Tag: 2023 Eastern Conference Finals

Nate Robinson thinks the Celtics have something missing to fix

‘They didn’t win the championship, this Celtics group,’ shared Robinson.

After the Boston Celtics‘ loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, former Boston star Nate Robinson believes the current Celtics have had their reputation tarnished. However, Nate Rob left the door open to the Celtics righting the ship.

In an interview with Sporting Posts’ Ben Mendelowitz, the Seattle native opened up about the Boston team of today compared to the all-time great Celtics squads of the past.

“They didn’t win the championship, this Celtics group — and the reason is because they didn’t have ‘it’ — whatever Celtics had back in the day with Larry Bird, they had ‘it’,” suggested Robinson.

“They didn’t have it, they didn’t have players taking quality shots,” he added. “They have a group of talented guys but they have something missing.”

Boston’s front office will try to address whatever that missing element might be in the NBA’s 2023 offseason. But with a new collective bargaining agreement to contend with, the Celtics will have their work cut out for them.

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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Who is to blame for the Boston Celtics’ ECF loss to the Miami Heat?

Who is to blame for all of the above? Mazzulla? Udoka? Team president Brad Stevens? The players? Or some combination of the above?

The Boston Celtics’ playoff loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals can be attributed to two main factors: the Celtics’ defensive decline and a lack of a reliable offensive strategy when Mazzulla ball’s trademark 3-point shooting didn’t work.

Last year, Boston was known for its exceptional defense under former head coach Ime Udoka, but this season it was merely a good defensive team under coach Joe Mazzulla. The offense was prone to dysfunction when challenged. As a result, it couldn’t allow the Celtics to be just a good defensive team. They also allowed Miami to get comfortable on both ends, ultimately dooming them when key players got hurt.

Who is to blame for all of the above? Mazzulla? Udoka? Team president Brad Stevens? The players? Or some combination of the above?

Check out the clip embedded above to hear the thoughts of the eponymous host of the Volume “Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf” 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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Reacting to the Boston Celtics’ 103-84 blowout in Game 7 of the East finals vs. the Miami Heat

After miraculously walking down a 3-0 series deficit to tie things up 3-3, the Boston Celtics ultimately collapsed under pressure.

After miraculously walking down a 3-0 series deficit to tie things up 3-3, the Boston Celtics ultimately collapsed under pressure in Game 7 to the Miami Heat, losing the critical contest to the Heat 103-84 and leaving many important questions unanswered heading into an uncertain offseason.

With star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum getting injured on the first play of the game, the St. Louis native played through a nasty ankle sprain and left Boston wing Jaylen Brown to step up and carry the scoring load. What ended up happening, however, was a horrid performance from Brown, shooting 1-9 from beyond the arc and wracking up 8 turnovers as the number one option.

It also raised further concerns about his future with the Celtics ahead of a potential Supermax extension.

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon as they discuss a lackluster Game 7 performance from the Celtics.

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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‘We let the whole city down’: Jaylen Brown on Boston’s Game 7 loss to the Heat

‘Just a terrible game when my team needed me most,’ said the Cal alum.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown didn’t sugar-coat it after the Celtics lost Game 7 of the 2023 East finals to the Miami Heat on Monday night.

“We failed. I failed. We let the whole city down,” Brown said after Boston fell short in their attempt erase a 3-0 series deficit. “Just a terrible game when my team needed me most.”

That star teammate Jayson Tatum severely turned his ankle on the first play of the game was not lost on the Georgia native despite his admitted shortcomings in filling the void left by Tatum’s diminished ability on the court.

“JT hurt his ankle first play of the game, and you could see it swelling up on him,” Brown said. “He couldn’t move out there. It was tough on him. My team turned to me to make plays, and I came up short.”

But it was not just Brown who fumbled perhaps the most important game of his career to that point. Only Derrick White and Tatum joined him in double figures, and no one provided consistent defensive play throughout.

“Offensively, it just seemed like we couldn’t hit a shot,” he added on a night Boston produced one of its least efficient nights beyond the arc of the season. “We had a bunch of good looks and nothing went in. We all have to sit back and reflect on that,” said Brown.

Now, they will have an uncomfortable amount of time to do so.

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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PHOTOS-Miami at Boston: Celtics’ luck runs out; they fall 103-84 to Heat

From the first play of the game, it was clear fortune did not favor the Celtics in Game 7.

The Boston Celtics took the floor of TD Garden to play the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs on the precipice of history. They had tied up the series after losing the first three contests of the third round.

