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Jayson Tatum is using 2022 as fuel against Mavericks

Jayson Tatum is using the Boston Celtics loss in the 2022 NBA Finals as fuel against the Dallas Mavericks.

In 2022, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Jayson Tatum played that series with a non-displaced fracture in his wrist. Boston underperformed. They failed to return to the mountain top last season, losing to the Miami Heat in seven games.

However, after a dominant 2023-24 season, the Celtics are back in the NBA Finals and currently lead the Dallas Mavericks 1-0. In his postgame news conference on Thursday (June 6), Tatum discussed the motivation he and his teammates have following their inability to win a championship the last time they made it this far.

“Maybe last year, us losing in the conference finals,” Tatum said. “Maybe I just expected that after we lost in 2022 that it was guaranteed that we were just going to keep coming back, and this is like our time. Last year it was just kind of a wake-up call to not take anything for granted, because you never know how many opportunities that you might have.”

The Celtics have what is arguably the most talented roster in the NBA. In the opening game of the series, they punished the Mavericks’ defense at every opportunity. They will undoubtedly lean into their floor spacing and playmaking in the coming games as they attempt to assert their dominance.

Boston will look to extend their lead over the Mavericks when the two teams face off for Game 2 on Sunday (June 9).

If Joe Mazzulla’s team can secure the victory, they will only need one win on the road to take complete control of the series. Then, the Celtics will be one step away from banishing the ghosts of 2022.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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Kristaps Porzingis is back in a big way for the Boston Celtics

It was about as good of a return for Kristaps Porzingis and the best defensive outing we can recall for Jaylen Brown.

The Boston Celtics took Game 1 of their 2024 NBA Finals series with the Dallas Mavericks in epic fashion at TD Garden this past Thursday (June 6) night, beating the Mavs 107-89 to take a 1-0 series lead ahead of Game 2, also to be played at the Garden with Boston holding home court advantage.

The Celtics held Dallas to just 25.9% from beyond the arc, a mere 9 assists, won the battle of the blocks 8-1, and the battle of the boards by 4. All in all, it was about as good of a return for star Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis and the best defensive outing we can recall for star forward Jaylen Brown.

CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon and Celtics Blog’s Noa Dalzell took a closer look at the win live from TD Garden after of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Check it out below!

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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Report: Porzingis expected to play in Game 1 of NBA Finals

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be ready to go for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics will face the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, and a new report Tuesday morning said Kristaps Porzingis will be ready for Game 1 of the series. According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the big man has been cleared to play after participating in multiple scrimmages with the team.

Porzingis went down in the opening round of the postseason with a strain in his calf, and has been sidelined since. His availability has remained a background question for the Celtics, who proceeded to nearly win out for the remainder of the playoffs. During the regular season Porzingis served as a key instrument in Boston’s defense and an equally important factor on the offensive side of things. With a championship just four games away, bringing a player of Porzingis’ caliber back into the fold could prove to be a massive swing for the series. 

The 2024 NBA finals will begin this Thursday, June 6 in Boston.

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 named East finals MVP, wins 2024 Larry Bird Trophy

Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown has won the Larry Bird Trophy after being named the MVP of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals.

The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the previous round. Jaylen Brown was a key contributor in the final game, logging a team-high 29 points in the win, securing a shot at an 18th banner in the process.

Brown’s teammate Jayson Tatum won the inaugural East finals MVP award in 2022 after helping Boston punch a ticket to that season’s championship round. And while Tatum was a major piece of the puzzle this time around, it was Brown who was the most important guy in green. Brown was the hero of Game 1, sending things to overtime with a heroic 3-point shot from the corner. In Game 2, he tied a postseason career-best with 40 points, delivering another Celtics win. On the defensive end, he used his unique physicality and speed to pester Indiana on the perimeter, equally significant for Boston’s fortunes.

Congratulations to Jaylen Brown for winning the 2024 Eastern Conference finals MVP award.

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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Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics to a title?

Can the Georgia native actually lead the Celtics to a championship?

Can Jaylen Brown lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA title? Brown’s performance, matching his career playoff high with 40 points, has been a significant boost for the Celtics as they take a series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA’s 2024 Eastern Conference finals.

