CelticsBlog - Boston Celtics opening night - 2015-16 seasonA Boston Celtics Blog: 17 Banners and Countinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48431/celtic-small-1.png2015-10-29T08:00:03-04:00http://www.celticsblog.com/rss/stream/93894772015-10-29T08:00:03-04:002015-10-29T08:00:03-04:00Unsung heroes
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<figcaption>Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>GIFs! Jerebko! Bae Crowder X 2!</p> <p>Opening Night was a rousing success for a team with rising expectations. The <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/28/9632380/celtics-top-76ers-in-first-game-of-the-season">Celtics got a win</a> and <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/29/9633966/isaiah-thomas-plays-like-a-superstar-in-boston-celtics-112-95-opening-night-win-nba-victory">Isaiah Thomas played like a superstar</a>. The team had 31 assists on 39 made buckets and held the Sixers to 40% shooting. After a slow start, they utilized their depth and found working combinations as the game progressed to wear down Philadelphia. Here are a few things that I ♥ed:</p>
<p><b>Going small to defend a big</b></p>
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<p>Usually, small ball is used to create mismatches on offense, but last night, bringing in Jerebko at the 4 was a way to double Okafor on defense with someone that could recover quickly back to his man. <a href="http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/post-102915-Suffocating-Double-Team-Drives-Celtics-to-Win">Stevens said about JJ's ability to cover so much court</a>:</p>
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<p>"[Jerebko's] got a high motor," said Stevens. "He'll be there on the catch, he's quick, but he's one of those guys that if you did the treadmill test on him, he'd run until he fell of. He's just got a high, high motor and he doesn't stop."</p>
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<p>And it wasn't just Jerebko. The guards--particularly <span>Marcus Smart</span> (a plus-22 for the night)--were great at chipping whenever a big put the ball on the floor and tried to turn into the paint. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> scored 34 points off 22 Sixers' turnovers and 26 fast break points to Philly's 7.</p>
<p><b><span>Jae Crowder</span> hitting the hole</b></p>
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<p>Crowder is built like a running back and I love watching him attack gaps in the defense like he's hitting the line of scrimmage at the one-yard line. Crowder's ability to set the tone on D is his game changing value, but last night, he attacked on offense like he does on defense. So much of pace-and-space is about being able to read the coverage and react in time. He finished with 14 points by getting to the line and shooting behind the arc (2-for-4) without hesitation. Stevens has stressed the importance of getting easy buckets and his team responded with 52 points in the paint.</p>
<p><b>Sticking with Sullinger</b></p>
<p>The narrative during the preseason had been that Sully had lost his place in the rotation, but tonight, he proved that he's got a set of skills that nobody really brings to the table. Sure, <span>Kelly Olynyk</span> was sitting out tonight due to suspension, but it's not as if Stevens would have turned to KO after <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> started killing <span>Tyler Zeller</span> in the paint in the first quarter. He didn't even go to <span>Amir Johnson</span> in the moment.</p>
<p>Before the team started doubling with Jerebko and Crowder, Sully stemmed the tide by fighting Okafor on the block and making sure he wasn't starting his post move with a foot in the key. He may have not lost the weight we had hoped this summer, but Sully's still a strong presence in the paint. He finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds, but ironically, his biggest contribution came on the defensive end.</p>
<p>It's also important to note that Stevens stuck with Sullinger at the start of the second half instead of going back to Zeller. <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_Souza/status/659552556260048896">It just wasn't Tyler's night</a>, but by going with the hot hand, Stevens showed his players that he'll use anybody at any time if he thinks they can contribute. That's huge for a team this deep.</p>
<p><b>Crowder channeling KG</b></p>
<p>Jae, you had me at "Garnett dead ball block shot."</p>
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<p>Dude just gets what it means to wear the green and play in Boston and <i>for</i> Boston.</p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a target="_blank" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" href="https://instagram.com/p/9PQR7QsFDA/">#99PROBLEMS #CELTICSNATION #ITALLSTARTEDINTHEDRIVEWAY </a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by 99 PROBLEMS (@bossmann99) on <time datetime="2015-10-24T23:12:56+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 24, 2015 at 4:12pm PDT</time></p>
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https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/29/9632006/smiley-face-emoji-heart-emoji-celtics-emoji-76ers-vs-celticsBill Sy2015-10-29T07:19:45-04:002015-10-29T07:19:45-04:00Don't call it a comeback, he's been here for years
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Is it time to hop back on the Sully bandwagon?</p> <p>Pushed aside, demoted, doubted, dismissed. Maybe that's just what <span>Jared Sullinger</span> needed to motivate him. It seems ridiculous to think about his performance last night as a "comeback" when we are talking about the first game of the year. But that's just how it felt like to me.</p>
<p><span>Brad Stevens</span> made no secret of the fact that he preferred a 4 man big rotation and Jared was the odd man out. But he also made sure we knew that on any given game he would switch things up if the situation called for it. And perhaps that is the bigger takeaway. Only time will tell if Sullinger's good game was a trend or an anomaly. But Stevens' gameplan of having an amorphic rotation seems to be the real deal.</p>
<p><span>Tyler Zeller</span> was struggling to contain rookie phenom <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> who scored 8 quick points. Zeller is a quality team defender who puts himself in the right position more often than not - which should serve us well in the "modern NBA." But Okafor is a throwback post player with <span>Al Jefferson</span> like moves and soft touch around the basket and Tyler was simply overwhelmed.</p>
