Category: .Analysis

Boston Celtics alum Pete Maravich’s wrist pass was a devastating weapon

The NBA great was better known for his long-distance shooting (thus the nickname “Pistol”) but was also among the better and more creative floor generals of his time.

There may have been no more devastating of a pass in the early modern era of the NBA than former Boston Celtics guard “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s renowned “wrist pass.” It could have a confused defender chasing after a ball that was simply not where his eyes were saying it was supposed to be.

Executed in transition, it was all the more confounding, with defenders sometimes ending up lost and behind the play with a dazed look on their faces as Maravich’s target lays up an easy make. The NBA great was better known for his long-distance shooting (thus the nickname “Pistol“), but he was also among the better and more creative floor generals of his time.

To see how the wrist pass works in action, the folks over at the ESPN Rewind YouTube channel put together a short clip of Maravich deploying it to amazing effect.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EITISGPgF0k

Take a look for yourself in the video embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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How Greg Stiemsma got his big break with the Boston Celtics

The man Tommy Heinsohn famously compared to Bill Russell himself.

Once upon a time, the late, great Boston Celtics broadcaster, coach and champion forward Tommy Heinsohn legendarily compared Celtics reserve big man Greg Stiemsma to his friend and Hall of Fame Boston teammate Bill Russell for the former’s shot-blocking ability.

While that comparison MAY have been a bit over the top even for Heinsohn, Stiemsma still holds a place in the hearts of Celtics fans from that era. Unselected in the 2008 NBA draft, Stiemsma played overseas and in the D League (as the G League was known then) before injury created an opportunity with the Celtics for the Wisconsin product.

While he never turned into a star or even a starter, he forged a nice — if short — NBA career on the strengths of that opportunity.

Take a look at this short clip of his story with Boston as told by the good folks over at the Celtics’ Reddit podcast.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to see it for yourself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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The greatest shot that never counted: Jae Crowder’s illegal buzzer-beating full-court heave

The Celtics lost the game, but it was one heck of a way to go out.

With 1.1 seconds left on the clock, Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder knew he needed a miracle. So, he dialed the basketball gods up for a special favor, and heaved the ball more than 94 feet across the court only to have the shot go in. If you are confused why the sentence you just read ended in “only to see the shot go in,” we get it.

But Crowder, a former Marquette standout, wasn’t trying to accomplish a long distance Hail Mary. Instead, the Celtics swingman was trying to bank the ball off the backboard, allowing a teammate located under the basket to tip the ball in for an unlikely victory.

The win eluded Boston and Crowder that night, but the full-court heave that went in as an illegal basket (it was not a shot but an entry pass, effectively) is easily, in our opinion, the greatest shot that never counted.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b6El4FFyrRg

Take a look at the clip embedded above to see it for yourself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Kevin Garnett, tennis fan? The Boston Celtics great interviewed John McEnroe

Known for the intensity he brought to tennis courts around the world, the two in many ways are birds of a feather.

When you look at Hall of Fame Boston Celtics champion Kevin Garnett, “fan of tennis” is not the thing that readily pops into one’s mind. But the Banner 17 icon has been known to get into some surprising stuff in the past (ask him around about his “Making The Band” show addiction).

And as one of the more competitive sports out there, it probably ought to surprise less than it should that KG is a U.S. Open fan. So much so that on an episode of his Showtime Basketball “KG Certified” podcast, the Celtics legend had tennis superstar John McEnroe on for an interview.

McEnroe was known for the intensity he brought to tennis courts around the world, so the two are, in many ways, birds of a feather. After their talk, you might think that if McEnroe had had a stanchion to headbutt before games, they might have even more in common.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what the duo touched on in Garnett’s interview.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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On this date: Celtics sign PJ Dozier to two way contract, win Game 3 of Disney bubble first round vs. 76ers

On this day in Celtics history, PJ Dozier inked a two-way deal, and Boston beat the Sixers in the Disney bubble.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, shooting guard PJ Dozier would sign a two-way deal with the team in 2018. An alum of his hometown University of South Carolina, Dozier had gone undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for their Summer League team.

After stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2017-18 season, the Columbia native landed with the Celtics, inking a deal for one season. While with Boston, Dozier made the All-NBA G League team with the Maine Red Claws (the Celtics’ developmental affiliate in the G League, now the Maine Celtics), the equivalent of the All-Star team in that league.

