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Boston holds steady in latest Bleacher Report weekly power rankings

We take issue with the Nuggets staying on top despite dropping a game to the Dallas Mavericks last week.

The Boston Celtics have held steady in the latest round of Bleacher Report’s weekly NBA power rankings put together by league analyst Andy Bailey. The Celtics now remain in the second spot of the power rankings this week, behind the Denver Nuggets and ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder. “Wednesday’s 3-point win over the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks was closer than expected, but the … Celtics are now 18-2 in their last 20 games,” he writes.

“And with each of the 6 wins prior to Wednesday being by double-digits, Boston’s season-long point differential sits at plus-11.52,” notes the B/R analyst.

“Only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks, 1995-96 Chicago Bulls and 2016-17 Golden State Warriors had bigger averages for margin of victory.”

We take issue with the Nuggets staying on top despite dropping a game to the Dallas Mavericks last week. But considering the neck-and-neck returns from each team this season, it is a close race indeed, and we don’t have too much umbrage at this conflicting point of view.

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 to buy New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics tickets

Want to watch New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics in person on Saturday, Feb. 24? Tickets still remain for as little as $267.

After a sensational month of January, point guard Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks stubbed their toe going into the All-Star break but remain very much in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Like every other team in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are chasing the Boston Celtics, who own the No. 1 seed by a sizeable margin after a dominant first half of the 2023-24 regular season.

The New York Knicks will host the Boston Celtics on Saturday, Feb. 24, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

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With things as tight as they are in the middle of the pack in the playoff race, the Knicks need to finish the season strong if they want to secure one of the top-four seeds to guarantee home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, every win the Celtics can secure will move them closer to wrapping up the No. 1 seed, which would be huge for their hopes of winning a title.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics are $267.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience or just won the lottery, the most expensive ticket would cost you an astounding $900,000.

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How to buy Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics tickets

Want to watch Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics in person on Thursday, Feb. 22? Tickets still remain for as little as $67.

After missing the playoffs last season, small forward DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls are trying to get back to the postseason, with the team in contention for one of the play-in tournament spots in the Eastern Conference.

The Boston Celtics and their impressive roster led by small forward Jayson Tatum and shooting guard Jaylen Brown are in a very different position, as Boston is currently threatening to run away with the No. 1 seed in the same conference.

The Chicago Bulls will host the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Feb. 22, with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. EST.

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With the Celtics vying for an NBA title, locking up the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs would go a long way toward helping their cause. Meanwhile, the Bulls’ margin for error is razor thin and every game could be the difference between a play-in spot or not.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics are $67.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, the most expensive ticket would cost you $16,838.

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How to buy Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers tickets

Want to watch the Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers in person on Thursday, Feb. 1? Tickets still remain for as little as $149.

The Boston Celtics will host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday in a clash between two historic franchises.

The Celtics are currently perched atop the Eastern Conference with a decent cushion over the Milwaukee Bucks. Jason Tatum leads the team in points per game average, putting him right at the edge of the top 10 in the scoring race.

The Lakers, on the other hand, have been mired in mediocrity and are hovering around the .500 mark coming into the game. Future Hall of Famer LeBron James has kept the ship steady with his team-leading scoring but has not been enough to escape the depths of the Pacific Division.

The Boston Celtics will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, Feb .1 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Once upon a time, this matchup was among the greatest ever and the excitement still continues to this day — albeit at a less-heralded level. The Celtics could always use more cushion to their conference lead while the Lakers need a victory to stay afloat.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers are $149.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, the most expensive ticket would only cost you $68,540.

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Robb: Celtics ‘strongly expected to make some kind of move’ ahead of NBA’s 2024 trade deadline

Could Boston use their $6.2 million traded player exception, or go another route to improve their bench?

While a consensus is growing that the Boston Celtics will not be making any major moves at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, rumbles persist that the ball club is still looking to make some improvements around the margins. Per MassLive’s Brian Robb, the Celtics “are strongly expected to make some kind of move ahead of the trade deadline.”

“Keeping the team’s roster fully intact now past the guarantee deadline keeps more potential opportunities open for getting a deal done to bolster the back end of the roster,” adds the MassLive reporter, alluding to the decision of Boston’s front office to guarantee the contracts of Luke Kornet, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton, and Lamar Stevens by not cutting them in time for the league-wide guarantee date.