<p>Brad Stevens decided that what he needed was a little bit of beef, so in goes Sullinger.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4720811/jared-sullinger-doesnt-wait-long-for-opportunity-to-show-he-belongs-in-rotation">Jared Sullinger doesn't wait long to show he belongs in rotation - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4720811/jared-sullinger-doesnt-wait-long-for-opportunity-to-show-he-belongs-in-rotation"></a>Sullinger helped quiet Okafor, who scored only four points over the next 31 1/2 minutes of game action, and helped the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> rally from an early nine-point deficit en route to a 112-95 triumph over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">76ers</a> in the season opener at TD Garden.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/sullinger-ends-being-big-part-celtics-opener">Jared Sullinger ends up being a big part of Boston Celtics opener</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/sullinger-ends-being-big-part-celtics-opener"></a>"I thought he was good one-on-one guarding him," Stevens said of Sullinger's defense on Okafor last week. "Sometimes guys do a great job and the guy just gets to cooking and you gotta change something up. And that's what happened. So he went in pretty early and thought he did a good job."</p>
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<p>Of course Sullinger didn't just play the role of defensive stopper. He also contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, a block and a steal. I can grumble that he missed two 3-pointers but if Stevens is going to keep giving him the green light for those then I'll have to acquiesce. Besides, Sully hit all the rest of his shots and we won comfortably so I guess I can forgive him.</p>
<p>How long will this success last? Was the demise of Jared Sullinger greatly exaggerated? Or was Sullinger just keeping Kelly Olynyk's seat warm while he served a one game suspension for the <span>Kevin Love</span> incident? Will this be the peak of Sully's year?</p>
<p>Likely the answer is none of the above - or at least nothing so extreme. My guess is that Sullinger will be a necessary and useful piece of the the puzzle and Coach Stevens will utilize him effectively when the situation calls for him. Regardless, it is nice to know that the big man still has it in him to contribute.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/29/9634204/dont-call-it-a-comeback-jared-sullinger-has-been-here-for-yearsJeff Clark2015-10-29T02:59:07-04:002015-10-29T02:59:07-04:00Super Isaiah
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<figcaption>Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Celtics heavily used Thomas, who thoroughly abused the Sixers.</p> <p>BOSTON -- Just two days into the NBA season, <span>Isaiah Thomas</span> is already looking like an All-Star,<a target="_blank" href="http://bostonceltics.about.com/od/Player-Analysis/fl/Isaiah-Thomas-is-the-king-of-the-Boston-Celtics.htm"> like he did last season after the Boston Celtics acquired him</a> at the trade deadline.</p>
<p>Thomas led the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a> with 27 points in their 112-95 domination of the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> on Wednesday night at TD Garden. With 19 shots in 29 minutes, Thomas had a 35.1 usage percentage, a rate <a target="_blank" href="http://stats.nba.com/league/player/#!/advanced/?CF=MIN*E*&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=USG_PCT&dir=1">usually reserved for the NBA's superstars.</a></p>
<p>Thomas might not be a mainstream superstar, but the Celtics use him like one, funneling their offense through him whenever he's in the game, and Thomas produces accordingly.</p>
<p>But Thomas got off to an unusually slow start, shooting 0-for-5 in his first 8 minutes. However, <span>Brad Stevens</span> knew this wasn't an issue.</p>
<p>"[Letting Thomas continue to shoot] is the biggest thing," Stevens said after the game. "We've talked quite a bit about that: play with speed, play aggressive, play with spirit, let the chips fall where they may with him ... because a hot streak is coming."</p>
<p>Thomas' performance over the remainder of the Celtics' opener was superstar esque; in the next 21 minutes he scored all 27 of his points on 10-of-14 shooting.</p>
<p>"That's my job. I'm not gonna be shy when I've got a job to do," Thomas said. "I know at some point in time it's gonna drop. I'm a guy that scores in bunches and makes plays in bunches. I just need to see one go in. My teammates give me a lot of confidence to continue to keep shooting and to continue being aggressive."</p>
<p>Thomas looked a lot like fellow Boston sports star, Tom Brady, in that he was picking apart the defense in a myriad of ways -- transition, pick-and-roll, and isolation.</p>
<p>Here's one of Thomas' most assertive plays of the night:</p>
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<p>On this play, Thomas is defended on a switch by a long <span>Jerami Grant</span>. <span>Amir Johnson</span> then sets a screen for Thomas, which brings <span>Nerlens Noel</span> into the action. Noel might only be 21-years-old, but he's already one of the NBA's elite shot blockers, so it's no easy task for Thomas to create a quality shot here.</p>
<p>But Thomas takes advantage of a slightly off-balance Noel and uses a lightning quick crossover to zoom by him for the layup.</p>
<p>Thomas wasn't just a scorer for the Celtics, though. On the night he also tallied 7 assists to just 3 turnovers. Many of those dimes came using screens.</p>
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<p>Here, <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> drops on the Thomas-Johnson screen, so Thomas discards his defender, probes, and waits for the perfect moment to fire a dart to Johnson. The eye level pass was ideal because it allowed Johnson to quickly transition into the layup.</p>
<p>Of Johnson's 15 points on Wednesday, 11 came courtesy of Thomas (9 via the pick-and-roll, 2 from a drawn foul). They could certainly become a lethal pairing this season, and they're off to a sensational start.</p>
