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[Boston Celtics]

Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, and the Stay Ready Celtics reveal the secrets to staying ready

Photo by Jessie Alcheh/NBAE via Getty Images

In the Celtics’ victory over the Hornets in the season finale, the Stay Ready guys showed out. But they’ve been locked in behind the scenes all year.

BOSTON — The Celtics’ final win of the season, a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, was secured by some of the guys who don’t usually play — the Stay Ready Celtics.

With the game tied at 86 with just under two minutes to play, JD Davison drove to the basket and hit a tough go-ahead layup. Then, Jordan Walsh stole the ball and hit a dagger three to give the Celtics a 5-point lead. Charlotte didn’t score the rest of the way.

It’s an annual tradition: season finales are typically closed out by the guys who haven’t played much all year, and in this case, it was two players who have racked up far more minutes in the G League than in Maine who got it done.

Payton Pritchard, who led the way with 34 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, credited Walsh and Davison for carrying the Celtics over the finish line down the stretch.

“They came through for us and pretty much won us the game,” Pritchard said. “So I was very proud of them.”

It was a particularly momentous occasion for Davison, who signed his first standard NBA contract earlier this weekend. He played one of his best stretches of basketball on Sunday, racking up 9 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 17 minutes off the bench.

A call from Brad Stevens that came on Saturday morning was the ultimate stamp of approval. “That shows his work he’s put in the last three years,” Pritchard said. “Obviously, killed the G League, got MVP, so I think he’s ready for the next step.”

Pritchard has officially graduated from the Stay Ready Group. The season finales are no longer an opportunity to break through; he’s been showing out all year. But not too long ago, the Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner was racking up DNPs, wondering when his next opportunity would come.

Now, it’s a different crop of guys who find themselves in that position: Jordan Walsh, who have averaged 7.5 minutes in 51 games this season; Neemias Queta, who has averaged 13.7 minutes across 61 games; Xavier Tillman, who’s appeared in just 33 games and played 7 minutes a night.

Here’s how they’re dealing with it.

Jordan Walsh is focused on boosting team morale ​

At 20 years old, Jordan Walsh is the still the youngest player on the Celtics. Walsh had one of his best showings of the year in the season finale; along with the dagger three-pointer, he tallied 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals in 21 minutes.

Walsh told CelticsBlog last month that his focus on the bench is keeping the spirit high and encouraging his teammates.

“Just adding fuel to the fire — never taking anything away,” Walsh said. “Whatever way I do that, I do it, whether it’s cheering every possession when something happens, whether it’s telling guys what I’m seeing, just dap them up and tell them keep shooting when they have a shot.”

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Walsh spent a few games with the Maine Celtics this season — even asking to join the G League affiliate on an offday in December — but he’s mostly been in Boston with the parent club.

And, he’s made sure to bring an unwavering spirit to each and every game.

“Anything that can boost the morale of the team, that’s what I try to do,” Walsh said.

Xavier Tillman is breaking down the game to his teammates from the sidelines​

Tillman has dealt with a knee injury that required injections last month and has limited his ability to be as impactful as he would’ve liked. And, in part as a result of his injuries, the 26-year-old has found himself to be one of the team’s most sparingly used players.

Still, before games, Tillman said he makes sure to go through drills as hard as he possibly can. And, even if he hasn’t played in days, he stays warm on the sidelines.

But, during games, he’s locked into the mental side of things.

“My mind is more so on, how can I remind my guys the tendencies of the other team?” Tillman said.

Xavier Tillman had a really insightful answer when I asked him what it actually looks like to "stay ready."

"Physically - I'm warming up, doing the same stuff that I normally would do, going hard."

"Mentally, my mind is more so on - how can I remind my guys the tendencies of… pic.twitter.com/4eSjwq7FHQ

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 1, 2025​

So, Tillman watches carefully from the sidelines, studying opposing players’ habits and relaying what he’s observing to his teammates, with the perspective that what he’s seeing from the sidelines could aid the Celtics’ chances — not necessarily with the mindset that he’s on the brink of checking in.

“If you always think like that, you shift away from being a helper,” Tillman said. “I like to shift my focus on helping everybody else out, and if I get called, I get called.”

Neemias Queta simulates game situations from the bench ​

When Queta is on the sidelines, he puts himself in the shoes of the players on the floor, and simulates how he would go through the same actions and motions.

“What would I have done in that possession? [I’m] seeing what my teammates are doing, and just trying to understand from them how good they are in certain situations.”

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

At the same time, even if he’s not likely to play Queta goes through all the physical habits he maintains in order to be ready to play — stretching during timeouts, getting on the bike, using heat pads.

“I’m a creature of habit, so I just try and do those things, just to keep myself going, even if I’m not getting in there,” Queta said. “Just to have the peace of mind, just have my conscience clear, and whenever I’m out there, knowing I’m gonna be on my A-game.”

Luke Kornet, a former Stay Ready crew member, passes the ultimate wisdom to the younger players​

Kornet, like Pritchard, has officially graduated from the Stay Ready crew, having averaged 18.5 minutes in 72 games this season. He’s poised to become a key playoff contributor for the Celtics, and finished the year with the NBA’s third-best net rating.

But, at 30 years old, Kornet has dealt with his fair share of DNPs, both in Boston and elsewhere. Through those fluctuating opportunities, he’s maintained a level head.

“It’s just a lot of peace to come to life of accepting the position that you’re in and then just doing the best with that, versus trying to fight it and wanting to be in a different one,” Kornet said on Sunday. “You can spend a lot of time worrying about things that you can’t really control. But when you just take the opportunity that you have and do the best with that, you can have days like today where a lot of guys came in and were able to contribute.”

I asked Luke Kornet about his memories from stretches where he was a DNP for many games in a row, and what his message is to the young guys who find themselves in that position now:

“It's just a lot of peace to come to life of accepting the position that you're in and then just… pic.twitter.com/rnEi3BB8DA

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 13, 2025​

Craig Luschenant, the Celtics director of player development, brought Kornet in earlier this year to chat with the current Stay Ready guys. It ended up being a long-winded visit (Kornet joked that as we in the media know, he enjoys rambling).

The message for the young guys was to focus on their love for basketball, enjoy one another, capitalize on the opportunities to get better — but live in the present rather than wish for a different outcome.

“You can have peace about knowing that you did your job well, just as you did the day before, the day after,” Kornet said.

The Stay Ready Celtics might not get much of an on-court opportunity in the playoffs.

But, they’ll nonetheless find a way to be impactful — even if they never check in.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...h-neemias-queta-jd-davison-luke-kornet-hornet

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/14/25

Zach LaVine vs Celtics 3/24/25 | Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald Payton Pritchard, Celtics’ backups beat Hornets to close out regular season​

Why Celtics’ Payton Pritchard believes he deserves Sixth Man of the Year​

Celtics playoff schedule: Date announced for first-round opener​

Globe Why Luke Kornet launched ‘slander campaign’ about Derrick White​

Payton Pritchard scores 34 points in Celtics’ regular-season ending victory over Hornets​

What Payton Pritchard said about Sixth Man of the Year chances​

Dream come true for the Celtics’ JD Davison​

Celtics end regular season with win over Hornets​

When will the Celtics start the 2025 NBA playoffs?​

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side - Hornets 4/13/25 ​

CelticsBlog JD Davison’s first NBA contract included tears, prayers, and a dream-come-true call from Brad Stevens ​

Celtics take sting out of Hornets, win 93-86 in final game of regular season ​

Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, and the Stay Ready Celtics reveal the secrets to staying ready​

Game 1 of Celtics’ Round 1 series will be on Sunday ​

Monday Mailbag: Post any questions about the Celtics’ 61-win season (or anything else!) ​

A different duo will lead the Celtics in the playoffs ​

It’s a wrap: 10 Takeaways from Celtics/Hornets ​

CLNS Media Celtics Finish Regular Season Strong and Begin Playoffs on Sunday ​

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 93, Hornets 86 ​

Photos: Hornets vs. Celtics – April 13th, 2025 Photo Gallery​

Mr. 82: Payton Pritchard Pushes Celtics to Victory in Regular-Season Finale ​

NBC Sports Boston Celtics set a long list of 3-point records in 2024-25 season​

Jayson Tatum joins Larry Bird as only Celtics to achieve this feat ​

Celtics playoff schedule: What to know as C’s prepare for first round ​

2025 NBA Draft order: Celtics have these two picks after 61-win season ​

Celtics motivated by historic chance to repeat as NBA champions ​

NESN Three Studs, Two Duds As Celtics Finish Regular Season With Win​

NBA Playoffs: What Celtics Know About First-Round Matchup​

The Athletic NBA Player Tiers 2025: Tier 5 features some former champions and known veterans ​

NBA awards picks: Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is MVP, Amen Thompson is DPOY and more ​

NBA champion odds: Thunder open playoffs as title favorite ahead of Celtics, Cavaliers ​

Mass Live Joe Mazzulla explains why G League MVP got final Boston Celtics roster spot ​

4 takeaways as Boston Celtics beat Hornets as usual reserve erupts for 34 points ​

Kristaps Porzingis is in promising spot as Boston Celtics begin playoffs​

Boston Celtics guard declines to campaign for NBA award ​

Phoenix Suns fire former NBA champion coach after just 1 season​

Celtics Wire Vet Boston Celtics big man Al Horford is the ultimate teammate​

Celtics history: Boston signs Damon Jones; Oliver Lafayette debuts​

JD Davison reacts to making the Celtics full roster​

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirms Jaylen Brown knee injection news​

Celtics jersey history No. 16 - Johnny Ezersky (1949-50)​

Hardwood Houdini Payton Pritchard, JD Davison were latest pawns in Mazzulla’s undying quest​

This latest Kristaps Porzingis panic was completely out of hand​

Former Celtic spills on the reality of Joe Mazzulla’s impossible humor​

Celtics made (new) Luke Kornet realization Knicks, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls failed to see​

CLNS Media/YouTube Luke Kornet on His “Slander Campaign” vs Derrick White to win Tommy Award | Celtics vs Hornets 4-13 ​

Payton Pritchard on the Status of Jaylen Brown Heading Into The Playoffs | Celtics vs Hornets 4-13 ​

Joe Mazzulla “We Have to get Ready for Something Bigger” | Celtics vs Hornets 4-13 ​

Biggest STORYLINES from Celtics Season: Tatum, Payton or Kornet? | Garden Report After Hours ​

The Celtics look POISED to Repeat | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell ​

EXCLUSIVE: Grant Williams: My Foul on Jayson Tatum Was Immature ​

CBS Boston The 2024-25 Boston Celtics put up some incredible numbers in the regular season ​

Boston Sports Journal BSJ Game Report: Celtics 93, Hornets 86 - Pritchard’s 34 caps regular season for Celts​

Karalis: The Celtics wrap up another incredible regular season, but this team’s story is far from complete​

Heavy Cooper Flagg May Stay in College. Does This Give Celtics Better Shot at Him? ​

WFAA Celtics’ 61-Win Season ECLIPSES Expectations | Jaylen Brown knee injections explained - Locked On​

Essentially Sports Joe Mazzulla Takes No Responsibility as Jaylen Brown Injection Revelation Threatens Celtics’ Title Defense ​

Clutch Points Insider makes ‘clear favorite’ declaration for Celtics’ title defense​

Jayson Tatum explains hilarious Derrick White uniform decision from win over Hornets​

SI .com Jayson Tatum Reveals Major Change Celtics Need to Make to Win Title​

Celtics Road Record Points to Major Advantage For NBA Finals Appearance​

Celtics 2025 Draft Picks Have Officially Been Revealed​

Celtics Accomplish Feat That Hasn’t Been Seen Since 2015 Warriors​

Joe Mazzulla Reveals Confidence Level in Jaylen Brown Returning for Celtics’ Playoff​

The Sports Hub Celtics will play winner of 7-vs-8 play-in game ​

The Ringer 2024-25 NBA Awards: The MVP Debate and My Official Ballot​

League Pass Awards for the 2024-25 NBA Season ​

Bleacher Report Final Regular-Season Grades for Every 2024-25 NBA Team​

Celtics HC ‘100%’ Confident Jaylen Brown Will Be Ready for NBA Playoffs Despite Injury​

Hoopology The Case for Jayson Tatum - by Paul Flannery ​

YouTube 2 Minute Drill: The good, the bad as Celtics head into post season ​

Jayson Tatum has built a strong bond with Boston through community outreach and raising Deuce ​

Celtics star Jayson Tatum cheers on son at youth basketball game in Roxbury ​

Forbes Marcus Smart’s ‘Tremendous’ Leadership Helping Young Wizards’ Take Next Step​

Audacy 15 numbers that tell the story of the 2024-25 Boston Celtics​

News Center Maine CELTICS POSTCAST- Stay Ready Group Closes Out Regular Season with a Win - Locked on Celtics​

The Ticket Payton Pritchard scores 34 points in Celtics’ 93-86 regular-season ending victory over Hornets​

Sir Charles in Charge 1 Horrible contract all 30 NBA teams must fight to trade this summer​

Newsbreak Unsung Heroes Of NBA: Ranking 5 Players Who Stole The Show Yet Recieved No Recognition -​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/14/24408392/boston-celtics-daily-links-4-14-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Would you rather play the Hawks or Magic in Round 1?

Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

The Play-In Tournament starts tonight with the Celtics’ first round opponent being determined first.

By this time tomorrow, we’ll know who Boston will be hosting for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs on Sunday. And while it might not seem to matter who the 61-win Celtics play in the first round, no series is just a formality.

While a 22-5 record after the All-Star break suggests that the team is peaking at the right time, there are still a handful of question marks heading into the postseason. Jaylen Brown’s troublesome knee and reports of multiple pain management injections are certainly cause for concern. There’s always a feeling of apprehension over the age of Al Horford and the health of Kristaps Porzingis, too. And finally, I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of whether or not the Celtics’ three-point shooting is one of their strengths or a reason for their eventual downfall.

So, who should we be rooting for tonight in the Play-In Tournament?

Basically, my gut tells me that a series with Orlando would be physically difficult but short and a series with Atlanta could go long, but would be more of an exercise in variance more than anything else.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Boston had a losing record against four teams this season — the Oklahoma City Thunder (0-2), the Indiana Pacers (1-2), and yes, the Hawks (1-2) and Magic (1-2). No doubt motivation, timing, and health had something to do in those losses, but it’s not like either team couldn’t take a few games off of the Celtics in the playoffs. Alas, anything is possible.

Here’s CelticsBlog’s Ben Paradis on Orlando’s bruising style: “The Magic are young, hungry, and tough on defense. If the Celtics lose focus the Magic can exploit them.” What scares me about them is that because of a lack of skill (29th in eFG%, 26th in AST/TO rate), they’ve relied heavily on effort and physicality. Led by Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, two wings that invite rough play, they’ll take it to the Celtics because frankly, that’s really the only way they can win.

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

Atlanta, on the other hand, still has Trae Young, one of the league’s most productive offensive engines. After February 6th when they dealt Bogdan Bogdanovich for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland and De’Andre Hunter for Caris LeVert and Georges Niang, they’ve boasted a 118.9 offensive rating. Sure, they’re susceptible on defense and are without Jalen Johnson, but Dyson Daniels (most likely a First Team All-Defender) and Onyeka Okongwu could cause problems even for an offense as versatile as the Celtics’. Ben again:

“Atlanta is scrappy — and no stranger to making things closer than they should be. The Celtics blew them out in the first meeting without Brown or Porzingis, but the next two games were tight, including a wild NBA Cup loss without Trae Young and an infuriating overtime defeat in January.

The Hawks hang around. They linger even when it seems like they’re done for.”

Back in 2023, a similar Hawks team led by Young won two games and made that opening series a little uncomfortable.

However, the bottom line is that I’d rather get into a chess match, shootout with the Hawks because over seven games, the math will work out in Boston’s favor rather than wrestle in the Orlando Octagon and risk injury to one of our top-6.

Yes, the playoffs are different. Yes, Boston can get down and dirty if they have to. Yes, you can’t play with a fear of injury. Yes, the numbers don’t always add up. And yes, I still think they’ll get out of Round 1 regardless of who they’ll face. I’d just rather come out in one piece.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...nd-1-boston-celtics-trae-young-paolo-banchero

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics officially have a first-round playoff opponent

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics will face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs, which is set to begin on Sunday.

It’s official: the Celtics and the Orlando Magic will face off in the first round of the playoffs, set to begin on Sunday, April 20th.

That’s because the Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 on Tuesday night in a Play-In game match-up between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to the blowout victory, the Magic won the right to face Boston, while the Hawks will play the winner of the Play-In game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.

Joe Mazzulla said at practice on Tuesday that the Celtics had assistant coaches scouting both the Hawks and Magic all year — and the team was unsurprisingly prepared for both outcomes.

“The guys leading the charge [in preparing] are the ones who were leading the charge throughout the season,” Mazzulla said.

Joe Mazzulla says there are a group of coaches on the staff that were assigned to the Magic this season and a group that were assigned to the Hawks

Tonight, they’ll find out whose work will come into effect this week pic.twitter.com/X1lgzpemcP

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 15, 2025​

Now, the coaches who prepped for the Magic, will be activated as the Celtics have four days to prepare for their first-round opponents. The team will practice again on Wednesday before an off-day on Thursday.

Cole Anthony led the way for the Magic in the Play-In victory​

Cole Anthony led the Magic with 26 points off the bench on Tuesday night, while Wendell Carter Jr (19 points) and Paolo Banchero (17 points) were both key contributors.

Anthony expressed his excitement for the upcoming series postgame, and in particular, for the chance to play in Boston.

“It’s gonna be a heck of a series, man,” Anthony said, per Magic HQ reporter Brett James. I actually went to the championship game in Boston last year — I got to really see how that environment was firsthand and that is probably the craziest environment of a game I’ve seen.”

The Magic’s top scorers this season are Banchero (25.9 points per game), Franz Wagner (24.2 points), Jalen Suggs (16.2 points), and Mo Wagner (12.9 points).

But, both Suggs and Mo Wagner suffered season-ending injuries, and the Magic’s offense has struggled mightily in their absence.

The Magic blew out the Celtics when the two teams faced off last week, but that game wasn’t indicative of much, considering the Celtics rested their top six players.

It was business as usual at the Celtics’ practice on Tuesday​

The Celtics look to become the first team to go back-to-back since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.

And, while Al Horford won back-to-back NCAA titles in college, no one on on the roster has won back-to-back NBA championships.

Holiday is the only member of the team who's been a part of a title defense season; his Milwaukee Bucks team won the championship in 2021, but he subsequently fell to the Celtics in the second round of the 2022 playoffs.

“We thought we had a chance of going back-to-back,” Holiday said. “But sometimes, things happen. Health is a big part of it. There’s a little bit of luck. But I think it’s about preparing for our own journey, and doing it worrying about us, worrying about the things that we can control.”

At practice Tuesday, Joe Mazzulla stressed that nothing is changing in the Celtics’ preparation as the team transitions for the regular season to the playoffs.

The players who spoke at Tuesday’s practice agreed.

“Honestly, I think it’s the same,” Holiday said of his approach entering the playoffs. “It’s mentally being prepared... physically being prepared.”

Al Horford credited the Celtics for never looking too far ahead this season — and noted that he personally appreciated and embraced every step of the journey this past year.

“Today was a good start for us,” Horford said. “We had a good practice.”

The Celtics’ title defense officially begins on Sunday, though the full first-round playoff schedule has yet to be released.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/15/24409477/celtics-playoffs-orlando-magic-first-round-schedule

 

[Boston Celtics]

Examining Reggie Lewis’ rising stardom through a modern lens

Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

This week’s episode of Celtics City brought renewed attention to the story of Reggie Lewis and the impact he left on Boston before his tragic passing. Today, we take a moment to appreciate the talent he left out on the floor.

Regardless of the generation you come from, every Celtics fan knows the feeling of a “what-if.”

For me, it’s Gordon Hayward, it’s an NBA Finals scoring drought before a Steph Curry takeover, it’s a Jayson Tatum rolled ankle in a Game 7.

For the fans that followed the Celtics through the early 1980s and ‘90s, there are many to choose from, but the tragic story of Reggie Lewis is likely high among them. Earlier this week, I texted my father-in-law (a diehard Celtics fan who intently followed this era) and asked what his memories were of Lewis and the early-90s Celtics. What I got in response was a 1,755-word email detailing the period between 1990-1993. He called the day of Lewis’ passing, “easily the saddest sports day of my life.”

With the most recent episode of Celtics City highlighting this period, I was inspired to explore the legacy that Lewis left behind. I’d never truthfully watched a full game from this era of Celtics basketball, and with the help of the good people on the r/BostonCeltics subreddit, I was given a compass to follow, tracking down three of Lewis’ most iconic performances in their entirety.

Side Note: It’s a bit baffling how difficult it can be to find classic NBA games with the league itself holding a tight lid over its pre-2012 archives, but it’s comforting to know how many good people out there upload their old broadcast recordings over to YouTube. It’s an archive made by the people. This blog is dedicated to them.

The conclusions won’t be profound, and there’s no new ground to be covered, but it’s an opportunity to see what hope looked like to the fans of the ‘90s, and how Lewis embodied that for them.

Celtics/Bulls (March 31, 1991)​

The story entering this game was a familiar one for the Celtics throughout the early ‘90s: the team, though still supremely talented, was beat up. Larry Bird entered the contest with the lingering back concerns that followed him throughout his final days as a Celtic, Kevin McHale was returning from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury and even Lewis himself was banged up, heading into the contest listed as questionable with his own back ailment.

In a moment that really embodied this injury-marred era of Boston basketball, NBC’s Ahmad Rashad noted that McHale’s ankle brace wouldn’t allow him to move left or right, and commented that “his injury is such that it’s not going to get better, so he’s just going to have to go out and play on it.”

That was the story going in, but the dominant narrative about this game today belongs to Lewis’ exceptional four-block performance on Michael Jordan. It’s undeniably the most eye-popping aspect of what is a pretty phenomenal game, but Lewis’ defense on MJ goes well beyond just four blocked shots. He, along with an aggressive double-heavy defense, had Jordan in a prison for about three quarters.

This was also a productive offensive outing from Lewis, who had nice touch in the mid-range in a 25-point game (10/20 FG), but it’s his defense that grabs your attention.

His length, discipline, hyper-quick footwork, and ability to weave around screens kept a hand in MJ’s face and often forced him into contested jumpers. Jordan eventually got to the rim and found his scoring touch, but it was a rough game for a good portion of the night (12/36 FG, 13/13 FT) because of the pressure the Celtics and Lewis threw at him.

That pressure extended to a last-second sequence at the end of the first overtime when Lewis blanketed MJ as he hit a crazy corner 3-pointer just after time expired.

This is a classic game, and Lewis had a huge hand in making it one.

Celtics/Pacers (April 23, 1992), Game 1 of the First Round​

The Bulls game was about Lewis as a defender. This one is all about the offense. Taking control of a hobbled team, Lewis led the Celtics in minutes, points, steals and blocks entering the postseason, helping them end the regular season on a hot streak despite Bird’s absence.

Lewis, in a game-high 43 minutes, was a scoring machine in Game 1, putting up 36 points (14/24 FG) through a constant stream of off-ball actions, dribble drives and mid-range jumpers. Taking the bulk of Boston’s offensive opportunities alongside Kevin Gamble (who shot 10/19 in a solid performance of his own), Lewis helped the Celtics pull away from the Pacers in the final minutes to win their first playoff game without Bird on the floor (0-6 record prior to this game).