Boston declined to extend his contract at the end of the season, and Dozier moved on to the Denver Nuggets, for whom he still plays. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with the team.

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Boston Celtics icon Larry Bird was an ELITE passer

The Hick From French Lick was best known for his scoring, but Bird could find the open man like few have ever been able to.

Boston Celtics icon Larry Bird is perhaps best known for countless ways he could hang points on an opposing team. He would find ways to score that sometimes baffled his defenders, coupled with eviscerating trash talk that broke their spirits at the same time.

But the Hick From French Lick could also move the rock on an elite level and was not selfish when he saw an open man with an easier shot than he had at any given moment. All the way back to his days at Indiana State in college, Larry Legend was already using his crafty court vision to lift his teammates.

Renowned NBA draft analyst Ben Pfeiffer sat down and broke down some of Bird’s passing film for a recent short.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rnn-NOd8Y8M

Watch his clip for yourself to see why Bird was not just an otherworldly scorer but also a top-notch floor general when he needed to be.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Does Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell get enough respect?

It is a known fact that Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell did not get the love he deserved while winning championships for the Celtics as a player or a coach.

It is a known fact Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell did not get the love he deserved while winning championships for the Celtics as a player or a coach. While leading the team to 11 championships, he was not met with sold-out stadiums. Instead, Russell had to deal with the cruelty of racism on and off the court.

Now, the NBA Finals MVP honor is named after the Hall of Famer. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and many players have shared the influence Russell had on them. Although, when ranking the NBA top 10 best players of all time, the player with the most championship is not even cemented in many lists. Does Bill Russell get enough respect?

Celtics Champion and host of Boston Celtics Radio Network Cedric Maxwell recently joined the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast to reflect on the matter in the following clip.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Fenway Sports Group may not be in the race to buy the Boston Celtics (unless they are)

Just so we’re clear, Mazz is not reporting it — he’s just hearing it. His opinion, that is. We think.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) may not be in the race to buy the Boston Celtics (unless they actually are). Confused? We are a bit as well, as the comments of New England Sports Radio personality Tony Massarotti regarding a potential lack of interest by FSG in bidding for the Celtics make the rounds.

Speaking on a recent episode of his 98.5 The Sports Hub “Felger and Mazz” show, Massarotti appeared to go back and forth between saying that FSG had reasons to avoid bidding for the Boston-based NBA franchise and that it was his opinion that they would not. “John Henry and his group don’t want the Celtics,” he began. “That’s my opinion.”

Asked why that rumor was out in the ether, Mazz replied that it would help drive up the price. Citing the fact that the Celtics were a costly team to buy compared to previous FSG purchases (the Red Sox, Liverpool FC, the Pittsburgh Penguins), he added that “my understanding is that Fenway Sports Group does not want the Boston Celtics.”

“That’s my understanding,” Massaroti continued. “It doesn’t mean that I’m reporting that. I’m just telling you; I don’t think they want the Celtics. That’s what I’m hearing.”

Just so we’re clear, he’s not reporting it — he’s just hearing it. His opinion, that is. We think.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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What do we need to know about the Boston Celtics’ 2024-25 NBA season?

Tune in to get your questions answered about the Celtics schedule and any other offseason thoughts you may have.

What do we need to know about the Boston Celtics‘ 2024-25 NBA season? SB Nation Celtics beat writer Noa Dalzell recently put together a clip in which she reacted LIVE to the release 2024-25 Celtics schedule, highlighting key games and initial takeaways.

Plus, Dalzell also spoke with Sam Hauser this past week about teammate Payton Pritchard’s wedding, his new contract extension, and running it back next year with much of the same team. Tune in to get your questions answered about the Celtics schedule and any other offseason thoughts you may have! 

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what she had to say about the Celtics season ahead.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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What Hall of Fame Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett had to say about Jayson Tatum’s Olympic snub

Everyone from his mother to Dick Vitale weighed in on the perceived snub, and now Kevin Garnett has as well.

If you just judged the importance of a player on the roster of the US National Team in their run to win the gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics on the amount of press their presence generated, one would think that star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was far and away the team’s most important player.

But the sea of ink has been, by and large, more about what Tatum did NOT do at the Olympics, namely play in a few key elimination games. Everyone from his mother to Dick Vitale and then some weighed in on the perceived snub, and now Hall of Fame Boston big man Kevin Garnett has as well.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look at KG’s words on a recent episode. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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