<p>It's <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/7/2/8881003/amir-johnson-hustling-two-way-presence-for-the-boston-celtics-toronto-raptors-nba-free-agent-2015" target="_blank">unsurprising</a> Thomas and Johnson are effective together. Johnson was an elite pick-and-roll finisher last year, scoring 1.16 points per possession, <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/655169333534945280">according to NBA.com</a>. Thomas, after joining the Celtics, was one of the best pick-and-roll ball handlers, scoring 0.94 points per possession.</p>
<p>But what's really encouraging for the Celtics is just how good they already are together.</p>
<p>"[Johnson] just knows how to play the game," Thomas said. "He keeps it simple. He knows where to set the screens at. He's a guy with a high basketball IQ. It's not that we have a lot of chemistry together, it's just two guys that just know how to play."</p>
<p>As Thomas and Johnson gain chemistry, perhaps their efficiency will continue to improve. Maybe it'll even lead to an All-Star appearance for the Boston Celtics' go-to scorer, Isaiah Thomas.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-size="large" data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA">Follow @KevinOConnorNBA</a>
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https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/29/9633966/isaiah-thomas-plays-like-a-superstar-in-boston-celtics-112-95-opening-night-win-nba-victoryKevinOConnorNBA2015-10-28T22:12:29-04:002015-10-28T22:12:29-04:00Celtics look good in first win of the season
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Isaiah Thomas and Boston Celtics open the regular season with a 112-95 victory over Jahlil Okafor and the Philadelphia 76ers.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> are officially undefeated, so far.</p>
<p>The Boston Celtics went up against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> on Wednesday night at the TD Garden in their first game of the regular season. After a difficult first quarter, the Celtics cruised to a 112-95 win, putting them at 1-0 for the season.</p>
<p>The first quarter was a bit of a surprise. The young bigs to whom Philly has pinned their future hopes were very effective early on. <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> and <span>Nerlens Noel</span> combined to go 8-of-14 for sixteen points, with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in the first quarter alone. While Tyler Zeller and <span>David Lee</span> were both aggressive going to the basket, they were unable to slow down the offensive onslaught from Philly's bigs in the early going.</p>
<p>The most effective player for the Celtics in the beginning of the game was <span>Jae Crowder</span>. The forward made plays all over both sides of the court in the first frame, on his way to fourteen points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the game.</p>
<p>The second quarter saw the Celtics bench pick up the pace, and put together a very successful run. After a mix of <span>Amir Johnson</span> and <span>Jared Sullinger</span> led a stout defensive effort to halt the 76er's scoring surge, <span>Brad Stevens</span> decided to go with a little bit of small ball. Putting Johnson at center, with <span>Jonas Jerebko</span> manning the power forward position, helped spark a solid 12-2 Boston run in the middle of the frame. With Okafor out of the game in the middle of the quarter, the Celtics were able to pull ahead, and moved into halftime with a 51-40 lead.</p>
<p>It seems clear that Coach Stevens has emphasized the pace aspect of his 'pace and space' system. Boston made a very noticeable effort to get to the rim, and to run in transition. They had twenty-six fast break points in the game, with fifteen coming in the first half alone.</p>
<p><span>Marcus Smart</span> was very solid in the first half, and displayed improved decision-making, ball-handling, and shooting - he made both of his threes, including a buzzer beater. The fact that Stevens trusted the sophomore guard enough to have him take the last shot of the half speaks volumes about how much the point guard has grown as a player.</p>
<p>As good as Smart was in the first half, Okafor was better, going 6-8 for 12 points, with four rebounds. However, starting in the second quarter, the story began to change. Boston began to double team the big man, causing him to cough up the ball a game-high 8 times. Despite his turnover troubles, the Duke center finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots.</p>
<p>In the third quarter, <span>Isaiah Thomas</span> shook off the rust that he had shown in the first two frames and started to take over. He was aggressive in the pick-and-roll, attacked the hoop consistently, and knocked down an abundance of free throws. He finished the quarter with twenty-three points, on the way to a total of 27 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals in the game. Perhaps more importantly, he also made plays on the defensive side of the ball - seemingly striking out against the notion that he is a defensive liability.</p>
<p>Stevens continued to run with small-ball lineups, featuring Amir Johnson at the center position. In this frame, he had both Jerebko and Crowder play the 4, at different times. These lineups were consistently successful, and demonstrate that Boston is still open to playing small, despite their glut of big men. It's true that <span>Kelly Olynyk</span> was not available for this game, but the consistency with which the Celtics went (relatively) small may well be an indicator of things to come.</p>
<p>The fourth quarter was a balanced team effort, in which the Celtics pulled away from the Sixers with a combination of good passing, sound defense, and consistent finishing. Perhaps most encouraging was the way that the entire team was playing during that final frame. They were intense, and they were very unselfish, but more importantly, they were very clearly having fun.</p>
<p>This Boston team is going to be fun to watch this year, and early signs point to more of a focus on pace, efficient shot selection, and very entertaining passing. A win against the Sixers does not a champion make, but early signs are encouraging.</p>
<p>Boston will look to start their season off with a win streak when they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> on Friday, while Philly will try to get onto the right foot on Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>One game down, eighty-one to go. Welcome back to regular-season basketball.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/28/9632380/celtics-top-76ers-in-first-game-of-the-seasonWes Howard2015-10-28T15:41:06-04:002015-10-28T15:41:06-04:00It's Game Day! Celtics host 76ers in season opener
