With Bogaerts Gone To San Diego, What Is Even The Point Of Rooting For The Red Sox Anymore?

 

    What started out as a decent day for the Red Sox after they finally made a few moves in free agency-signing All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to a two-year, $32 million contract and Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million contact-ended in the worst possible way with the late breaking news that franchise shortstop Xander Bogaerts had signed an 11-year deal worth $280 million with the Padres. The fact that the heart and soul of their club is now gone just a few years after they traded away another cornerstone-Mookie Betts-for pennies on the dollar, makes you wonder what exactly Chaim Bloom does for the Red Sox besides transforming them into the Boston Rays? Additionally with Boston's only other star Rafael Devers entering free agency after the 2023 season is there any doubt that he will eventually be moved for a bunch of middling prospects? 

    Very few players in any professional sports these days get to only play for one team but Bogaerts (and Betts for that matter) should have been in that rarified class. He was a two-time World Series champion, an All-Star, a leader on and off the field and a steady professional that always remained accountable even while Bloom and Red Sox ownership continually let him down as they recently stumbled to their fifth (!!!) last-place finish in the past 11 seasons. The last time that I checked, there is no salary cap in MLB (which is preposterous) but that is why big market teams like the Red Sox, Yankees (who just re-signed Aaron Judge to a nine-year deal worth a whopping $360 million dollar contract on Tuesday), Dodgers, Cubs and Phillies should inherently have a huge advantage over the small market teams like Tampa, the Pirates, the Brewers, the A's, etc.

    Bloom was supposedly brought in to firm up Boston's terrible farm system and yet they have produced very few high end prospects since he has been here. Furthermore, what is the point of drafting and developing your own players when like Betts and Bogaerts, they ultimately will be traded away or even worse, leave because you were not even in the same area code in terms of what type of legitimate offer you would give to your homegrown superstar? Listen, we all have the same gripes about the Red Sox and Fenway Park experience these days: the tickets are way too expensive, the product on the field stinks and the ballpark is a pain to get to let alone sit comfortably in on a hot summer night. 

    Fenway is such a tourist trap that it seems immune to not cranking out money no matter how bad the Red Sox might be. Still, that seems to be the only hope to make owner John Henry and his other negligent bozo billionaires to pay attention: stop going to the games, stop buying merchandise and stop watching the games on TV (well that has already happened but that's another story for another day). I have said for years that I love baseball but the sport makes it really hard on fans what with their way too long regular season, tedious games and terrible marketing of the overall product. Likewise, I have no idea how the Red Sox think that treating their team like the Rays is going to make anyone that actually cares about it want to pay any attention ever again. There will always be tough decisions to make in sports but the Red Sox have become completely tonedeaf to what really matters; building a consistent winner with likable players like Bogaerts and Betts should not be that difficult when you have endless resources in every way possible. It is one thing to get pantsed by the Dodgers in a lopsided trade but now they are getting pushed aside by the likes of the Padres. What a joke, thanks for everything Xander-you deserved way better than this pathetic exit from Boston.  

Everything Is Coming Up Celtics These Days As Al Horford Signs A Two-Year Extension With Them

 

    While the Patriots (6-6) stumble and try to stay somewhat relevant this winter, the Celtics (an NBA best 18-4) and Bruins (19-3-0, one point behind NJ-who has played two more games-for the top mark in the NHL) are both off to incredible starts to their respective seasons. That is actually one of the main reasons why I haven't written about either so far in these ridiculous campaigns: they have been mostly blowing everyone out so that gets pretty redundant and boring to discuss. Today at least brought some interesting off the court news for the C's as they signed veteran center Al Horford to a two-year contract extension worth $20 million. His numbers so far in 2022-23 are probably better than you realized: in 31 minutes per game, he's averaging 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.9 blocks. He is also shooting almost 50% on three-pointers (48.8%) which is way above his career average from downtown (36.6%). 

    With news of the Ime Udoka scandal breaking right before training camp started, you wondered how it would affect the team but so far first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla's transition has been seamless thanks to his absolutely loaded roster. By NBA standards, Al is already very old (he turned 36 during the NBA Finals last summer) and this deal will tie him to the C's through his 39th birthday in 2025. While that might seem a little crazy, if you have watched the Celts lately, you noticed that Horford is still a starting caliber player on an NBA title favorite. With fellow big man Robert Williams perpetually hurt and/or coming back from an injury, you need to have a legitimate backup plan for him since I doubt that he will ever play anything close to a full season. Enter Horford who was a Hawk for nine seasons (after being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 Draft) then he initially came here in free agency in 2016. After three good years, he briefly went to the Sixers followed by a short but miserable stay with the constantly rebuilding Thunder.

    When Brad Stevens reacquired him for next to nothing two summers ago, we all laughed thinking that Horford was completely washed up but he has proven everybody wrong by putting together a really nice return season with the Celtics culminating in his first ever NBA Finals apperance. He is too old to play in back-to-back games (like earlier this week) but who cares? Al provides stability and leadership to a team that still needs it despite the fact that Jayson Tatum has become one of the best players in the league and Jaylen Brown is an All-Star caliber player as well. With so many big personalities (and egos), every locker room needs a Horford-a calming presence on the floor and no doubt behind the scenes as well. Other than winning that elusive NBA title, he has done and seen almost everything when it comes to the game of basketball.

    Of course, this being the Celtics and Boston in general, this what looks to be absurd regular season for the C's won't really mean anything if they don't go back to the Finals and complete the job that they weren't quite ready to do last summer against Golden State. Few players ever get that storybook ending in pro sports but it seems well within Horford's grasp meaning that the Celtics could finally earn another banner and therefore he would retire on top. Until then, we should appreciate the maturity, classiness and sheer dependability of Horford who seems to be unique in many positive ways when it comes to the normally drama filled NBA. Al appears to genuinely like being a Celtic too and from what we can tell, he enjoys playing here which you also cannot put a price tag on.

In QB Bailey Zappe's First Career NFL Start, The Patriots Blanked The Hapless Lions 29-0

 

    If you are still searching for a legitimate reason to watch the Patriots (2-3 overall, 1-1 at home) this season, rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe is quickly becoming a major incentive to tune in as New England beat Detroit (1-4 overall, 0-2 away) 29-0 this afternoon at Gillette Stadium in a gorgeous fall day rocking their superb red Pat Patriot throwback uniforms (which they should wear all the time if you ask me). In his first career NFL start (and only his second career NFL game), Zappe was poised and efficient as he went 17-of-21 for 188 yards, a touchdown and an interception (that bounced off of Nelson Agholor's stone hands). It was a classic Bill Belichick game as his defense was perfect with a defensive touchdown, two sacks (both by linebacker Matthew Judon who set a team record with a sack in the first five straight contests of the season), a forced fumble and recovery and another interception by promising rookie cornerback Jack Jones while the Lions were 0-for-6 on fourth down which frankly seems impossible for most other teams. Pats kicker Nick Folk added five field goals and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (25 carries, 161 yards; 2 catches, 14 yards) had a career day after Damien Harris left with a hamstring injury. 

    This result probably reflects more on Detroit's usual ineptitude (whose lovable head coach Dan Campbell is still looking for his first road win in his head coaching career) but then again, any win for New England is a good one in 2022. Furthermore, there are so many average to bad teams in the NFL these days, if you can beat enough of them, you should find yourself in the playoffs (ala the Patriots last season) at the end of the year. Also, while Mac Jones will (likely) remain the starter when he returns from his high ankle sprain, at worst this proves that Zappe is a capable NFL backup quarterback and we finally should have seen the last of Brian Hoyer in a Pats uniform. Quality quarterbacks are the most important commodity that you can have in the NFL so the fact that Zappe can play already is a huge bonus and a boon to New England's scouting department and coaching staff. 

