Is this the season Payton Pritchard earns his rotation spot with the Boston Celtics?

Pritchard’s height and lack of physicality have been limitations in the past, but he seems to be addressing these concerns.

In the early stages of the NBA preseason, Payton Pritchard’s performance for the Boston Celtics has been under the spotlight. Pritchard, who faced questions about his potential and impact, is showing signs of improvement. While it’s too soon to make definitive judgments, his progress is noteworthy.

Initial impressions suggest he has improved his explosiveness during the offseason. While Pritchard’s height and lack of physicality have been limitations in the past, he seems to be addressing these concerns. The former Oregon standout’s aggressive style of play is gaining attention, and he is becoming more comfortable on the court.

Will Fast PP finally break through to become a regular part of the rotation in the wake of his big extension?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast recently linked up with The Athletic NBA insider Jared Weiss to talk it over; check it out in the link above.

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 can the Boston Celtics’ 123-110 preseason win over the New York Knicks tell us?

The game showcased the new-look Celtics’ starting lineup with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, with Al Horford surprisingly coming off of the bench.

The Boston Celtics approached their home preseason tilt with the New York Knicks on Tuesday night more like a regular season contest than not, and it showed in the 123-110 victory for Boston. The game showcased the new-look Celtics’ starting lineup with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, with Al Horford surprisingly coming off of the bench.

The Celtics displayed impressive shooting, especially from beyond the arc in the first half, and the starting five played significant minutes for an exhibition contest. Horford’s performance off the bench provided an unexpected spark, and the Celtics used a full-court press that was effective against the Knicks.

To hear a more detailed breakdown of the preseason win and what it could tell us about the season ahead, check out the clip embedded below from the folks at the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast.

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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Reacting to the Boston Celtics’ 123-110 preseason win over the New York Knicks

The game showcased the Celtics’ offensive versatility.

The Boston Celtics secured a 123-110 preseason victory over the New York Knicks in a high-scoring and fast-paced game at TD Garden this past Tuesday night. The Celtics’ top six players and how they integrated with the bench players who will play a crucial role in the rotation stood out, and the game showcased the Celtics’ offensive versatility.

Players like Kristaps Porzingis demonstrated their scoring proficiency, including his ability to execute pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops. The Latvian big man’s versatility on the court created multiple open shot opportunities for the team. Defensively, the Celtics implemented a full-court press strategy, disrupting the Knicks’ offensive rhythm.

To hear more about how Boston’s penultimate preseason contest gives us hints about the season to come, check out the instant reaction to the win by the folks at NBC Sports Boston embedded below.

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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How fast will the Boston Celtics build chemistry this season?

Fans of the team could find themselves looking at some struggles early in the ball club’s 2023-24 campaign given the high degree of turnover from last season.

The Boston Celtics are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season, but fans of the team could find themselves looking at some struggles early in the ball club’s 2023-24 campaign given the high degree of turnover from last season as the Celtics’ front office transformed the team via the blockbuster trades for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Add in the fact that the team is also integrating a more complex approach to the game on both ends of the floor with several new additions to Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla’s bench, and there could be some early growing pains to work through for this iteration of the Celtics.

On a recent episode of the CLNS Media “Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, and Gary Tanguay” podcast, the latter two hosts linked up to break down their thoughts on what such a process might look like in practice.

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

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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Why did the Boston Celtics stink so much in the 1990s?

How did the Boston Celtics — the winningest team in NBA history — go from the highest heights to perennial losers in the 1990s?

The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA, winning a league-record 17 banners, and dominating the 1960s in particular. The decades that followed, while less successful than the heady days of Bill Russell and Satch Sanders’ heyday, still saw banners being hung at a very respectable clip in the 1970s and 1980s.

Then, with the retirement of Celtics legend Larry Bird and the slow decline of the rest of the 1980s Big Three of Kevin McHale and Robert Parish coupled with some fateful draft decisions, the championships — and winning — ground to a halt.

What sparked the so-called “wilderness era” that resulted in Boston’s longest championship drought, spanning more than three decades?

Watch the video above to get caught up on the crucial (and painful) era of Celtics history.

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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Why the Kristaps Porzingis trade should have Boston Celtics fans thinking big

His preseason debut provided a glimpse of what this towering 7-foot-3 big man brings to the team’s offensive dynamics.

