Celtics

If hired by the Nets, at least during the early stages of Udoka's tenure, that would change. The players would see Udoka on their screens when they throw on NBA ...

From the controversy to Udoka’s potential new job and everything in between, the players have a lot to digest. If so, one questions how communication with the players could have possibly gone so wrong that Smart sounded convinced Udoka could eventually return as the Boston head coach. If the Nets would be willing to overlook Udoka’s transgressions, it’s possible some Celtics players believe their own team could have taken the same approach. If the Celtics weren’t waiting to close the door on Udoka, it sure looks like they intend to slam it shut as soon as they receive a chance to do so. The players would be forced to confront the reality that the Celtics ruled Udoka could not coach in Boston this season, but intend to sign off on him coaching another franchise — one with plenty of playoff history against the Celtics. That they were ready to part ways with Udoka permanently, avoid paying the rest of his contract and distance themselves from the scandal that ended his tenure. The Celtics went to the NBA Finals during Udoka’s first and only season in charge. Their presumed willingness to let him walk to Brooklyn could suggest they were prepared to let him leave for any opportunity, even one with a team that could potentially shape up as a contender. The Celtics, who would not be obligated to let Udoka out of his contract, are not expected to seek compensation if they were to allow him to sign with a rival team. It could be the best outcome for the Celtics, a clean cut from Udoka and the stain of his inappropriate relationship with a team staff member. The players would see Udoka on their screens when they throw on NBA League Pass. Though anyone could see why sliding Udoka back onto the Boston bench next season would have been awkward, at best, the organization had not closed off the possibility of a return.

2. Derrick White is kind of the silent starter for Boston. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the stars. Al Horford is the veteran leader. Marcus Smart does ...

It’s imperative that Joe Mazzulla does something to start knocking minutes off the Celtics main players, and it has to start as soon as this weekend. Was it a huge deal in the grand scheme of things? Ultimately, the ball should be in the hands of your best player to make a play at the end of the game. It was good to see Tatum recognize it and then make a Rob-like play at the basket: That’s mostly stood out with Williams attacking closeouts, but this is a nice move in transition to spin for the score: Sometimes it’s stuff like trying to bait the referees for a second straight play and taking an absolutely terrible shot: That’s 12-16 points left off the board in a one-point loss. This is outstanding help defense to block Donovan Mitchell at the rim: As opposed to last year, when White was a little unsure of where to go in Boston’s offense, he’s hunting the corner three here. He slips the screen and flares to the corner on the catch. And it would have been nice to see Boston execute better at the end of the game. Yes, it would have been nice to see the Celtics hang onto one of the double-digit leads they built, but it’s a “game of runs” as they say.

The Boston Celtics are one of the favorites to take home the 2022-23 NBA championship. The reason why this is the case is they are one of the deepest teams ...

Wizards: Boston Clamps Down Defensively, While Brogdon Scores Season-High](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/heres-what-stood-out-in-the-celtics-win-vs-wizards-boston-clamps-down-defensively-while-brogdon-scores-season-high) [The Top 5 Plays from Sunday's Celtics-Wizards Game](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/the-top-5-plays-from-sundays-celtics-wizards-game) [[Film Room] Malcolm Brogdon's Fitting in Seamlessly with Celtics, but What's More Exciting is on the Horizon](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/film-room-malcolm-brogdons-fitting-in-seamlessly-with-celtics-but-whats-more-exciting-is-on-the-horizon) Cavaliers](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/jaylen-brown-joe-mazzulla-dissect-final-play-from-celtics-ot-loss-vs-cavaliers) [[Video] Grant Williams Discusses Everything from Negotiations with Celtics to Mental Health and Signing with Jordan Brand in Interview with Shams Charania](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/video-grant-williams-discusses-everything-from-negotiations-with-celtics-to-mental-health-and-signing-with-jordan-brand-in-interview-with-shams-charania) [Now Is Time To Buy Low On Malcom Brogdon's 6th Man Of Year Betting Odds](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/now-is-time-to-buy-low-on-malcom-brogdons-6th-man-of-year-betting-odds) [After Firing Steve Nash, Nets Plan to Hire Ime Udoka as Head Coach](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/after-firing-steve-nash-nets-plan-to-hire-ime-udoka-as-head-coach) [Here's What Stood Out in the Celtics' Win vs. Boston's record may not be the prettiest to open the season, but they certainly have been impressive. They are going to be one of the best teams in the league, especially when big man Robert Williams returns to the lineup. "Obviously you want to win every game you play, but we have 74 more games. We'll take it one game at a time."

The Celtics let their best chance to beat the Cavs slip away in overtime after another questionable decision from Marcus Smart.

For instance, with the Celtics trailing by one and a chance for a 2-for-1 in play with 35 seconds remaining in overtime, a timeout there could have helped produce a quick look and also got in better offensive weapons (Malcolm Brogdon) into the game for said scenario. With that said, using a timeout before the game’s closing seconds could have helped out down the stretch at points. He has to know that the Cavs are running down the clock so when he gets a rebound, calling timeout to advance the ball is crucial rather than racing up the floor to chuck up a prayer which apparently was his plan? That stubbornness may come back to haunt Boston down the road but it potentially cost the team a couple of early season wins against the Cavs. There were opportunities to do that in this spot when you look at the film as Al Horford was left wide open on the wing when his man (Evan Mobley) sagged into the paint to defend against Smart’s drive. A new offensive-minded head coach in Joe Mazzulla was not part of the plan but has been an upside for the team’s scoring overall through seven regular season games.

The Cavaliers have put together a well-built, talented roster that can challenge in the East. Celtics Cavaliers Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is defended ...

The Cavaliers scored 56 points in the paint. The Celtics are better than the team that shot 26.8 percent from 3-point range on Wednesday, but the Cavaliers are really good — a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. They pulled down nine offensive rebounds, but the last three were all impactful — two in overtime, and one in the final minute which set Garland up to go 1-for-2 at the line (which meant Tatum’s last dunk tied the game, rather than giving the Celtics the lead). There’s a lot of season to go, but the Cavs have a cohesive, coherent roster packed with talent. With just 2.3 seconds remaining, they lined up in a similar formation to the one that generated a dunk for Tatum going down hill to end the fourth. That play, however, started with a pass to Marcus Smart, who hit a streaking Tatum for the slam. The Celtics are 4-3. In the second quarter, the Celtics rallied. Jaylen Brown’s jumper, however, bounced off the rim, and the Celtics fell to 4-3. He’s not the most efficient player, but he makes the Cavaliers a lot scarier down the stretch. Meanwhile, Darius Garland — who was back in the lineup after recovering from an eye injury — stabbed the Celtics repeatedly from 3-point range as Cleveland scored 35 points in the first quarter. In the first quarter, the Celtics experienced many of the same problems that plagued them when they played the Cavaliers last week.

Jayson Tatum took a level-headed approach to the Boston Celtics' third loss in their last four games Wednesday night.

But after playing for one of the last two teams standing last season, Tatum The reigning Eastern Conference champions dropped three of their last four, including a pair of overtime losses to the upstart Cleveland Cavaliers. After ripping off three consecutive wins to start the 2022-23 NBA campaign, Boston finds itself in a bit of a rough patch.