    Folk obviously started the scoring with a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter for a 6-0 Pats lead. The play of the game was safety Kyle Dugger's 59-yard scoop-and-score for a touchdown with 3:26 left in the first half. Folk added the PAT and then a 44-yard kick as time expired for a 16-0 halftime advantage. Folk-the clubhouse leader for AFC Special Teams Player of the Week-hit a 37-yard field goal on New England's first drive in the third quarter and late in the frame, Zappe connected with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (game-high 7 catches, 111 yards) for a 24-yard touchdown catch after a blown coverage by Detroit's awful defense. Folk kicked another extra point and closed it out with a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the final lopsided margin. 

    Looking ahead, if the Pats can keep getting stable play from their quarterback(s) and the defense continues to be pretty stingy, there are a bunch of possible wins on the horizon. They are at Cleveland (2-3 overall, 1-2 home) on Sunday afternoon (1, CBS) where they will face old friend Jacoby Brissett. Much like the Lions, the Browns are born losers as they proved once again today as they fell 30-28 to the Chargers (3-2) who did everything in their power to giftwrap the game for them. The following week, the Patriots host the Bears (2-3) on Monday Night Football, followed by their first meeting with the Jets (3-2) this season-at the Meadowlands-then they host the Colts (2-2-1), have their bye in Week 10 and get the return meeting with the Jets at Gillette coming out of the break. Clearly, this is not the Pats of old where we can get silly and way too far ahead of ourselves right away. They could lose all of those matchups that I just mentioned so while it is boring and trite, we will just have to wait for next weekend and see if they can come up with another solid gameplan to help Zappe-assuming that Mac is still out-succeed while letting Cleveland puke on themselves enough to give the game away.

Farewell To Former B's Captain/Future Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara & Thanks For All The Memories

 

    At age 45 (what up Tom Brady?) Zdeno Chara officially retired today after signing one of those goofy one-day contracts as a Bruin and as you would expect, that caused many wonderful moments from his 14 seasons in Boston to come flooding back. In many ways, the man that they call Big Zee is a singular figure not only in Bruins history but also in the NHL as well. He started off as a sideshow since he was the tallest player in league history (6-foot-9!) but through a relentless work effort and desire to be the best, he transformed himself into one of the top defensemen in the NHL (he won the Norris Trophy in 2009) and as great of a leader as you will ever find in sports. You can trace the Black and Gold's return to relevance with him signing here as a free agent: Boston made the playoffs in 11 of his 14 seasons (including 3 Stanley Cup Finals) and they won their lone Cup in the past 50 years in 2011 with him as the captain. 

    In a game built around playing through constant pain and nagging injuries, Chara's toughness and will to win are legendary. Not just because of his enormous size but Zdeno was one of the most fearsome fighters in the league. Additionally, he further cemented his place in Boston sports history by playing in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals vs. St. Louis with a broken jaw that was wired shut. Other than a hockey player, who else does that? The crazy part too is that as intense as he was on the ice, he is a super nice guy if you are not lining up against him. His charity work in this area was incredible while he also did his best to help his wife raise three kids (including twin boys) despite his incredibly demanding schedule. 

    He started his NHL career with the Islanders then he continued to progress in Ottawa before becoming a worldwide star and household name with the Bruins. In the last two seasons, he played for the Capitals and fittingly he closed out his brilliant run with one final campaign as an Islander. He is a no doubt first ballot Hockey Hall of Famer and it will be interesting to see where his post-playing days take him. Chara speaks seven (!) languages and after spending so much time and energy in hockey, it's hard to see him totally walking away from the game. You feel like he could become a great GM or part of a winning front office for an NHL club. Coaching also seems like a good fit although the time commitment for that is exhausting for somebody just coming off a 24-year career in the NHL and with a young family.

    You know that his number 33 will soon be raised to the rafters at TD Garden as well. He played the sixth most games in franchise history (1023) and finished third all-time in points (481) by a B's defenseman behind Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (1506) and Bobby Orr (888). In addition to the Norris Trophy, he also won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2011. He was named to NHL First All-Star Team three times along with four times on the NHL Second All-Star Team. He also competed in the NHL All-Star Game six times. In 200 career NHL playoff games, he had 18 goals and 52 assists with an NHL-best 14 Game Seven appearances. In his 14 seasons as a Bruin, he was first in games played (1023), plus-minus rating (+240), penalty minutes (1055) and time on ice per game (24:29). He finished with 148 goals and 333 assists in Boston. 

    We often say this when a great athlete retires but there truly will never be another Zdeno Chara for no matter how much longer we all live. His combination of a booming shot (for years the fastest slap shot in the NHL), ridiculous reach and shutdown defensive skills made him impossible to play against even for many of the game's top players. He is a winner and someone to admire even if you don't follow hockey or sports in general. Chara was always a true professional who did everything the right way and got the most out of his abilities. He also never made excuses and was classy in defeat. We wish him well in retirement and know that we will see him soon, possibly riding his bike around the city. 

For One Week, The Pats Were Not A Complete Disgrace As They Won 17-14 In Pittsburgh

 

    Let's be real here, barring anything insane, the Patriots (1-1 overall, 1-1 road) are not going to win the Super Bowl this season. With that said, coming off an utterly depressing 20-7 loss in last weekend's season-opener at Miami (2-0), today's 17-14 victory at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh (1-1) was a huge step forward by a team that has been in crisis mode since this bizarre summer began. Even if you didn't see the game, you can probably guess just by looking at the final score that it was not a work of art by any means but if the Pats are going to win more than a couple games this season, odds are that they will have to look like this since their offense is a work in progress to say the least.

    New England quarterback Mac Jones (21-for-35, 252 yards, TD, INT) had another shaky outing but he was better than Steelers stiff I mean quarterback Mitch Trubisky (21-of-33, 168 yards, TD, INT) so there is that. The Pats defense carried the day while the Steelers-who were missing All-Pro linebacker and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt-could not stop New England's final drive of the contest and the visitors were able to successfully run out the clock. Ironically one of the biggest plays came from former Patriots great Gunner Olszewski who muffed a punt allowing new Pats special teams hero Brenden Schooler to pounce on it. That led to incredible field position for New England which ended with a two-yard touchdown run by running back Damien Harris (71 yards rushing, 16 yards receiving). Kicker Nick Folk's extra point made it 17-6 Pats late in the third quarter. 

    Those turned out to be the final points for the Patriots as they held on despite an eight-yard touchdown catch by Pittsburgh's tight end (and MA native) Pat Freiermuth to open the fourth quarter. The Steelers cut it to a three-point game as wide receiver Diontae Johnson (6 catches, 57 yards) made a spectacular diving catch for the two-point conversion trimming New England's lead to 17-14. Pittsburgh drafts and develops wideouts as well as any franchise in the NFL but today, the Patriots outproduced them thanks to Nelson Agholor's (6 catches, 110 yards) best performance for the club along with Jakobi Meyers' (9 catches, 95 catches) usual reliability.

    Folk's 28-yard field goal were the only points in the first quarter and Steelers kicker Chris Boswell's 36-yard field goal answered that midway through the second quarter. Each quarterback made a major mistake as for the second week in a row, Jones forced a deep ball to wide receiver DeVante Parker (who has one catch in two games) that was deflected and intercepted by Jones' former Alabama teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick. Trubisky threw a pass over the middle that was deflected by linebacker Mack Wilson and picked off by cornerback Jalen Mills. Agholor turned in a highlight reel 44-yard catch and run for a huge touchdown with 22 seconds left in the first half. He was not open by any means but he was able to snatch the ball away from the defender then outrun him to the end zone. Where the hell did that come from? Folk's extra point gave New England a 10-3 lead at halftime. 

    Folk actually missed a 52-yard field goal attempt on New England's opening drive of the third quarter and Boswell hit a kick of the same exact distance to cut it to 10-6 Patriots. New England has the furthest thing from an explosive offense at the moment so they are going to have to play these grind it out, keep the clock running type of games to survive. The good news is that they are over quickly in like three hours or less which is fast by NFL standards in 2022. The Pats defense had three sacks, by defensive tackle Christian Barmore, linebacker Matthew Judon and some linebacker named Jahlani Tavai who had I had never of before this afternoon. 

