Category: .Media

‘Don’t do it if you can’t do it right’ – Revisiting Bill Russell’s iconic legacy

Celebrate Bill Russell and his well-deserved legacy in Boston and beyond with this mini-documentary from the Boston Globe.

Boston Celtics and civil rights legend Bill Russell passed at the age of 88, leaving behind decades of achievement and excellence on and off the court. An 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, few influenced culture and sports in the Hub like Russell.

After winning two NCAA titles with the University of San Francisco, the Celtics actually executed a draft-day trade to land Bill Russell back in 1956. Alongside legendary head coach Red Auerbach, Russell and the Celtics dominated the next decade of NBA basketball. Upon Auerbach’s retirement in 1966, Russell was named his successor, becoming the first black head coach in North American sports.

Following his retirement in 1970, Russell expanded on his lifetime work of civil rights advocacy and achievement. He served as a champion for basketball and social progress alike until his final days.

In 2013, a statue honoring Russell was erected in City Hall Plaza. The Boston Globe produced a brief documentary cataloging the event and the mythical man as the statue was being finalized. Much will be said about Bill Russell in the coming days and weeks, but this is a great place to start celebrating his well-deserved legacy.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

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

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

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Dan Shaughnessy on what it was like to cover Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the eighties

To be a fly on the wall in those years — and Shaugnessy was!

In today’s NBA, there are countless media outlets to follow each team, and the number of full-time beat writers has never been greater. Oddly, the level of access for such reporters, while broader than ever, is also much less in-depth than it once was.

The level of access available to team reporters has been compared to the last era of dominance of the Boston Celtics prior to their last title is comparatively shallow, with most of us forced to rely on the access we can get. But during that era, the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy covered the team in the 1980s featuring Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, he would fly with the team — and drink with them after games.

You can imagine how these kinds of experiences flavor the reporter’s workday in a very different manner than they do today, with the press — and Shaughnessy — having plenty of Bird’s-eye views (pun intended) to the peak of Larry Legend’s powers.

Watch the video embedded above to hear NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg talk turkey with Shaughnessy on what it was like to cover Boston in those days (and which such tales made into print in his book detailing that moment in Celtics sports 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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Celtics Lab 271: What exactly is going on with the Boston Celtics being on sale with Dan Primack

The Boston Celtics already had more than enough going on when news broke that Wyc and Irv Grousbeck would be selling their majority share.

The Boston Celtics already had more than enough going on when news broke that Wyc and Irv Grousbeck would be selling their majority share in the team. That very day, the ball club’s front office extended not only starting point guard Derrick White to a team-friendly deal, but also star forward Jayson Tatum to the largest deal in NBA history.

So there were plenty of balls in the air when the details of the potential sale broke. Multiple reports at times seemed to conflict in places with one another, and the deeper details beyond the breaking news are still to fully emerge. To help us wrap our heads around what was going on with the news of the Celtics being for sale, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with Axios Business Editor Dan Primack.

We also get into all that Boston has been up to in free agency and beyond as the team begins the work of building out the roster for a run at Banner 19.


The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Prize Picks and Gametime.


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 is it like to cover the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals?

What is the gig like? How do they do their jobs? What are the perks of covering the Celtics as they are poised to compete for a title?

So what actually happens for the reporters who cover the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals? What is the gig like? How do they do their jobs? What are the perks of covering their hometown beat as the Celtics are poised to compete for an NBA-record 18th title?

Perhaps more importantly, what are the drawbacks of such a task, in light of the long, late hours, intense competition, and the hordes of national and international media descending on the beat? Go behind the scenes of Game 1 of the NBA Finals with CLNS Media to get a peak at what covering the Celtics is like during the NBA finals.

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

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” 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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Celtics Lab 265: On Boston’s statement Game 1 win, what to expect from the Mavs in Game 2

The Boston Celtics took Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals in emphatic fashion. How’d they do it, an dwhat happens in Game 2?

The Boston Celtics took Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals in emphatic fashion thanks to a surprisingly spry Kristaps Porzingis in his first game in the ’24 NBA Playoffs in over a month, and perhaps the best defensive game of Jaylen Brown‘s career.

Even on a night that saw Jayson Tatum go 6-of-16 from the floor, he still found ways to impact the game, and Boston as a whole limited Dallas to just 9 assists and 4 shot attempts between bigs Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively II. The Celtics roared out to a 29-point lead only to see the Mavs cut it to 8 points in the third frame, but a healthy dose of the clamps coupled with a trademark Boston scoring barrage put Dallas away for good.

To talk over what they saw in Game 1 of the series, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, Alex Goldberg, Cameron Tabatabaie, and Justin Quinn, convened postgame from TD Garden.

They also preview what might be coming in Game 2 of the series on Sunday evening, so if you want to gloat a bit or just need to get your bearings, this is the pod for you.


