/NY (@EverythingUSANY) November 19, 2025

The Celtics turned the ball over 7 more times in the second half, but managed to increase their defensive intensity to recover, limiting the Nets to only 4 points off of those. Thanks to that increase in intensity, Boston also managed to force more Brooklyn turnovers, generating 9 of them while converting them into 11 points.

To put it plainly, the Celtics were just sloppy with the ball. A combination of bad passes, miscommunication, and loose dribbles killed their offensive momentum while providing the Nets with a spark. It’s a formula that won’t be maintainable against 90% of the league. Even in the second half, Boston continued to turn the ball over, and if it weren’t for a strong flurry from Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Sam Hauser in the fourth quarter, the game could have easily slipped out of their hands.

On the season, the Celtics have been doing well in implementing Coach Mazzulla’s philosophy. Before the Brooklyn game, Boston was averaging 11 turnovers per game, now that number jumping up to 11.6. Still, that’s good for the best in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder comfortably behind them at 12.8 per game. Boston also has the top ranking for opponent points off turnovers, limiting them to just 13.7 per game, though they’re 11th in turnovers forced (15.5 per game) and 13th in generating points off of turnovers themselves (19.7 per game).

These are the margins that the coaching staff wants the team to focus on. Extra possessions go a long way in the NBA, especially for teams who may not have as much talent on their roster. It’s one of the biggest reasons that Boston has remained competitive this season, and they’ll be looking to improve on these margins as the season goes on.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...igh-in-turnovers-to-secure-third-straight-win

 

[Boston Celtics]

The Celtics are (seemingly) solving their biggest issue

BOSTON — For a moment, it looked like the Boston Celtics’ season would be totally inhibited by rebounding.

Standing at his locker in Detroit in late October, Jaylen Brown shook his head when discussing the team’s mounting rebounding woes. In their previous two games — both losses — they were outrebounded by a combined 33 rebounds.

[In their first road game of the season, a 10-point loss to the New York Knicks, the Celtics were outrebounded by 16. Two days later, they were outrebounded by the Detroit Pistons by 17.]

“A lot of our issues, we could solve just on the defensive glass,” said Jaylen Brown after that loss, which dropped the team to 0-3 on the year. “I got to get more involved. I got to get some more rebounds.”

That was three weeks ago.

Now, the Celtics are 8-7, with a winning record for the first time this season. They’ve won 3 straight games and 8 of their last 12, and spirits are much higher than they were in that Detroit locker room.

A lot has improved since October 26th: Payton Pritchard is finding an offensive groove. The young guys — Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott — have demonstrated they can positively impact winning. Brown continues to score the ball at a torrid pace And, Neemias Queta is finding his footing as the team’s starting center.

Perhaps most underrated is the reality that the Celtics are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team. They rank 12th in the NBA in rebounds per game, averaging 45 rebounds a night. They grab the 8th-most offensive rebounds (13.5 boards per game) and 20th-most defensive rebounds (31.5).

“We got a long way to go,” said Derrick White. “But, beginning of the year, it seemed like we had a longer way to go than we do now.”

Queta, the Celtics’ leading rebounder with 8.5 boards a night, said that after a tough start to the season on the glass, players took ownership of their own individual mistakes and committed to improving on the glass.

“We watched a lot of film on where we can get better,” Queta said. “At a lot of times, rebounding is all about effort — hitting first, making sure your guy doesn’t get it, go get it with two hands.”

What the film showed is that it wasn’t one player who was responsible for the Celtics’ struggles — if every player in the rotation missed a boxout once or twice a night, that added up. It wasn’t necessarily that players weren’t trying; it’s that the margin of error was slim.

“You lose one or two possessions of each game, individually, and then somebody else loses one too, and then you add up, and it makes a big difference,” Queta said. “So, everybody looked in the mirror and just thought about making themselves better. And collectively, we’re all on the same page for that.”

Individual players have demonstrated progress. In his last 6 games, Jaylen Brown is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. That came after he averaged 4.4 boards in the first 9, and routinely stressed that he needed to be better on the glass.

Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott have been impactful rebounders​

Another part of the improvement on the glass seems potentially correlated with the emergence of two young, athletic forwards: Jordan Walsh or Josh Minott.