    You never want to read too much into early season results in the NFL because they are always wacky but at least the Patriots' loss in Miami didn't look so bad as the Dolphins rallied for an incredible 42-38 win in Baltimore (1-1) at the same time as the Patriots-Steelers tractor pull. Seeing Cincinnati (0-2) lose 20-17 to Cooper Rush and the Cowboys also proved that maybe Pittsburgh's Week 1 overtime triumph against the defending AFC Champions was not as impressive as we were led to believe. Still, the Ravens are going to be fired up and rightfully pissed off after they blew a 21-point lead and were outscored 28-3 in the fourth quarter on their home field. That means that New England's home opener against Baltimore on Sunday (1, Fox) at Gillette Stadium will be a tough task but hey, at least there is a little joy around this team after so much deserved negativity for the past few months.

One Of The More Underrated Patriots During Their Second Dynasty-RB James White-Quietly Retires

 

    There is a reason that the NFL is sarcastically said to mean Not For Long instead of National Football League. Unless your name is Tom Brady or you are a kicker or punter, your career even if you are very good will probably be over before you know it. We were reminded of that ever-present theme this morning as Patriots running back James White retired after three Super Bowl titles and eight seasons in the league-all here with New England. During both of their dynasties, the Pats have been blessed to have some brilliant pass-catching running backs like Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead and White. Of those guys, Faulk (who is rightfully a Patriots Hall of Famer) seems to get most of the attention. I believe that White also deserves to get plenty of love too since he had some excellent seasons with Brady as well. 

    There is no greatest comeback in NFL history-when New England famously rallied from a 28-3 halftime deficit against Atlanta in Super Bowl 51-without White who probably should have been named the Super Bowl MVP instead of Brady. He scored 20 points all by himself (3 TDs and a 2-point conversion) in the second half and overtime combined including the winning touchdown run to memorably clinch it in the extra session. White was neither big (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) nor exceptionally fast, hence why he lasted until the fourth round of the NFL Draft in 2014 when the Patriots snatched him at pick #130. Still, who could have imagined what the running back from the University of Wisconsin would turn into performing in the perfect system for his unique set of skills? 

    After playing together for years, he and Brady seemed to have an innate ability to connect for just enough yardage when New England really needed it on third down. The shelf life of the average NFL running back is quite short but James managed to put together six solid seasons (14+ games) in a row after appearing in only three games in his rookie season. A brutal hip injury last season limited him to only three games and it ultimately spelled the end of his wonderful run with the Patriots. For his career, he finished with 381 catches for 3278 receiving yards and 25 receiving TDs along with 1278 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs in the regular season (95 games). In 12 playoff games, he had 59 catches for 506 receiving yards and three receiving TDs along with 146 rushing yards and five rushing TDs. 

    More than anything, he should also be remembered as a team leader (he was named an offensive captain multiple times) who also persevered through an unspeakable tragedy early in the 2020 season when his father was killed in a car accident and his mother was left in critical condition. New England has some quality young running backs right now in Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson but who knows if they'll ever be as clutch or tough as White proved to be? Looking over his stats, my favorite one is that he only fumbled four times in his entire Patriots career in 795 touches! Thanks for all the awesome memories James and enjoy retirement with your wife and kids. 

As We All Thought, The Bruins Are Getting The Band Back Together For One More Farewell Tour

 

    At long last, the Bruins finally confirmed the news that we all knew was sure to be coming for months now: hours apart this morning, their longtime centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci both signed bargain one-year deals to return to Boston for what has to be a final attempt to win another elusive Stanley Cup with the black and gold. The timing of it all is one of the most interesting aspects of this expected story since Bergy took forever to thankfully decide to avoid retirement for another season while Krej apparently had more than enough of his homeland (Czech Republic) in one forgettable campaign back there. You have to wonder how much of a factor Jim Montgomery being the new head coach of the B's these days rather than that meanie Bruce Cassidy had to do with it all. 

    While it is way too easy to make fun of these moves by the Bruins on the surface, you cannot say that GM Don Sweeney has left them with many better options if they do not want to commit to a full scale rebuild. Sadly, this is what happens when you do not draft and develop well for years on end, you are forced to cling to the glory days from way back when. To their credit, Bergeron and Krejci are each taking very team friendly contracts even by hockey players' normally selfless standards. Bruins captain Patrice will make $2.5 million plus another $2.5 million in (quite attainable) performance-based incentives. David gets $1 million plus an additional $2 million in performance-based incentives. It says something about the character, professionalism, leadership and competitiveness of these guys that they both chose to play another season with the only NHL club that they have ever known rather than spend much more time with their families and friends.

    After last season, we still have a good feel for what the 37-year-old Bergeron has left in the tank because he had a real nice 2021-2022 with 25 goals, 40 assists and plus-16 in 73 regular season games followed by seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in their seven game, first round exit vs. Carolina. Krejci is a year younger than Bergy and a bit more of a wild card since the Czechia League is a far cry from the overall quality of the NHL, sorry Jaromir Jagr! Therefore, his numbers from good old HC Olomouc are completely irrelevant. When we last saw him stateside, David had 44 points (8 goals, 36 assists) in 51 regular season games in the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season then nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 11 playoff games. Bergeron is probably going to end up in the Hall of Fame and Krejci has been a great Bruin-particularly in the postseason-so despite their ages, Boston is a much better team today than they were yesterday when we were not sure (yeah right!) that they would be back in the B's lineup starting next month when training camp and the preseason begin.

After Almost Two Seasons Of Buffoonery, The Red Sox Finally Got A Real First Baseman-Eric Hosmer

 

    Today the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline came and went with the Red Sox (53-52 overall) thankfully making one final important move: they acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer (a four-time Gold Glover!), two minor leaguers and cash considerations from the Padres (60-46 overall) for minor league LHP Jay Groome. The back story is that Hosmer was supposed to be involved with the blockbuster Juan Soto trade from the Nationals (36-69 overall) but he used his no-trade clause to reject a move to DC. This allowed Boston's chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom to swoop in and obtain the 32-year-old Hosmer with San Diego footing the rest of his contract. It was a move that would make Patriots head coach Bill Belichick proud in the way that Bloom was able to get a quality player and still make someone else pay for him.

    Boston's lack of a true first baseman had become a complete embarrassment these last few years. No more being forced to watch Franchy Cordero or Bobby Dalbec stumbling around trying to play a position that neither could handle at all. Hosmer was an All-Star in 2016 and he helped win the 2015 World Series with the Royals. The Padres had also picked up first baseman Josh Bell (who reportedly had been a Red Sox trade target) in the Soto deal so this left Hosmer as the odd man out for what is now one of the best teams in baseball. You cannot blame him for rejecting a move to Washington since the Nationals are going to be rebuilding for years to come. It's not like the Red Sox are exactly World Series contenders at the moment but at least he goes to a market and team that matters so if he plays well, he can set himself up for one last nice contract in MLB before he retires.

    Going back to his days with Kansas City, Hosmer (the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft) had long been rumored to be coveted by Boston. On a personal note, he is married to former NESN sideline reporter and host Kacie McDonnell who is currently pregnant with their first child. In 90 games this season with the Padres, Hosmer was hitting .272/.336/.391 with eight HRs and 40 RBIs. He has a reputation as a leader and a good clubhouse guy which Boston certainly needs more of both of those things these days. He won't be a Hall of Famer but he has put together a notable career in MLB, hitting a career-high 25 homers in both 2015 and 2016 with a career-best 104 RBIs in his All-Star season (when he was also the All-Star Game MVP). He even won the Silver Slugger for the American League first basemen in 2017 and for his career, his batting splits are .277/.336/.429. The Christian Vazquez trade to Houston (67-38 overall) doesn't make a ton of sense although the former Red Sox catcher admitted that he'd be open to returning here this winter in free agency but at least Boston drastically improved its biggest weakness-first base-with the addition of a fine pro like Hosmer.

