Tag: 2023 Eastern Conference Finals

Remembering Derrick White’s absurdly clutch tip-in for the Boston Celtics from Game 6 of the ’23 ECF

White’s remarkable consistency on and off the court laid the foundation for that remarkable if not historic play that (at least for a game) kept the Celtics’ title hunt alive.

While freshly-minted Boston Celtics starting point guard Derrick White might come across as one of the quieter players on the club, his hunger for victory shines through when it is time for the proverbial rubber to hit the road. We saw that in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Miami Heat after a tough postseason loss while on the precipice of elimination.

White’s unique mindset helped set up the Colorado native for his game-changing moment in Game 6, and his remarkable consistency on and off the court laid the foundation for that remarkable if not historic play that (at least for a game) kept the Celtics’ title hunt alive.

The host of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast linked up with White’s trainer Marcus Mason in a recent interview that touched on that unbelievable game-winning play and much more.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they 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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Abby Chin on the night Derrick White saved the Boston Celtics’ season

Evidently, fans and the media were not the only people in the arena in shock that night.

The Derrick White buzzer beater in Game 6 of the Boston Celtics 2023 Eastern Conference Finals series that the Miami Heat would ultimately win was still a moment for the ages despite the failure of the ball club to capitalize on that amazing play. And it lives on in the memory of the fans regardless of the final outcome, perhaps even more so among the media who were present in the arena for the magical moment.

Among them was NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin, who recently sat down with the hosts of the CLNS Media “First to the Floor” podcast to talk over her point of view during that wild end of game sequence. Evidently, fans and the media were not the only people in the arena in shock that night.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what Chin had to say about the night Derrick White saved the Celtics’ season single-handed.

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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Former Heat guard Gabe Vincent comments on Boston’s evident disunity vs. Miami in 2023 East finals

“It almost seemed like to me, truthfully, they had something going on over there,” said Vincent.

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Former Miami Heat point guard Gabe Vincent recently reflected on Miami’s victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in an interview on the “Old Man and The 3” podcast and pointed out some internal issues that may have affected Boston’s performance vs. the Heat.

Vincent acknowledged the talent of the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown but sensed that something was amiss within the team.  “I obviously don’t know if they were or weren’t right internally but that was my feel I had,” he offered to host JJ Redick via MassLive’s Brian Robb. “It almost seemed like to me, truthfully, they had something going on over there.”

“Despite our gameplan, so much has to go right to win in this league and if you aren’t fully right internally, it shows in different ways,” explained the now-Los Angeles Laker.

“I think last year, they were better defensively when we lost to them in the East Finals,” he added.

“This past year, something didn’t seem as right whether it was their rotations or connectivity, whatever the case may be. I think any bit of weakness we saw, we jumped on 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 one analyst thinks the Boston Celtics shouldn’t give Jaylen Brown the supermax

Trading Brown for a package of players and draft picks could provide the Celtics with more flexibility per this podcast host.

The Boston Celtics have been eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals once again just a season after making the NBA Finals, prompting discussions about the future of star forward Jaylen Brown.

While Celtics team president Brad Stevens expressed a desire to keep Brown, there are concerns about offering him a supermax contract on a five-year extension worth up to $290 million.

Brown’s performance in the recent series against the Miami Heat may have exposed weaknesses in his game, making it questionable whether he can truly reach superstar status. The Celtics would then have three options: Give him the supermax extension, keep him as an unrestricted free agent next year, or trade him.

Trading Brown for a package of players and draft picks could provide the Celtics with more flexibility and potential for improvement according to the host of the “MDJ” 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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Were Jaylen Brown’s dribbling issues vs. the Miami Heat the result of an injury?

The Celtics star reverted back to a sloppier-handled version of himself in the East finals — but why?

Star forward Jaylen Brown’s dribbling with the Boston Celtics has long been a topic of discussion, but the subject exploded back to relevance after his eight turnovers in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.

While he has shown some improvement with the tightness of his handle in  recent years, he still struggles with complex dribble attacks and breaking through traps set by opposing clubs — at least, without turning the ball over in critical moments. It was recently speculated that his performance was affected by a left wrist injury sustained earlier in the postseason, although it was not openly acknowledged by the Georgia native or the Celtics.

