Analysis – Page 535 – Syndication Server

Jayson Tatum reveals playing through hand injury, leaked shoe image fake

The Celtics star was in a revelatory mood after helping dispatch Brooklyn Thursday.

For star Boston Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum, his postgame media availability after Boston’s win over the Nets on Thursday was dually revelatory. On the more serious side of things, the Duke alum shared that on top of his chronic wrist issues, he has also been playing through what sounds like a minor if nagging hand injury as well.

Referencing his wrist, Tatum shared via CLNS Media that he has had “issues with my thumb and recently my ring finger” he has been taping up to help ease the discomfort. The St. Louis native also spoke about the leaked images purporting to be of his new signature shoe, which Tatum suggested were not the finished product that will hit the stores soon.

“Truthfully, that’s not the real picture,” he explained. “I’ve seen the not-real version that came out today.”

Celtics Lab 165: What’s needed, what’s possible, and what’s likely for the Boston Celtics at the 2023 NBA trade deadline with Yossi Gozlan https://t.co/Q18hrVmCWT

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 13, 2023

“The kid in me wanted to post the real picture, but I’m excited I’ll be wearing them very soon,” he added. “But that’s not exactly how they look.”

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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Boston’s Jayson Tatum reportedly invited to take part in 2023 NBA All-Star 3-point shootout

Tatum, a masterful scorer from everywhere on the court, is an interesting choice for the event.

Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been invited to take part in the NBA’s 3-point contest as part of the festivities of the NBA’s 2023 All-Star Week festivities according to new reporting from Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. Per Haynes, the St. Louis native has officially been invited to take part in the event to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tatum, a masterful scorer from everywhere on the court, is an interesting choice for the event. This is because he is a career 37.8% shot from beyond the arc who is experiencing a down year even by that standard, with the Duke alum hitting just 34.7% from deep so far this season.

When reached by Haynes via text, Tatum shared that “he hadn’t yet made a decision” but confirmed he had indeed been invited to participate in this year’s 3-point shootout.

Celtics Lab 165: What’s needed, what’s possible, and what’s likely for the Boston Celtics at the 2023 NBA trade deadline with Yossi Gozlan https://t.co/Q18hrVmCWT

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 13, 2023

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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Podcast: Evaluating Rockets GM Rafael Stone as the 2023 trade deadline nears

What can the recent #Rockets past tell us about the future? As the Feb. 9 trade deadline looms, today’s @TheLagerLine podcast reviews Rafael Stone’s history as general manager.

On the two-year anniversary of Houston’s James Harden trade agreement with Brooklyn, the hosts of The Lager Line podcast got together to grade that trade and other key transactions throughout the three-year history of Rockets general manager Rafael Stone.

What could the past tell us about the future? With the Feb. 9 trade deadline looming, hosts Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves explore the good and bad in management over the three seasons since Stone formally accepted the lead Rockets job back in October 2020.

The weeks and months ahead could prove to be a defining stretch for Stone’s tenure, as the rebuilding Rockets gear up for the 2023 trade deadline, NBA draft, free agency (with up to $60 million in salary cap room), and the potential of a head coaching search.

As always, Friday’s podcast is sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, and it can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Todd Bowles knows the challenge of ‘game-wrecker’ Micah Parsons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles knows his offense will have its hands full with Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the ball Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, their primary focus will be making sure Micah Parsons doesn’t ruin their night all by himself.

That’s something the star pass rusher has already done to many teams, despite being in just his second NFL season. Last year’s unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Cowboys, and Bucs head coach Todd Bowles knows he’ll present a unique challenge for his offense in this wild-card playoff matchup.

“It’s extremely hard,” Bowles said Thursday, when asked about trying to keep track of Parsons on the field. “They do a good job of disguising. It’s bad enough when he lines up in one place, but when he moves around, you’ve got to know where he is at all times. He’s a game wrecker.”

The quickest way to beat Tom Brady is with consistent pressure, and Parsons is among the league’s best at doing just that. If the Bucs want tow in this game, they’ll have to make sure they contain Parsons as much as possible, and hope Brady keeps getting rid of the ball faster than ever.

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Celtics Lab 165: What’s needed, what’s possible, and what’s likely for the Boston Celtics at the 2023 NBA trade deadline with Yossi Gozlan

What do the Celtics need, if anything? What is possible for them to do in terms of making deals to improve the roster?

The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA and despite a few glaring losses, have put together one of the best resumes in the league when it comes to beating top talent in the 2022-23 regular season so far. Yet fans, likely still smarting from the 2022 Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, still want more when it comes to teambuilding ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

What do the Celtics need, if anything? What is possible for them to do in terms of making deals to improve the roster? More importantly, what’s likely to happen before the deadline passes?

To try and prognosticate what might be coming down the pike for Boston before the Feb. 9 cutoff date to make trades in the league this season, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with HoopsHype cap expert Yossi Gozlan to talk over the range of possibilities.

Though it seems not improbable that any moves the Celtics make will be relatively minor, the possibility for larger swings still exists, and we get into all of the ways it could happen, along with more modest proposals in the confines the team has to work within.

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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Seahawks vs. 49ers: 3 encouraging offensive stats going into Wild Card round

The main reason they’re such heavy underdogs is the lopsided matchup between Seattle’s respectable-enough offense and San Francisco’s supervillain-level defense.