What really stands out about Lewis in this one is the myriad of ways he could finish. He looked the most deadly flying off pindowns and springing open off screens to fire high-arching jumpers, but his on-ball creation was oftentimes dazzling as he’d drive past defenders like George McCloud, sending them off into the rearview mirror while he attacked the basket.

There’s also one of those retrospectively symbolic moments where you can see the gravity of Boston’s Big 3 still at work. Late in the game, a Pacers double-team on a McHale post-up meant room for Lewis to operate when he sprung into an open pocket of space, taking the pass from McHale and driving into a clutch finish to tie up the game in the fourth quarter.

Boston was heavily reliant on Lewis in this series overall (he took 20+ shots in all three games and was outstanding again in Game 3 with 32 points). As a top scoring option on a playoff stage, he delivered, and it’s easy to look ahead at what else he might’ve done for the rest of his career with that kind of responsibility. In his next season, we’d continue to see Lewis make a name for himself as a primary scoring option.

Celtics/Cavaliers (May 10, 1992), Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals​

Bird and Brown were back on the floor for Boston in this one, which was part of a seven-game series, but it was once again Reggie’s show. Despite falling in a pivotal OT finish that could have given Boston a 3-1 series lead, Lewis gave it his all, burying 16 of his 28 attempts for 42 points, dishing out six assists and forcing turnovers with five steals. It was a complete two-way performance, one of the best you’ll ever see, even in a loss.

He also played a pivotal role in a 0-for-9 shooting dud from Craig Ehlo, who managed just a single point for the game.

Lewis was constantly on the floor, leading the team again with 48 minutes. This would be the sixth game of that postseason that Lewis would play 40+ minutes.

This was a scoring masterclass. Every inch of real estate inside the arc (and one time beyond the arc) belonged to Lewis.

This game also presents a “what-if” all in itself. A productive night from McHale off the bench along with Reggie’s scoring nearly got Boston over the finish line to a 3-1 lead, though Mark Price and Brad Daugherty had some big moments down the stretch to get Cleveland the road win. Lewis had the ball in his hands with a chance to extend the game in the final seconds, driving to the middle of the hoop, leaping with two defenders set to contest the shot, and laying off a perfect mid-air pass to Bird, whose layup rimmed out.

A 3-1 series lead possibly gets Boston to a series with Chicago, where Lewis would have again gotten an opportunity to match up with Jordan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wasn’t there for any of it, yet this week’s episode of Celtics City really struck me, as I’m sure it did a lot of viewers. You can see what Lewis meant to this fanbase and to the people who cheered in the Garden. The chants went from “Larry” to “Reggie” for a reason. I’m just scratching the surface, but the message is obvious: Reggie Lewis was a hopeful symbol and a special talent.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...n-lens-boston-celtics-larry-bird-kevin-mchale

 

[Boston Celtics]

Jayson Tatum discusses going up against close friend in NBA playoffs

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images

When the Celtics host the Magic on Sunday, it’ll be a reunion between two good friends and former Duke stars: Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero.

BRIGHTON — Paolo Banchero often sports Jayson Tatum’s sneakers, and when he’s needed advice throughout the years, the Celtics star has been someone he has turned to.

The two have maintained a close friendship throughout Banchero’s journey from Duke to the NBA, with Tatum embracing the role of the mentor. But when the Celtics take on the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, two standout Duke basketball alumni will put their friendship to the side.

Paolo Banchero and Jayson Tatum were friends since Banchero was in college ​

Banchero, the top draft pick in the 2022 draft, played for Duke for one year before beginning his NBA career in Orlando. That year in Duke, Amile Jefferson was one of his assistant coaches; Jefferson is one of Tatum’s closest friends and is now an assistant coach on the Celtics.

Tatum, who was selected third overall by the Celtics in 2017, was already a three-time All-Star by the time Banchero entered the league. And, he shared his experiences from his first few years in the league to help aid Banchero’s transition.

In January of 2023, Banchero told Boston Sports Journal’s Bobby Manning that one of the biggest pieces of advice Tatum gave him when he entered the NBA was: You have to go and take what you want.

“Coming in, just because you’re a high pick, you’re probably going to have more stuff handed to you than the regular person, but you can’t take on that attitude,” Banchero said, recalling his friends’ advice. “You have to work for everything. Guys are going to come at you, guys on other teams, maybe even guys on your own team... just be aware that nobody’s going to hand you anything. You’ve got to go out and take it. That always stuck with me.”

Jayson Tatum has regularly battled friends throughout the playoffs — and Paolo Banchero is the latest ​

Tatum is not in unfamiliar territory when it comes to matching up against a good friend in the NBA playoffs. He’s battled against close friend Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat in four of the last five playoffs, the two sharing that they ceased communication throughout the postseason.

He’s eliminated Kevin Durant, someone he’s regularly trained with and learned from, and faced fellow 2017 lottery pick and close friend Donovan Mitchell in the conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Spring. The list goes on and on.

Tatum said that facing off against his good friend in the postseason doesn’t change the dynamic of the series.

And, on Tuesday night, after the Magic clinched their spot in the first round against Boston, Banchero reflected on what facing Tatum would be like.

“I’ve known Jayson since I was going into college,” Banchero said. “I see him every summer. [He’s a] guy that I’m very familiar with, but one of the guys I go to for advice and stuff like that. Obviously, now we’re competing — and I think the best way for me to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as I can.”

Tatum said at practice on Wednesday that he appreciated Banchero’s mindset.

“That’s how it should be,” he said. “He’s trying to lead his team in the playoffs and figure out ways to win, and I’m trying to do the same thing.”

Asked Jayson Tatum about facing Paolo Banchero in the playoffs:

“It’s the playoffs. No friends out there. Nothing else matters except doing everything I can to help my team.” https://t.co/SgN3AmZP7d pic.twitter.com/bnt9GFalCu

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 16, 2025​

But, the two will set their friendship aside for the first time as they prepare for a first-round playoff battle.

“It’s just shifting your mindset to — it’s the playoffs,” Tatum said. “Just having the understanding that — no friends out there. Nothing else matters besides doing everything I can to help my team win. There’s not really time for anything else.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...ero-boston-celtics-orlando-magic-nba-playoffs

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/17/25

Jalen Brunson vs Celtics 4/8/25 | Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald What Kristaps Porzingis told Jaylen Brown about knee injury​

What Celtics are expecting from ‘physical’ Magic in playoff series​

Globe Paul Pierce’s straightforward prediction for Celtics-Magic series​

Bill Simmons explains why Magic Johnson wasn’t in ‘Celtics City’​

Keys to the Celtics-Magic playoff series​

CelticsBlog The Celtics are going to sweep the Magic ​

You want Boston? Be careful what you wish for. ​

Joe Mazzulla had another great interview on Pardon My Take ​

Baylor Scheierman on why his hometown’s parents (probably) didn’t like him, working out before sunrise at 13, and more ​

CLNS Media Early Thoughts on Celtics Facing Magic in First Round of the NBA Playoffs ​

Celtics .com Celtics Weigh in on Magic Ahead of Sunday’s Series Opener ​

NBC Sports Boston Celtics-Magic preview: Four big questions entering first-round series​

NESN Bill Simmons Offers Interesting Reason Why Celtics Villains Aren’t In Docuseries​

CBS Boston Orlando Magic fans chanted “We Want Boston” during play-in win over Hawks ​

The Athletic NBA Player Tiers 2025: Jalen Brunson, Kawhi Leonard and more All-Star standouts in Tier 2 ​

Celtics-Magic NBA playoff series: Whom to watch, X-factors and predictions​

Celtics Wire On this day: Red names Bill Russell head coach; Sam Jones drafted​

How the Celtics match up against the Orlando Magic​

Are the Celtics bound to face the Cavaliers in the East Finals?​

Reflecting on a dominant Celtics road season​

Celtics jersey history No. 16 - Benny Swain (1958-59)​

Tatum and Banchero to headline Celtics playoff series against Magic​

Jayson Tatum will be leaving friendship at the door in the playoffs​

Boston Sports Journal Completed Q&A: Karalis on Celtics/NBA playoffs, Thursday 04.17.25​

Celtics playoff notebook: Orlando’s defense, playoff fouls, and advice for Jaylen Brown​

Hardwood Houdini Hidden truths of unusual Celtics-Magic tape leaves clear playoff plan​

Celtics’ ideal Al Horford replacement just entered the 2025 NBA Draft​

CLNS Media/You/Tube Jayson Tatum: “We Not Defending a Championship We Won That Last Year” | Celtics Practice 4-16 ​

SERIES PREDICTIONS: “Celtics in 5” vs Magic | Garden Report From Practice ​

Kristaps Porzingis Talked to Jaylen Brown About Playing Through Injuries | Celtics Practice 4-16 ​

Essence Jayson Tatum Gets Personal About Grooming, Confidence, And His Full-Circle Moment With Coach ​

SI .com Celtics Insider Offers Worrisome Update on Jaylen Brown​

Celtics Biggest Position Concern Could Doom Postseason Run​

13-Year NBA Veteran Calls Jayson Tatum ‘Disrespected’​

Jayson Tatum Makes Blunt Comment Before Celtics-Magic Series​

Magic Fans Wanted all the Boston Celtics Smoke During Blowout Play-In Win Over Hawks​

Celtics News: Joe Mazzulla Won’t Discount Magic for One Big Reason​

“We Want Boston!” Magic Fans Erupt After Play In Win​

Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis Reveals Major Health Update Ahead of Playoff Opener​

Former NBA Guard Slams Media for Disrespecting Celtics Star Jayson Tatum​

Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis Reveals Injury Advice He Gave to Jaylen Brown​

Five Trends That Could Decide 2025 NBA Playoffs​

NBA Insider Believes Surprising Celtics Guard Could Decide Team’s Title Defense​

‘Now We’re Competing,’ Paolo Banchero Throws Friendship With Celtics’ Jayson Tatum​

Essentially Sports Jaylen Brown Finds Solace in Kristaps Porzingis as Update on Celtics’ Major Headaches Emerge ​

Orlando Magic Daily Cakewalk’ 1st round series is far from reality if Celtics forget this clear fact​

Fox Sports 2025 NBA playoff odds: Tatum, SGA favored to win conference finals MVP awards ​

Sportscasting Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero: Mentor Meets Protégé​

Daily Campus Tyler’s Take: Breaking down the Orlando Magic vs. the Boston Celtics’ first-round matchup ​

Stadium Rant The Unstoppable Celtics Will Repeat As NBA Champions​

NBA .com Can Orlando’s 3-point defense contain Boston’s record-setting barrage? ​

5 Key Questions Going Into Orlando Magic’s Playoff Series Against Boston Celtics | Orlando Magic​

Chowder and Champions Celtics Leader Has the Most to Lose in the Playoffs​

Bleacher Report Every NBA Team’s Biggest Regret This Season​

Basketball Network Arenas feels Tatum will replace Bron as the most hated player ​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/17/24410729/boston-celtics-daily-links-4-17-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Joe Mazzulla had another great interview on Pardon My Take

Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Mazzulla blamed Sam Cassell for a tough stretch in January among other funny moments on the Barstool Sports podcast.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made his third appearance on Pardon My Take on Wednesday and it was another classic interview with Dan ‘Big Cat’ Katz and PFT Commenter.

After he confirmed that he does not allow the assistant coaches to wear any championship merch from last year, he was asked if he was making sure they don’t wear it at home. “I wish I could, but I’m not. I would love to just show up to one of their houses and they see me through the bedroom window and they have a shirt from last season on.”

He was then asked if fans were allowed to wear the merch or not. “I mean, clearly (they) don’t want us to win or move forward,” he replied.

