Tag: Tristan Thompson

Boston’s Tristan Thompson talks COVID bout, trade rumors and the team’s struggles

The veteran big man had plenty to say after Wednesday win over the New York Knicks.

Boston Celtics veteran big man Tristan Thompson made his return from an extended stay in the NBA’s health and safety protocols in a win against the New York Knicks he was instrumental in securing, and opened up on a number of issues which had been swirling around the former Cleveland Cavaliers champion since before the 2021 trade deadline.

Thompson addressed his absence, the severity of the COVID-19 bout he’d gone through, and some negative press he got in the pre-trade deadline rumor mill among several other topics, starting with how it felt to be back on the court with the team after so long away from it.

“It felt good to be back out there, [after] missing 13 games or something,” he began.

 

Smith: Tristan Thompson, Daniel Theis ‘have received significant interest’

Boston’s frontcourt might look very different by this time tomorrow.

It seems possible the Boston Celtics 2020-21 frontcourt may be in for a bit of a shake-up, if the Celtics leverage reported interest in two of their big men to their advantage as they reshape their roster at the 2021 NBA trade deadline.

Yahoo Sports’ Keith Smith relates that both soon-to-be free agent big man Daniel Theis and veteran center Tristan Thompson “have received significant interest” from teams interested in dealing for the Boston bigs ahead of today’s 3 p.m. moratorium on trades. Whether the Celtics are inclined to reciprocate that interest likely hinges on how it would fit into their plans with the Orlando Magic to acquire forward Aaron Gordon along with wing Evan Fournier, or perhaps other aspects of their roster they may seek to revamp.

While details of the Fournier deal remain sparse and the Gordon pursuit unclear, it seems there will at least be potential options to move one or both of these two big men if the circumstances require.

https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1375109738552307715

Expect more and frequent updates to this rapidly-changing trade deadline landscape for the Celtics.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Brad Stevens denies team chemistry issues amid Tristan Thompson rumors

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens discusses rumors of team chemistry issues and Tristan Thompson ‘not being loved’ in the Celtics locker room.

With the NBA trade deadline less than 24 hours away, trade rumors aren’t the only rumors swirling around the Boston Celtics franchise as potential team chemistry issues inside the Celtics locker room have been reported.

On ‘The Mismatch’ podcast with The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Chris Vernon, O’Connor and Vernon discussed reported team chemistry issues amongst the Celtics, including Marcus Smart being unhappy about being involved in trade rumors, a ‘literal divide’ in the Celtics locker room which splits the teams into two, and most specifically, center Tristan Thompson is ‘resented’ and ‘not loved in that locker room for numerous different reasons’ amongst the team because he ‘won’t stop going out’ and continues to break health and safety protocols.

Amid those talks of rumored team chemistry issues in the Celtics locker room, head coach Brad Stevens took to his weekly appearance on Zolak & Bertrand of 98.5 The Sports Hub to refute those rumors and help ease the mind of Celtics fans

Walker, Brown react to rumors of chemistry issues, Thompson resentment

Walker, Brown respond to rumors of chemistry issues, Thompson resentment.

Whispers — or if we are being more honest, talk — of a rift between veteran big man Tristan Thompson and his team, the Boston Celtics, caught the attention of fans in a new podcast from The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor on Tuesday.

Speaking to one another on a new episode of “The Mismatch,” the duo discussed the state of the Celtics, talking about how the rumors of a potential Marcus Smart trade might be affecting things in Boston and — later on — Thompson’s situation. The champion center has been in the league’s health and safety protocols for the last four games, and Vernon spoke about how the big man has been flouting COVID-19 safety rules to the chagrin of his teammates.

“I was told he won’t stop going out,” said the Ringer analyst.

 

Thompson joins Langford in health, safety protocols ahead of Jazz tilt

Both Thompson and Langford will remain in the league’s health and safety protocols for the time being.

The Boston Celtics will be without more than just second-year wing Romeo Langford when they play the Utah Jazz Tuesday evening, with veteran big man Tristan Thompson joining the shooting guard on the league’s health and safety protocols, per the team.

While Thompson’s situation moving forward remains unclear ahead of the looming March 25 NBA trade deadline, head coach Brad Stevens related he expects Langford to remain out for the Celtics’ next two games on Wednesday and Friday while speaking to the press ahead of Boston’s home tilt with the Jazz, placing the Indiana native’s earliest return to action at Sunday, March 21 against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.

It would be his season debut, with Langford yet to see the floor this season after a lengthy recovery from surgery on a tendon in his wrist hurt during the 2020 NBA postseason.

It is unclear whether either player’s presence actually impacts the team’s plans for the trade deadline, but it certainly gives the Celtics far fewer opportunities to see the team at full strength.

If that is even a possibility with Thompson’s situation now murky regarding his potential return.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Haynes: Celtics may part with Thompson; Raptors possible landing spot

Tristan Thompson could be on the move, perhaps to his native Toronto.

It seems like there is a good chance the Tristan Thompson era of the Boston Celtics could be coming to a close based on recent reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.

The NBA insider relates that the Celtics may “trade their starting center by the March 25 trade deadline, with the Toronto Raptors being a possible destination”. And while most trade rumors ought to be taken with a grain of salt at this time of year, with Boston’s frontcourt crunch having forced head coach Brad Stevens into a plan moving forward of juggling minutes to only play two of the team’s three starting-caliber big men moving forward, a trade seems all but certain.

Brad Stevens explains why the double-big lineup worked vs. Atlanta

Coach Stevens related why the unorthodox lineups worked so well against the Hawks.

