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Connelly’s Top Ten – Sixers Live in Paint (for more than three seconds)

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1. Celtics Stuff

* Horford averaging 11 shots a game

* Horford 6 shots / Baynes 7 shots

* Rozier at home in the playoffs – 22.8 a game

* Rozier on the road in the playoffs – 12.8 a game

 

2. Sixers Stuff

* TJ McConnell has been profiled – even McHale was throwing little white guy comments out like – “he’s gritty”

* Love Simmons going behind the back pass in the playoffs for a turnover

* Ebid still chirping

* Simmons in series 20-44 (45%) / 26 assists to 20 turnovers (1.30)

* McConnell – 15-18 (83%) / 12 assists to 2 turnovers (6.00)

 

3. Refs

* Somewhere Tim Donaghy is saying – I told you so

* The refs controlled the game with getting Celtics in early foul trouble – at halftime – 16 fouls on Celtics – 8 on Sixers

* Why didn’t they look for a flagrant for the elbow by Ebid – back of Smarts head?

* Calling travel on Celtics when Simmons travels every time he gets in the pain is ridiculous

* At one point I backed up the DVR to count Saric in the lane for 8 seconds

* Saric and Belinelli are European soccer whiners

* Stevens should get on the refs on Ebid moving picks – he knocked out Larkin and almost concussion on Smart

 

4. First round picks last year – must kill Philly fans watching Tatum knowing he couldn’t have been theirs

5. Celtics are 11 for their last 43 from three point land – 25%

6. Bird 9 playoff games his rookie year vs. Tatum:

 

* Bird – 21.33 a game – 9 games

* Tatum – 18.33 last nine games

 

7. Amazing Stat – Celtics at the point:

 

·         Marcus Smart in seven games has an insane 21 turnovers in 216 minutes (one every ten minutes)

·         Terry Rozier over the last seven games has 8 turnovers in 262 minutes (one every 32 minutes)

 

8. Old School – How absurd is three point shooting in the NBA right now:

 

* Aron Baynes took six three pointers Monday night

* Larry Bird didn’t take six three pointers in his last 65 playoff games

 

9. Just a Little Bit Outside – Charles Barkley comment of the night when being told what Summa Cum Laude means – he said “oh that’s when my tutor who did my homework got.”

 

10. Randomocity

 

* McHale going over the top to not seem favorable to Celtics?

* Larry Bird was 24 his first playoffs – Tatum is 20

* Marcus Morris was putting the 3-0 series lead in Ebid’s face – he better not let them come back

* Toronto should be relegated to the WNBA

Michael has written for the Boston Herald and other sites in the past and his top ten column is now housed on Trifecta Sports Network. Connelly's Top Ten releases on Monday's and Friday's.

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Retain Marcus Smart Locking Him Up To Massive Deal

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Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Retain Marcus Smart Locking Him Up To Massive Deal To Ensure The Game Changing Defender Remain’s In Green

On Thursday the stand-off between the Boston Celtics and restricted free agent Marcus Smart finally ended.

Early in the morning a confirmed meeting between Boston and Smart’s camp was leaked with the goal being to lock down the numbers and get the deal done. And the two groups accomplished just that.

Just two hours after the meeting report came out another report came out saying that Smart and the C’s had agreed to a four-year deal worth $52 million.

The Boston Celtics confirmed the news early Thursday afternoon but did not disclose the terms of the contract despite the numbers already being vastly reported by multiple media outlets.

“Keeping Marcus in a Celtics uniform was a top priority, and we’re excited to have accomplished that,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His intensity is unmatched, and the level of toughness that he brings to the team throughout the course of the entire season is second to none.”

“This is where I want to be, and I’m ready to put a green jersey back on and get to work,” said Smart. “I’m determined to help my teammates bring another championship to the best fans in the world.”

The 24-year-old has built roots in the Boston area holding multiple charity events and has become on the beloved players on the team by the fans due to his grittiness of play and his willingness to put his body on the line for his team.

Smart only played in 54 games in 2017 but managed to average 29.9 mpg, 10.2 ppg, and a career high 4.8 apg. What he brings that can’t be told by simply stats though is a real toughness and the ability to be a true game changer at the defensive end of the floor. That is something the Celtics desperately needed to keep given the fact that the team no longer has Avery Bradley who was traded to Detroit prior to last season to acquire Marcus Morris.

Locking up Smart is by far the biggest move of Boston’s offseason given the fact that the team that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals is essentially adding two all-stars back into the fold who didn’t play a single minute in the playoffs in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.

It is unclear if Boston has any other moves up their sleeves but given the fact that Hayward is being added, and Irving is going to be healthy, paired with the growth of young players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown the Celtics didn’t need to do much to remain the team to beat in the East with LeBron James taking his talents to La La Land.

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Boston Celtics Rumors: Showing Interest In Dwight Howard

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Boston Celtics Rumors: Celtics Showing Interest In Dwight Howard According To A Report

With the Brooklyn Nets reportedly buying out recently acquired center Dwight Howard, it appears the Boston Celtics might have some interest.

According to ASherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston, the Celtics are among the teams that could be interested in Howard.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Danny Ainge has expressed interest in Howard, and with the price low, why not try and sign the rim protector? Boston has both Greg Monroe and Aron Baynes as unrestricted free agents and if one or both leaves there is going to be a need for a rebounder and a shot blocker, a spot that Howard fits.

The question will be if Howard is willing to accept a role off of the bench and take a back seat on offense.

For the Celtics adding a potential chemistry virus in Howard might not be worth the upside that he can bring.

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Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Win In A Thriller To Take Game 2 From 76ers

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Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics Win In An Absolute Thriller To Take Game 2 From The Philadelphia 76ers With Big Games From Jayson Tatum And Terry Rozier

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-103 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

The leading scorer for the Boston Celtics was Jayson Tatum who had 21 points followed by Terry Rozier who had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Al Horford had a double-double with 13 pts and 12 rebounds. The surprise of the night was the fact that Jaylen Brown was able to play.

Brown had been dealing with a Hamstring injury that had him doubtful for Game 2 only to be upgraded to probable just an hour before tip-off. It was clear that the hamstring was bothering him on Thursday night but he was still able to score 13 points and hit some critical shots for the Celtics down the stretch.

Philly held a lead of 22 points in the 2nd quarter but a 20-5 run by Boston to close the 1st half made it a 56-51 game at the half. The C’s had an 8 point lead early in the 3rd but the Sixers battled back and kept the game close till the end.

With the win, the Celtics will prepare for Game 3 which will take place on Saturday at 5:00 pm in Philadelphia.

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