I love that he doesn’t allow assistant coaches to wear title merch, though I feel it is important for me to note that as I am writing this, I am wearing a championship shirt from last season, so I have to disagree on his take on fans.

He was then asked about Taylor Jenkins and Michael Malone being fired so close to the playoffs and if he told himself he was next to motivate himself.

“That stretch in January where we weren’t playing well, I just woke up every day telling myself I’m getting fired,” Mazzulla responded. “I would tell the staff too, ‘guys, we’re done, if we don’t figure this thing out we don’t deserve to coach here.’ You have to kind of find that balance of, you know, this is my dream job and I would love to be here for 10, 15 years but at the same time, I said this the other day, you gotta be aware of your own mortality. The Celtics have been great before I was here and they’re gonna be great whenever I’m done.”

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A post shared by Pardon My Take (@pardonmytake)​

In response to getting Coach of the Month, Mazzulla joked, “I think I pulled out a letter from my 10-year-old self and it was ‘win Coach of the Month in March.’”

When he was asked about winning Coach of the Month by WEEI’s Justin Turpin he said, “it’s the dumbest thing ever.”

Of course, we all remember what he told Derrick White when he congratulated Mazzulla for winning a Coach of the Month last season: “When he won Coach of the Month and I was like ‘hey congratulations,’ he just looked at me and said ‘nobody cares.’”

He was also asked about telling Jayson Tatum to fight him instead of getting technical fouls from the refs.

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A post shared by New Heights (@newheightshow)​

“I’m not the fighting kind of guy; I try and instigate other people into doing it first,” he replied. “I try to instigate people all the time, if I could just get a reaction out of them. He does a really good job of not responding most of the time, but I did everything in my power to instigate just a little bit of nastiness after one of the games.”

When asked about what led to this conversation, Mazzulla said, “I think we were in Portland and I was like ‘instead of getting another technical, why don’t me and you just breakout into a fight on the court during the game and instead of taking your frustrations out on the ref, you just take them out on me and see where it goes.’”

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A post shared by Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports)​

Thankfully, Tatum did not take Mazzulla’s bait because fighting the coach on the court would likely be a bad thing. I don’t think Adam Silver would be thrilled if he saw that.

Mazzulla also talked about the importance of everyone in the building and how everyone impacts winning.

“When we walk into the building every day, I’m like the 5th or 6th person that the player sees,” he said. “If we don’t have ultimate alignment as an organization and the security guard and the guy at the front that opens the door or the kitchen staff or the janitors, if we’re not all on the same page and they see the players before I do and for whatever reason if their interaction doesn’t impact winning, that could change the way he prepares for a practice or for a game.”

When asked about what he wants from the kitchen staff, he said, “some anger — you can’t just be back there whipping up stuff with a smile on your face the whole time.”

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Joe was asked about Jaylen Brown’s health to which he said, “he’s always healthy.”

Mazzulla later added that he simulated a playoff series during the Celtics six-game road trip at the end of March, in which they went 6-0.

When asked how they did, Joe said, “we were pretty good. We were 6-0, we used that 6-game road trip as a playoff series. Kind of got our minds off of being on the road for 13 days. Every team we were playing, they were better than us at one thing and we really fought to take that one thing away. That was a good trip for us and that brought us closer together as a team.”

He then talked about how he knew they were going to have a tough stretch during the season because Sam Cassell said they should take a day off of practice in Abu Dhabi.

“We were in Abu Dhabi and we had gone 2 or 3 days in a row and the travel was bad and I was like, ‘hey, Sam what should we do? I think we should have practice today.’ He said, “ah, give them the day off, be nice to them,’ and I was like, ‘this is going to come back to kill us,’” Mazzulla said. “We’re in the middle of January and we’re not playing well and I was like ‘Sam, this all started when you took the day off in Abu Dhabi.’”

They ended the interview talking about movies that Coach Mazzulla is watching this season in place of his beloved The Town and he is very excited for the Accountant 2.

You can watch the entire interview with Coach Mazzulla on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics...-my-take-boston-celtics-big-cat-pft-commenter

 

[Boston Celtics]

Derrick White’s mom goes behind-the-scenes on son’s rise to Celtics stardom: “The world kind of shot us down.”

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

Colleen White sat down with CelticsBlog for a conversation on her son’s journey from a 5’6 high school guard with no college offers to one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

When Derrick White was a high schooler in Colorado, everyone called him Baby Face.

“Because he had this baby face,” White’s mother, Colleen, told CelticsBlog in an interview last month. “People would say — what are you, 12? He didn’t find it funny, of course, at the time.”

White was infamously cut from the middle school basketball team in 8th grade.

He was 5’6 when he began his high school career.

And, even when he grew a few inches and put together a dominant basketball career at Legend High School, it was crickets when it came to attracting college basketball offers.

“If we thought he was a great player, it seems like the world kind of shot us down because we didn’t get any interest from colleges,” Colleen said.

It’s been more than a decade since that time, but Colleen still sounds perplexed as to why college couldn’t see the vision.

But, the White family didn’t take no for an answer. Derrick’s dad, Richard White, was relentless, sending dozens of emails to college coaches in hopes that something would materialize.

Eventually, the scrappy point guard got the opportunity to enroll at the University of Colorado — Colorado Springs, a Division II culinary school. By the time his college career began, he had sprouted to the height of a typical NBA guard, thanks to a massive summer growth spurt that succeeded high school graduation.

Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Derrick White in a high school basketball game in Colorado in 2012.

“Most of the recruiters have in their mind what they [high school prospects] should look like,” Colleen said. “They don’t really account for the fact that they could grow some more.”

Sure enough, Derrick grew.

The rest was history.

NBA Draft night through Colleen White’s eyes​

Fast forward five years to June 22, 2017. By the time the NBA Draft came around, White had completed an outstanding career at Colorado University, his middle school struggles and years of being overlooked now in the rearview mirror.

White measured 6’4 on draft night, and had showcased his two-versatility in the PAC-12 Conference, averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals his senior year.

And, Colleen said her son’s confidence burgeoned after a successful NBA combine.

Still, she recalls her immense anxiety on draft night.

“You’re so afraid, as a mother, of him being crushed,” Colleen said. “He wanted it more than anything. And, I could see him and his confidence building. He did well at the combine and all the things he needed to do well at. As a mom, of course, you want that for him more than anything, but at the same time, you’re so worried that he’s going to get crushed.”

Derrick wasn’t invited to the NBA Draft in New York, so his family gathered at a friend’s house in Colorado instead. To reduce the pressure on the night’s outcome, the White family shied away from calling the gathering a draft party.

“We called it a graduation party,” Colleen said. “But everybody knew it was hopefully a draft party.”

“In the back of your mind, it’s always ‘Oh, my God, what if this doesn’t happen? How’s he going to deal with that devastation?”

The White family didn’t have to wait too long; Derrick was drafted 27th overall by the Spurs.

“His phone finally does go off, and it was his agent calling, of course, to tell him that he was going to be drafted,” Colleen said. “He was trying to play it cool and be like, ‘Oh, it’s just the wrong number.’ But he couldn’t hold it in.”

A trade from the Spurs to the Celtics changed everything ​

NBA Draft Night was one indisputably pivotal moment in Derrick’s ascent to NBA stardom.

The other?

February 10, 2022: the day he was traded to the Celtics.

That midseason trade came as a complete surprise to the White family, who knew Derrick loved life in San Antonio despite the precarious position the franchise was in.

“Richard even asked [Derrick’s] agent, ‘You hearing any rumblings or anything?’” Coleen said. “He was like, ‘Yeah, no, nothing. Haven’t heard a thing.’ It totally caught us off guard.”

Derrick was admittedly disappointed when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich came to his hotel room to tell him the news.

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
Derrick White and Gregg Popovich have long had a close relationship.

The White parents, meanwhile, had conflicting initial reactions.

“My husband was ecstatic,” she said. “He was a Boston Celtics fan and grew up there. He knew that they were a much better team than San Antonio and on a much different trajectory. He was jumping up and down. Oh, he was so excited.”

But Colleen immediately immersed herself in the off-court implications of the trade. Derrick’s wife, Hannah, was pregnant with their first son, Hendrix, and the newlywed couple was settled in San Antonio.

In a flash, they’d have to relocate across the country and figure out everything from scratch.

“I’m just in shock, because I’m thinking, being the woman and everything, oh my god, he’s having a baby,” Colleen recalls. “They love it down there. Just, kind of going through the real-life emotions.”

While Derrick’s become one of the NBA’s most reliable players, his mom is still pinching herself

Today, there’s no question that the trade that sent Derrick and Hannah to Boston was a blessing in disguise.

“I was pretty upset when I got traded,” Derrick said earlier this season before a game in Miami. “But looking back, it was probably the best thing to happen to me.”

As a Celtic, White has been named to two All-Defense teams and emerged as a core member of the 2024 championship team. He’s blossomed into a borderline All-Star, and signed a 4-year, $126 million extension over the summer.

And, throughout his burgeoning success, White has always credited Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“It starts with Joe,” Derrick said last June. “Ever since he took over, he’s just given me the most confidence.”

“He’s one of the best point guards in the league,” Mazzulla proclaimed earlier this season.

Today, Derrick appears in advertisements all around the city — Sam Adams, Berkshire Bank, the like — and when he takes the TD Garden floor for warmups, he’s met with a crowd pop like no other.

“It’s cute to see how the city embraced him and seemed to really kind of take him in,” Coleen said. “He didn’t feel that in San Antonio at all. So it was just like, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ I love the atmosphere of Boston and how they’re passionate about their sports.”

“DERRICK WHITE” chants breaking out here at TD Garden pic.twitter.com/h4kko3CogF

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 8, 2024​

White’s Celtics coaches and teammates are always eager to shower him with praise.

“Derrick’s just a tremendous player,” Payton Pritchard said in February. “He doesn’t really have a weakness — very good person and fun person to be around. As far as the locker room goes, he helps in that aspect. You can plug him in anywhere, he can play with anybody.”

Then, he states the obvious: “Brad did a great job with that trade.”

For the White family, the earlier adversity has made the current success even more rewarding.

“We didn’t have any grandiose expectations, like so many who knew from the start,” Colleen said. “Everything has just been kind of an amazing journey.”

So, when Derrick’s parents turn on the television to tune into their son’s NBA games, it all still feels surreal.

“We’re just sitting at home going, ‘Wow, we’re watching our son in the NBA,’” Colleen said. “It’s not even seven, eight years later, and you still kind of pinch yourself a little bit, especially in the playoffs, just watching him be so calm and collected out there.”

Derrick laughs when he recalls his initial reluctance to being traded to Boston. He recognizes how much the city has embraced his — and he’s not burdened by his increased visibility and fame.

“I’m just thankful that the city of Boston has really welcomed me with open arms and shown so much love to me and to my family,” Derrick said. “I wouldn’t change anything.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/19/24386901/derrick-white-boston-celtics-mom-spurs-trade

 

[Boston Celtics]

Catch Lakers vs. Timberwolves live in the CelticsBlog Playback room

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The playoffs are finally here.

The playoffs are finally here. While I typically hate the early games due to my time zone here in Australia, I have never been more excited to set an alarm for 3 am. We will be streaming the marquee matchup of the day, Lakers vs. Timberwolves, in the CelticsBlog Playback room.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...playback-room-lbj-anthony-edwards-luka-doncic

 

[Boston Celtics]

Joe Mazzulla shares his thoughts on the Celtics competing on Easter

Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images

The third-year head coach has always stressed the importance of his faith. And, addressing reporters pregame, he made clear that he’s grateful the Celtics will face the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the playoffs on Eastern Sunday.

BOSTON — Since becoming head coach of the Celtics, Joe Mazzulla has always stressed the importance of his Catholic faith.

After winning the 2024 NBA Championship, Mazzulla donned a black T-shirt that read: “But first... let me thank God.” In his first speech following the title, he said: “First of all, the most important thing for us, for me, is our faith.”