On The Eve Of The MLB Trade Deadline, The Red Sox Flipped Christian Vazquez To The Astros

 

    With the Red Sox (52-52 overall, 26-25 road) firmly going nowhere this season, they finally started to make some notable moves with the MLB Trade Deadline now less than 24 hours away (Tuesday night at 6 pm EST). Ironically, they opened a three-game series tonight in Houston (67-37 overall, 33-16 home) and actually beat the Astros 3-2 but the move that the Red Sox made right before the game was particularly memorable since it involved catcher Christian Vazquez going to Houston. The homegrown catcher who is having a career-year offensively, was dealt for a pair of minor leaguers: infielder Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu. I will not pretend to know anything about either of those guys but apparently, they are both supposed to be pretty good (at the Triple A and Double A levels respectively). 

    He nearly made his first All-Star team this season as the 31-year-old Vazquez is batting .282/.327/.432 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. Heading into free agency this winter, he was an obvious asset to use since catcher is one of Houston's only weaknesses as they seek another World Series title. It's a good move personally for him since he will get to go for his second championship and cash in after he helped Boston win the 2018 World Series. The scary part for the Red Sox is that they have absolutely no other decent catcher at the Major League level (haha Kevin Plawecki is the definition of a terrible backup catcher at best in MLB) or in chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom's beloved farm system. The role of catcher has become pretty irrelevant at least offensively as evidenced by the fact that Vazquez is one of the better hitting catchers in the game these days. He was known much more for his defensive prowess when he made his Red Sox debut in 2014 but as the years have gone on, his bat has gotten way better (in 2019 he topped out with 23 HRs and 72 RBIs). 

    In the other two much less important moves of the day, Boston acquired outfielder Tommy Pham from the Reds for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Also, they traded their crappy lefty reliever Jake Diekman to the White Sox for a backup catcher who stinks named Reece McGuire. Rumors have swirled for weeks with Boston's season going down the drain that starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (who pitched really well tonight) and designated hitter J.D. Martinez are the other biggest names that could be moved before the deadline now that (thankfully) third baseman Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts are both said to be off the table. The addition of a third Wild Card team in the playoffs makes some people want to believe that the Red Sox are still in it since they are only three games out of that last spot but if you've watched this team at all in 2022, there is a reason (or rather many) that they are in last place in the AL East.

    Nobody needs a better deadline than Bloom since the shine has quickly come off of him in what has all the makings of a lost season. From what we can tell (since we rarely see that robot or hear from him), he still thinks that he works for the Tampa Bay Rays and operates on a shoestring budget with a media and fan base that is non-existent and therefore does not care. Baseball in general and the Red Sox certainly are not what they used to be in terms of relevance both nationally and locally but this is one of the few markets where it does still matter. With their basically unlimited payroll, Boston should never be this average (if you're being nice) or fatally flawed. It is wonderful that he has built their minor league clubs up (apparently) but so far, many of his top prospects have performed like far from gamechangers when they have finally reached the Red Sox. The Dodgers have also proven lately that you can be a World Series contender every year while still fielding a great farm system as well. Losing Vazquez stings and he is another guy (much like Kyle Schwarber with the Phillies and Hunter Renfroe with the Brewers this season) who will immediately do well on another better team than Boston. The clock is ticking on Bloom, he has to turn things around soon or else they will need to go in another direction ASAP before things get damaged any further.

In A Bit Of A Surprise, UMaine's Jim Montgomery Is The New Head Coach Of Your Boston Bruins

 

    Right in time for the Fourth of July long weekend, the Bruins finally figured out who their new head coach will be for this upcoming season: former University of Maine star Jim Montgomery is here on a three-year deal worth around two million dollars per year. Most recently, the man that they call Monty (because everyone in hockey has to have a goofy nickname) was an assistant with the Blues and before that, he was the head coach of the Stars from 2018-20. Unlike the other rumored candidates that the B's had considered-namely David Quinn, Jay Leach and something called Mike Vellucci-Montgomery feels like the best choice to be the Bruins head coach for a couple of reasons. 

    While he wasn't a star by any means, Montgomery played in the NHL for 122 games on five different teams (Blues, Canadiens, Flyers, Sharks and Stars) after being undrafted following a great career at Maine capped off by an NCAA title in 1993 playing with Black Bears legend Paul Kariya. He was a pro hockey player for 14 seasons as he also competed in 451 AHL games. This means that he knows what it takes to grind and make it at the highest level. Additionally, he was a very successful college head coach from 2013-2017 at the University of Denver where he helped the Pioneers win an NCAA title in 2017. 

    He has only been an NHL head coach for less than a season and a half because after leading Dallas to the second round of the playoffs in his first year, he was fired after 31 games the next season because of a serious drinking problem that forced him to go to rehab and reevaluate his entire life. In terms of life-changing experiences, I would imagine that it doesn't get much more real than that so I'm hoping that he would be able to relate to his players on a much deeper level than most other coaches that they've ever encountered in pro hockey. In 113 games in charge of the Stars, he went 60-43-10 and then 7-6 in the playoffs.   

    Jim will have big shoes to fill since the previous Bruins head coach-Bruce Cassidy-quickly became one of the best in the NHL. There is still a good (albeit aging) nucleus in Boston: center Patrice Bergeron, left wing Brad Marchand, right wing David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goaltender Jeremy Swayman should ensure that even though it feels like they are rebuilding, the black and gold should still be in the postseason in 2022-23. The early word is that his players love Montgomery so perhaps he has a bit of a softer personality than Cassidy who was very open in his criticism of his team and players. The only thing about Jim that is hard to look past is that he's from Montreal originally but I guess that we won't hold them against him. Haha after all, nobody's perfect. 

Don't Ask Me Why But The B's Rewarded GM Don Sweeney With A Multi-Year Contract Extension

 

    Ever since former Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was unceremoniously fired two weeks ago on a Monday night in mid-June, it's been a rather strange period of time for the black and gold. Last week, it was reported that B's captain Patrice Bergeron would be returning for another season with the club but thus far, nothing has been neither confirmed nor denied about that key piece of news. The team still doesn't have a new head coach yet with the leading candidates apparently being former BU and Rangers head coach David Quinn and former Providence Bruins and current Seattle Kraken assistant Jay Leach. Meh. Remind me again why exactly that Cassidy was fired? Today, things took another predictable but still gross turn as Boston signed its average GM Don Sweeney to a multi-year contract extension. 

    Don't get me wrong, Sweeney is a smart guy (did you know that he went to Harvard?!) and he clearly works hard at his very demanding job but his draft record is nothing short of appalling. Granted it is an inexact science and you will always miss out on countless players who develop into stars but Sweeney's swings and misses have been notorious, none more so than when he had three first round picks in 2015 and right wing Jake DeBrusk is the only one that has done anything at the NHL level. So what does he do well? His free agent signings are usually nothing impressive, leaving some decent trades to be his calling card. I will say that he has done pretty well with some of those like getting center Charlie Coyle from Minnesota and defenseman Hampus Lindholm (we hope!) from Anaheim but nothing that has set the world on fire or brought another Stanley Cup to the Bruins. 

    The fact that Sweeney is still here (where he has been working since 2015) while Cassidy has already moved on to Las Vegas is maddening. President Cam Neely is also still getting paid by the Bruins' absentee owner Jeremy "Mr. Burns" Jacobs for whatever he does (nobody is really sure what Cam is in charge of day-to-day). Don seems to be obsessed with players and coaches with ties to New England, meaning that they either are from this area or went to a local D1 hockey school like BC or BU. Hiring Quinn or even Leach who also played for the Providence Bruins and went to Providence College (go Friars!) would be another sign that he lacks the creativity and open mindedness to get the Bruins out of their current middler status in the NHL. The draft is next weekend and free agency begins in a few weeks so I'd love to believe that Sweeney should feel the pressure to drastically improve Boston's roster but unfortunately, today's news means that it'll probably be more of the same for the B's. They are just good enough to make the playoffs (all that the Jacobs family really cares about, their precious playoff crowds) but not in the same area code as the teams in the Stanley Cup Final this season-Colorado and Tampa Bay. 

