Tag: 2023 Eastern Conference Finals

Should we be worried about Malcolm Brogdon’s arm injury?

The Celtics’ Sixth Man of the Year is dealing with a tear in an arm tendon.

If you have noticed that the Boston Celtics have not been getting much out of their Sixth Man of the Year in recent postseason games, it is not just you. Celtics reserve floor general Malcolm Brogdon is dealing with an arm injury after Game 3 where he scored 0 points.

News came out on Wednesday afternoon that Brogdon has a partially torn tendon that the Virginia alum suffered in Game 1 of Boston’s 2023 East finals series vs. the Miami Heat at TD Garden. So far since the start of the Eastern Conference finals, Brogdon has scored only 2 points in the past two games.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” convened to talk about the Celtics’ big win, and how Brogdon’s injury might impact the series moving forward.

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Unity, accountability key in Boston Celtics’ East finals resurgence vs. Miami Heat, per Jaylen Brown

The Boston star shared what he believes is behind the Celtics turning their series vs. Miami around from near-collapse.

Asked how the Boston Celtics had essentially turned their play around from the first three games of their East finals series against the Miami Heat in their last two games of the series to turn a 0-3 series deficit into a competitive 3-2 competition to advance to the 2023 NBA Finals after Boston’s Game 5 win, star forward Jaylen Brown did not mince words, saying, “Nothing special”.

“I think being together in moments of adversity, staying on the same page, and sticking with it, doubling down on things that we can do better.”

“Holding each other accountable has been a key thing since once we got ourselves together,” he added. “We all looked each other in our eyes and saying, ‘Okay, we are not going out like this.'”

“We want to represent the organization,” continued Brown. “We also represent ourselves and our family, and obviously, we haven’t performed when we felt like we needed to perform.”

“Game 4 was the start of that atonement, and now we have been able to pick up off of that in Game 5, and hopefully we can carry it on to Game 6.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Celtics Lab 197: Boston beats the Heat at the Garden in Game 5; is anything truly possible?

No team has come back from a 0-3 deficit, but Boston will be in pole position to do so with a win in Miami for Game 6.

No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit, but on Thursday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics looked as if they could end that seemingly unbreakable streak against the Miami Heat. In a wire-to-wire victory flowing from Boston’s elite defense, the Heat never had a chance in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference finals.

Can the Celtics do the (at least until now) impossible? How did they win Game 5? What do they need to keep doing to take Game 6 in Miami? And can they keep their mind in the present, avoiding looking past the Heat?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast got together postgame to talk it over live from TD Garden; be sure to tune in to the immaculate Game 5 vibes.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by Fan Duel and Better Help.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Don’t call it a comeback: Three thoughts on a 110-97 Boston Celtics Game 5 victory

The Celtics are taking their talents back to South Beach after extending the Eastern Conference finals behind a 110-97 Game 5 victory.

This Boston Celtics season is still alive after a Game 5 home victory over the Miami Heat. With the 110-97 win, the Celtics have clawed back from a 3-0 series deficit to pull within two games of a return to the NBA finals. Still down 3-2, Boston has plenty of work to do down in Miami if the team is to keep the dream afloat and extend the Eastern Conference finals.

Boston paired patient defense with steady offense and dictated the terms of engagement in Game 5 from the jump. Four Celtics players scored 20 or more points, with Derrick White and Marcus Smart playing particularly well. White led all scorers with 24 points, while Smart logged 23 points to go with 5 steals. This gave breathing room to All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who combined for 42 points of their own.

For the first three games of the series, the Heat looked like the better team, but in a flash, Boston appears to have momentum on its side. The Celtics still have to win two more games, including a Game 6 on the road and a potential Game 7. But if these Celtics come to play, anything is possible.

For now, here’s your recap for Game 5 between the Celtics and Heat.

PHOTOS-Celtics at Heat: Boston beats the Heat 110-97 in wire-to-wire win

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments captured in images in Game 5 of the East Finals between the Heat and Celtics.

The Boston Celtics postseason life depended on every play they made in Game 5 of their 2023 East finals series with the Miami Heat, and they came out like they knew it better than anyone, jumping out to a 20-5 lead to start the game. They did not take their foot off of the gas, either, beating the Heat 110-97 in a wire-to-wire victory.

Big games from Derrick White (24 points), Marcus Smart (23 points, 5 steals), Jayson Tatum (21 points, 11 rebounds), and Jaylen Brown (21 points, 3 steals) secured the key win for the Celtics, bringing the series to 2-3 in favor of Miami as the series heads back to Florida.

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments captured in images in Game 5 of the East Finals between the Heat and Celtics.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Malcolm Brogdon leaves Game 5 early with right forearm soreness

Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon left the action early during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals with a right forearm injury.