A new chapter of Boston Celtics basketball seems to be unfolding with the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis this past offseason. His recent preseason debut for Boston provided a glimpse of what this towering 7-foot-3 big man brings to the team’s offensive dynamics, and Celtics fans are undoubtedly thinking big themselves after his addition to their favorite ball club.

With the departure of fan-favorite center Robert Williams III, fans wondered about the Celtics’ vertical spacing, but Porzingis will be able to shore up some of that loss without even leaving the court. His mid-range scoring ability is a game-changer as well, as does his post game.

The eponymous host of the “Nick Cattles Show” put together a clip breaking down how the Porzingis trade has made the Celtics a stronger title contender on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what he 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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Celtics icon Charlie Scott career retrospective and Hall of Fame speech

In honor of his birthday, watch this career retrospective and Hall of Fame acceptance speech of former Celtic champ Charlie Scott’s.

Boston Celtics champion point and shooting guard Charlie Scott won a title with the Celtics, but he began breaking barriers well before he donned the green and white.

A New Yorker through and through, Scott became the first Black full scholarship player to suit up for the University of North Carolina in 1967, his freshman year at that school. He went on to have a successful career in the American Basketball Association (ABA — a competing league that later merged with the NBA) before joining the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and later the Celtics, where he won his sole title in 1976.

In honor of his Hall-of-Fame career, we decided to post these two videos in his honor — a career retrospective and his Hall of Fame acceptance speech from his induction in 2018.

Watch the videos embedded below to wax nostalgic about Boston’s own Rucker Park legend.

Why the Jrue Holiday trade was a genius move for the Boston Celtics

The UCLA alum’s addition instantly made the Celtics championship favorites.

The Boston Celtics made a brilliant move by trading for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, made possible by the Damian Lillard trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, Holiday’s team last season.

The UCLA alum’s addition instantly made the Celtics championship favorites, despite Lillard’s star power boosting the contention profile of the Bucks. Holiday is known for his elite perimeter defense and his ability to make crucial stops in high-pressure moments. He’s widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA who has a significant impact on the court and understands his opponents’ tendencies.

The folks behind the “Swish Central” YouTube channel recently put together a breakdown of how the deal helps boost Boston’s title odds.

Check it out in the clip embedded above to hear their thoughts for yourself.

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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The truth about Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown

Brown still faces criticism, primarily due to some glaring flaws in his game.

All-NBA Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is a highly polarizing player in the NBA, with opinions varying on the strength of his skills and overall value to his team. Brown has been a consistent scorer in his time with the Celtics, averaging around 24 points per game over the last several seasons with strong 3-point shooting percentages in four of his seven seasons in the league. He’s made two All-Star teams and an All-NBA team, and his best scoring season was his most recent one, where he averaged 26.6 points per game.

However, despite his statistical profile and on-court successes, Brown still faces criticism, primarily due to some glaring flaws in his game that appear unresolved. The most evident issue is his handling of the ball, especially his inability to use his left hand effectively in traffic.

The folks behind the “Terranova Basketball Study” YouTube channel took a deep dive into Brown’s true value as a player.

Check it out in the clip embedded above.

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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Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo modeling game after Boston’s Derrick White

White being the Celtics’ best-kept secret is already starting to break down in terms of the “secret” part.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell has been playing considerably harder than usual in recent Lakers preseason tilts, and it has caught the attention of the team’s beat writers over the last few days. Asked about that renewed dedication to doing all of the little things that help winning for Los Angeles, Russell revealed he’s been modeling his approach after that of Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.

“If I look crazy … picking up guys full court, doing all that, that’s what I want to be,” explained Russell via CLNS Media. “My inspiration has been Derrick White; I want to be (like) Derrick White.”

“He doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does and makes all the winning plays, and that’s where I want to be,” he added.

We are admittedly biased in favor of White here at the Celtics Wire but believe this is exactly the sort of perspective Russell can use to breathe new life into his career as a floor general. Also, an L.A. roster that can use such an attitude as they try to contend in a stacked Western Conference.

But we also think White being the Celtics’ best-kept secret in that regard is already starting to break down in terms of the “secret” part; we think by the end of the reason plenty more point guards in the league will try leaning on his example.

And we think he’ll be getting plenty of credit for it, too.

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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