Mazzulla’s connection with his religion has routinely come up in his pregame and postgame press conferences throughout his three-year coaching tenure.

Last Spring, when asked about the significance of having two Black head coaches face off in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975, he replied: “I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches.”

And, in his first season coaching in 2022, when the Prince and Princess of Wales attended a Celtics game at TD Garden, Mazzulla was asked by a reporter if he met “the royal family.”

He flatly responded: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? I’m only familiar with one royal family. I don’t know too much about that one. But hopefully, they’re Celtics fans.”

Joe Mazzulla appreciates the opportunity to compete on Easter Sunday​

So, with the Celtics set to face off against the Orlando Magic for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs on Easter Sunday, Mazzulla was asked pregame his thoughts on playing on the holiday.

Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics playing on Easter:

“I cherish it.”

“I don’t think anything’s better than Easter and the Celtics.”

(Q: @John_Karalis) pic.twitter.com/U63AgdqszV

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 20, 2025​

“I cherish it,” he said. “I think it’s become part of just our family and who we are.”

The Celtics also played on Christmas this year, and regularly compete on religious holidays.

“I don’t think it’s anything better than Easter and the Celtics,” Mazzulla said. “We get Christmas, Easter, and the Celtics — so what’s better than that?”

The Celtics and Magic will tip off at 3:30 pm ET for Game 1 of the playoffs on Sunday at TD Garden.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...-celtics-playoffs-orlando-magic-easter-sunday

 

[Boston Celtics]

10 takeaways from the Celtics breaking the Magic’s wall

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Boston handled Orlando’s physicality, adjusted on both ends, and found solutions against one of the league’s toughest defenses. From Derrick White’s versatility to Pritchard’s spark and Porzingis’ quiet impact, the Celtics showed the depth and discipline required for a long postseason run.

#1 - Breaking the lines​

How do you find a way through a wall? That is pretty much the question that the Boston Celtics need to answer every time they want to drive against the Orlando Magic.

As discussed during the preview, court mapping and defense manipulation will be key to finding a way to the rim. In the example below, the Celtics showed how to manage time and space to break the defensive shell.

When Jayson Tatum gets the ball on the left slot, he is in a good position to drive, but not an optimal one. But once Payton Pritchard sets a screen for Kristaps Porzingis, this takes two defensive players away from the ball and the rim.

On the back line, the two other defenders are dragged far from the paint because of the shooting threat from Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Because of the position of the ball and the players, Jayson Tatum now has space to drive left and won’t be bothered by either a stunt or help at the rim.

They had to break the defensive lines because, unlike usual, there was not a mismatch to hunt — unless Cole Anthony was on the court.

#2 - Hunting Cole​

To break a wall, you can also identify the weakest spot in it and just run into it until it cracks. That’s what the Celtics did with Cole Anthony when Jamahl Mosley put him on the court. Pritchard and Anthony’s minutes were sometimes matched because of the Celtics guard’s ability to screen and force the switch.

Because Anthony cannot bother Tatum or Brown due to their large frame and offensive skill set, he makes the Orlando Magic defense less elite than usual. When he is on the court, the Magic give away more points per possession and get dominated in the paint because he can’t maintain the same level of physicality.

In this matchup, it will be interesting to see how the Orlando Magic manage his minutes. They need to be elite on defense to win, and it feels like his presence on the court doesn’t give them the best chance to do so.

#3 - Pritchard boost​

As he might win the Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard has a big challenge ahead: keep impacting the game in the Playoffs. Last year, as the rounds went by, his minutes went down — mostly because he was targeted on defense and wasn’t making it up on the other side of the floor.

However, this season, the Celtics have made him a big part of their regular-season success with a lot of responsibilities and minutes. He even sometimes closes games to help the Celtics improve their spacing. His efficiency and the chaos he brings have been key for Joe Mazzulla’s offense.

Last afternoon was another great example of that. With his activity, shooting ability, and constant willingness to move and create advantages, the Celtics offense boomed when he stepped on the court. The difference in ball movement, spacing, and offensive synergy was obvious with and without him yesterday. In the first half, he played only 6 minutes, and the Celtics outscored the Magic by three points, while being outscored when he was off the floor.

Therefore, it was no surprise to see him play 18 minutes in the second half — more than any player but Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum. Because the Magic’s spacing isn’t good enough, the Celtics can easily leave Payton Pritchard on the floor and protect him with bodies in the paint.

Payton Pritchard’s off-ball creation and gravity will be one of the keys that open the door to the next round.

#4 - Derrick White two-way impact​

After only the first 24 minutes, Derrick White was leading the Celtics with 16 points, two assists, one block, and one steal. The two-way impact was needed, as Orlando was able to take advantage of the lack of movement to force Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jayson Tatum to take contested shots.

His impact on defense led to transition and better opportunities — but there is more to it. Casually, he puts up 30-point performances in the Playoffs on very high efficiency. With various playcalls, the Celtics were able to free him beyond the arc. Here, you have a great exhibit of Tatum’s screening abilities: he doesn’t get the assist but creates the space for D-White.

On this play, the Celtics force a switch before getting into action. Once Al Horford has the ball, Jayson Tatum sets a flare screen for White, and his scoring gravity creates confusion — and that’s an open triple.

Overall, Derrick White was fabulous — able to finish and score the ball from three while bringing added value on defense, as usual. Another casual masterclass from Derrick.

#5 - Responding to the physicality​

Sometimes, numbers speak louder than words. Joe Mazzulla mentioned how they responded to the physicality in the second half after being dominated in the first. Engagement and willingness are sometimes hard to capture in numbers, but offensive rebounds can be a great indicator of a team’s determination to fight for 50-50 balls.

Well, in the first half, the Magic grabbed 10 offensive boards on 25 missed shots. In the second, the numbers were down to three on 22 missed attempts. A drastic change that gave the Celtics better chances on both sides of the court.

#6 - Offense starts on defense​

The Celtics are usually not a team that creates a lot of turnovers. However, last night, they struggled to generate offense. So, they turned it around and started on defense — like they rarely do. The Celtics, led by Jrue Holiday’s ball pressure, generated a 17% turnover rate, meaning the Magic lost the ball almost every five possessions.

What is even more impressive regarding the defensive playmaking was their ability to turn defense into offense. They turned 70% of their steals into attempts and scored 2.4 points per possession on these plays — absolutely elite.

#7 - Battle of the mid-range​

There were moments when this game felt like one from a previous era. The volume of isolations and post-ups that ended in two-point jumpers and turnaround fadeaways felt higher than usual.

Overall, the Magic took 53% of their shots between four feet and the three-point line — a very old-school approach that says a lot about the Celtics defense, but also about who their stars are and how they play.

But the Celtics also shot a lot from the mid-range, led by Jayson Tatum, who tried many isolations from the post-up. This goes back to the first part of the article, where we explored how the Celtics were able to break the Magic’s defensive shell. They needed to find a way — because when they didn’t, the offense was stagnant and inefficient.

Looking forward to seeing what Joe Mazzulla and his coaching staff will do to move away from these shots.

#8 - Taking away the free-throws​

While they took a lot of mid-ranges as usual, the Magic weren’t able to replicate their usual offense from the free-throw line. With Banchero and Wagner, the Magic often use their physical upside on the wings to break down the defense and get to the line to compensate for the lack of shooting and spacing.

However, the Celtics defense is the best in the NBA at taking away free-throws. Last night was a great challenge to test how good they are at it — and it was impressive. By staying disciplined and connected to one another, the Celtics crowded the driving lane. And when the Magic were able to find a way to drive, the Celtics’ defensive structure always had one of the rim protectors ready to disrupt the layup without fouling.

This ability to defend without fouling will go a long way in the Playoffs when minutes go up for the stars. No fouling means less chance for the opponent to be in the bonus, and less foul trouble for the stars. When games are won by small margins, this could be a difference-maker.

#9 - A two-headed not-so-scary monster​

While the Celtics took away the free-throws, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero attempted 51 field goals out of 81. On top of that, they had nine assists and scored 59 points out of 86. The lack of offensive supporting cast is scary — and explains their lack of efficiency.

We might see more minutes from Wagner in the next game, or maybe new lineup tricks. The Magic have some depth and could try a big lineup with two centers, or they could go very small and try to stretch the Celtics defense with shooters around Banchero and Wagner. The problem with the small lineup is that it takes away the team’s identity and won’t be enough to stop the Celtics offense.

#10 - Great challenge for Porzingis​

One for eight from the floor, only four free-throws, and Kristaps Porzingis was challenged defensively. Yet, this felt like a great game for the big man because of his influence on spacing and rim protection.

Depending on what you’re looking at, you could say he had a bad game or a great one — and both would make sense. His shooting threat was crucial in helping the Celtics break into the Orlando Magic’s defensive shell. Wendell Carter Jr. was forced to leave the paint, and that opened driving lanes and space for the Celtics to go around the length of the Magic’s players.

On defense, he was sometimes targeted by Franz Wagner, but he did his best to hold his ground. Off-ball, he was impressive — crowding the paint and taking away the rim without fouling. He is one of the reasons the Magic weren’t getting to the line as much as usual.

Yet, offensively, his scoring wasn’t efficient. The physicality, the size, and the length of the Magic’s defensive players were a challenge. Against those huge wings or Wendell Carter Jr., Porzingis wasn’t able to get his offense going and made only one shot. Yet, because of his structural influence on spacing and rim protection, he positively impacted the Celtics.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...ways-jayson-tatum-derrrick-white-jrue-holiday

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/21/25

Jayson Tatum vs Magic 4/20/25 | Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald Derrick White powers Celtics past Magic as Boston takes Game 1​

Jayson Tatum explains injury scare after Celtics’ Game 1 win over Magic​

How Jrue Holiday put Celtics ‘on his back’ in Game 1 win over Magic​

How Payton Pritchard’s instant offense helped lift Celtics to Game 1 win​

Globe Jaylen Brown’s knee wasn’t an issue in Celtics’ Game 1 win​

Jayson Tatum’s mom was not happy with Magic after flagrant foul​

Joe Mazzulla and Celtics not taking Magic lightly despite Orlando’s poor 3-point shooting​

How Jrue Holiday put the Celtics ‘on his back’ with just nine points​

Is the Holiday-White tandem the best defensive backcourt?​

Shaquille O’Neal’s blunt take on Magic after Celtics’ Game 1 win​

White and Holiday, in different ways, drove Celtics to Game 1 win​

Holiday helps Celtics take control in third quarter​

Celtics 103, Magic 86: Instant analysis as Celtics win Game 1​

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday driving forces in Game 1 win​

Duke’s Cooper Flagg to enter 2025 NBA Draft​

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side - Magic Game 1 4/20/25 ​

CelticsBlog Joe Mazzulla shares his thoughts on the Celtics competing on Easter​

Celtics Win Game 1 103-86 behind dominant Derrick White performance ​

Derrick White delivers in big moments. Against the Magic, he delivered a big Game 1. ​

Jrue Holiday, Celtics push back against Magic’s physicality in Game 1 win ​

Payton Pritchard’s impact in Celtics-Magic went beyond what meets the eye ​

Payton Pritchard sole Celtic among 2024-25 NBA awards finalists ​

Mazzulla shrinks Celtics lineup to combat Magic’s rebounding ​

Jrue Holiday’s still got it ​

10 takeaways from the Celtics breaking the Magic’s wall ​

CLNS Media Best Photos from Celtics vs. Magic Game 1 on April 20th, 2025 ​

Jayson Tatum Hurt in Celtics 103-86 Game 1 Win over the Magic ​

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 103, Magic 86 ​

Physicality Adjustment Sparks Dominant 2nd Half from Celtics in Game 1 Win ​

NBC Sports Boston Celtics’ supporting cast exposes Magic’s fatal flaw in Game 1 ​