Dynasty Continues: Golden State Wins Its Fourth Title In Eight Years, Beating Boston In Six Games

    Well there can be no debate about whether the better team won the 2022 NBA Finals. Tonight in Game 6 at TD Garden, Golden State rolled to their fourth double-digit victory of the series 103-90 to take it 4-2 and capture their fourth NBA title in eight seasons. Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry (game-high 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) further cemented his place in NBA history with his richly deserved first Finals MVP award. Boston started the game on a 14-2 run and it was basically all downhill from there as Golden State punched back with a 21-0 run (the biggest in 50 years in Finals history) and pretty much cruised the rest of the way. 

    Golden State's starters were better than Boston's and once again, their bench was as well. Small forward Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks while power forward Draymond Green saved his best performance of the series for the last game as he had 12 points (including his first two 3-pointers vs. Boston), 12 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals. Shooting guard Klay Thompson (12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) was mostly a non-factor but who cares, since along with Curry and Green, they each won their fourth NBA title together. Backup shooting guard Jordan Poole notched 15 points off the bench as Golden State's substitutes outscored Boston's 21-5. 

    Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum (13 points, 7 assists, 3 steals) made his inaugural All-NBA First-Team this season but he looked anything like that against the Warriors. He closed out a rough series with one more stinker: he was 6-for-18 from the field with five turnovers. Conversely, shooting guard Jaylen Brown (34 points, 7 rebounds) did not shy away from the moment and did everything he could to keep his team in it. Power forward Al Horford (19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals) was superb and playing on a gimpy knee, center Robert Williams (10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks) put forth an admirable showing given how banged up he seems to be. Celts point guard Marcus Smart registered nine points and nine assists which doesn't sound too bad except that he shot 4-for-12 from the floor. 

    Golden State led 27-22 after the first quarter and by 15 points at halftime (54-39). Boston turned it around a little bit in the third quarter (27-22) but the Warriors had no interest in playing Game 7 on Sunday so they shut it down in the fourth quarter (27-24) and got ready to party at Encore Boston. Despite being so much smaller and less athletic, the Warriors grabbed three more rebounds (44-41) than the Celtics including four more offensive boards (15-11). The real story of the game though (just like it was all postseason for Boston in their losses) was their alarming amount of turnovers: the C's had seven more turnovers (22-15) and the Warriors made five more steals (13-8) than them. Golden State also scored eight more second chance points (21-13). The bottom line was that one team looked comfortable being here and the other was completely over their heads after going up 2-1 in the series and then they dropped the last three games in a row (after they hadn't lost consecutive contests since January). 

    It will take awhile to get over this but once the dust settles, I think realistic Celtics fans should appreciate that this was still an extremely successful season. As long as they have Tatum and Brown, they will be a major contender in the East. However, this was far from a vintage Warriors team like the previous championship versions. Curry was ridiculous but getting outplayed by Wiggins should not happen when you are Brown or especially Tatum. Let's just hope that Boston is not one of those teams that gets close once and then is never heard from again at that level (like Oklahoma City). It is going to be a long summer for the Celtics players, coaches and front office, wondering what could have been if they had just tightened things up a bit and stayed more focused throughout the six games.  

C's Folded In The Fourth Quarter As The Warriors Won Game 5 104-94 To Take A 3-2 Series Lead

 

    With everything to play for and only two wins away from the 18th championship in franchise history, Boston sadly could not get the job done tonight in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals at the Chase Center. Golden State only led by one point (75-74) going into the fourth quarter but they dominated in the final frame (29-20) to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is on Thursday (9, ABC) at TD Garden as the Celtics will now have two win two games in a row to take the title, not to mention survive three Game 7s in a row which is absurd. They put themselves in this mess by choking down the stretch in Game 4 at home and this was the first time in the 2022 playoffs (7-1) that they were defeated again directly following a loss.  

    It was an odd night since the Warriors did all this with their superstar guard Stephen Curry (16 points, 8 assists) having one of the worst performances in his storied career. In fact, it was the first time in the last 233 games (regular season and playoffs) that he didn't make a single three-pointer (0-for-9). They not only survived but played well without him thanks to small forward Andrew Wiggins (26 points, game-high 13 rebounds and 2 steals) having his second great outing in a row. Curry had carried his team in the first four games of the series so it was only fitting that his teammates finally paid him back. Shooting guard Klay Thompson added 21 points and two steals while Golden State's bench outscored Boston's 31-10. Backup shooting guard Gary Payton II added 15 points, five rebounds and three steals while backup guard Jordan Poole scored 14 points off the bench including another buzzer beater to end the third quarter (quite similar to what he did in Game 2). 

    After a brutal first quarter where they were outscored 27-16, the C's slowly started to wake up in the second quarter but they still trailed by 12 points (51-39) at halftime. They changed a narrative that's haunted them all postseason long by actually playing outstanding basketball in the third quarter (35-24). They erased a 16-point deficit and even briefly led for a few moments. This should have been Boston's stars' time to shine but small forward Jayson Tatum (27 points, 10 rebounds) was outdueled by Wiggins when it really counted and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (18 points, 9 rebounds) was nowhere to be found for the most part. Point guard Marcus Smart scored 20 points but his constant flopping predictably caught up to him and center Robert Williams (10 points, 8 rebounds) was the only Celtic starter to finish with a positive plus-minus (plus-11). 

    It doesn't matter that Boston might be more talented and deeper than Golden State since they have no answer for the Warriors' championship experience and mental toughness; they don't get rattled in any situation unlike the Celts who seem to have a panic attack in every game that is when they aren't freaking out on the refs or yelling at each other like a bad high school team. The Warriors shot five percent better from the field (46%-41%), dished out five more assists (23-18), had seven more steals (9-2), scored 14 more points in the paint (50-36) and 13 more points off turnovers (22-9) than the C's. Boston hit two more three-pointers (11-9), they made eight more free throws (21-13) and grabbed eight more rebounds (47-39) including twice as many offensive boards (8-4). Turnovers absolutely killed the road team (18-6!) though, otherwise they would have been fine with nine more second chance points (16-7) than the undersized Warriors. 

    So what does this all mean for Game 6? I'd be lying if I said I have the faintest idea what will transpire in Boston's final home game of the season. Time and again, the C's have responded in tough situations like that (already going 3-0 in elimination games this postseason) and this is kind of their thing to make things as difficult as possible. However, this is not the Bucks and it isn't the Heat either for that matter. They might have rallied from down 3-2 in the series against Milwaukee and won Game 7 in Miami but these Warriors are in a different weight class than those previous solid opponents. There is no chance that Curry will be that ice cold once again so the C's have to hope that they don't let the pressure get to them so they can just go out and try to get this series to a Game 7 where (cliche alert!) anything can happen.

Stephen Curry Drops 43 Points As Golden State Beats Boston 107-97 To Even The NBA Finals 2-2

 

    Just when you start to have confidence in the Celtics this postseason, they completely disappoint you and fall flat on their faces. Tonight at TD Garden in Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals and with a golden opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, the Warriors closed up shop on a 17-3 run to win 107-97 and even up things up at 2-2. Golden State improved to 6-0 this postseason following a loss. Similar to the second round where they lost Game 5 to Milwaukee or in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Miami where they choked in Game 6, Boston once again found a way to falter in a major way on their home court. They fell to 6-5 at the Garden this postseason including a puzzling 4-5 record in the last three rounds (forget the sweep vs. the hapless Nets). Golden State's superstar point guard Stephen Curry (43 points, 10 rebounds) had one of the best games of his Hall of Fame career as he singularly willed his team to victory. Game 5 is at the Chase Center in Oakland on Monday (9, ABC). 