The 21-year-old Walsh has started the last three games for the Celtics, and has grabbed 16.8% of available rebounds when he’s been on the floor (the second-best mark on the team among players who have played more than 80 minutes this season). Minott, who started the previous 9 games for Boston, has grabbed 14.7% of boards during his time on the court, the third-best mark on the team.

After Queta, who leads the team with an 18.6 defensive rebounding percentage, those two guys have been two of the team’s most consistent rebounders, and Mazzulla has increasingly relied on both as the year has progressed.

The rebounding problems aren’t fixed. Joe Mazzulla would tell you that nothing is ever fixed and that rebounding is something that the Celtics will need to emphasize and commit to every single game.

And, the numbers demonstrate that rebounding is far from a strength. Celtics still have the fourth-worst defensive rebounding percentage in the NBA — they’re grabbing just 56.2% of available defensive rebounds (the Denver Nuggets, in contrast, lead the league with a 65.2% defensive rebounding percentage). And notably, two of their seven losses came as a result of failing to end a defensive possession with a rebound (Jusuf Nurkic scored the game-winner for the Utah Jazz over Neemias Queta after the Celtics’ center didn’t box him out, Kelly Oubre did the same a few weeks later for the Philadelphia 76ers over Jaylen Brown).

But, for a moment there, it seemed like no matter how good the Celtics’ defense was — and it’s been strong since Day 1 — rebounding would be the bane of the team’s existence.

It’s still early, but that no longer appears to be the case.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...nding-neemias-queta-jaylen-brown-jordan-walsh

 

[Boston Celtics]

Three things to look for as the suddenly surging Celtics try to secure their fourth straight win

Don’t look now, but the Celtics have quietly won three straight, are above .500 for the first time and are firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

It’s a long season, and one that will inevitably feature many ebbs and flows, but this version of the Celtics (8-7) appears to be one that’s fully capable of doing some damage.

They’ll try to keep it rolling against the sputtering Nets (2-12), this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden. Boston defeated Brooklyn, 113-99, on Tuesday, and has now beaten the Grizzlies, Clippers and Nets in a span of a week.

Here are three things to look for in tonight’s NBA Cup game:

Can Payton Pritchard keep it rolling?​

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It’s no secret that the Celtics are a different team when Payton Pritchard is cooking. He can take this particular roster from slightly above average to firmly above average when he’s feeling it.

After a somewhat inconsistent start, by his standards, Pritchard has turned a corner and appears to be figuring it out. In his last three games, he’s averaged 25.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 51.1 percent from the floor, 51.4 percent from 3-point range and 90.9 percent from the line.

Pritchard puts a lot of pressure on himself, but the reality is, this team often goes as he goes.

Payton Pritchard over the last three games:

25.3 PPG
6.3 RPG
5.3 APG
51.1% FG
51.4% 3P
90.9% FT
32.9 MPG https://t.co/ypfUHoeMm1 pic.twitter.com/dtekg3lvQb

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 19, 2025

In wins this season, Pritchard is averaging 17.8 points and 6.1 assists, while shooting 35.2 percent from 3-point range and 88.2 percent from the line. In losses? 15.6 points, 3.7 assists, 30 percent from distance and 78.3 percent from the line.

The assist number there is the most telling. Hitting shots is great, obviously, but Pritchard is at his best when he’s a true dual threat as a scorer and facilitator. Being “aggressive” doesn’t always equate to taking tons of shots.

Can they get the assists up?​

That assist mentality is true for the whole team. Somewhat surprisingly, the Celtics are 26th in the NBA in assists as of Thursday afternoon (24.3 per game). It feels like they’re moving the ball pretty well overall eye-test-wise, but stats-wise, those extra passes aren’t necessarily resulting in assists.

During their mini win streak, however, that number has increased. They had 34 against the Grizzlies (including nine from Pritchard and seven from Anfernee Simons), 26 against the Clippers (nine for Derrick White) and 25 against the Nets.

Oh my Jordan Walsh pic.twitter.com/krfjSnv2u7

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 10, 2025

One unique attribute of this team is that there isn’t a clear-cut No. 1 distributor, as White, Pritchard and Jaylen Brown share those duties. The positive is that everyone is a threat to pass. The negative is that each facilitator also naturally plays off the ball and is wired to score as well.

It doesn’t matter where they come from, but generally speaking, the Celtics’ odds of winning increase significantly when they rack up the assists.