When the final buzzer sounded, however, the effect of Jayson Tatum (14 points, 11 rebounds) spraining his ankle on the very first play of the game meant the Celtics’ run of luck came to an end. Miami won, 103-84, to advance to face the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Apart from a hobbled Tatum, only Jaylen Brown (19 points, 8 boards, 5 assists) and Derrick White (18 points) scored in double figures. No other players stepped up to help fill the gaps created by an unsatisfactory effort on both ends by the supporting cast with questionable decisions in terms of defensive coverages.

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments captured in images in Game 7 of the East finals between the Heat and Celtics.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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Business left unfinished: Three thoughts on Boston’s 103-84 Game 7 loss

The Celtics shot 9-for-42 from deep and coughed up 15 turnovers in Game 7 as Boston unraveled with the season on the line.

The Boston Celtics offseason officially began after a Game 7 loss Monday night at TD Garden. Battling back from an 3-0 series deficit was an admirable effort, but Boston’s Eastern Conference finals comeback ultimately fell short with a 103-84 loss to the Miami Heat.

The business of bringing home an 18th banner remains unfinished for the Celtics.

Poor defense and worse shooting doomed Boston from the jump, and the Celtics could neither buy a basket nor consistently slow the Heat. Jimmy Butler led the way for Miami, logging 28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. On the other side, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 33 points on a 2-for-13 performance from deep and 39% shooting overall. It was a perfect storm in all the wrong ways for the Celtics.

Evening the series was a major feat in and of itself. Boston is one of only four teams to ever force a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in a series in NBA history. Still, the loss ushers in an offseason period that could bring significant change for the Celtics. For now, here’s your game recap for Boston’s 103-84 Game 7 loss.

Boston is on the verge of being the first team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit – but will they?

What will Game 7 be like back in Boston? Tonight, we find out.

Three straight Jimmy Butler free throws put the Boston Celtics on the verge of a heartbreaking ending to their incredible East finals series comeback against the Miami Heat.

They had as many seconds (three) left to keep their season alive. With their final play, veteran guard Marcus Smart launched a quick 3-point shot that rattled in and out of the rim.

Positioned perfectly, guard Derrick White tipped the ball back up with .2 seconds on the clock and it dropped for the bucket as time expired, stealing a win in Miami to force a Game 7 back home in Boston.

Join the hosts of the CLNS Media “Vitamin Cs” podcast Tim Sheils and Wayne “Breezie” Brown as they discuss and react to an INSANE finish in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, and what Game 7 could be like back in Boston in the video 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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Celtics injury update: Malcolm Brogdon expected to play vs Miami in Game 7

The Boston Celtics may have more depth to bring to bear in their Game 7 showdown with the Miami Heat.

The Boston Celtics may have more depth to bring to bear in their Game 7 of the 2023 East finals with the Miami Heat that tips off Monday night, according to Andscape’s Marc Spears.

Per Spears, Celtics Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon will try to play in Game 7. He sat out games 2 and 6 due to pain caused by a torn arm tendon he suffered hurt in Game 1 of the series. It remains unclear how much the former Virginia player will be able to play in his condition, but Brogdon was seen getting up shots at shootaround this morning per ESPN’s Time Bontemps, a positive sign.

On the other side of the equation, Miami floor general Gabe Vincent has been downgraded to questionable for Monday night’s tilt with the Celtics.

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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Will the Derrick White buzzer-beater in Game 6 change Boston Celtics history?

How will we remember White’s unreal shot in the history of Celtics playoff lore?

The Boston Celtics escaped South Beach with a 104-103 victory against the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals. Celtics guard Derrick White had a tip-in game-winner in the final seconds of the tilt to send the East finals back to Boston for what could be an historic Game 7 with the Celtics having once trailed the series 3-0.

Can Boston make history at TD Garden on Monday night to become the first team in 150 postseason series in which a team has gone down 3-0 to win it? If they do, how will we remember White’s unreal shot in the history of Celtics playoff lore?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report Postgame Show” podcast Bobby Manning and A. Sherrod Blakley discussed where the game-winner could stand in Celtics and Boston sports history in the video 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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Boston Celtics at Miami Heat: How to watch, broadcast, lineups (Game 7)

The Celtics are poised to become the first in NBA history to come back from a 0-3 deficit with a win.

The Boston Celtics hope to make history tonight in TD Garden as they take on the Miami Heat in a winner-take-all Game 7 as the team is poised to become the first in NBA history to come back from a 0-3 deficit with a win.

If you happen to be looking for a way to watch the on-court action live on cable television or a local or national online streaming service that carries the game, keep reading while we get you up to speed on everything else you need to know about the game. Along with player injuries and likely starters for both teams,  we of course will have how to watch it listed below.

Let’s begin with the players available to play.