Tag: in-season tournament

Not everyone is sold on the NBA’s new in-season tournament

There are players who aren’t happy about point differentials, coaches out there who agree, and holdout analysts.

Not everyone is sold on the NBA’s new in-season tournament. While the event seems to be a hit with fans of the Boston Celtics after Boston’s improbable advancement, there are plenty of players who are none too thrilled about the need to run up the score to have their best chances of winning it — and there are at least a few head coaches out there who agree with them on that point.

There are safety concerns among the players, and there are even some holdouts among the best-known analysts in league history. Regarding the latter, examples can be found in the hosts of the CLNS Media “Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, and Gary Tanguay” podcast.

Goodman and Ryan spoke at length on their in-season tournament reservations at length on the most recent episode of their show.

Check it out in 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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Derrick White, Celtics happy to be part of NBA history at in-season tournament quarterfinals

Derrick White explains why he and the Celtics are excited to be a part of the NBA’s first in-season tournament.

When the NBA first unveiled the inaugural in-season tournament, players and fans were slow to embrace the new tradition. During the group stage of games throughout November, members of the Boston Celtics began to warm up to the tournament. And after winning Group C, the Celtics are headed to Indianapolis for a win-or-go-home quarterfinal game against the Indiana Pacers.

The tournament itself is an experiment from the NBA inspired by European soccer and other professional sports leagues that have multiple cups, trophies, and other special stretches on the calendar. The NBA used new courts, jerseys, and other branding to try and build excitement and familiarity among fans, while a cash prize for the winners is meant to entice players.

Now that Boston has advanced to the knockout round, the enthusiasm for the tournament is building.

Boston Celtics warming up to the in-season tournament per Jaylen Brown

“I think people are starting to gravitate to it a little bit more. I’m thinking it’s been a good thing so far,” said Brown.

The Boston Celtics are already getting some benefits from their success in the NBA’s new in-season tournament according to MassLive’s Souichi Terada. Per Terada, the Celtics are already getting $50,000 per player for advancing to the quarterfinals, and will get incrementally larger sums if they continue to advance to the title game, the winner of which gets $500,000.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown also shared that the tourney is also helping the team focus early in the season. “The in-season tournament is going to help us a little bit because the season can get a little mundane, 82 games, it’s a grind, it gets kind of like monotonous a little bit, game after game,” he explained.

“But mixing it up, having something a little bit different, I think it’ll increase our focus levels, and hopefully we’re able to keep that maintained throughout the season.”

“It’s just something new, I wanted to see how the guys would respond to it,” he added. “(…) For the most part, I think everybody was kind of in the same boat … they didn’t hate it, but they didn’t love it either.”

“But as it’s starting to grow, I think people are starting to gravitate to it a little bit more. I’m thinking it’s been a good thing so far.”

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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On the Boston Celtics advancing in the in-season tournament

The Celtics have advanced to the NBA quarterfinals of the very first IST in league history.

The Boston Celtics absolutely decimated the Chicago Bulls in their final group play game of the NBA’s new in-season tournament (IST) at TD Garden on Tuesday night, and along with a little help from their pals the Brooklyn Nets and Boston’s IST point differential, have advanced to the NBA quarterfinals of the very first IST in league history.

This is great and all, but what are the major takeaways from the tilt? Is All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown’s sudden playmaking bump for real, or just a shorter-term anomaly? Is veteran big man Al Horford actually 25 years old? Plus, Celtics floor general Jrue Holiday returns from an ankle injury, and yet another battle with the Philadelphia Sixers is coming up this Friday evening.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “First to the Floor” podcast recently took a deep dive into all of the above on their latest streamed episode.

Check it out 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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Can the Boston Celtics actually win the NBA’s new in-season tournament?

They will have to beat the Pacers and one of the Lakers or Suns to do it.

The Boston Celtics surprised even their own fans as they beat the Chicago Bulls in the final game of the group play stage of the NBA’s new in-season tournament (IST) by enough to advance to the quarterfinals by their point differential.

And while that aspect of the IST certainly irked players on both ball clubs, it also put the Celtics in a position to win the IST in the very first season of its existence. Boston will face the Indiana Pacers on the road, and then if they get past the Pacers in a single-elimination match, will take on the winner of the IST’s West quarterfinals, one of the Los Angeles Lakers or Phoenix Suns, in Las Vegas.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “The Big Three” podcast recently weighed in on whether they believe Boston can win the inaugural IST.