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Celtics look to continue their mastery over the division rival 76ers as they host them in the season opener.</p> <center> <p><br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1840000/ff_1840472_xl.jpg&w=180"> at <img class="bbc_img" src="http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1840000/ff_1840477_xl.jpg&w=180"><br><strong><a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> (0-0) at <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> (0-0) <br>Wednesday, October 28, 2015<br>7:30 PM ET <br>Game #1 Home Game #1 <br>TV: CSNNE, CSN PHI, NBA-LP 752(xfinity)/752(DTV)<br>Radio: Sports Hub 98.5, Fanatic 97.5<br>TD Garden <br>Referees: Zach Zarba, Rodney Mott, Eli Roe <br><br></strong>The Celtics begin their season at home against division rival Philadelphia 76ers. These two teams met in their last game of the preseason with the Celtics coming out on top 81-65. The 76ers rank 4th all time in opening night winning percentage at .621. The Celtics rank 5th in opening night win percentage. <br><br>The Celtics swept the series 4-0 last season for the first time in 7 years, winning each game by at least 15 points. The Celtics are basically healthy with only <span>Kelly Olynyk</span> expected to miss this game due to a suspension because of the <span>Kevin Love</span> injury in last season's playoffs. Kelly's absence could be an opportunity for <span>Jared Sullinger</span> to get more playing time and make an impression. <br><br>The Sixers are expected to be short handed in this game. <span>Nik Stauskas</span> is expected to be a game time decision but his playing time will be limited since he missed the entire preseason with a leg injury. If Stauskas doesn't play, the Sixers will only have 9 players available for this game. <span>Jordan Mickey</span> and <span>James Young</span> will be inactive for this game. <br><br><br><img width="500" height="54" class="bbc_img resized" src="http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/00-Celticslogos.gif" style="cursor: pointer;"><br><strong>Probable Starters</strong> <br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/marcus_smart.png"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/avery_bradley.png"><br><strong>PG Marcus Smart....... SG: <span>Avery Bradley</span></strong><br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/tyler_zeller.png"><br><strong>C: <span>Tyler Zeller</span> </strong><br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/jae_crowder.png"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/david_lee.png"><br><strong>SF: <span>Jae Crowder</span> .............. PF: <span>David Lee</span> </strong><br><strong><br>Celtics Reserves</strong><br><span>Evan Turner</span><br>RJ Hunter<br><span>Jonas Jerebko</span><br>Jared Sullinger<br>Jordan Mickey<br><span>Terry Rozier</span><br><span>Isaiah Thomas</span><br>James Young<br><span>Amir Johnson</span><br><strong><br>Head Coach</strong><br><span>Brad Stevens</span><br><br><strong>Injuries</strong><br>Kelly Olynyk (Suspended) out <br><br><br><img width="500" height="54" class="bbc_img resized" src="http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/phil76/00-76erslogos10.gif" style="cursor: pointer;"><br><strong>Probable Starters </strong><br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/isaiah_canaan.png"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/jakarr_sampson.png"><br>PG: <span>Isaiah Canaan</span>................. SG: JaKarr Sampson <br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/jahlil_okafor.png"><br>C: <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> <br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/hollis_thompson.png"><img class="bbc_img" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/img/2.0/sect/statscube/players/large/nerlens_noel.png"><br>SF: <span>Hollis Thompson</span>.............. PF: <span>Nerlens Noel</span> <br><br><strong>Sixers Reserves </strong><br>TJ McConnell<br>Richuan Holmes <br><span>Christian Wood</span> <br><span>Jerami Grant</span> <br><br><strong>Head Coach</strong> <br><span>Brett Brown</span><br><br><strong>Injuries </strong><br>Nick Stauskas (leg) game time decision <br><span>Tony Wroten</span> (knee) out <br><span>Carl Landry</span> (wrist) out <br><span>Joel Embiid</span> (foot) out <br><span>Robert Covington</span> (knee) out <br><span>Kendall Marshall</span> (ACL) out <br><strong><br></strong><strong>Key Matchups </strong><br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://basketball.realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/profiles/photos/2006/Lee_David_gsw14.jpg"> vs <img class="bbc_img" src="http://basketball.realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/profiles/photos/2006/Noel_Nerlens_phi14.jpg"><br>and <br><img class="bbc_img" src="http://basketball.realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/profiles/photos/2006/Zeller_Tyler_bos14.jpg"> vs <img class="bbc_img" src="http://basketball.realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/profiles/photos/2006/Okafor_Jahlil_duke.jpg"><br>David Lee vs Nerlens Noel and Tyler Zeller vs Jahlil Okafor <br>The Sixers strength is in their young center and power forward. Noel led all rookies in rebounding (8.1), steals (1.77) and blocks (1.89) last season. The only other rookie to average more than 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals was David Robinson. He could be a tough matchup for the Celtics. In the 4 games against the Celtics last season, Noel averaged 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks. Jahlil Okafor was the 3rd pick in this year's draft and is athletic and talented and will also test the Celtics interior defense as he tries to make his mark in the league. <br><br><strong>Keys to the Game</strong><br><strong>Defense</strong> - The Celtics have been building their identity around a tough defense. With Smart, Bradley and Crowder, they have a very tough defensive line. They need to continue to play tough defense with both the starters and the second unit. Defense wins games.