Celtics-Magic recap: Derrick White stars in C’s Game 1 win ​

How Payton Pritchard raises Celtics’ potential in NBA playoffs​

Jayson Tatum the ‘most disrespected superstar’ in NBA, Eddie House says​

Jrue Holiday returns to playoff form at perfect time for Celtics ​

NESN Three Studs, Three Duds From Celtics Storming Past Magic In Game 1​

Jayson Tatum’s Mom Threatens Action After Celtics Star’s Injury Scare​

Joe Mazzulla Tabs Surprise Player Who Put Celtics ‘On His Back’ In Game 1 Win​

Mass Live 4 takeaways as Boston Celtics beat Magic in Game 1 behind surprise leading scorer ​

If Jayson Tatum’s wrist is fine, Celtics will coast by overmatched Magic​

Jaylen Brown making crucial injury progression in Game 1 Magic win ​

Boston Celtics flex unpredictable advantage in Game 1 win over Magic​

Payton Pritchard makes compelling playoff change in Boston Celtics Game 1 win ​

Joe Mazzulla experiments with key Boston Celtics shift in Game 1 Magic win​

Projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg makes decision about NBA future​

Boston Celtics guard named finalist, could win NBA award this week ​

The Athletic Jrue Holiday takes over for Celtics in Game 1 win against Magic: ‘That’s the Jrue I love’ ​

Celtics Wire The Good, the Bad, and the TBD of the Celtics Game 1 win vs. the Magic​

Derrick White Credits Celtics fanbase​

How Jayson Tatum become a pick-and-roll master​

Celtics’ Luke Kornet discusses chemistry with Jayson Tatum​

Did the Celtics hit their stride at the perfect time?​

Jrue Holiday on the Celtics’ strong second half vs. Magic in Game 1​

Celtics history: Cousy inducted into Hall of Fame; Tracy Jackson born​

Jayson Tatum on his wrists after the Celtics’ Game 1 win vs. Magic​

Celtics jersey history No. 17 - Virgil Vaughn (1946-47)​

Boston Sports Journal BSJ Game Report: Celtics 103, Magic 86 - Holiday’s big third quarter, White’s 30, power Game 1 win​

When Orlando stifled Boston’s stars, Derrick White and Boston’s depth came through once again​

Hardwood Houdini Tatum and Brown showed Celtics’ worst-case scenario in just one half​

Celtics delivered flashes of greatness (and red flags) in Game 1 vs. Magic​

Jrue Holiday’s fiery display has Celtics buzzing after Game 1 win over Magic​

When Celtics stars froze, Derrick White rose as Game 1 hero vs. Magic​

Jayson Tatum addresses heart-stopping scare from Celtics’ Game 1 win vs. Magic​

Mazzulla yelling at injured Tatum is exactly why Celtics fans worship him​

CLNS Media/YouTube Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum:“He’s good.” | Celtics vs Magic ​

Jrue Holiday: Celtics Showed They Could Handle Any Magic Punch | Game 1 Postgame ​

Derrick White On How They Can Win When JT & JB can’t Put up Their Usual Numbers | Celtics vs Magic​

Jaylen Brown Says His Knee Feels Good After Game 1 Victory | Celtics vs Magic ​

Jayson Tatum on his Wrist Injury | Game 1 Postgame Press Conference -​

Garden Report Late Night: Biggest Takeaways From Celtics Game 1 Win vs Magic ​

4 encouraging things about Celtics Magic Game 1 | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell ​

SI .com Jayson Tatum Eases Wrist Injury Concerns After Taking Hard Fall in Celtics Win​

Jayson Tatum’s Mom Had the Perfect Post-Game Response After Hard Foul​

In Game 1, Boston Celtics Quickly Reminded Orlando Magic Why They’re Dangerous​

Audacy Jrue Holiday sparks Celtics in Game 1 playoff win over Magic​

Athlon Sports Jayson Tatum’s Mom Turns Heads After Celtics Game ​

Paolo Banchero Not Surprised by Magic’s Big Problem vs. Celtics ​

Fadeaway World Joe Mazzulla Angrily Yells At Jayson Tatum To Get Up After Wrist Injury​

Jayson Tatum Shares Update On Potential Wrist Injury ​

WV Sports Now Joe Mazzulla Cherishes Celtics Scoring Playoff Win on Easter​

NBA Analysis Boston Celtics fans love what ‘psycho’ Joe Mazzulla did after Jayson Tatum’s scary fall​

Bro Bible Joe Mazzulla Had Psychotic Reaction To Jayson Tatum Injury​

777 Score Celtics Showcase Experience in Playoff Opener as Al Horford Shines ​

Heavy Jaylen Brown Says Celtics ‘Got the Magic’ in Harry Potter Nod ​

Last Word on Sports Insane Stat Highlights the Dominance of Mazzulla Ball ​

Valley of the Suns Jrue Holiday further proves Bradley Beal should have listened to coach Bud​

Chowder and Champions Dwight Howard Gives Celtics Bulletin-Board Material for Magic Series​

Basketball Network Kevin Garnett on his pre-Boston clashes with Kendrick Perkins ​

NBA .com Joe Mazzulla continues disrupting NBA defenses, creating opportunities for Derrick White ​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/21/24413418/boston-celtics-daily-links-4-21-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics officially announce Jayson Tatum’s injury status ahead of Game 2

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Tatum is doubtful to play in Game 2 with a right distal radius bone bruise, the team announced.

The Celtics have officially listed Jayson Tatum as doubtful with a right wrist bone bruise ahead of Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Orlando Magic. Tatum suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the Magic, after landing on his wrist after a flagrant foul by Magic forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said earlier Tuesday: “It’s believed to be a pain-tolerance injury, something that the Celtics will be managing day-to-day.”

Celtics Injury Report vs. Orlando (4/23):

Jayson Tatum - Right Distal Radius Bone Bruise - DOUBTFUL

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 22, 2025​

Charania described Tatum’s status as “somewhat up in the air” on SportsCenter, and the team’s official injury announcement reinforces that. Tatum confirmed after Sunday’s game that X-rays came back clean, but Charania reported that an MRI conducted in the past 24 hours demonstrated a bone bruise in his shooting wrist.

Joe Mazzulla said at practice on Tuesday that Tatum was day-to-day​

“He was able to do some stuff,” Mazzulla said. “He was sore after the game. It’s gotten a little better today. He was able to do some on-court work, and we’ll go from there.”

Tatum was not seen on the floor in the portion of Celtics practice that is available to the media.

Tatum is the only player on the Celtics’ injury report ahead of Game 2. Jaylen Brown, who has missed 12 games since February with a right knee impingement, is good to go for Wednesday.

Al Horford was visibly upset after KCP’s foul on Tatum, and indicated at Celtics’ practice on Tuesday that he believed the Magic forward crossed the line.

“Yeah, there was something extra,” Horford said. “There was a lot. It was the second or third time that — especially [KCP] — went at him in that way.”

Game 2 against the Magic will take place on Wednesday at 7pm ET. The rest of the series is scheduled on an every-other-game basis, with Game 3 slated for Friday in Orlando and Game 4 slated for Sunday.

This story will be updated as more information is available.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...-orlando-magic-game-2-al-horford-joe-mazzulla

 

[Boston Celtics]

Payton Pritchard named NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on heels of Game 1 outburst

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard | Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Pritchard joins Malcolm Brogdon, Bill Walton, and Kevin McHale as the fourth Celtic to win the award.

Payton Pritchard is the winner of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, the league announced Tuesday evening. The Boston Celtics guard beat out other top candidates, Malik Beasley and Ty Jerome, for the honor.

Pritchard logged career highs pretty much across the board, aside from three-point percentage. In 80 appearances for the Cs, the 27-year-old averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc.

He is the second Celtic in the past three seasons to take home the NBA’s John Havlicek Trophy, joining Malcolm Brogdon, who won it in 2023. Ironically, Pritchard wanted to be traded from Boston while buried on the bench behind Brogdon. Instead, it was Brogdon who was dealt, and Pritchard took full advantage of the opportunity.

In his second season with an extended role, Pritchard quickly became a favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. His 28-point outing in an October 28th matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks was an eye-opener for many. He was so good that he nearly broke Doc Rivers in the process.

nah doc rivers reaction to pritchards 3 got me in tears pic.twitter.com/jMkHoYwmDL

— - Jays Enthusiast (@gReenbean_26) October 29, 2024​

That performance ignited a season-long hot streak that’s still going strong to this day. Pritchard’s impressive outburst in Sunday’s Game 1 against the Orlando Magic was the perfect cherry-on-top leading up to this award selection.

Fast PP was exactly that — fast.

He checked into the game with 1:50 left in the first quarter and then proceeded the score 11 of the next 13 points for the Celtics, including this sick step-through against Cole Anthony.

Payton Pritchard would be a 20ppg guy on some teams pic.twitter.com/XKcloeHaV4

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 20, 2025​

Pritchard finished the day with 19 points on an efficient 6-of-8 from the field in just 24 minutes. It was just about as close to a perfect sixth man performance as you can get, a near perfect encapsulation of the season he has had.

He is now the fourth Celtic to win the award, joining Brogdon, Bill Walton, and Kevin McHale (twice). The legend Red Auerbach is largely credited for inventing the sixth man role for Frank Ramsey who played behind Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...-sixth-man-of-the-year-orlando-magic-playoffs

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics announce new Jayson Tatum's injury status ahead of Game 2 against Magic

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Tatum, who suffered a bone bruise on his right wrist in Game 1, will miss Game 2, the Celtics announced ahead of tip-off.

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum will miss Game 2 between the Celtics and Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, the team announced ahead of tip-off. Tatum was previously listed as doubtful with a right distal radius bone bruise suffered in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

Mazzulla did not have an update on Tatum’s injury status pregame, but did offer that Tatum had taken the court at shootaround. Tatum did not go through his usual pregame warmups around 90 minutes before tip-off.

“Yesterday he was able to do a little bit with the team,” Mazzulla said. “Today, he was able to get on the court. He’ll be day-to-day. I’ll see how he is when he gets here, but I know he’s doing everything he can to put himself in a position to play. Just going to try to take it day to day.”

The pregame Tatum update echoed a similar tune to Mazzulla’s a day prior.

“He was able to do some stuff,” the Celtics head coach said at practice on Tuesday. “He was sore after the game. It’s gotten a little better today. He was able to do some on-court work, and we’ll go from there.”

X-rays immediately after the game showed there was no break, Tatum said. Charania reported that an MRI showed that the Celtics star had suffered a right distal radius bone bruise.

Tatum was not on the floor for the portion of practice that is open to the media on Tuesday

It’s unusual for Jayson Tatum to miss games​

Through his 7-year tenure with the Celtics, Tatum has never missed a playoff game. This past season, Tatum played in 72 of 82 games, and the Celtics went 8-2 without him.

Also on Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania said: “It’s believed to be a pain-tolerance injury, something that the Celtics will be managing day-to-day.”

Without Tatum, the Celtics could lean on minutes from backup wings Torrey Craig or Baylor Scheierman. It’s also possible they’ll simply rely on an 8-man rotation, with Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Luke Kornet playing bench minutes.

Celtics-Magic game 2 tipoff is at 7pm ET.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...s-injury-status-ahead-of-game-2-against-magic

 

[Boston Celtics]

Jaylen Brown answered multiple questions in massive Celtics-Magic Game 2

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown exploded for 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a big Game 2 win.

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown drained back-to-back threes to open the third quarter in the Celtics’ 109-100 win against the Magic.

Amid the barrage of three-pointers, he could have kept shooting.

Instead, he passed up a couple of clean looks, opted to find open teammates, and made correct read after correct read, helping get Derrick White (17 points, 5 assists) and Al Horford (9 points, 10 rebounds) get going too.