    It was all about Curry but Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson added 18 points and two blocks, small forward Andrew Wiggins notched 17 points and 16 rebounds (!) while backup shooting guard Jordan Poole put up 14 points off the bench. Power forward Draymond Green was slightly more useful than his Game 3 no-show as he had nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. For Boston, small forward Jayson Tatum (23 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks) and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (21 points, 6 rebounds) were both OK but neither of them could rescue their team as they collectively went ice cold in crunch time yet again. Point guard Marcus Smart (18 points, 5 assists, 4 steals) was fine until he kept taking 3-pointers and missing them late in the fourth quarter (sound familiar?) and power forward Robert Williams grabbed 12 rebounds. Finally, backup point guard Derrick White notched 16 points off the bench for the Celtics. 

    This was the first close game of the series so you had an uneasy feeling the whole night as Boston could never really separate from Golden State. Boston was up 28-27 after the first quarter and they led by five points at halftime (54-49). Their regularly scheduled third quarter collapse wasn't as terrible as usual (30-24 Warriors) but the change was that the fourth quarter-which Boston had owned in the first two games-was utterly dominated by the road team. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 28-19 as Curry could not be stopped and nobody on the C's could do much to stem his barrage (7-for-14 for the game) of three-pointers.

    The numbers as you would expect were not pretty for the home team: Golden State grabbed 13 more rebounds (55-42) including five more offensive boards (16-11) and the Warriors had seven more second chance points (19-12). With Boston's size advantage, that rebound total is unacceptable especially on their home floor. The Warriors also shot four percent better than the Celtics from the field (44%-40%). If I know anything about the Celts, they will probably play great on Monday and grab another road win to take a 3-2 series lead with a chance to win Banner 18 back at the Garden on Thursday (9, ABC). Then again, Curry is clearly the best player in this series (and a lock to capture his first Finals MVP award if they win another title) who the NBA's top-ranked defense has no idea how to stop let alone slow down. Don't get it twisted though, the Celtics are the better team and if they lose to this mostly one-man wrecking crew, it will be a bitter pill to swallow for this summer and many years beyond it. 

In The First NBA Finals Game Here In 12 Years, C's Beat Warriors 116-100 To Take A 2-1 Series Lead

 

    When it comes to the Celtics this postseason, there is one thing that so far we can always count on: they never lose back-to-back games. In fact, the last time that Boston dropped consecutive contests was way back in January during the regular season. Tonight in Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden, Boston methodically worked over Golden State and won 116-100 to take a 2-1 series lead. They improved to 7-0 following losses in these playoffs which ties an NBA record. For the only time in this drawn out series, there will be just one day off (how will all the millionaires survive?) between games with Game 4 coming on Friday (9, ABC) at the Garden. 

    For some historical context: when an NBA Finals series had been tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to capture the NBA championship 82% of the time (32/39). The C's got big performances from shooting guard Jaylen Brown (team-high 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists), small forward Jayson Tatum (26 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds) and point guard Marcus Smart (24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists). In fact, they became the first trio of teammates to all put up 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists in the same NBA Finals game since the Lakers did it in 1984 with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper. Ever heard of them? Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 31 points, 2 steals) continued to tear up Boston's top-ranked defense and shooting guard Klay Thompson (25 points) actually reappeared after looking old and washed up in the first two games of the Finals. 

    Small forward Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, two blocks and two steals but backup shooting guard Jordan Poole (10 points) was the only other Golden State player to score in double figures. One of the main reasons why the C's should win this series is because of their superior depth which was on full display: center Al Horford had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, power forward Robert Williams notched eight points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals while power forward Grant Williams registered 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Boston was in control for most of the evening, that is excluding another awful third quarter. The Celts got off to a fast start and led 33-22 after the first quarter which turned into a 68-56 advantage at halftime. The Warriors took the third quarter (33-25) and even briefly were ahead by two points during it after the C's were up by as many as 18 points. As bad as the Celtics have been in the third quarter in this series and most of the postseason, they have been equally great in the fourth quarter and Game 3 thankfully was no different. They completely locked down Golden State and outscored them 23-11 while Warriors power forward Draymond Green (2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) fouled out and the wheels fell off for his team. 

    Multiple times already during the Finals, ABC's announcer Jeff Van Gundy has talked about how much bigger, faster and more athletic the Celtics are than the Warriors and in Game 3, that was abundantly clear. Boston grabbed a whopping 16 more rebounds (47-31) including nine more offensive boards (15-6), they handed out six more assists (28-22), scored twice as many points in the paint (52-26) and put up twice as many second chance points (22-11). Just like in Game 2, I expect Golden State to play better in Game 4. They have no choice because if they lose and go down 3-1 in the series, I think it would be nearly impossible for them to beat the Celtics three times in a row. To paraphrase former Celtics head coach Rick Pitino, "Kevin Durant isn't walking through that door folks." It is a really exciting time to be a fan of the C's since they are now only two wins away from their first NBA title in 14 long years. 

For Some Stupid Reason, The Bruins Decided That Firing Bruce Cassidy Was The Right Thing To Do

 

    Nothing lasts forever in life, especially when you are the head coach of a professional sports team. You are always on borrowed time and in almost every situation, your job will end in one of two ways: either you will get fired or you will retire. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy is a very good hockey coach and a nice guy to boot so today's news that he had been fired with a year and three million dollars left on his contract was disappointing to say the least. Rather than get rid of GM Don Sweeney or President Cam Neely, two guys who you could question way more, the Jacobs family that owns and occasionally pays attention to the B's decided that Cassidy deserved to go after his teams reached the postseason in all six years that he was in charge of the Black and Gold. 

    After a first-round playoff exit in seven games against Carolina last month, you knew that something was bound to change for the B's as they fade further away from Stanley Cup contention with each passing year. Again, they were eliminated over two weeks ago so the lag time for this rash move seems like they had no conviction behind it. You can argue how much the head coach even matters in the NHL but for what it's worth, Cassidy did win the Jack Adams Award in 2020 which is given to the top head coach in the league. This is most likely a case of the best players on the Bruins (Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, etc.) getting tired of hearing Cassidy constantly being critical of them for six years. He is brutally honest with the media which makes you believe that Bruce is likely even more blunt with his players if that's possible. Still, it's hard to argue with his results that included a Presidents' Trophy in 2020 (for the best record in the NHL) and an epic choke job in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals vs. St. Louis. 

    Cassidy is only 57 years old meaning that he will likely be unemployed for a very brief period of time. Still, he has young kids and a family so uprooting them cannot be a fun thing to think about. If he wants to take a break from the daily grind of coaching, he would be a welcome addition to ESPN, TNT or the NHL Network's TV coverage. In 399 regular season games with Boston, Cassidy was 245-108-46 with a respectable 36-37 record in the postseason. In his four full seasons here (excluding when he took over mid-season in 2017 and the Covid shortened 2020-21 campaign), his teams all earned 100+ points even when there were only 70 games (damn you pandemic!) in 2019-20. 

    All eyes will be on Sweeney and Neely to see who they choose to succeed Cassidy. It'll be tough to top him and you'll remember that Cassidy quickly made people forget about Claude Julien who nevertheless won the last Cup for the Bruins back in 2011. Will Boston go with an experienced and veteran head coach like Barry Trotz or Peter DeBoer or do they go off the board with an assistant coach, minor league or college head coach that nobody has heard of before? Who knows but with so many injured players heading into the 2022-23 regular season including Marchand, McAvoy and Bergeron (if he decides to come back), this gives us even more reason to not pay much attention to the B's in the near future. 

The Warriors Destroyed The Celtics 107-88 In Game 2 Of The NBA Finals To Even The Series 1-1

 

    If you honestly thought that the Celtics were going to sweep the 2022 NBA Finals against the Warriors, then you are obviously a green teamer honk that lost touch with reality long ago. Back here on Earth, Golden State-you know that team that has won three recent NBA titles-recovered nicely from an unexpected loss in Game 1 by absolutely curb-stomping Boston 107-88 tonight at the Chase Center. The series is even now at 1-1 as it shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Wednesday (9, ABC). Future Hall of Famer and Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) played well again and this time he wasn't shut down in the second half plus he got more help from his teammates.  