<br><strong><br>Be Aggressive </strong>- The Celtics have to be the more aggressive team and go after all the loose balls, and aggressively go after rebounds, and be aggressive on defense. They also have to be aggressive in taking the ball into the paint. The more aggressive team will usually get the benefit of the whistles. <br><br><strong>Move the Ball</strong> - The Celtics have shown beautiful ball movement in the preseason and they have to continue to move the ball and find the open man. But they need to make crisp passes and not get sloppy and make careless passes. <br><br><strong>Run</strong>- The Celtics need to use their depth to run on every possession. They can get easy baskets if they beat their opponents up the floor. They can also set their defense if they can beat opponents back on the other end. <br><br><strong>X-Factors </strong><br><strong>Opening Night at Home </strong>- The Celtics should get a boost from the home crowd who should be very loud and excited for the new season. The Celtics should also come out fired up to begin a new season in front of their home crowd. <br><br><strong>Sixers Injuries and Youth </strong>- The Sixers will be short handed with only 9 or 10 players available. They are also very young and so it would be easy for the Celtics to underestimate them. Many times an undermanned team will surprise a better team that takes them for granted. <br><br><strong>Official Report </strong><br><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2ym5QW0AB4/VFz8xzprAjI/AAAAAAAAODU/ZpdIbU9DBHI/s1600/ref_0.jpg" alt="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2ym5QW0AB4/VFz8xzprAjI/AAAAAAAAODU/ZpdIbU9DBHI/s1600/ref_0.jpg"></p> <center> <strong>Zach Zarba</strong> </center> <center>Zach Zarba has officiated 697 regular season NBA games, 27 playoff games and one Finals game during his 12 year career. Prior to joining the NBA, Zarba officiated in the NBA Development League for two years, where he was part of the crew that officiated the 2003 D-League Finals. He also spent one year officiating in the CBA and two years officiating in the IBL. Zarba has three years of collegiate officiating experience in the ACC, SEC, Colonial, ASUN, OVC and NEC Conferences. In addition, he has three years of high school officiating experience in New York.</center> <center></center> <center> In a win over Cleveland last season, Zarba made 3 terrible calls down the stretch which prompted Tommy to say "Zach Zarba, every time we have this guy he makes things up." His home W/L record in the preseason was 0-1.</center> <center></center> <center> <strong>Rodney Mott</strong> </center> <center> <strong> </strong> Rodney Mott has officiated 978 regular season games and 14 playoff games during his 17-season NBA career Prior to joining the NBA officiating staff, Mott spent four years officiating in the CBA, eight years officiating in the Los Angeles Pro Am basketball league, three years officiating at the junior college level, and four years officiating high school in San Diego. In 2007, Mott was suspended without pay for 3 games for making an obscene gesture and inappropriate comment toward a fan. Mott challenged the charges and said that they used him as a scapegoat to take attention away from other issues, but the suspension stood.</center> <center></center> <center> The Celtics have had mixed results with Mott as an official. Like many refs, he can be good or bad depending on the night. It was Rodney Mott that Rondo was joking with and accidentally bumped in a game vs the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a>. Even though Mott didn't show any reaction at the time and backed up Rondo's story that he was indeed joking with him at the time, Rondo was suspended for the incident. This is Mott's first game of the season.</center> <center></center> <center> <strong>Eli Roe</strong> </center> <center>Eli Roe has officiated 499 regular season games during his first ten NBA seasons. Prior to joining the NBA staff, Roe officiated in the CBA, NBA Development League and WNBA. He officiated in the NBA D-League Finals for two years, the D-League playoffs for four years and the WNBA Playoffs for two years. At the collegiate level, Roe refereed in the SEC, ASUN and OVC conferences and numerous Division II and III, NAIA and Juco league games. He also worked in four Division I postseason conference tournaments. </center> <center></center> <center>Roe tends to be inconsistent in his calls and can make the calls favor one team over another on any given night. He is also inconsistent with block/charge calls. In one game two seasons ago, a win over the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>, Roe made so many bad calls that Tommy yelled "Eli! I hate Eli! I hate him!" In other games, the officiating has been good. He's like Forest Gump's box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get. Roe's home W/L record in the pre-season is 0-1. </center> <p> </p> </center>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/28/9630838/its-game-day-celtics-host-the-injury-depleted-philadelphia-76ersflceltsfan2015-10-28T14:32:30-04:002015-10-28T14:32:30-04:00Stevens is a star, but don't forget the players
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<figcaption>Brian Babineau / Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Players play. Coaches coach.</p> <p>You'll find a lot of praise for Brad Stevens while reading articles on the Boston Celtics. They're 100 percent accurate. Stevens <i>is</i> the Celtics' <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2015/10/28/9620856/brad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba" target="_blank">biggest reason for hope</a>. Stevens <i>is</i> their <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/2015/10/27/celtics-have-deep-and-fascinating-roster-but-their-biggest-star-and-advantage-their-coach/vvLiLSuAPABt8Eeh2xxyAK/story.html?s_campaign=bcom:gigya:twitter" target="_blank">best advantage</a>. Stevens <i>is </i>an elite NBA coach.</p>
<p>Stevens is even better than expected and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2013/7/4/4492756/brad-stevens-the-nbas-next-great-head-coach-boston-celtics-nba-butler-bulldogs-analytics-philosophy">I had high expectations</a>; his process-oriented philosophy and understanding of player psychology have always set him apart.</p>
<p>So all that praise for Stevens is justified.</p>
<p>If he's not the NBA's best head coach today, he might be tomorrow.</p>
<p>The Celtics are retooling at a swift rate largely because of Stevens' ability to utilize his players in ways that maximizes their strengths and minimizes their weaknesses.</p>
<p>But let's not forget the players donning the Celtics uniform.</p>
<p>Or the front office that put the team together.</p>
<p>They also deserve a bulk of the credit, because the Celtics have accumulated a lot of good players -- through trades, the draft, and free agency -- and have significantly more talent than they're given credit for.</p>