The Celtics may well elect to deal one or more of those players ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline in order offset the cost of using their $6.2 million traded player exception generated when Boston signed-and-traded Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks this past offseason.

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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Jayson Tatum asks us not to take Al Horford for granted after the Boston Celtics’ blowout of Indiana

He also called him his favorite teammate.

Veteran Boston Celtics forward Al Horford may not fill up the stat sheet with gaudy numbers, but what he does for the Celtics has been the engine that has kept Boston at the top of the standings this season, and All-NBA teammate Jayson Tatum wants to be sure you know it.

Lauding Horford after the Celtics’ blowout win of the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night, Tatum let it be known we need to appreciate what the Florida alum brings to Boston. “We just can’t keep taking him for granted,” said the St. Louis native via Boston Dot Com’s Colin McCarthy.

“(He’s the) best teammate I ever had, ultimate professional, and somebody that we can count on, night in and night out,” added Tatum. “He proved that again tonight.”

The 16-season vet has indeed been as integral as ever to what the Celtics need on any given night in spite of the fact that Horford is putting up a career low in scoring.

But as has been the case for some time, the intangibles that do not show up in the box score — and plenty that do — have become almost clockwork for Boston as he scales his production and energy up or down depending on the role he is asked to play.

And as Tatum notes, we should not take that for granted.

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 the Boston Celtics’ front office fleeced the NBA

The Boston Celtics have put together a brilliant assembly of talent in their starting lineup.

The Boston Celtics have put together a brilliant assembly of talent in their starting lineup so far in the NBA’s 2023-24 season, creating a formidable ball club that excels on both ends of the court. While the spotlight often shines on star forwards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the additions of veteran combo guard Jrue Holiday, star big man Kristaps Porzingis, and maybe the team’s most important player when it comes to winning, Derrick White, have elevated the team’s performance to new heights.

The interplay between White and Holiday, coupled with Porzingis’ spacing, results in a potent offensive unit, and Celtics’ starting lineup stands as a testament to the front office’s strategic vision under team president Brad Stevens.

The folks behind the “Thinking Basketball” podcast recently put together a clip on how the Celtics fleeced the league to put together that starting five.

Check out the clip above to hear their thoughts.

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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Mike Gorman on Boston’s odds of hanging a banner this season

“You don’t win championships when you’re in your twenties,” said Gorman.

Mike Gorman knows a thing or two about the Boston Celtics and championships. Having had a front-row view to four of the storied ball club’s 17 titles, few have had a bigger window into what it takes to win it all in that city. And while the legendary broadcaster is optimistic about the Celtics’ chances of hanging Banner 18 this season, he also wants us to temper expectations. “The thing that people don’t realize, but if you look, you’ll find out this is a fact,” said Gorman on the “Green with Envy” podcast, “you don’t win championships when you’re in your twenties.”

Referring to the team’s three stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis — all under 30, and by a fair amount in Tatum’s case — this trend is generally true, with all-time greats like LeBron James (27) and Michael Jordan (28) the rare exception.

“You win championships when you’re in your early 30s, from 31 to about 33 or 34,” he added.

“Those are the prime years for guys,” explained Gorman. “And this bunch, as good as they are, have a long way to go to get to that point.”

“Now, if they can get themselves a title between now and then, that would be wonderful. But I think right now, where they’re at, they’d have to steal one 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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Is the Boston Celtics’ bench starting to heat up?

The Celtics’ bench has shown growth in their ability to help Boston win games in different ways and has looked more cohesive in recent games.

The Boston Celtics’ bench had a great performance in their recent game against the New York Knicks, providing valuable production and integrating well with the starters. The rotations and lineup combinations seemed to work well, with players like Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, and Derrick White making positive contributions.

Horford, in particular, showed his value on the defensive end by effectively guarding players like Jalen Brunson. Although his offensive performance has been lacking, Horford’s defensive impact is still valuable. The Celtics have been tight with their rotation, relying on a core group of eight players, but it remains to be seen who the next man up will be.

The Celtics’ bench has shown growth in their ability to help Boston win games in different ways and has looked more cohesive in recent games.

To hear what the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast think of the Celtics’ bench play lately, take a look at 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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