Can they keep Michael Porter Jr. in check?​

In case you missed it, Michael Porter Jr. is now on the Nets. He got his ring as the third or fourth option on the Nuggets, and now he’s amid a career year with a bad Brooklyn team (24.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.2 APG). When he’s not making controversial statements on podcasts, he can often be found playing excellent basketball.

Jayson Tatum is significantly better and more versatile, but in my opinion, he’s the closest to Tatum in the league from a skill set, physique and stylistic standpoint.

Michael Porter Jr is tied as the fastest player in Nets history to reach 300+ PTS & 100+ REB. pic.twitter.com/wILgarrbti

— Real Sports (@realapp) November 19, 2025

Porter Jr. dropped 34 against the Wizards on Sunday and 25 against the Celtics on Tuesday. He’s playing with confidence, freedom and a total green light.

He’s going to score, but keeping him relatively in check could go a long way in helping the Celtics earn their fourth consecutive win.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-...ltics-try-to-secure-their-fourth-straight-win

 

[Boston Celtics]

Anfernee Simons and Mazzulla Ball

Anfernee Simons’ usage and minutes in the 2025–26 NBA season have been inconsistent. For a player making $25 million who averaged 32.9 minutes per game over the past four years and is still only 26, it’s unusual for his role to fluctuate this much. But the reason for that inconsistency isn’t complicated: to earn minutes on a Joe Mazzulla team, you need to do more than shoot the ball effectively.

If Anfernee Simons wants to play more, the formula is simple: rebound better and play slightly better defense. The Celtics’ offense has exceeded expectations, but they are building a defensive identity—flying around, gang-rebounding, forcing turnovers, guarding their yard, and scrapping on every possession. Simons hasn’t fit that mold.

A common basketball trope you will hear is, “Defense is mostly effort.” I disagree. Effort matters, yes, but defense is also a skill. Playing hard is a skill. Derrick White didn’t become one of the best shot-blocking guards in the league by accident—he honed that craft. Based solely on their physical dimensions, Simons should be able to replicate a portion of White’s defensive impact. Both are six-foot-four, athletic guards; Simons may even be the better athlete, as evidenced by his dunk contest showing. The tape says otherwise.

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Screen navigation is hard. Celtics fans have been blessed with watching some of the best screen navigation in the league for close to a decade between Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White. Simons ends up behind the play, doesn’t impact the ball handler, or make an attempt to impact the pass to Nic Claxton. To be fair to Simons, Garza isn’t making Simons’ life any easier.

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I don’t think this is a lack of effort. Simons tries to impact Michael Porter Jr’s shot, which he misses, but then Simons proceeds to completely lose Terance Mann and give up an easy dunk.

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Simons gets swallowed by a Brook Lopez screen at halfcourt and doesn’t make a great effort to get back into the play. Joe Mazzulla seems very happy as he calls a timeout.

On some NBA teams, elite scoring alone earns you as many minutes as you want. In Boston, everyone is expected to contribute on the margins. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have set that standard. Being an elite scorer doesn’t excuse you from impacting the game in other ways.

If Simons wants more playing time, he could start by matching Payton Pritchard’s effort on the glass. Simons has an offensive rebounding percentage of just 1.2%. Pritchard, who is five inches shorter and far less explosive, sits at 2.8%. A big part of Boston’s offensive success this season has come from the offensive glass; they rank 8th in offensive rebounding. Aside from Simons, no Celtic players have an offensive rebounding percentage of less than 2.4%.

Joe Mazzulla cannot have two sets of rules. One can’t say: Max out your effort, chase loose balls, fight for every rebound, sell out on the offensive glass, or someone else will play…then turn around and give Simons different standards because he averaged 20 points per game on a bad Portland team.

Boston is top-10 in both offense and defense and sits 3rd in net rating in the Eastern Conference. They are two games out of the second seed. I’ve been wrong about this team—they’ve exceeded my expectations, especially defensively. What Mazzulla is doing is working. There’s no reason to force an Anfernee-Simons-shaped peg into a Mazzulla-ball-shaped hole.

He is clearly an elite shooter, especially on catch-and-shoot threes—he’s hitting a blistering 47.4%. But the effectiveness ends there. His pull-up shooting has been subpar (31% from three), and his ability to generate shots inside the arc has been underwhelming. Simons has never been great at getting to the rim. His career high in rim frequency came in 2023–24, when he took 22% of his shots at the rim (47th percentile) and hit just 58% of them (33rd percentile). In Boston, both numbers have cratered: career lows in frequency (9th percentile) and accuracy (14th percentile). It’s possible he’s still adjusting and an offensive breakout is coming. I’m dubious.