<p>Because these players matter, here's a one-sentence introduction to each Celtic:</p>
<p><b>Isaiah Thomas:</b> Speedy pick-and-roll playmaker who scores and distributes efficiently with a <a href="http://stats.nba.com/league/player/#!/advanced/?sort=USG_PCT&dir=1&CF=MIN*GE*20&Season=2014-15&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=02%2F17%2F2015" target="_blank">superstar-level usage percentage</a>.</p>
<p><b>Marcus Smart:</b> Ferocious defender that can hit clutch shots and has <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/23/9602128/marcus-smart-developing-into-a-reliable-point-guard-boston-celtics-nba-oklahoma-state-pick-and-roll" target="_blank">progressed as a pick-and-roll ball handler.</a></p>
<p><b>Avery Bradley:</b> One of the NBA's elite perimeter defenders and has <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/20/9576829/boston-celtics-avery-bradley-development-is-proof-evolution-is-real-nba-prediction-preview?_ga=1.7899825.262992852.1431984856" target="_blank">evolved each season</a> of his career as a shooter.</p>
<p><b>Jae Crowder:</b> Super aggressive, versatile defender, and could exceed expectations on offense if he improves his three-point percentage.</p>
<p><b>Amir Johnson:</b> Elite pick-and-roll finisher and should add a new element of rim protection.</p>
<p><b>Tyler Zeller:</b> A good all-around big man without any noteworthy weaknesses, who flashed elite pick-and-roll finishing skills last season.</p>
<p><b>Kelly Olynyk:</b> Unique 7-footer with his ability to drain threes, drive closeouts, and create looks for his teammates.</p>
<p><b>David Lee:</b> A savvy veteran who can serve as a playmaking forward, while providing complementary skills as a finisher around the rim.</p>
<p><b>Evan Turner:</b> Clutch, versatile pass-first guard with the size of a forward, capable of defending multiple positions.</p>
<p><b>Jonas Jerebko:</b> Hustling maniac, defends multiple positions, and can stretch the floor as a small or power forward.</p>
<p><b>Jared Sullinger:</b> <a href="http://bkref.com/tiny/Bsdl9%20%20" target="_blank">In rare company on a per-minute basis</a>, and could extrapolate that production if he improves his conditioning.</p>
<p><b>R.J. Hunter: </b>Arguably the best pure passer on the Celtics and could help their perimeter shooting with his flamethrower stroke.</p>
<p><b>Terry Rozier:</b> Active defender who can provide energy in a limited role as a rookie.</p>
<p><b>James Young: </b>Potentially a knockdown shooter and has progressed on defense.</p>
<p><b>Jordan Mickey:</b> Could be a version of the new-age center in the modern NBA, with the versatility to protect the rim and switch onto smaller players.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>★★★</span></p>
<p>Individually, these players all have talents that should allow them to carve out a career in the NBA, regardless of the situation. Collectively, they fit and provide the Celtics the building blocks to have a successful season.</p>
<p>The Celtics had a top 10 defense after the All-Star break last season, which was their driving force as one of the league's hottest finishers. Smart, Bradley, and Crowder will all start for the Celtics, and could cause a lot of headaches with their tenacious defense.</p>
<p>Johnson was one of the NBA's best pick-and-roll finishers last season, and Thomas was one of the best pick-and-roll scorers. They'll likely be paired together as much as possible, and could create problems for the defense, especially when they're surrounded by shooters like Olynyk, Jerebko, or Bradley.</p>
<p>With Lee, the Celtics added a second playmaker other than Thomas. In preseason, the Celtics ran much of their offense through Lee, who is able to facilitate from the high post. It's unorthodox, but it has presented a lot of different looks.</p>
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<p>The Celtics ranked 27th in three-point shooting last season, arguably their most notable weakness, but could see an uptick in efficiency. They'll have Thomas the entire year. Bradley appears to have extended his range while the coaching staff has evolved his play types. Crowder has made subtle improvements to his mechanics. Olynyk is entering his third year and could finally click offensively. And Hunter was added through the draft, who could be a weapon after timeouts.</p>
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<p>The Celtics do lack a reliable second go-to scorer, but they have plenty of players who are capable of stepping up each night.</p>
<p>"We have a lot of guys," <a target="_blank" href="http://bostonceltics.about.com/od/News/fl/Danny-Ainge-Boston-Celtics-can-beat-anybody-on-any-given-night.htm">Danny Ainge recently told Toucher & Rich</a>. "We don't need all of them to do it every single night. We just need a few of them to do it on any given night. I feel like we have a lot of options. That's why our depth is a big advantage."</p>
<p>The depth is an advantage in terms of scoring, <a target="_blank" href="http://bostonceltics.about.com/od/News/fl/Expect-night-to-night-minutes-rotation-changes-for-Boston-Celtics.htm">but also in terms of night-to-night flexibility</a>.</p>
<p>With Lee, Johnson, Sullinger, and Zeller, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/2/9425975/the-boston-celtics-might-use-traditional-lineups-but-theyll-still-be-versatile?_ga=1.16402229.262992852.1431984856" target="_blank">the Celtics have the ability to play big, traditional lineups</a>. But with players like Jerebko, Crowder, Turner, and Smart, they're also able to play small ball. The Celtics can be chameleons and take on different forms depending on the matchup and situation.</p>
<p>All of this is to say that the Celtics have more talent than they're being given credit for.</p>
<p>It's also a reason why the media and fans are surprised <a target="_blank" href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/fivethirtyeights-2015-16-nba-forecast/">prediction machines</a> expect the Celtics to finish with anywhere between 46 and 52 wins.</p>
<p>But when assessing the roster, both individually and collectively, it's not so surprising.</p>
<p>No matter how the Boston Celtics perform this year, keep in mind that while Brad Stevens <i>is </i>the franchise's star, there are other factors that deserve much of the credit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>★★★</span></p>