The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Prize Picks and Gametime.


If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” 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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Behind the scenes of star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum’s new Gatorade ad

The folks behind Tatum’s new spot shared a clip with us so you can catch what went into the making of Tatum’s new Gatorade spot.

Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is headed to the 2024 NBA Finals, and looks poised to finally hang Banner 18. But before he was gearing up for that biggest of stages, the St. Louis native was putting in work on a new Gatorade spot set to run just ahead of what could be a transformational moment in his NBA career.

The folks behind Tatum’s new spot shared a behind-the-scenes clip with us here at the Celtics Wire so you can catch a glimpse of what went into the making of Tatum’s new Gatorade spot due out today and linked below.

He appears in it alongside other global sports icons like WNBA star rookie like Caitlin Clark, and Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levron while being narrated by His Airness, Michael Jordan.

To see Tatum’s behind-the-scenes clip, check out the video embedded above, and to see the commercial in full (Taco Jay appears about halfway through), take a look at the clip 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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Full Boston Celtics first round 2024 East NBA Playoffs schedule vs. Miami Heat

The question of who the Boston Celtics will face in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs has been settled after the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in their second game of the league’s 2024 play-n tournament. And with that certainty, we …

The question of who the Boston Celtics will face in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs has been settled after the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in their second game of the league’s 2024 play-n tournament. And with that certainty, we can begin to analyze the matchup in earnest.

The Heat are not the team that sent the Celtics packing in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, playing worse and likely without star forward Jimmy Butler as he deals with an MCL injury. And while we can’t say for certain that Boston will make short work of Miami, they should if they come with the proper discipline and focus.

But one thing we do know for certain is when and where the games will be played, so let’s take a look at the Celtics’ first round playoffs schedule.

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 Lab 251: NBA expansion and covering Boston (and the league) from abroad with Josh Coyne

To get a bead on the international future of the NBA (and the Celtics in the first round), make sure you don’t miss this bonus episode.

The NBA is inching closer to a new, inevitable round of expansion, and based on what we have heard from league commissioner Adam Silver, it might not just be within the US and Canada. And while Mexico City might not be among the frontrunners, the growth of the league in popularity around the world will only continue to grow.

What will NBA expansion look like this time, and in the future? How is it different for fans and international media to enjoy the NBA we have now? And what else might the future of the Association look like, with the accelerating growth of the NBA continuing apace?

To talk it over and his trip to cover the end of the Boston Celtics’ 2023-24 season and the playoffs ahead of them, CLNS Media’s “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with British Basketball League and Give Me Sport’s Josh Coyne.


To get a bead on the international future of the NBA (and the Celtics in the first round), make sure you don’t miss this special bonus episode of the pod.


The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Prize Picks.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” 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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Abby Chin discusses excitement ahead of all-female Boston Celtics broadcast

Abby Chin will operate as the color analyst for the Boston Celtics game against the Detroit Pistons on Monday (March 18).

On Monday, the Boston Celtics will have an all-female broadcast crew to commemorate Women’s History Month. Chin will operate as the color analyst when the Celtics face the Detroit Pistons on March 18, filling in for Brian Scalabrine, who usually holds the role.

Chin will be joined by Amina Smith, Jennifer Rizzotti, Ashley Battle, Kayla Burton, Zora Stephenson and Dijonai Carrington, who will all combine to form the broadcast team. Chin recently spoke with Chad Finn of The Boston.com regarding the upcoming role change, admitting she was excited about the challenge.

“I’m really excited and a little anxious,” Chin said. “I can’t wait to see how it goes and what it feels like to be in that chair and to do something very different from what I’m used to.”

Chin has previously held a TV role as part of the NBC Sports post-game team.

She has also done some play-by-play announcing next to legendary radio host Sean Grande. However, this will be her first foray into color analysis. As a genuine fan favorite, Chin will have the support of the entire Boston fan base behind her, as will the rest of the female broadcast team.

Hopefully, we can see this approach to Women’s History Month become a tradition amongst the Celtics media, as it will help spotlight the vast amount of talented women in sports media.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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Celtics vs. Knicks: Prediction, preview, how to watch, stream, start

The Boston Celtics have the unusual superpower of playing down to opponents when they are dealing with injuries, making this tilt something of a black box in terms of predictions.

The New York Knicks looked like the NBA’s hottest team in the Eastern Conference after making some major moves at the league’s 2024 trade deadline. Only to see injury derail that success over a four-game skid the Knicks finally snapped with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Boston Celtics have the unusual superpower of playing down to opponents when they are dealing with injuries, making this tilt something of a black box in terms of predictions. The old version of Boston would easily be walking into a trap game here, but this iteration of the Celtics has shown some self-awareness of this bad habit.

We think the Cs will come correct with their ‘A’ game to soundly beat an ailing Knicks squad, but the upset potential remains.