Some might argue that Mazzulla’s fluctuating usage is hurting Simons’ rhythm, so the question becomes: Should Mazzulla be trying to maximize Simons? With the Celtics lacking the offensive firepower of recent seasons, it’s a reasonable thought. Unlocking Simons could give the offense a needed jolt and increase his trade value.

But in reality, Simons is getting plenty of opportunity. He’s fourth on the team in minutes at 24.6 per game.

Zooming out, the 2025-2026 Boston Celtics should be prioritising the future. Prioritizing minutes for Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Josh Minott, and Payton Pritchard makes more sense than trying to rehabilitate the value of a player who doesn’t fit the mold of a modern winning player.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/125226/anfernee-simons-and-mazzulla-ball

 

[Boston Celtics]

Ten takeaways: Celtics fall to the Nets in NBA Cup matchup

The Celtics had chances to take control in Brooklyn, but never found the consistency needed to steal the game from the Nets. Boston flashed moments of good process and stretches of tough defense, yet the middle quarters — and a late Michael Porter Jr. surge — proved too much to overcome. Still, there were plenty of notable performances and trends worth digging into from an NBA Cup game that they couldn’t figure out. Here are 10 takeaways from the loss.

Losing The Middle Quarters

There’s no shying away from it, this one stings for Boston. They had their chances, and momentum swung their way at times, but it felt like they were playing on their heels the whole night.

After scoring just 12 points with 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter, they found some answers and outscored the Nets 16-3 the rest of the way. They followed this up by losing the 2nd and 3rd quarter by a combined total of 70-49.

They’re gearing up for a difficult stretch into the start of December, so dropping a game to the two-win Nets is discouraging. Boston pulled away at the end of the first matchup, but it wasn’t exactly the most convincing game either.

Queta’s Big Impact

Of the bright spots in this one, Queta may have been the loudest. He struggled with Claxton at times, but Boston needed everything he could give them offensively to hang around.

His screening ability and timing when slipping toward the rim were a helpful counter against Brooklyn’s bigs defending at the level of the screen. His decision-making in these scenarios was exceptional as well.

So impressed by Queta this year pic.twitter.com/bZF7NNuPVF

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 22, 2025

With Claxton up high to hedge the pick and roll, Queta maintains his screen long enough for Simons to hold Claxton’s attention. He rolls into open space and identifies a 4-on-3 advantage in their favor. You could argue that the layup and the pass are both good decisions, but it’s the decisiveness that makes this work. Any hesitation from Queta and the advantage dries up quickly.

Thought Queta’s timing and decision-making was great as a screener pic.twitter.com/O6Ur4I9Jkx

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 22, 2025

Against an aggressive defense, sometimes the best option is to ghost a screen, as Queta does here. He catches Claxton off guard, rolls where Simons can find him and sprays it out to the corner.

This type of awareness has marked a more subtle improvement that is fueling Queta’s ascension.

Brown’s Foul Trouble

Jaylen played the entire 1st quarter, only picking up a single foul. He grabbed two more in the 2nd quarter, and wound up with his 5th at the six minute mark of the 3rd. The Celtics challenged the call, and had what felt like a solid case. However, the refs deemed Terance Mann made marginal contact prior to Brown hitting him with his off arm.

This was a significant call as Brown was up to nine points in the quarter, helping to cut the Nets lead down to five. Brooklyn closed the quarter on a 21-9 run to grab a 15 point lead after Brown went to the bench.

Jaylen getting to his spot pic.twitter.com/Fs5jYZkz6s

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 22, 2025

A Quiet Night From Derrick White

In a game where Boston was starved for scoring, they needed Derrick White to be ready to answer the call. He’s been in a much better rhythm lately, but he simply didn’t have it tonight.

White finished with six points, his second lowest total of the season. He shot 2/13 from the field, including 1/7 from 3PT range. His off night was punctuated in the last 5 minutes with a missed point blank layup, and a corner three the caught the top corner of the backboard.

Pritchard Faded After The First

Payton came on strong in this one, giving Boston life in the 1st quarter with three 3-pointers. It looked like he was set up for another big game, but his scoring wasn’t there the rest of the way. He managed just four points in quarters 2, 3 and 4.