The hosts of the Athletic “NBA Show” podcast did their best to divine whether an injury could be the root cause of Brown’s sudden regression as a ballhandler.

Check out 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 are the Boston Celtics so bad at scoring on a zone defense?

Is the fault with the players, the coaching staff, or a mixture of the two?

Why are the Boston Celtics so bad at scoring on a zone defense?

The Miami Heat’s effective use of zone defense led to their victory over the Celtics in the 2023 NBA playoffs despite Boston being far and away the more talented team on paper. But games are not played on paper, and in the real world, the Celtics struggled to attack the zone and lacked urgency in their offensive plays.

The Heat’s defensive rotations and pressure caused problems for the Celtics. Boston’s inside ball screens and player positioning were ineffective against the Heat’s defense. The Celtics failed to exploit weaknesses in the zone and lacked a cohesive offensive strategy. The coaching staff was unable to adjust and find successful ways to attack the zone throughout the series.

Is the fault with the players, the coaching staff or a mix of the two?

The folks behind the B-Ball Breakdown YouTube channel did their best to answer that question in a recent video.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear their conclusions!

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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Would it have been less painful for the Boston Celtics to have been swept in the 2023 East finals?

Also, if the Celtics had been swept, would there be discussions about breaking up the team?

The Boston Celtics’ shocking collapse against the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the NBA’s 2023 Eastern Conference finals exposed one last time the Celtics’  shortcomings this season and raised serious questions about their future as a title contender.

Clouding the situation is Jayson Tatum’s ankle injury, which hindered his performance throughout the game. The same can be said for the stomach bug we later learned big man Robert Williams III was dealing with and the tendon issue bothering ’23 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.

If the Celtics had been swept, would there be discussions about breaking up the team? Or would the conversations focused more on head coach Joe Mazzulla and his inexperience contributing to the defeat?

At least some analysts are arguing that getting swept would have been less painful than a Game 7 collapse. Among them are the hosts of CBS Sports Radio’s “Maggie and Perloff” show.

To hear their case for such a perspective, check out 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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Why can’t Boston’s Jaylen Brown dribble in traffic?

Can the Georgia native ever get his handle to a level where he won’t be a walking target attacking the basket?

Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals was not very entertaining for fans of the Boston Celtics, who watched the Miami Heat escape the embarrassment of blowing a 3-0 series lead.

Miami’s defense was outstanding, limiting Boston to 84 points, the lowest in the series, and Caleb Martin was the star of the game.

For Celtics fans, Jaylen Brown had a disappointing performance with 8 turnovers and 5 fouls. He struggled with ballhandling all game in what must have seemed like a recurring nightmare.

Can the Georgia native ever get his handle to a level where he will not be a walking target attacking the basket?

The host of the “Also Rusty Buckets” podcast recently took a deep dive into Game 7 and Brown’s substandard handle.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his thoughts on Brown’s ball control issues.

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 lessons are to be learned from the Boston Celtics loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 East finals?

Most importantly, how will the team try to improve itself to make another run at a title?

What lessons are to be learned from the Boston Celtics’ unexpected loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals series and their overall postseason run that capped off a very turbulent season?

How will the things we have learned about this ball club as currently constructed factor into the team’s plans moving forward heading into a pivotal offseason given the limits the new NBA collective bargaining agreement is about to impose on the Celtics? And most importantly, how will the team try to improve itself to make another run at a title?

The host of the CLNS Media “Winning Plays” podcast Brian Robb and Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston break down all of the above in more in a recent episode of the show.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what the pair had to say about how they think the Celtics could respond

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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After losing to the Miami Heat in the East finals, what’s next for the Boston Celtics?

What happens with the future of this roster?

After clawing their way back to tie the series 3-3, the Boston Celtics fell on their face in Game 7 at TD Garden as the Miami Heat cruised to a 103-84 win, punching their ticket to the 2023 NBA Finals.

With Jayson Tatum hurt on the first play and hobbled the rest of the game, Jaylen Brown was called upon to carry some of the workload and crumpled under the pressure, losing turnover after turnover and forcing shots from deep. What can the Celtics do in the aftermath of their Game 7 loss? What happens with the future of this roster?

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Vitamin Cs” podcast Tim Sheils and Wayne “Breezie” Brown as they vent and break down a tough loss and the questions to answer this 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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