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  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  2. <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en">
  3.  <title>CelticsBlog -  All Posts</title>
  4.  <subtitle>A Boston Celtics Blog: 17 Banners and Counting</subtitle>
  5.  <icon>https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48431/celtic-small-1.png</icon>
  6.  <updated>2025-06-18T13:00:00-04:00</updated>
  7.  <id>http://www.celticsblog.com/rss/current/</id>
  8.  <link type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" rel="alternate"/>
  9.  <entry>
  10.    <published>2025-06-18T13:00:00-04:00</published>
  11.    <updated>2025-06-18T13:00:00-04:00</updated>
  12.    <title>Does a Jrue Holiday for DeMar DeRozan deal make sense for the Celtics?</title>
  13.    <content type="html">  
  14.  
  15.    &lt;figure&gt;
  16.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YfyETmZXBRVLwTdEuXDz5RElLjM=/0x0:4372x2915/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74139225/usa_today_25163350.0.jpg" /&gt;
  17.        &lt;figcaption&gt;David Butler II-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  18.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  19.  
  20.  &lt;p&gt;The Sacramento Kings reportedly have interest in Jrue Holiday, should the Celtics have interest in DeMar DeRozan?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="fbDE0m"&gt;There are reports around the Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in acquiring &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt; guard Jrue Holiday.&lt;/p&gt;
  21. &lt;p id="keRha6"&gt;James Ham, who covers the Kings for &lt;a href="http://TheKingsBeat.com"&gt;TheKingsBeat.com&lt;/a&gt;, said that Sacramento does have interest in the now 35-year-old guard.&lt;/p&gt;
  22. &lt;div id="plAUkI"&gt;
  23. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;
  24. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Brad is cooking up   &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The Kings have been checking in on Jrue Holiday, but the Celtics have better offers”&lt;a href="https://t.co/jtLNbvYGzb"&gt;pic.twitter.com/jtLNbvYGzb&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/BiggLynch/status/1933319113189044296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;June 13, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  25. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  26. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  27.  
  28. &lt;/div&gt;
  29. &lt;p id="qrqOc4"&gt;“The Kings checked in on (Holiday) and wanted to see what the price is worth and everything like that. From my understanding Boston has better offers than what the Kings are offering.”&lt;/p&gt;
  30. &lt;p id="p7lkmI"&gt;Let’s live in a world where the Celtics and Kings do agree on a Jrue Holiday trade and the return is DeMar DeRozan. If the Celtics really do have better offers than that, maybe the Kings throw in the 2027 Spurs first round pick or a few 2nd rounders.&lt;/p&gt;
  31. &lt;p id="obXY6k"&gt;A Holiday for DeRozan one for one swap works if it is completed by July 1st. If not, the Kings would need to add another player because the deal would be $150,000 from working for the 2025-26 season. As a result, if there is going to be a deal, it should take place soon.&lt;/p&gt;
  32. &lt;p id="UK65Sv"&gt;This deal would get the Celtics to $13.3 million over the 2nd apron, which they need to get under, as I discussed in my &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/12/24448024/sam-hauser-is-available-what-is-his-market-boston-celtics-trade-second-apron-brad-stevens"&gt;Sam Hauser story&lt;/a&gt; from last week.&lt;/p&gt;
  33. &lt;p id="XzaVNc"&gt;DeRozan’s fit in Boston is something that would be fun to see how it plays out.&lt;/p&gt;
  34. &lt;p id="GT5map"&gt;DeRozan is a 6-time All-Star and a 3-time All-NBA player. He can flat out score the ball, as he has scored at least 20 points per game in every season since the 2013-14 campaign.&lt;/p&gt;
  35. &lt;p id="exNpuq"&gt;Boston is going to need someone to help fill the scoring void that is being left by Jayson Tatum next season. However, DeRozan just does not fit the Mazzulla Ball system.&lt;/p&gt;
  36. &lt;p id="aQUM0v"&gt;Of all of DeRozan’s shots a season ago, 80.4% of them came from inside the 2-point arc. DeRozan took 8.3 mid range shots per game in his first season as a King. That is 5.4 more than Jayson Tatum, who lead the Celtics with 2.9 mid range shots per game during the 2024-25 season.&lt;/p&gt;
  37. &lt;p id="cBlgjf"&gt;There is no way that DeRozan would get his mid-range shots to under 3 per game. During the 2020-21 season, his last as a Spur, DeRozan took 5.9 mid-range shots per game. That was the last season he did not lead the NBA in mid-range shot attempts per game.&lt;/p&gt;
  38. &lt;p id="bv3kYD"&gt;DeRozan’s defense isn’t great but that is to be expected from a guy who will be 36 on opening night. He has a tendency to get beat on drives to the cup but isn’t a terrible defensive player who costs the team on that end consistently.&lt;/p&gt;
  39. &lt;p id="fLo7N6"&gt;DeRozan is not a bad passer either. His 4.4 assists per game and 18.7% assist rate were down from his time with the Bulls, where he averaged 5.1 assists per game and had an assist rate of 22.4%. Assist rate is the estimated percentage of baskets the player assisted on when they were on the court.&lt;/p&gt;