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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Several Boston Celtics players express discontent with parts of the in-season tournament

Skeptics are questioning whether this focus undermines the traditional values of sportsmanship and fair play in NBA basketball.

The NBA’s decision to adopt point differentials as tiebreakers during the group play stage of the in-season tournament (IST) is rubbing some players the wrong way — even when it benefits their team, as was the case in the Boston Celtics’ recent IST victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics’ blowout win has ignited debates on whether the emphasis on point differentials in this particular format is altering the fundamental nature of the game in a negative way. Skeptics are questioning whether this focus undermines the traditional values of sportsmanship and fair play in NBA basketball, while others suggest the tourney is a novel format that will take time to get used to.

On a recent episode of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, the hosts weighed in on this controversy, and whether it will continue in future ISTs.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear their takes 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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Is the point differential aspect of the in-season tournament a bad idea?

Do the critics of the impact of point differential on play have a point, or are they just slow to adjust to this new wrinkle in the league calendar?

The recent group play in-season tournament game between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls has sparked considerable debate over the strategy of “running up the score” in the context of the NBA’s new tournament format, which uses point differentials for tiebreakers in the group play stage.

The Celtics secured a significant victory, but the way in which they did it has raised a number of questions about sportsmanship, ethics, and the overall excitement of the game for all involved. Do the critics of the impact of point differential on play have a point, or are they just slow to adjust to this new wrinkle in the league calendar?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast weighed in on the impact of point differential on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded 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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Did Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls have a right to be mad at the Boston Celtics?

The reactions from both teams showed a mix of dissatisfaction and understanding.

The recent tilt between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA’s new in-season tournament group play stage has sparked controversy and raised questions about sportsmanship in the NBA. The Celtics secured a decisive victory, running up the score to as much as a 35-point lead in the game’s fourth quarter.

This aggressive play, including keeping their starters on the court even with a commanding lead, and playing intense defense until the game’s final buzzer, has led to mixed reactions, with Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan expressing dissatisfaction with how things played out for Chicago.

The reactions from both teams showed a mix of dissatisfaction and understanding, with players like DeMar DeRozan expressing displeasure at the tactic.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast weighed in on the reactions to the tourney on a recent pod — check out their thoughts in the clip 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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Jaylen Brown is yet to be swayed by the in-season tournament

Jaylen Brown is expecting the in-season tournament to undergo some changes in the coming years.

The Boston Celtics are through to the knockout stage of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament. Boston secured their place by defeating the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday (Nov. 28.) However, the topic of point differential, and hunting for baskets when the game is already won once again became a topic.

The Celtics had secured a win over the Bulls but had to keep looking for their offense as they looked to chase down a 22-point deficit in their group. As you would expect, that type of mentality can ruffle some feathers, the same way it did when the Orlando Magic kept pushing their offense in their recent win over Boston.

Following the Celtics victory, Jaylen Brown shared his thoughts on the in-season tournament, and the additional competition it’s brought to the NBA in late November.

“Personally, I don’t really have a comment on it,” Brown said. “I think the agenda has been to increase competition, to increase revenue, to kind of make it more exciting during this time of year. But I don’t have a comment. But I will say that, honestly, there’s a line between increasing [all of that] and compromising the ethics of the game. It’s a balance. This is kind of the first that we’ve seen this. I’m sure there will be a lot of conversations going around that will get to some decisions.”

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding the in-season tournament’s point differential, with multiple players discussing their concerns in regards to respecting the game and operating with class.

As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some alterations made to the format in future seasons, especially if it can continue getting players to buy in and increase the popularity of the league at a notoriously slow point of the season.

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’s win over the Chicago Bulls earns praise from former stars

The Boston Celtics earned praise from the TNT post-game show for their dismantling of the Chicago Bulls.

The Boston Celtics dismantled the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday (Nov. 28.) The game was the final contest of the in-season tournament’s group stage. The Celtics came into the game needing to win by 23 or more points to stand a chance of finishing first in their group and qualifying for the knockout stage. They achieved that goal.

Boston’s performance was cold-blooded. Even with the game won, they continued to push the pace and run up the score as they looked to keep pace with the games around them. Sharp offensive execution and stifling defense ensured the Bulls were outmatched from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Following the game, the “Inside the NBA” crew reacted to the Celtics’ performance. Each member of the post-game show praised Boston’s performance and how they handled the added pressure of needing to reach a specific points total.

You can watch the full segment by clicking on the embedded clip above.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

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

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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