The Seahawks are 9.5 point underdogs for tomorrow’s Wild Card game against the 49ers. A lot goes into those odds, but the main reason they’re such heavy underdogs is the lopsided matchup between Seattle’s respectable-enough offense and San Francisco’s supervillain-level defense. The Niners finished the regular season having allowed the league’s fewest yards per game (300.6), fewest points per game (16.3) and ranked first in defensive DVOA (-14.1%).

Upsetting a heavyweight like this particular 49ers team requires a total team effort, but most important of all the Seahawks offense will have to perform much better than the 10 points per game they averaged against their NFC West rivals in the regular season.

There is hope, though. The team finished the regular season trending in the right direction in some ways. Here are three encouraging stats about Seattle’s offense from Doug Farrar’s Secret Superstars of the Wild Card round list.

RB Ken Walker:

“Walker ended the regular season with three straight high-volume games in which he ran the ball at least 23 times for at least 107 yards in each game. Walker has the NFL’s most rushing attempts (78) and the most rushing yards (354) in that three-game stretch, which is exactly what you’d expect from a back Pete Carroll trusts.”

QB Geno Smith:

“Geno Smith has been especially transcendent on deep passes with two tight ends in the formation, with an NFL-high eight completions and four touchdowns of 20 or more air yards.”

LG Damien Lewis:

“The Arizona Cardinals ate Lewis’ lunch for two sacks in Week 6, but Lewis has allowed just one sack since then — and since Week 14, he’s given up no sacks, one quarterback hit, and three quarterback hurries. That’s with everything collapsing around him at a relative rate.”

Meanwhile on defense, the Seahawks will need to get pressure on Brock Purdy. If they can do that and run the ball effectively, they might just have a chance to not get blown out for a third time this year.

Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. Pacific.

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Jaylen Brown is showing his maturity with the Boston Celtics

In the eyes of some NBA analysts, star Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown has been maturing as a player before their eyes.

Whether it is the Georgia native electing to take the hardest defensive assignment or not being afraid to speak his mind respectfully when he disagrees with how he is being coached, the former Cal-Berkeley standout has come a long way as a player.

This was the case made by Josue Pavon on a recent episode of the semi-eponymous CLNS Media “Cedric Maxwell” podcast. Pavon and his cohost discussed at length how Brown has been playing of late.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear their conversation about the Celtics star’s growth as a player as well as much about Boston’s play in recent contests.

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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Former Celtic Ray Allen to coach son Ray Jr., Gulliver Prep at Hoops Hall Classic

Jesus Shuttlesworth is coaching at the annual HoF event with his son Ray Jr.

The Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic this weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts, will have a Boston Celtics-tinged look to it. 2008 Celtics champion shooting guard Ray Allen is making the trek north from Florida to coach Gulliver Preparatory School in its game against West Haven, Connecticut’s Notre Dame program on Jan. 13.

The annual event, which has showcased Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving, will be played on the Springfield College campus for the 21st time since its founding in 2001.

The former UConn standout will see a number of commits to his alma mater in attendance. His son Ray Jr. will play for his father’s Gulliver Prep squad.

This Thursday afternoon, the league released the results from the first round of 2023 NBA All-Star Game fan voting returns. https://t.co/tGG9n15XDx

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 6, 2023

The annual event, which kicked off Thursday, continues through Monday. It has featured stars of today’s NBA such as Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Demarcus Cousins and Zion Williamson — and perhaps of tomorrow in Bronny James (son of LeBron) in last year’s Hoop Hall Classic.

For more info on the event, click here.

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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Max Strus on his DII start, path to the NBA through the Boston Celtics and more

When he was a member of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat reserve shooting guard Max Strus made a strong connection with interim head coach Joe Mazzulla.

When he was a member of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat shooting guard Max Strus made a strong connection with interim head coach Joe Mazzulla while the latter was an assistant for Boston. Both Mazzulla and Strus started college playing at a Division II school, giving them a common point of reference, Strus told the Celtics Wire in an interview last month.

The former Celtic recently sat down with host Sean Daley of the “Fansided” podcast to talk about his path through the NCAA, why colleges slept on recruiting him, his path to the NBA, facing the Celtics in the postseason and much more.

To hear more about what got the former DePaul player to the league he is thriving in, and how his game has been shaped by each of his stops in the league, take a look at the clip embedded below to hear it all in full.

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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Who is going to win the NBA’s Atlantic Division this season?

Apart from the first place Celtics, the Nets, 76ers, Cavs, and Bucks might conceivably be at the top of the standings when the dust settles.

The NBA’s Atlantic Division is among the league’s tightest races so far in the 2022-23 season. A handful of teams are in the mix to win it.

Apart from the first-place Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers might be at the top of the division standings when the dust settles in April.

If the Celtics can get a bit more consistent or the 76ers and Nets can get and stay healthy, any of the three could win the division and hold the Eastern Conference’s top seed for the playoffs.

The hosts of the Fan Sided “Stepback” podcast Ethan Skolnik and Brady Hawk took a deep dive into which ball clubs might win each of the league’s messier division races, the Atlantic Division of course among them.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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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