The biggest issues stemmed from Brooklyn’s size, mobility and gap help. Their lineups didn’t feature a single player shorter than 6’5, and their bigs are agile. This allowed for very few clean driving lanes, and limited open looks with bigs up high to restrict pull-up threes.

Pritchard simply couldn’t create against all that length.

Simon’s Picking Up The Scoring

When Brown sat due to foul trouble, Simons understood that they’d need him to step up. He scored 13 of his 23 points during the final two quarters. He managed to consistently beat his man off the dribble to get to the paint — something that the rest of the team struggled with due to the Nets size and length.

This resulted in Simons playing 33 minutes, the most of his Celtics tenure so far. He’s shot the ball effectively from three, but it’d be a nice boost if Simons could continue to take his drives deeper into the paint. He’s averaging just 4.8 drives per game, which is considerably lower than each of his previous four years in Portland.

He still looks like he’s trying to find his place in the offense, and his minutes have dipped lately as a result. This could be a step in the right direction, as Mazzulla has rewarded players for performing when called on.

A Hugo Gonzalez Sighting

Boston is taking a slower approach with the rookie than most hoped for after his exciting start. He’s played under 10 minutes per game for a few weeks now, and was a DNP-CD during the last two.

Against Brooklyn, he started the 4th quarter, and finished as a +12 in just five minutes. It wasn’t the most impactful minutes — he got beat off the dribble a couple times — but you can still see the motor he plays with, and the pride he has on the defensive end.

great defensive possession from Hugo pic.twitter.com/bbRg7qlILY

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 22, 2025

It’s not going to be perfect all the time for the 19-year-old, but it’s possessions like this that show what he’s capable of. It’s noteworthy as well that Mazzulla called on him as the team was searching for energy and answers.

Michael Porter Jr. Caught Fire

Porter Jr. is having a very nice year in Brooklyn. He’s quickly emerged as their top scoring option, but he’s unique in the fact that he doesn’t need the ball long to do damage. Out of all players scoring 20+ points per game, Porter Jr. has the third lowest average seconds and dribbles per touch.

He turned it on in the 4th quarter, scoring 16 of his 33 points. He does a great job using screens to create openings, and if he gets his feet set, that shot is going up.

MPJ caught a rhythm early and never let it go — smooth jumpers all night. All of his highlights below. pic.twitter.com/Eo7syizBZS

— NBA Play DB (@nbaplaydb) November 22, 2025

It becomes even more difficult if you fall behind on the screen because he’s capable of getting downhill, and has good chemistry with Claxton. It felt like every Celtics run ended with a heavily contested Porter jumper.

Speaking of Claxton

In combination with Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton was a problem all night for the Celtics.

Nic Claxton's First Career Triple Double:

18/11/12 in the win against the Celtics pic.twitter.com/HXNRs2p5y3

— Nets Film Room (@NetsFilm) November 22, 2025

He’s an extremely useful playmaker in dribble handoff actions, surveying the defense and making decisions on when to keep vs pass it. It pulls the Celtics bigs far from the paint and becomes quite hard to deal with when you’re accounting for his screening, passing, rolling and driving ability at once.

With Claxton in the game, Brooklyn had a 130 offensive rating and a 104.3 defensive rating. Porter Jr. finished the game, but Claxton got them off to a strong start and carried their energy throughout.

Jordan Walsh Keeps Building

Jordan Walsh continues to stack great performances. He’s rebounding, getting out in transition and finding ways to help on offense without the ball. It’s things that feel routine like setting timely off-ball screens, or relocating to open space, but he’s taking strides from even the start of this year.

Despite the scoring explosion from Michael Porter Jr., Walsh did pretty well with that matchup. He spent a lot of time face guarding him, and slithered around screens to deny easy looks.

JWalsh taking MPJ’s cookies pic.twitter.com/pSdm40jXKz

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) November 22, 2025

It’s exciting that Walsh looks eager to take on the challenge of defending the other teams best scorers, and the team feels confident about it too. Aside from Hugo, Walsh was the only other Celtic to finish the loss with a positive +/-.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...s-celtics-fall-to-the-nets-in-nba-cup-matchup

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/22/25

Herald Jaylen Brown calls out Celtics teammates after loss to lowly Nets

Celtics can’t overcome Jaylen Brown’s foul trouble in uninspired loss to Nets

‘Everybody looked in the mirror’: Have Celtics solved biggest early-season problem?