<p>View my season predictions below:</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 336pt;" width="336" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1365; width: 32pt;" width="32"> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6485; width: 152pt;" span="2" width="152"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 336pt;" width="336" class="xl68" height="15" colspan="3"><b>2015-16 NBA Season Standings Predictions</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>Seed</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl65"><b>Western Conference (Wins)</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl66"><b>Eastern Conference (Wins)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>1</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Golden State Warriors (65)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Cleveland Cavaliers (62)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15">2</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">San Antonio Spurs (59)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Boston Celtics (50)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15">3</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Houston Rockets (57)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Atlanta Hawks (47)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>4</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Oklahoma City Thunder (57)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Toronto Raptors (47)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>5</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Los Angeles Clippers (56)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Chicago Bulls (45)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>6</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Memphis Grizzlies (47)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Indiana Pacers (43)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>7</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">New Orleans Pelicans (46)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Washington Wizards (43)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>8</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Utah Jazz (41)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Miami Heat (40)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; border-right: .5pt solid black; height: 15.0pt;" class="xl70" height="15" colspan="3"><b>Non-Playoff Teams (Wins)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>9</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Sacramento Kings (38)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Detroit Pistons (37)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>10</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Phoenix Suns (36)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Milwaukee Bucks (35)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>11</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Dallas Mavericks (36)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Charlotte Hornets (35)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>12</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Portland Trail Blazers (35)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Orlando Magic (33)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>13</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Minnesota Timberwolves (29)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">New York Knicks (24)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>14</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Denver Nuggets (25)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Brooklyn Nets (21)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl67" height="15"><b>15</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl63">Los Angeles Lakers (21)</td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Philadelphia 76ers (20)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>My original prediction for the Celtics was around 47 or 48 wins, but the possibility of player development and trades pushes it to 50.</p>
<p>Out West, I fully expect the Warriors to continue their domination. The Rockets appear to be somewhat overlooked around the league and they could push for 60 wins.</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="519" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 519pt;">
<colgroup> <col width="28" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1194; width: 28pt;"> <col width="126" span="3" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5376; width: 126pt;"> <col width="113" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4821; width: 113pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="5" height="15" class="xl63" width="519" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 519pt;"><b>2016 NBA Playoff Predictions</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;"><b></b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;"><b>First Round</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;"><b>Conference Semis</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;"><b>Conference Finals</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;"><b>NBA Finals</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td rowspan="4" height="60" class="xl64" style="text-align: center; height: 60pt; border-top-style: none;"><b>West</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;">Warriors (1) over Jazz (8)</td>
<td rowspan="2" class="xl65" style="border-top: none;">Warriors (1) over Thunder (4)</td>
<td rowspan="4" class="xl65" style="border-top: none;">Warriors (1) over Rockets (4)</td>
<td rowspan="8" class="xl65" style="border-top: none;">Warriors (1) over Bulls (5)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Thunder (4) over Clippers (5)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Spurs (2) over Pelicans (7)</td>
<td rowspan="2" class="xl65" style="border-top: none;">Rockets (3) over Spurs (2)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Rockets (3) over Grizzlies (6)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td rowspan="4" height="60" class="xl64" style="text-align: center; height: 60pt; border-top-style: none;"><b>East</b></td>
<td class="xl63" style="border-top: none; border-left: none;">Cavaliers (1) over Heat (8)</td>
<td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-top: none;">Bulls (5) over Cavaliers (4)</td>