Brown finished the game with 36 points (12-19 FG), 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. He hit 5 of 7 three-point attempts and 7 of 8 free throws.

The performance was particularly crucial because, for the first time since Jayson Tatum was drafted in 2017, he was sidelined for a playoff game. Tatum was listed as doubtful after suffering a right wrist bone bruise in Game 1, and was officially ruled out about 45 minutes before tip-off.

So, Brown stepped up.

“Obviously, JT is the offensive leader, and we play off of him,” Brown said. “But any given night I can rise to the occasion.”

For Joe Mazzulla, Brown’s big-time performance was no surprise.

“At the end of the day, he’s willing to do whatever it takes for us to win,” said the Celtics coach. “And he didn’t come in saying he had to get 36 and 10, he came in and said, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes to win.’ And that’s what he told me yesterday. That’s just the mindset that he has.”

When asked about that conversation by reporters, Brown downplayed its uniqueness.

“It’s the playoffs. What am I supposed to say, something different?” he said, later elaborating: “It’s the playoffs. It’s win or go home. We've got a lot of people that are cheering for us, a lot of people around the organization who put a lot of energy and effort in every single night. It’s whatever it takes.”

Jaylen Brown 36-10-5, 12/19 FG pic.twitter.com/enxT1vZymX

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) April 24, 2025​

Jaylen Brown exhibits ‘warrior mindset’ in the win​

For weeks, speculation ran rampant regarding whether Brown would be ready for the postseason. He began missing time for a nagging right knee injury before the All-Star break, an injury that was ultimately diagnosed as a bone bruise.

Rather than sit out for most of March and recover from that injury, Brown opted to play, a decision that drew questions from media and fans alike. Brown maintained that his decision to play was not rooted in his chasing accolades. That seemed to be confirmed when he ended up playing in 63 games, finishing the year two games short of the 65-game minimum required to be eligible for All-NBA.

Earlier in April, Brown shared he was learning to adjust his game to be effective in spite of a compromised knee. He studied film of Celtics legend Paul Pierce and upped his shooting efficiency.

It was a process he ultimately found rewarding: “I learned that I have a lot of skill,” he said earlier this month. “My skill level is high.”

Brown ultimately sat out the final three games of the regular season and subsequently received injections in his knee to “promote healing”, ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported.

And, it’s still early days, but Brown’s unique recovery process seemed to have worked. Mazzulla never lost faith in it, even when routinely pressed about whether Brown should simply not play in the final weeks of the season.

“You just trust the mindset and, really, the warrior mentality that he has,” Mazzulla said. “He knows his mind, he knows his body, and he can take it to another level mentally and physically. And tonight, he did that for the team on both ends of the floor.”

The other question Brown’s Game 2 performance answered? Whether the team could sustain the absence of Tatum against this Magic team, at least for now.

The scoring was consistent throughout; Brown poured in 12 in the first quarter and 14 in the third. In the fourth quarter, he went a perfect 5-5 from the field, recording a game-high 13 points.

“They couldn’t stop him,” said Payton Pritchard. “And we needed it tonight.”

Kristaps Porzingis spoke to Brown’s mentality after the game.

“He always transmits this kind of energy,” Porzingis said. “He’s willing to leave it all out there for the team and sacrifice himself, his body, for the game. Everybody respects that.”

“There’s no challenge big enough for him. Like, he can do whatever. He’s just going to keep taking care of [the knee] and keep playing the same way, and we’re going to be happy.”

When asked to elaborate about his warrior mindset, Brown repeated his often-repeated mantra postgame: Faith, Consistency, Hard Work Pays Off.

“It’s something I live by.”

I asked Jaylen Brown about his ‘warriors’ mindset’ that we’ve been hearing about from his teammates:

“Faith, Consistency, Hard Work Pays Off. Something I live by.”

“My first interview with Boston, I said I was gonna go to war for the city. I don't think nothing has changed.” pic.twitter.com/hUymBrEBYq

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 24, 2025​

In the victory, Brown became the second Celtic in franchise history to finish with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 threes in a playoff game, joining Jayson Tatum.

“My first interview with Boston, I said I was going to go to war for the city,” Brown said. “I don’t think nothing has changed.”

“Whatever it takes, every single night, leave it out there, and you hope for the best.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...yson-tatum-celtics-orlando-magic-nba-playoffs

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics injury report features surprise addition ahead of Game 3 against Magic

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Jayson Tatum is doubtful with a right wrist bone bruise, while Jrue Holiday is a new addition with a hamstring strain. Both Celtics starters could miss Game 3 against the Orlando Magic.

ORLANDO — The Celtics have officially put out their injury report ahead of Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, and two starters are on the list: Jayson Tatum is listed as doubtful with a right distal radius bone bruise, while Jrue Holiday is questionable with a right hamstring strain.

Tatum is fresh off the first playoff absence of his 7-year Celtics tenure; after hurting his wrist in Game 1, he was ruled out of Game 2 about 45 minutes before gametime. X-rays showed there was no break after the game, but an MRI later indicated a “severe” bone bruise, as Joe Mazzulla later described it.

What we know about Jayson Tatum’s “severe” bone bruise​

In his weekly radio interview on 98.5’s Zolak and Bertrand on Thursday, Mazzulla didn’t rule out Tatum playing in Game 3, but his update indicated the injury was perhaps more severe than initially believed.

“He’s dealing with a severe bone bruise. He’s day-to-day,” Mazzulla said. “He’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day.”

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Jayson Tatum suffered his wrist injury in Game 1 against the Magic after a hard foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“Yesterday, he went through all the protocols and did everything he could possibly do, up until the last moment to try and play. Just wasn’t able to do it. But he’ll go back at it again today, and he’s in that day-to-day process right now. He’ll do whatever it takes to put himself in position to play and put our team in position to win. That’s just kind of who he is. We’re just trusting that.”

Tatum has only missed two or more games in a row four times in his career.

Jrue Holiday’s right hamstring strain appears to be new​

Jrue Holiday has had a strong first two games so far to begin the postseason, keying a crucial third-quarter run in Game 1 and having an all-around impact in Game 3.

But, Holiday was a surprise addition to the injury report on Thursday afternoon, listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain. Holiday played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter on Wednesday and did not appear to be limited.

Outside of Tatum and Holiday, no other Celtics were on the injury report. Jaylen Brown, who has battled a bone bruise in his right knee since mid-February, continues to play through the pain. He rested for the final three games of the regular season, and received pain injections ahead of the postseason.

Al Horford is likely to continue starting in Tatum’s absence. Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser are likely to replace Holiday in the starting lineup, should he miss Game 3 with the hamstring strain.

The Celtics, who now have a 2-0 lead against the Magic, will hold shootaround on Friday morning ahead of Game 3.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...liday-jayson-tatum-orlando-magic-joe-mazzulla

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics (2-0) at Orlando Magic (0-2) Round 1 Game 3 4/25/25

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Celtics look to go up 3-0 on the Magic as the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3.

The series now moves to Orlando for Game 3. The Celtics won Game 1 103-86 in Boston on Sunday with a full roster. They won Game 2 109-100 on Wednesday, also in Boston, but without Jayson Tatum. In both games, the Magic kept it close in the first half but the Celtics pulled away with a big run to start the 3rd quarter of both games

In NBA history, 452 teams have gone up 2-0 in a playoff series. This includes both 5 game and 7 game series. Of the 452 teams that were down 0-2, only 33 teams have come back to win the series. 587 teams have held a 2-1 series lead. Of those teams that were down 1-2, 117 of them went on to win the series.

There have been 154 teams that have gone up 3-0 in a 7 game series. Of the teams that were down 0-3, not a single one of them was able to go on to win the series. So, this team is very important for both teams. In 2023, the 2nd seed Celtics were down 0-3 to the 8th seed Miami Heat. The Celtics took the series to 7 games but lost that 7th game.

This is the fourth time these two teams have met in the playoffs and the first time since 2010, when the Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. Charlotte and Brooklyn are the other two teams. With the win on Wednesday the Celtics lead all time with 10 playoff wins to 9 for the Magic.

This will be an interesting matchup as illustrated by several statistics. The Celtics average the 2nd fewest turnovers (11.9) while the Magic are 2nd with 16.2 forced turnovers per game. The first game went the Celtics way in this category. The Celtics had just 9 turnovers in the game while the Magic had 15. In Game 2, the Celtics had 10 turnovers to 7 for the Magic.

The Celtics are first in fewest shooting fouls committed while the Magic draw the 2nd most shooting fouls per 100 possessions. The Celtics were called for 13 personal fouls for the game while the Magic were called for 17 personal fouls. In Game 2, the Celtics were called for 19 fouls while the Magic were called for 23. The Magic have played very physical and had some very reckless plays. In Game 1, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope took out Jayson Tatum, who injured his wrist on the play and in Game 2, Goga Bitadze took out Kristaps Porzingis with his elbow, giving him 5 stitches in his forehead.

The most important statistic is 3 point shooting. The Celtics averaged 48.2 threes per game in the regular season while the Magic limited teams to 31.4 attempted 3’s per game, fewest in the league. In Game 1, the Celtics attempted 37 threes, which is 11 under their season average. They made 18 of those. The Magic took just 27 threes and made just 10. In Game 2, The Celtics once again attempted 37 threes and made 12, while the Magic attempted 29 and made just 7.

Jayson Tatum went into Game 1 healthy but thanks to a reckless play by the Magic as he went up for a dunk, he is listed as doubtful for the second straight game and his final status will be a game time decision. He has a severe bone bruise and hasn’t been ruled out but the doubtful designation doesn’t give a lot of hope. I’m guessing that Al Horford will once again get the start if he can’t play.

Kristaps Porzingis left Game 2 with a gash in his forehead, thanks to a reckless Goga Bitadze elbow. He shot the 2 free throws with blood through his hair and on his nose. He left the game and got 5 stitches in the locker room and came back in to finish the game. He is not on the injury list. Jrue Holiday is on the injury report due to a hamstring strain. He is questionable for this game. If he can’t play, I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will get the start in his place.

A late addition to the injury report is Jaylen Brown due to right knee posterior impingement, the same injury that kept him out of the last 3 games of the regular season. He has looked good in the first 2 games against the Magic, although he has lacked some of his usual explosiveness at times. It’s unclear whether he is having more problems with the knee or if they expect Tatum and Holiday to be out and figure they would give him a rest day as well. i would guess that Payton Pritchard will start if all 3 are out. The stay ready group really needs to be ready for this game.

The Magic have 2 players on the injury list but they have been out long term for them and both will miss the playoffs. Jalen Suggs has been out since March 4 after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee. Moritz Wagner has been out since January 9 when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Other than these two, the Magic have a clear injury report. Of course, the Celtics haven’t been playing recklessly and injuring their players either.

Probable Celtics Starters

PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Al Horford
C: Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Luke Kornet
Torrey Craig
Sam Hauser
Xavier Tillman, Sr
JD Davison

2 Way Players
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (wrist) doubtful
Jrue Holiday (hamstring) questionable
Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Probable Magic Starters

PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Wendell Carter, Jr

Magic Reserves
Cole Anthony
Goga Bitadze
Anthony Black
Tristan DaSilva
Gary Harris
Caleb Houstan
Jett Howard
Jonathan Isaac

2-Way Players
Mac McClung
Trevelin Queen
Ethan Thompson

Injuries/Out
Moritz Wagner (knee) out
Jalen Suggs (knee) out

Head Coach
Jamahl Mosley

Key Matchups

Al Horford vs Paolo Banchero
Banchero averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in the regular season. He shot 45.2% from the field and 32.0% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He shot 51.9% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. In Game 2 he finished with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 48% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to try to defend him better in this one.

Jaylen Brown vs Franz Wagner
Wagner averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the regular season. He shot 46.3% from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. He shot 41.7% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc. He is very capable of having a big game and the Celtics need to defend him well.