The much-maligned “double-big” lineup of center Tristan Thompson and big man Daniel Theis were an instrumental part of the Boston Celtics’ 121 – 109 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at TD Garden, perhaps to the surprise of more than a few of Brad Stevens’ critics on that issue.

Add in plenty of time for Theis or Thomas and reserve center Robert Williams III, and there were big men a-plenty on the floor for the Celtics — and the chemistry was good, as was their scoring and defense for the most part. Thompson played his best game with Boston yet, scoring 17 points and 5 rebounds, and Theis played well with 14 points, 8 boards and 3 blocks.

Time Lord added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks off the bench.

Tristan Thompson isn’t happy about his start, but is focused on the finish

The champion veteran knows it’s about 16 wins in the playoffs more than the peaks and valleys of the regular season.

Speaking with the media after shoot-around ahead of his first game back playing against the franchise for which he played the first decade of his career, Boston Celtics veteran big man Tristan Thompson was asked about where he was at in terms of being ready for the season given the unusual start he’s had.

Not only dealing with the same compressed season — and training camp ahead of it — as everyone else, Thompson hadn’t played a game of NBA basketball since March with the Cleveland Cavaliers not participating in the Disney restart bubble. Add in that the Toronto native started the season on a minutes limit after missing camp with a strained hamstring, and the champion center has been playing catch-up from the rip.

“Not having training camp and injury definitely set me back,” explained Thompson.

“I’m just starting to get my legs a little bit, so of course it’s tough coming back from an injury, and [being on a minutes] restriction and all that jazz … that’d be frustrating. But it’s a long season, and this team is built for the long run. Not for the lottery, or this season until May.”

“This team is built the summer — June or July,” explained the former Cav.

In the midst of their first losing streak of more than two games of the season with three straight losses to the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, it would be easy to be frustrated — perhaps even dejected. But Thompson feels his experience has prepared him for the ups-and-downs of the season.

“I know during the season there’s going to be peaks and valleys,” offered the Celtic big man. “If you play in this league for ten years, there’s stretches where you feel like you’re on top of the world, and there’s stretches where it’s frustrating at times.”

“But as long as you get back to the basics, and put the work in every day, that’s all that matters,” Thompson added

It seems that the veterans brought in to establish a more hard-working culture still have some of their own to do to set an example as a crucial, more difficult stretch of the schedule draws closer.

But with the blue-collar credo espoused by Thompson manifested into action by himself, Jeff teague and their younger teammates, we may well start to see the fruits of those efforts when it arrives.

Or Boston will have a hole of significance to dig out of instead.

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WATCH: Tristan Thompson, Jeff Teague pregame comments vs Indy

Get up to speed with what this duo had to say before tonight’s game against the Pacers.

Ahead of their Sunday evening showdown with the as-of-yet undefeated Indiana Pacers, new Boston Celtics veteran signees Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson briefly spoke with the press via teleconference.

In town for several days to complete a Major League Baseball-style series being instituted to minimize travel in the ongoing pandemic, questions regarding what road life is like in the era of COVID-19 was like abounded. Teague and Thompson also fielded question on their expectations for the season based off of the limited feedback Boston’s two games of the 2020-21 season provided, and where Thompson was in terms of his minutes restriction among other issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Lrb6VUpXw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaS9Z7tGXio

Additionally, the trip to Indiana is something of a homecoming for several members of the Celtics organization. Jeff Teague shared how he appreciated the opportunity to see local family he wasn’t able to spend time with over Christmas.

Watch the videos embedded above put together by our friends at CLNS Media to hear what two of the newest non-rookie Celtics had to say about the looming contest with the Pacers.

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Tristan Thompson has 2nd practice; to have min restriction on return

Celtics coach Brad Stevens declined to say when the center would be able to return to Boston’s rotation, however.

Progress is being made little by little at getting the Boston Celtics back to full strength, with newly-signed big man Tristan Thompson getting in his second practice with the team without any setbacks according to head coach Brad Stevens.

Speaking with the media after the team’s practice on Monday, the Celtics coach revealed that while there was no timetable yet for the former Cleveland Cavalier to return to action just yet, Thompson was doing well given the especially long break he had due to the pandemic and the Cavs not making the playoffs nor participating in the Disney bubble restart.

Asked whether the champion center would be ready for opening night, Stevens demurred.

“We’ll see — he practiced again today,” shared the coach. “He looked good;  again I go back to the fact he hasn’t played nine months prior to these last two practices, so we’ll follow the lead of our medical team and get Tristan’s feedback and see how it goes.”

He’ll have a minutes restriction when he’s cleared,” added Stevens.

Asked whether there were ever considerations regarding shifting players’ roles to help adjust for players like Thompson and point guard Kemba Walker, the former Butler chief downplayed the suggestion.

“We don’t need anybody on our team to be somebody that’s out,” he explained.

“We need everybody on our team to be the best version of themselves, and that becomes even more important when guys are out. So I think that’s what we’re talking about with everybody, and everybody’s got specific goals, specific roles for us to be good we’re going to really have to hit on, especially for the first couple months of the season.”

Boston plans to test its bench’s capabilities, strengths and weaknesses in the early part of the season, pushing the bench to test the progress they can make in a very short time towards achieving those goals.

And once Thompson is available to add some veteran play and leadership to a very young rotation, the Celtics should begin to see some results.

With a very tough start to the 2020-21 league calendar for Boston, fans may clamor for trades early if the games go poorly, but given the task at hand and the elite teams the Celtics face early in the season, patience will be the word of the week.

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