Category: .Reactions

Austin Rivers, Pat Beverley respond to JJ Redick’s critique of Doc Rivers on accountability

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely.

Former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has a bad habit of throwing his former players under the bus at times to deflect criticism of his coaching. While at times it may be justified, it also often has landed poorly among those who have played for him in the past. Such was the case with ex-NBAer and current broadcaster JJ Redick, who took Doc to task on social media.

That, in turn, rankled Rivers’ son, Austin Rivers, who replied to Redick’s critique by saying via Clutch Points “In terms of accountability, your best years in the NBA were when you played for him and the (Los Angeles) Clippers … It’s just very ironic and kinda weird that you have this energy towards him.”

Redick’s words also irked current Milwaukee Bucks (who Rivers coaches) guard Patrick Beverley, who wrote “This Man Doc actually saved your career. Started you when no one else wanted (to). And (you) retire, go on TV and say that.”

Redick could not help but reply, saying, “Pat my guy, I had a four-year offer with player option for the same money to be a starter for a different team. (expletive) ‘saved my career,'”

Is Rivers a bad coach? Definitely not. Is he the source of the Bucks’ current woes? Not really! Does he have a track record of deflecting blame, regardless of whether he deserves it? Absolutely. But then again, that may be true of many of us — most of whom are not being paid like an NBA head coach.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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Celtics’ Payton Pritchard calls out ex-Villanova coach Jay Wright on Donte DiVincenzo anecdote

“That’s cap,” tweeted Fast PP in response to a story that seemed to frame him as too intimidated to play for Villanova.

The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy recently shared an interesting anecdote shared with him by former Villanova head coach Jay Wright about Boston Celtics backup combo guard Payton Pritchard’s recruitment. “Pritchard … was ready to commit to Villanova despite playing a similar position to DiVincenzo,” said Wright via Bondy. “They hit it off during Pritchard’s official visit and played one-on-one-on-one with Brunson, which eventually rerouted Pritchard to … Oregon.”

“We thought they could play together like (Ryan Arcidiacono) did with Jalen (Brunson),” he added. “And they played one-on-one, and I think Payton was like, ‘Oh my God, we didn’t know about this guy (DiVincenzo).”And then after that, they were like, ‘We’re still going to look around.’'”

Somehow, that bit got in front of the eyes of former Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire — now the head coach of Georgia Tech — on social media, who wrote “I’m gone have to call PP about this.”

It may have been a good story, and much of it may even be true. But when Fast PP replied to Stoudamire’s tweet, all he had to say was “that’s (cap)”.

For old heads like yours truly, that’s newspeak for “horse pucky”.

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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Jaylen Brown falls on final dunk to Mac McClung at 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

We broke down each of Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s dunks at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown came up short at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Indianapolis Saturday night. Brown was the first All-Star since 2017 to participate in the event and the first Celtic since Gerald Green in 2007.

Brown made his way to the final round against defending champion Mac McClung of the G-League behind a blend of athleticism and nods to basketball history. In a competition that went down to the final dunk, however, Brown came up just short. He earned second place for the night, but ultimately went home empty handed.

Let’s take a closer look at how things shook out for Jaylen Brown at the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reacts to Charles Barkley doubting Boston can win it all

“Nobody’s going to give us the credit until we actually do it, and that’s fine,” said Tatum.

NBA players read about their negative press more often than they tend to admit, but it isn’t every day they get grilled on TV about it. But that is what happened to star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum on a recent appearance on the “CBS Mornings” show. Asked about comments from “Inside the NBA’s” Charles Barkley suggesting the Celtics aren’t tough enough to win a title, Tatum answered diplomatically.

“I mean, you have to give the respect, right?” he asked rhetorically via MassLive’s Nick O’Malley. “Those are the guys that paved the way for the younger players like myself.”

Still, he pushed back gently. “You don’t always have to agree,” said Tatum. “But you have to, in a sense, respect it because of the work that they put in.”

“I understand that in the times that we’re in,” he added. “You can’t win it – nobody can win a championship until you do it.”

“So, nobody’s going to give us the credit until we actually do it, and that’s fine.”

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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Even longtime Celtics nemesis LeBron James thinks Buddy Hield fouled Jaylen Brown

When Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is defending the Boston Celtics, it’s a safe bet that there might be some substance to the complaint in question.

When Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is defending the Boston Celtics, it’s a safe bet that there might be some substance to the complaint in question. The longtime Celtics nemesis took to social media after a controversial challenge overturned a late foul on star Boston forward Jaylen Brown by Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield that even Hield admitted was a foul to share his feelings about the potentially game-deciding decision by the officials Monday night.

“See what I’m saying! 🤦🏾‍♂️,” wrote James. “JB clearly got hit in the back of the head. They reviewed the play, just to reverse it and say he didn’t. MAN WHAT!! Good (expletive) game to have an ending like that.”

“And y’all see why I be going 🦍 💩 out there when it happens,” added LeBron for emphasis.

The league’s current all-time scoring leader is no stranger to such scenarios himself — including a famous end-of-game meltdown against Boston — but when he talks, league officials tend to take notice.

Whether the NBA’s last two minute report will agree with King James, Brown, and Hield remains to be seen, but a legion of Celtics fans now find themselves with a somewhat awkward ally on this particular take.

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 233: Boston beats the Lakers on Christmas Day, and making sense of trade rumors with Bobby Krivitsky

After the win, we make some decisions about what sorts of gifts we want to return from our holiday haul — basketball-related and otherwise.

The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, the best kind of win for Celtics fans in the regular season if not the NBA Finals. And they did it despite in-game injuries, strong rallies from their opponent — and most importantly, an ego-boosting hot start that has tended to absorb their killer instinct in the past.

To celebrate the win (and what we saw in it that should reach well beyond the holiday tilt) with other Boston fans, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with Sports Illustrated’s and “Talkin’ Cs” podcast host Bobby Krivitsky to break down the victory.

We also get into recent Kelly Olynyk trade rumbles and what they mean with a closer look, get caught up on the news more generally, and even make some decisions about what sorts of gifts we want to return from our holiday haul — basketball-related and otherwise.

Join us for a special holiday edition of the pod, and felices fiestas to you all.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by FanDuel.

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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