    If the game didn't include the third quarter, it would have been close but unfortunately for the C's, their troubling trend of god awful third quarters continued. They only trailed by one after one quarter (31-30) and by two at halftime (52-50) but as usual, they went off a cliff in the third quarter to the tune of 35-14. For the home team, +21 is the largest margin in a quarter in their playoff history. Boston had way too many turnovers (18) which led to 33 points off turnovers for Golden State. Warriors shooting guard Jordan Poole scored 17 points off the bench including basically swishing a half-court shot at the buzzer to conclude that wretched third quarter. Warriors center Kevon Looney (12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) was the best big man in the contest and that should never happen with Celtics power forward Al Horford (2 points, 8 rebounds) and hobbled center Robert Williams (2 points, 2 blocks) both available. 

    Boston got a misleading performance by star small forward Jayson Tatum: he scored a team-high 28 points and grabbed six rebounds but he also finished minus-36 (the worst mark of his career). Shooting guard Jaylen Brown started out hot with 12 points in the first quarter but early foul trouble affected his rhythm and he settled for 17 points and six rebounds. Just like Horford and Robert Williams, point guard Marcus Smart (2 points, 5 assists) was terrible so three of the Celtics' starters combined for six points in 67 minutes of action between them. Is that bad? Backup point guard Derrick White (12 points, 2 blocks) was decent but his shooting went astray (4-for-13) which I guess should be a given after he's been playing out of his mind lately.

    Warriors power forward and expert loudmouth Draymond Green (9 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds) was doing his thing: getting in guys' faces, rolling around with them on the court and constantly yelling at the refs. Needless to say, it was ugly but quite effective. About the only negative for Golden State is that shooting guard Klay Thompson is ice cold. He had 11 points and two steals but went 4-of-19 from the field including 1-of-8 on three-pointers. If they are going to win the series, they will need much more from him because who else can be a number two scoring option behind Curry? Small forward Andrew Wiggins had a pedestrian 11 points and six rebounds.

    The Warriors shot nearly eight percent better from the floor than the Celtics (45.3%-37.5%) and they had 10 more steals (15-5) as you would expect with so many turnovers by the C's. Golden State also muscled their way to 16 more points in the paint (40-24) which is hard to explain. The Warriors led by as many as 29 points in the fourth quarter as Game 2 became a complete joke. The good news for the Celts is that they are unbeaten (6-0) this postseason following a loss but then again they are only 5-4 at TD Garden in the playoffs which is baffling. Still, it has morphed into a best-of-five series and Boston snatched the home court advantage by winning Game 1. In many ways, Game 2 could be seen as a schedule loss since Golden State could not afford to go down 2-0 after dropping both of its first two home games. Horford and Smart cannot possibly be worse but you could say the same thing about Thompson so Game 3 should be interesting. Everyone knows in the NBA that role players typically play better at home so expect Boston's depth guys to be much bigger factors in Games 3 and 4. 

Celts Catch Fire In The Fourth Quarter & Win Game 1 Of The NBA Finals, 120-108 Vs. Warriors

 

    It's hard to imagine a much better fourth quarter than what the Celtics conjured up this evening at the Chase Center in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals vs. the Warriors. Boston trailed by 12 points (92-80) going into the final frame before they went absolutely bananas and outscored shell-shocked Golden State 40-16. The C's took Game 1 by a score of 120-108, proving that their lack of rest after the Eastern Conference Finals compared to the Warriors (who had a few more days off after beating Dallas in the Western Conference Finals) did not matter at all. Boston improved to 8-2 on the road this postseason while they also handed Golden State their first loss (9-1) on their shiny home court in the 2022 playoffs. Game 2 is Sunday night (8, ABC) back in San Francisco. FYI, only two teams in NBA Finals history have ever lost Games 1 & 2 at home and as you would assume, neither went on to win the series.

    There were many standouts for the Celts but none was better than their ageless power forward Al Horford (team-high 26 points, 6 rebounds) who hit a career-high six three-pointers. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown heated up in the second half and finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Point guard Marcus Smart added 18 points, five rebounds and two steals while small forward Jayson Tatum was ice cold in terms of shooting (3-of-17) so he was held to 12 points but he notched a career-high 13 assists and added five rebounds. Backup point guard Derrick White had another brilliant performance off the bench as he was a game-high plus-25 with 21 points (5 3-pointers!) in 32 impressive minutes. 

    In the first quarter, Golden State's future Hall of Famer and the best shooter in NBA history point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) was unreal with 21 points including an NBA record six three-pointers. Once Boston figured out that maybe they should cover him and not allow so many wide open looks, he went scoreless in the second quarter and was held to 13 points in the second half. Once Curry cooled off, there wasn't really another Warrior capable of stepping up offensively. Small forward Andrew Wiggins (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks) has definitely improved, shooting guard Klay Thompson (15 points) is understandably working his way back from two ACL tears in consecutive years while power forward Draymond Green (11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) still can't shoot whatsoever (2-of-12 from the floor including 0-for-4 on 3s and 0-for-3 on FTs). The ghost of small forward Otto Porter Jr. put up 12 points off the bench for Golden State. 

    Golden State led 32-28 after the first quarter but Boston picked it up in the second quarter (28-22) to lead at halftime by two points (56-54). Things started to look bleak in the third quarter when the Warriors led by as much as 15 points and they outscored Boston 38-24. Just when you thought that it was beginning to get out of hand, the C's kept chipping away and hitting three-pointers to stay within shouting distance. Still, nobody could have expected that stunning turnaround in the fourth quarter. Boston shot six percent better from the field (50%-44%), they hit two more three-pointers (21-19) and two more free throws (13-11) and dished out nine more assists (33-24) than Golden State. The C's scored eight more points in the paint (34-26) than the Warriors and 11 more points off turnovers (21-10). It'll take more than one loss to rattle Golden State though since Curry, Thompson and Green were all part of three championship squads in recent seasons with the Warriors. Boston will have to play even better to steal Game 2 and come home with a dream 2-0 lead in the series. You can count on the Warriors playing a much better and more complete game than this on Sunday night.

The Celtics Survive 100-96 In Game 7 Against The Heat To Advance To The NBA Finals Vs. Warriors

 

    It probably took a few years off of our lives but the Celtics ultimately got the job done tonight in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Heat. The C's outlasted the No. 1 seed in the East 100-96 at FTX Arena to reach their 22nd NBA Finals (where they are 17-4 all-time) in franchise history. Boston will face Golden State beginning with Game 1 on Thursday (9, ABC) in Oakland. Boston led from start to finish but had to sweat it out as Miami cut it to a two-point lead late and Heat superstar small forward Jimmy Butler (game-high 35 points, 9 rebounds) actually had a chance to put them ahead for the first time but he missed a wide open three-pointer. C's small forward Jayson Tatum (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) earned the inaugural edition of the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award that truthfully should have gone to Butler who played all 48 minutes this evening. 

    The Celts improved to 6-0 following losses this postseason and they finished 3-1 at Miami in this bizarre series. Boston's shooting guard Jaylen Brown (24 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) was good and point guard Marcus Smart (24 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) had nice numbers but he was 8-for-22 from the field including missing five straight shots late in regulation when the Celtics seemed to be trying their hardest to give the game away. Center Al Horford grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and blocked two shots while he also put a painful record to bed: he had played in 141 NBA playoff games without ever reaching an NBA Finals which was the most ever for any player in league history. Boston head coach Ime Udoka pretty much kept it limited to a seven-man rotation while power forward Grant Williams (11 points, 6 rebounds) and backup point guard Derrick White (8 points) were both solid in the memorable victory.