This raises an intriguing question in some corners: Can the Georgia native actually lead the Celtics to a championship in this or future seasons? Brown’s leadership, consistency, and the impact of his stellar play on the team’s title aspirations can’t be discounted. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon took some time to talk it over on a recent episode of the “Garden Report” podcast.

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

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 261: Breaking down Boston’s Game 2 win vs. the Pacers, what to expect in Game 3

With injuries mounting on both sides, how will Game 2’s results impact the rest of the series for Boston?

The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 126-110 in Game 2 of the NBA’s 2024 Eastern Conference finals thanks to a career playoff-high matching 40 points from Jaylen Brown.

But it came at the expense of backup big man Luke Kornet’s wrist being sprained on a team already thin at center; will Boston be okay with Kornet on the bench?. On the other side of the court, however, we saw Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton leave the game injured in the second half with what initially appeared to be a re-aggravation of the hamstring injury that kept him out for significant time this season.

Will he be able to play when the series shifts pack to Indiana for Game 3, and if not, is a sweep incoming? The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast reacted to the win postgame from the Garden (excuse the Wi-Fi issues, please), seeing some small ball looks that paid off — and defensive lapses that did not.

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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Watch: Jaylen Brown forces OT in Game 1 of the East finals

Jaylen Brown banked in a clutch 3-pointer in Game 1 of the East finals, forcing overtime en route to a Celtics win.

The Boston Celtics grabbed a 133-128 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night, moving to 1-0 to open the Eastern Conference finals. But this victory was far from easy for Boston.

The Celtics were down in the final moments of the fourth quarter as the Pacers offense continued to generate buckets. Down 3 points with one a few seconds remaining, All-Star Jaylen Brown forced a turnover with 8 seconds left in the game to earn Boston a possession down 3 points underneath the Pacers basket. The ensuing play saw Brown take and make a corner 3-pointer to tie the game and force overtime. From there the Celtics took care of business, securing a 133-128 win.

Check out the improbable shot from Brown courtesy of Bleacher Report’s YouTube page. 

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 Boston Celtics still have yet to play their best basketball

We’ve seen the Celtics play at a higher level than they have for much of the season, and certainly more so than they have in the playoffs.

The Boston Celtics still have yet to play their best basketball. We have seen the Celtics play at a higher level than they have for much of this season, and certainly more so than they have in the 2024 NBA Playoffs that we have seen to date.

So while there may indeed be a glut of mostly unreasonable criticism of the team and its players, there is also a reason to point to for having such high expectations. They had the best record in the 2023-24 regular season, have had a historic offense and elite defense, and currently own the best record in the 2024 postseason.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast, Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon, Jimmy Toscano, A. Sherrod Blakely and John Zannis, recently weighed in on how Boston has played in the postseason. Check it out below!

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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What would an Indiana Pacers – Boston Celtics Eastern Conference finals look like?

What would Boston be facing in this scenario?

What would an Indiana Pacers – Boston Celtics Eastern Conference finals look like? To find out, CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning welcomes Scott Agness to the “Garden Report” podcast before the New York Knicks – Pacers Game 6 to talk about what an Indiana-Boston East finals would look like.

The Pacers played the Celtics tough during the regular season, beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and have challenged New York in the second round. They’ve gotten inconsistent play from Tyrese Haliburton, strong Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner minutes, while Pascal Siakam joined the team at the trade deadline and brought championship experience. Boston gets a week off before the East finals with Kristaps Porzingis’ status uncertain.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear their talk!

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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Isaiah Thomas wants Celtics stars to dominate in the playoffs

The former Boston Celtics star wants to see Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown taking over every game during the postseason.

Isaiah Thomas is a Boston Celtics legend. The ‘King of the Fourth’ was a core part of the early Brad Stevens teams. Now, he’s watching some of his former teammates compete for an NBA championship under Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics currently hold a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

On Sunday (May 13), Thomas joined NBC Sports pregame broadcast to share his thoughts on what the Celtics need in order to compete for a championship this season. The veteran guard pinpointed the performances of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, noting how both need to dominate on a nightly basis if the Celtics want to challenge for the top prize in basketball.

During his time with the Celtics, Thomas was a dominant scorer. As such, it comes as no surprise that he wants Boston’s best two players to follow in his footsteps and take over games on the offensive end.

You can watch Thomas’ full conversation regarding the Celtics and his own NBA future by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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