Boston Celtics shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon left halfway through Game 5 and was ruled as doubtful to return by the team.

It was reported earlier in the week that the Atlanta native was playing through a torn tendon in his right arm, though he hasn’t missed any time thus far with the injury. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White picked up Brogdon’s minutes in his absence.

Brogdon has been a critical offensive piece for the Celtics, providing shooting and playmaking off the bench. He earned Sixth Man of the Year Award honors, though his shooting percentage has been down considerably in this Eastern Conference finals.

Boston is looking to erase a 3-0 series deficit, and would become the first team in NBA history to do so. Miami has looked like the better team through most of the series, but the Celtics have perhaps begun to turn the tide. Being without such a valuable veteran for any period of time would be a challenge for Boston’s chances at completing a comeback.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01h12m8rvj9fr6fh2bm7 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01h12m8rvj9fr6fh2bm7/01h12m8rvj9fr6fh2bm7-7980e6f4de9b2756434f090881f4dfa9.jpg]

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla says mid-series meeting with young cancer patients has helped him center his faith

Prior to Game 5, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters about a recent meeting with young cancer patients, an experience that is helping him center faith amid postseason pressure.

Prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked how he is dealing with any stress and keeping his composure.

The media wanted to know if he had any movies or television shows he was using as a helpful distraction. As it turns out, Mazzulla has been centering his faith and remaining mindful rather than seeking out easy diversions.

Mazzulla explained he recently visited with three young women, all of whom are dealing with terminal cancer. This experience was a lesson in maintaining perspective, Mazzulla said. Though Celtics are on the wrong side of a 3-1 series deficit and the 2023 postseason could come to an end sooner rather than later, Mazzulla explained he’s perfectly comfortable with where he is at.

“I was helping them by talking to them, and they were helping me.” Mazzulla said.

For Celtics’ Al Horford, it’s defense that makes Boston great

“Offensively, we have to play with good pace and we have to limit those turnovers,” said the vet big man.

The Boston Celtics have tended to play better as underdogs for almost all of their current rebuild, but they find themselves the underdogs against the Miami Heat in the 2023 East finals as a result of their inconsistent play early in the series.

While there are lines of continuity between this and last season, for Boston big man Al Horford, the campaigns have a distinct flavor.

“This season the team is different and we’re in a different position,” shared the onetime Florida star to Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson ahead of Game 5 of the series at TD Garden Thursday night.

“I feel like that we get most teams’ best shot and for us, it’s continuing to do the things that make us great — and that’s doing a great job defending,” he continued.

“Offensively, we have to play with good pace and we have to limit those turnovers. And I think that doing that really puts us in a pretty good position to win games.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Brian Scalabrine confronts rumors of the Boston Celtics’ locker room being split

The White Mamba recently weighed in on those reports suggesting there is tension among Boston’s players.

Are recent reports about fractures in the Boston Celtics’ locker room in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat true? If you ask former Celtics champ and current NBC Sports Boston broadcaster Brian Scalabrine, he has his doubts.

The White Mamba (as Scal was called in his playing days for a nickname) weighed in on reports suggesting there is tension among Boston’s players. On WEEI’s “Jones and Meggo” show, he dismissed them as individual perspectives and said players don’t need to be best friends to perform well together on the court and win at the highest levels of the sport.

Scalabrine stressed the importance of playing with urgency if Boston is to have any chance of coming back in its series against Miami. He defended the idea that team success is not solely determined by social activities off the court.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what he had to say about the Celtics’ locker room cohesion.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Boston’s Joe Mazzulla rejects comparisons to 2022-23 Celtics

“We’re a different basketball team in a different situation with different personnel and I’m trying to accomplish the same goal,” said Mazzulla.

For many fans of the Boston Celtics, the team’s problems playing the right way in moments of highest pressure this season are far too much like what we saw from Boston last season. Those Celtics ultimately fell to the more disciplined Golden State Warriors in six games in the 2022 NBA Finals.

But for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, this iteration of the team is its own animal.

“I don’t see too many similarities from last season and I try not to make those connections outside of the fact that we’re a different basketball team in a different situation with different personnel and I’m trying to accomplish the same goal,” said Mazzulla to Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.

“I feel regardless of what happens, we just have to fight to play our best basketball,” he explained.

“We have to know what that is and we have to do it more times and that to me is the most important thing. We’re not going to be perfect, but we have an identity of what we know what to do to win and we have to stick to it.”

Boston may be in a better position to emerge from a 3-0 series deficit in the playoffs than any of the other 150 teams who have previously tried now that they have a win under their belt as they head back to TD Garden.

But the margins are razor thin on every possession, meaning anything less than perfect execution could very well end in the offseason — and all the accompanying questions that will come with it — arriving earlier than anticipated for 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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]