<td rowspan="4" class="xl63" style="border-top: none;">Bulls (5) over Celtics (2)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Bulls (5) over Raptors (4)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Celtics (2) over Wizards (7)</td>
<td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-top: none;">Celtics (2) over Pacers (6)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none;">Pacers (6) over Hawks (3)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>I'm not trying to get cute with my Western Conference or NBA Finals prediction: the Warriors are the best team, period. There are plenty of contenders out West, but none are quite on their level. The Spurs will also be in the conversation, but if there's one dark horse team that matches up very well against them, it's Houston.</p>
<p>Most pundits are picking the Cavaliers to represent the Eastern Conference, but I'm making the contrarian guess and going with the Bulls. LeBron James' back injury seems to be bothering him more than ever, so it's plausible by the playoffs he's worn out.</p>
<p>I don't think it's crazy for the Celtics to win a playoff series or two, especially if they make a plus-trade during the season. It all depends on who they face each round. But, for that matter, most of these teams could make a run if they get hot.</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 304pt;" width="304" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<colgroup> <col style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6485; width: 152pt;" span="2" width="152"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; border-right: .5pt solid black; height: 15.0pt; width: 304pt;" width="304" class="xl65" height="15" colspan="2"><b>2015-16 NBA Award Predictions</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Most Valuable Player</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Stephen Curry (Warriors)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Defensive Player of the Year</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Rudy Gobert (Jazz)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Rookie of the Year</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Karl Towns (Timberwolves)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Sixth Man of the Year</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Isaiah Thomas (Celtics)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Most Improved Player of the Year</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Rudy Gobert (Jazz)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="15">
<td style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; border-top-style: none;" class="xl63" height="15"><b>Coach of the Year</b></td>
<td style="border-top: none; border-left: none;" class="xl64">Brad Stevens (Celtics)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Curry will once again dominate, maybe he'll be even better than last season.</p>
<p>Gobert should take the next step up as a player, and I have him taking both DPOTY and Most Improved. After January 1, the Jazz were second in the NBA with a 98.3 defensive rating. Much of the credit for that success goes to Gobert.</p>
<p>Towns should receive ample opportunity with the Wolves, and he'll likely be efficient with his minutes. If the Wolves make an unexpected playoff push, it'll probably because Towns develops quicker than expected.</p>
<p>Thomas takes Sixth Man (he should have won it last year) -- with one of the league's highest usage rates in 28 minutes per game. The 50-win Celtics will surprise the national media, making Brad Stevens the no-brainer choice -- and then he'll thank the players during his acceptance speech.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @KevinOConnorNBA</a>
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https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/28/9624944/nba-season-preview-brad-stevens-is-a-star-but-dont-sleep-on-theKevinOConnorNBA2015-10-28T07:28:55-04:002015-10-28T07:28:55-04:00You get basketball tonight
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ii2BK7-HwSLjgCCHw94v4SkPOTE=/191x66:1849x1171/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47533041/usa-today-8879331.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let's basketball together.</p> <p>It has been one hundred and eighty five days since the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> exited the playoffs. They have played summer league games, overseas exhibitions, and preseason games, but none of those officially "count." The real season begins tonight.</p>
<p>Honestly, if that isn't enough to get you excited, then you might be on the wrong blog.</p>
<p>This is NBA Christmas folks. We've been waiting all summer long, trying to be good fans, writing out a wish list, putting cookies and milk by the fireplace... Now we just have to hope that Santa brings us everything we've asked for.</p>
<p>So far, the team has looked good in preseason and they've been the darling of stats projections and a few media pundits. But none of that matters now. We can make predictions and serve up piping hot takes all day long but what matters is what happens on the court starting tonight.</p>
<p>The team sounds like they are all on the same page and ready for opening night.</p>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/prac-102715-celtics-bonded-together-ahead-of-opening-night">Celtics Bonded Together Ahead of Opening Night | Boston Celtics</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The one thing that I feel pretty good about is this team is a group that’s connected and it seems to be authentic," Stevens said before Tuesday afternoon’s practice. "It doesn’t seem to be rehearsed or just something that’s scripted."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4720754/long-hair-does-care-jae-crowder-energizes-celtics">Long hair, does care: Jae Crowder energizes Boston Celtics - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4720754/long-hair-does-care-jae-crowder-energizes-celtics"></a>"We’re getting better each and every day," said Crowder. "We take practices very serious. We’ve got a great group of guys, all listening and buying into what Brad is talking about. We’re just trying to get better. As the preseason went on, we felt like we we're striving in the right direction. We’re ready to get this started."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The wait is (almost) over. Just a few hours till gametime. Get excited folks.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/28/9625396/opening-night-the-boston-celtics-season-starts-tonightJeff Clark