Globe ‘Come ready to play or don’t come at all’: Jaylen Brown doesn’t mince words after Celtics’ loss to Nets

Michael Porter Jr., Nets beat Celtics as Jaylen Brown calls for more effort: 7 takeaways

Jaylen Brown opened up about ‘no left-hand jokes’, and the playoff loss that ‘shifted’ his mentality

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[Boston Celtics]

Jaylen Brown calls out “lackluster” Celtics effort in NBA Cup loss to Nets: “I don’t understand it”

Jaylen Brown wasted no time holding the Celtics’ feet to the fire on Friday night.

Boston and Brooklyn met for the second time in as many games, this time on TD Garden’s lucky green NBA Cup parquet. But luck wasn’t on the Celtics’ side. The Nets erupted in the second quarter, outscoring Boston 40-25, setting a dangerous tone for the second half. The Celtics, riding a three-game winning streak, desperately tried to hold off a lowly two-win Brooklyn team from pulling off its biggest upset of the season.

The plan, however, fell apart, and Brown’s patience wore thin in the aftermath of the 113-105 loss.

“What’s my initial takeaway? Come ready to play or don’t come at all,” Brown said. “That’s my whole thing. We gotta come ready to play. We just went through the motions today — like, I don’t understand it.”

Brown continued: “Overall, just a lackluster game from the Celtics.”

Michael Porter Jr. scored a game-high 32 points for Brooklyn, complemented by Nic Claxton’s first-career triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) and rookie Egor Dëmin’s efficient 12-point contribution. Boston lost control of the game once the Nets turned a 43-43 second-quarter deadlock into a swift 19-10 run, building a nine-point halftime advantage. From there, the Celtics repeatedly struggled to regain momentum and assert any form of control over Brooklyn.

Quickly, that became Brooklyn’s theme: blue-collar runs fueled by exploiting Boston’s energy-depleted offense, keeping the Celtics in the rearview mirror.

“We didn’t find enough stops to be able to get out and run in the end of the second, end of the third — especially the second,” Brown recalled. “They had a 40-point quarter in the second quarter, and then the end of that third gave them the separation they needed in this game.”

Brown, limited to 32 minutes, was forced to the bench after picking up his fifth foul with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. Sensing an opportunity with Boston’s alpha sidelined, the Nets capitalized with a 17-4 run, stretching a 71-68 lead to 88-72 in the final two minutes of the quarter. The Celtics repeatedly found themselves within striking distance, but they couldn’t muster enough grit to match Brooklyn’s determination, which carried the Nets from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

In Brown’s eyes, the issues that plagued the Celtics and led to their 1-2 tournament record were quite simple.

“We just gotta come out and play with great energy, great enthusiasm for the game — like, want to win,” Brown said. “It just didn’t seem like that was the case tonight.”

Deficiencies piled up for the Celtics throughout the night. They never held a lead greater than six points, struggled from deep — shooting just 11-of-34 (32%) from three — and Derrick White logged a 2-of-13 output in 33 minutes.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics faced their final chance at redemption with the score at 96-94 and 5:16 remaining in favor of the Nets — and squandered it. Jordan Walsh slammed home a dunk to bring Boston within a basket of tying or taking the lead. But as Brooklyn sensed the momentum slipping, Dëmin responded on the next possession with a gut-punch 3-pointer, sparking a final 17-9 run to bury the Celtics.

Even though 25 of their 48 missed shots came from midrange or layup attempts, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t see that as any sort of overarching theme.

“I don’t know that the story of this game is solely on our missed layups,” Mazzulla said. “I think a lot of it has to do with both — the Nets played really, really well, and we got off to a good start, but they played better than us throughout most of the game. I think that’s the bigger story: a little bit of our offensive breakdown, but our defensive lapses — our off-ball execution or our individual tendencies and game plan stuff there. So we just gotta continue to get better at that.”

Boston didn’t tally a single 30-plus-point quarter while allowing two to Brooklyn — a stark contrast to four days ago, when the Celtics held the Nets to an astounding 14 points in the fourth quarter.

“I thought they played better than they did the other night for sure — I have to give credit to them,” Mazzulla admitted. “And we didn’t play as well. I think it was that simple.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...-in-nba-cup-loss-to-nets-i-dont-understand-it