Honorable Mention
Kristaps Porzingis vs Wendell Carter, Jr
Carter averaged 9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in the regular season. He shot 46% from the field and 23.4% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 4 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 33.3% from the field and went 1-1 from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 75% from the field and he hit all 3 of his threes. Hopefully Porzingis avenges those stitches and has a big game on both ends of the court in this one.

Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is always the key to winning and even more so in the Playoffs. The Celtics are 4th the playoffs with a defensive rating of 106.3. The Magic are 14th in the playoffs with a defensive rating of 120.5. The Celtics scored just 103 points in Game 1 but they held the Magic to just 86 points. In Game 2, the Magic scored 100 points. The Magic have good defenders and so if the Celtics hope to beat them, they need match Orlando’s defensive intensity and to play tough lock down defense themselves. Hopefully, the Magic can defend in this game without injuring another Celtic.

Rebound - As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings.” Much of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the extra effort into grabbing rebounds, it usually translates to the rest of their game. The Celtics out-rebounded the Magic 42-41 in Game 1. In Game 2, the Celtics won the rebounding battle 46-34. They need to work even harder on the boards in this one. The Celtics are 42-7 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics need to out-work the Magic on the boards if they want to win this game.

3 Point Shooting - In the regular season, the Celtics took the most 3’s per game while the Magic allowed the fewest 3’s per game. In the 3 games this season, the Magic held the Celtics to 11.3 fewer 3 point attempts than their average. In Game 1, the Celtics took 37 threes (43.2%) while the Magic took 27 threes (37%) In Game 2, the Celtics took 37 threes (37%) while the Magic took 29 threes (24.2%). The Celtics are tough to beat when they make their 3’s and they struggle when the 3’s aren’t falling. Once again, they have to neutralize the Magic’s tough 3 point defense and at the same time play tough defense against the Magic.

Effort and Desperation - The Magic know that if they go down 0-3, they are pretty much doomed to lose the series. They are going to be desperate and will likely play even more recklessly than they have been. The Celtics know that if they can win this game and go up 3-0, it puts them in a good position to win the series. The Celtics need to give maximum effort in this one, especially if Holiday and Tatum can’t play.

X-Factors
Road Game - The Celtics are playing on the road. They are facing distractions of travel and playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of hostile fans. Although, the last time the Celtics played in Orlando, there was a huge contingent of Celtics fans in the arena. They need to shake off those distractions and keep their focus on playing the game. The Celtics were historically good on the road this season, going 33-8 on the road for the season. They need to draw on that road warrior mindset to help them get a win in this one.

Injuries - Other than Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics were mostly healthy during last year’s playoffs. They came into Game 1 healthy with just minor questions about Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The Celtics won without Jayson Tatum in Game 2 and Jaylen Brown dispelled any questions about his health. Coming into Game 3, Jayson Tatum is once again doubtful. Jrue Holiday is questionable with a hamstring strain. The Celtics need to lock into that next man up mentality and pull together to get a win, even if they are missing 2 starters.

Officiating - Officiating can always be an X-Factor. In some games, you don’t even notice the referees and in other games, they seem to make the game all about them. Some crews call the game tight and others let the teams play. Some crews favor one of the teams while others call it fairly. No matter how the game is called, the Celtics must adjust and not allow the officiating to take away from their focus. Hopefully the refs are keeping an eye out for reckless play from the Magic in this one.

Official Report
Crew Chief - David Guthrie
The Celtics were 1-0 with Guthrie this season. He calls 53.2% of fouls on the road team. His home win/loss record is 23-15.

Referee - Courtney Kirkland
The Celtics were 2-1 with Kirkland this season. He calls 47.8% of fouls on the road teamHis home win/loss record is 31-33.

Umpire - Tre Maddox
The Celtics are 2-1 with Maddox this season. He calls 50.6% of fouls on the road team. His home win/loss record this season is 26-31.

And make sure to check out CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a live conversation about the game. To participate, just create a free account, connect your LP sub if you have it, and join our community.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...0-at-orlando-magic-0-2-round-1-game-3-4-25-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

10 takeaways from Boston’s stumble against a resilient Magic team

Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Boston took a punch but has the tools to respond. Tatum’s wrist looked good, the turnovers piled up, and the Celtics were reminded that discipline and rebounding can’t slip against a team like Orlando.

#1 - Jayson Tatum wrist looks good​

That has been the main concern for the last few days: what is happening with Jayson Tatum’s right wrist? Most of the questions before the game were around that, and Jrue Holiday or Jaylen Brown’s health. Well, Tatum’s first half just threw away any doubts there were regarding his physical condition.

That right wrist is looking GOOD pic.twitter.com/2NeKtCibPo

— Azad (@azmatlanba) April 25, 2025​

He played 20 minutes and scored 21 points in the first half. What was impressive, knowing the injury, is how well he was able to both drive and pull up. He didn’t seem to have any problem manipulating the ball. The shooting movement was pure and he was able to hunt Wendell Carter Jr. with drives or pull-ups.

Another great sign of how he feels and how confident he is in his wrist was how he went after the ball against KCP on the floor. It’s a detail, but it shows he is playing with intention and is not scared of what could happen.

The team felt far better when he was on the floor yesterday, and that isn’t a surprise seeing how well he performed.

#2 - Orlando defense forced turnovers​

Yet, despite Jayson Tatum returning, the Celtics faced some trouble on offense with a lot of turnovers. After 24 minutes, they had lost the ball 11 times, giving the Magic a lot of transition opportunities. In the second quarter, Orlando put a lot of pressure on the ball handlers and were able to turn defense into offense.

Joe Mazzulla did a great job of calling a timeout and designing great plays for the Celtics to get going and find their way back into the game. Like the play below where Luke Kornet set a first screen for Kristaps Porzingis, who ran towards the ball but cut into open space. This created a gap, and Porzingis did a great job of sending the ball to Kornet.

When a defense is this aggressive on the ball, off-ball movement is a great way of creating a gap within a strong defensive shell. However, this wasn’t enough as the Celtics kept piling up turnovers.

With questionable passes, offensive fouls, or a carry, Boston ended up with 19 turnovers over the game. This gave way too many opportunities for Orlando to compensate for their bad offense.

#3 - Celtics were 10 points ahead the half​

Late in the second, the Celtics found a way to answer the adversity. Led by Jayson Tatum, the Celtics were able to close the first half and go to the locker room with a 10-point lead.

What felt different in that stretch was how quickly the Celtics were getting into action after a make or a miss. They took advantage of the Magic’s average offense to build a lead and attacked as early as possible. Their defense is so good at slowing you down and making you take a shot in the last second, the Celtics need to attack early and make them pay for their lack of offensive power.

Because Tatum started to feel hot, the Magic were more concerned by his scoring and his gravity was higher late in the quarter. They did their best to take the ball away from his hands. But, led by White, the Celtics did a good job of building the momentum off that and closing the first half very strong.

#4 - Problematic pick-and-roll defense​

The Orlando Magic found weaknesses in the Celtics’ defense early in the second half and just went after it. Indeed, the pick-and-roll defense around Kristaps Porzingis was quite problematic last night. At first, the Celtics were in drop coverage. This means they didn’t switch after a screen on the ball, but instead Porzingis closed the driving lane. This gives some space to pull up or to gain speed to drive.

A drop coverage requires other players to help from the side. The Magic were able to force Al Horford to help while he also had to defend Franz Wagner. Having to deal with both is a lot to ask from one player, and the Magic exploited this defensive coverage.

When Porzingis was on the bench, the Celtics went back to a switching defense and it worked way better, despite Jrue Holiday’s absence. However, to finish the game, they put Porzingis back in and stayed in the same switch coverage. This was an opportunity for Wagner to keep attacking him after a switch, and he cooked him to finish the game.

Looking forward to seeing what the Celtics coaching staff have in mind to fix the pick-and-roll defense.

#5 - Losing the possessions battle​

Joe Mazzulla talks a lot about shot margin. The goal for his team is to take more shots than the opponents, and that wasn’t the case last night. One of the reasons was the defensive rebounding — or more the lack of it.

Despite playing a lot of minutes with two bigs, the Celtics let the Orlando Magic grab an offensive rebound on 39% of their misses. That’s a lot, especially against a team that misses a lot of shots.

With that, plus the turnovers, the Celtics gave a lot of opportunities to the Magic, and they capitalized on it. We often say that offense starts with defense, but the other way around works too. With an offense that couldn’t find its usual flow, it was harder to play great defense after a miss or a turnover.

#6 - Orlando tried to not switch​

So why couldn’t the Celtics have their regular offensive flow? Well, of course the aggressiveness and the length of the Magic players didn’t make things easier. But there were also some adjustments. So far in the series, the Magic were switching a lot, even when it wasn’t necessarily their strength.

Well, in the second half of the game, they had enough of making it easy for the Celtics to hunt mismatches and decided to fight over screens. This created bigger gaps in the defense, but the Celtics didn’t exploit it. They are so used to going after mismatches that the space created with the screens wasn’t used properly.

On top of that, the Magic were very disciplined when switching off-ball too, always trying to keep Jonathan Isaac or Wendell Carter Jr. close to the rim. Their defensive alignment was well prepared, and the Celtics weren’t able to break it.

#7 - Porzingis post-up struggle​

Another complicated game on the offensive end for Kristaps. We talked about his defensive struggles already, and looking at his offensive stats, that might have been the worst game he had as a Celtic. The first good thing out of it is that he seems pretty aware of it.

Kristaps Porzingis was bummed at his performance:

“It stings, man. I have to take accountability. I played like shit.”

(Q: @SouichiTerada) pic.twitter.com/c4siClOcTb

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 26, 2025​

He keeps looking for these turnaround jumpers from the mid-range, but when those don’t go in, it becomes problematic. Usually, defenses are scared by KP at the post-up and send extra defenders to help, which creates gaps. But Orlando doesn’t care and dares KP to make those shots, even with Cory Joseph.

The Celtics will need to find a way to give him better spots, closer to the rim with more screens and more movement, because as of now, his scoring efficiency has been quite problematic against the Magic.

#8 - The Celtics need to go after Paolo Banchero​

If the Celtics are looking for a weak link to attack in Orlando’s defense, he is 22 years old and wears the number five. No matter if it’s with or without the ball, the elite Magic defense can be tortured if you focus on him. He has a hard time following the ball and his player at the same time. He jumps on every fake, he isn’t that quick after a strong first step — a perfect target.

The Celtics usually go after tall centers or small guards, but this might be the time to pick on the opposing go-to guy. Make him work on defense and maybe force a couple of fouls that could get him in trouble.

#9 - Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face​

What I love about this loss is that it gives the Celtics an opportunity to respond. Nobody is supposed to win all their games, but champions are the ones that fight back and adapt after losing a battle. The blueprint of that defeat was easy to trace.

The Celtics need to be better at rebounding after a miss, must take care of the ball, and should find a way to protect Porzingis on defense while giving him better opportunities on offense. When they will — because they will — the answer will resonate stronger. This is a great opportunity for us to learn about this team and for the team to learn about itself.

#10 - No, it doesn’t need to be a fight​

Jaylen Brown said that, if the Magic players want, they can fight it out for the right to get to the second round. Let’s not? First, the Celtics have a better chance to dominate on a basketball court than in a ring. Second, the beautiful art of basketball can be physical sometimes, but let’s keep it fun and show who’s the better team by making shots.

Jaylen Brown was asked by @GwashburnGlobe about how the Celtics can respond to the Magic’s fouls:

“There might be a fighter break out or something. It’s starting to feel like it's not even basketball, and the refs is not controlling their environment.”

“If we want to fight it,… pic.twitter.com/En9T4aUBGH

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 26, 2025​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/4/...keaways-fight-jaylen-brown-jayson-tatum-wrist