    Besides Butler, Heat center Bam Adebayo (25 points, 11 rebounds) played his second best game of the series and point guard Kyle Lowry (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals) was about as good as he could be in 2022. Boston's defense held Miami under 100 points in three of the last four games in the Eastern Conference Finals which were all wins for the Celts. Nobody else on the Heat scored in double figures as shooting guard Max Strus (8 points, 8 rebounds) was alright and backup shooting guard Victor Oladipo added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Props to Miami's guard Tyler Herro who briefly returned for seven scoreless minutes but he never appeared again because he was still severely hobbled by his groin injury.  

    On the road in Game 7 (and coming off of a brutal choke job in Game 6 at TD Garden on Friday), Boston could not have scripted a better start as they were up 32-17 after the first quarter (the biggest lead in Game 7 history following the 1st quarter). The C's led by as much as 17 points but the Heat started to wake up in the second quarter (32-23 Miami) to cut Boston's advantage to only six points (55-49) at halftime. The teams basically played to a standstill in the third quarter (27-26 Celtics) which was fine for the visitors. Fittingly, this ugly series ended with one last gross quarter: Miami outscored Boston 21-18 in the fourth quarter. It should not have been this close as Boston hit five three-pointers (11-6), three more free throws (19-16), grabbed seven more rebounds (51-44) including three more offensive boards (10-7), dished out six more assists (22-16) and they scored seven more fast break points (20-13) than Miami. 

    This has been called the Celtics' revenge tour since they have knocked out three teams in a row that eliminated them in the past three postseasons: Brooklyn (who beat them in last year's first round), Milwaukee (who beat them in the 2019 2nd round) and now Miami (who beat them in the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals held in the bubble). Playing in their sixth NBA Finals in the last eight seasons, the Warriors are a whole different animal. They won their last title in 2018 and they missed the playoffs the past two seasons (due to injuries) so that proud group is trying to prove that their dynasty is still alive. It should be a hell of a series; I hate to put too much stock into mostly meaningless regular season meetings but Boston has typically given Golden State plenty of problems in recent years. Then again, nobody on the Celtics has ever appeared in the NBA Finals while the Warriors still have the Splash Brothers-point guard Stephen Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson)-along with do-everything power forward Draymond Green. This is Boston's first NBA Finals appearance since 2010 and they are looking for their first title since 2008. Along with home court, Golden State will be well rested too since they have been off since last Thursday when they sent overmatched Dallas home with a gentleman's sweep (5 games) in the Western Conference Finals. Go Celtics! 

The Celtics Locked Down The Heat 93-80 To Take A 3-2 Series Lead In The Eastern Conference Finals

 

    It was far from a work of art-the first half might have set playoff basketball back about 20 years-but few Celtics players, coaches, owners or fans will be complaining as Boston held off Miami 93-80 tonight in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena. The C's took a 3-2 series lead and now they are one game away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 12 years as they improved to 6-2 on the road this postseason. Game 6 is on Friday (8:30, ESPN) at TD Garden which is one hell of a way to kick off Memorial Day weekend in Boston. The Celtics' star duo of shooting guard Jaylen Brown (game-high 25 points) and small forward Jayson Tatum (22 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) were the two best players on the court as they willed their club to a place where those guys not to mention all of their teammates have never been before.

    After a very slow start for everybody (Boston was down 19-17 after the painful first quarter), the Celts turned a five-point halftime deficit (42-37) into a 11-point advantage going into the fourth quarter as they doubled up the Heat (32-16). The Celtics closed it out with a solid fourth quarter (24-22)-at least defensively-as the hobbled Heat have few answers while Boston became the first team to win consecutive games in this clunky series. Through five games, the Celts have proven to be the far deeper group and this was no exception as power forward Al Horford added 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks while center Robert Williams notched 10 rebounds and three blocks. Guard Derrick White (14 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) of all people kept the C's afloat in the early going with some more great minutes off the bench as Marcus Smart picked up two quick fouls. 

    Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro remains out with a groin injury while small forward Jimmy Butler (13 points on 4-of-18 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) is a shell of usual imposing self. Miami's center Bam Adebayo (18 points, 10 rebounds) had a double double but he doesn't shoot 3-pointers and his offensive game is too limited to have him be the leading scorer on a championship contender. The other three starters for the Heat-P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry and Max Strus-combined for 11 points which is hilariously terrible. I cannot believe that I'm saying this but backup point guard Gabe Vincent (15 points) should start in Game 6 over Lowry (who is a complete mess) and shooting guard Duncan Robinson (11 points) has to start instead of the ice cold and therefore useless Strus. 

    Boston shot 46% from the field while Miami hit a franchise playoff-low 31% of its shots. If you think that's bad (and it really is), the Heat missed 38 three-pointers (7-of-45) which is an amazing number for an NBA team in a pivotal playoff game on its home court. The Celtics hit three more three-pointers and four more free throws (17-13) while also dishing out 10 more assists (24-14) and blocking five more shots (7-2). Boston scored eight more fast break points (13-5) in a contest that was mostly played in the mud but they somehow led by as much as 23 points. Now, the C's have such a wonderful opportunity to put away an inferior opponent on Friday and finally get back to the NBA Finals. Game 6 should be fun since I feel like the Celts have wrestled control away from the Heat (this is their first lead in the series) and Miami can't really do anything to stop them from advancing at this point.

The Eastern Conference Finals Takes Another Wild Turn As Boston Smothers Miami 102-82 In Game 4

 

    After no-showing for much of the contest then rallying like crazy but ultimately losing Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals 109-103 on Saturday night at TD Garden, the Celtics had no choice but to win this evening at home as they faced the Heat who led the series 2-1. One of the only certainties in this postseason is that Boston will bounce back from a loss as they improved to 5-0 after defeats with a lopsided 102-82 victory that evened the series at two games apiece. When I say that Miami never stood a chance, it is the honest truth since they were down 18-1 (!) right at the start. The Heat set a franchise playoff low with 11 points in the first quarter and they trailed by as much as 32 points while their starting lineup combined for 18 points which does not even seem possible. The all-important Game 5 is at FTX Arena in Miami on Wednesday (8:30, ESPN). 

    Boston's lockdown team defense was the main story as they held Miami to 52 points in the first three quarters. Like his team, Celtics superstar small forward Jayson Tatum (game-high 31 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks) responded the right way after an embarrasing 10-point outing in Game 3. Four other Celtics scored at least 12 points led by point guard Payton Pritchard who scored 14 points off the bench, point guard Derrick White (starting for an injured Marcus Smart) added 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals-his best game as a Celtic-shooting guard Jaylen Brown was ice cold but had 12 points and seven rebounds while center Robert Williams returned from missing Game 3 with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 19 very impactful minutes. Veteran power forward Al Horford only took two shots but he was a force defensively with a game-high 13 rebounds and a game-high four blocks. 

    For Miami, with shooting guard Tyler Herro (groin) out and their best player small forward Jimmy Butler (6 points, 7 rebounds) clearly not himself, they were lost offensively. Heat center Bam Adebayo was a beast on Saturday with a team-high 31 points and 10 rebounds but then he disappeared once again with only nine points. Point guard Kyle Lowry had just three points while Miami's other two starters-power forward P.J. Tucker and shooting guard Max Strus were both held scoreless. Shooting guard Victor Oladipo was the only guy on the Heat that played well in Game 4 as he had a team-high 23 points and six assists off the bench while New Hampshire native and shooting guard Duncan Robinson (14 points, 2 steals) finally seemed to find his shooting stroke in garbage time and small forward Caleb Martin added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. 

    Boston shot six percent better from the field than Miami (39%-33%) and more importantly, they attempted nearly three times as many free throws (32-of-38 vs. 8-of-14). The C's owned the glass with 21 more rebounds (60-39) and scored 10 more points in the paint (38-28). It was stunning to see such a proud and tough team like Miami get destroyed like that, then again this has been a postseason full of blowouts in the NBA. I could see a lineup change perhaps for the Heat in Game 5 with either Oladipo or Robinson coming in for Strus. We'll have to see if Smart returns for Boston. It will be the biggest game of the playoffs (thus far) for either club since it would be quite difficult to rally from down 3-2 in this series.