  40. &lt;p id="8OgBQ6"&gt;DeRozan is also one of the clutchest players in the NBA. He didn't have a great clutch season this past year, shooting 44% from the field and 20% from three in clutch games. Which are defined by the NBA as games with 5 points with under 5 minutes to go in the game. However, for he finished 3rd in Clutch Player of the Year voting during the 2022-23 season and 2nd for the 2023-24 season when he was with the Bulls.&lt;/p&gt;
  41. &lt;p id="sHh4pO"&gt;He has an elite clutch gene.&lt;/p&gt;
  42. &lt;p id="8V67vY"&gt;How would DeRozan fit in Boston?&lt;/p&gt;
  43. &lt;p id="M4sBw4"&gt;Jayson Tatum is going to miss a significant portion of next season with his achilles tear (I hate being reminded of this fact), if not all of it. Boston is going to need guys to score the ball next season. Anticipating that he is back, Jaylen Brown will be one of those guys and an increased role from Payton Pritchard will also help. However, DeRozan is a bucket, who is elite at getting to his spots and hitting jump shots. That is something that the Celtics will need next season.&lt;/p&gt;
  44. &lt;p id="d7dyXR"&gt;DeRozan’s contract is also something that Boston should have interest in. Just $10 million of the $25 million DeRozan is scheduled to make during the 2026-27 season is guaranteed. If the Celtics want to move off of DeRozan after the season, they can waive and stretch him at just over $3 million for 3 seasons.  If he makes the All-Star team next season that would increase to $12 million but if he is an All-Star the Celtics likely wouldn't waive him.&lt;/p&gt;
  45. &lt;p id="EQ90T2"&gt;So, does it make sense for the Celtics to trade Holiday for DeRozan?&lt;/p&gt;
  46. &lt;p id="aGyF4q"&gt;I don't think it would be a bad trade for the Celtics but should the Celtics prioritize DeRozan in a Holiday trade? No, they should not. DeRozan is a great player, who would be fun to watch play for the Celtics. However, he is going to be 36 in August and would not be a long term piece for the Celtics.&lt;/p&gt;
  47. &lt;p id="Wv3cb0"&gt;If Boston can get something they can keep long term in a Holiday trade they should do that instead of trading for DeRozan because &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/5/17/24430424/case-for-the-boston-celtics-taking-a-gap-year-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-trades-rumors-nba-draft"&gt;next season is likely to be a wash anyways.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  48.  
  49. </content>
  50.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/18/24450893/does-a-jrue-holiday-for-demar-derozan-deal-make-sense-the-boston-celtics-sacramento-kings-trade"/>
  51.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/18/24450893/does-a-jrue-holiday-for-demar-derozan-deal-make-sense-the-boston-celtics-sacramento-kings-trade</id>
  52.    <author>
  53.      <name>Jack Anderson</name>
  54.    </author>
  55.  </entry>
  56.  <entry>
  57.    <published>2025-06-18T09:00:00-04:00</published>
  58.    <updated>2025-06-18T09:00:00-04:00</updated>
  59.    <title>Learning from the Finals: Boston has an athleticism deficiency</title>
  60.    <content type="html">  
  61.  
  62.    &lt;figure&gt;
  63.      &lt;img alt="Orlando Magic v Boston Celtics - Game Five" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wFjeq4x5bJCjBbqZFKg5E_m35ik=/0x0:1974x1316/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74138842/2212808899.0.jpg" /&gt;
  64.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  65.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  66.  
  67.  &lt;p&gt;The NBA Finals have highlighted a need for the Celtics to inject athleticism and energy into their wing depth to keep up with the best.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="2kDnzb"&gt;In just a few days, it’ll be time for Boston to officially give up the crown as a new team takes the thrown. The 2023-24 title was unforgettable, but things move fast in Boston and the focus has shifted to banner 19.&lt;/p&gt;
  68. &lt;p id="9rtNJH"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt; know what it takes to build a champion, but while the blueprint for victory is still fresh, there’s a lesson to be learned from the Thunder and Pacers. Through five &lt;a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals"&gt;NBA Finals&lt;/a&gt; games, the value placed on athleticism and strength is unmistakable, and it’s a hole that Boston needs to fill on their own roster.&lt;/p&gt;
  69. &lt;p id="nD76sJ"&gt;Aside from two 7-footers, the bulk of the Thunder’s playoff rotation falls between 6’4” and 6’6”. They’ve built an all-time defense &lt;em&gt;because&lt;/em&gt; of that, not in spite of it.&lt;/p&gt;
  70. &lt;p id="HO2FGG"&gt;Cason Wallace and Lu Dort are the two smallest rotation pieces at 6’4”, but each of them has the mindset and physical tools to play much larger. Even in matchups where they give up some size, it never feels like OKC is at a disadvantage. Their wings switch, help, rotate and recover, causing havoc and scaring ballhandlers. Offensively, they get out in transition, fill gaps and finish plays at the rim.&lt;/p&gt;
  71. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  72.        &lt;img alt="2025 NBA Finals - Game Two" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vvAUX6Y9RY4QAJWdhxoUhD2djBg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26030378/2219237363.jpg"&gt;
  73.      &lt;cite&gt;Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images&lt;/cite&gt;
  74.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  75. &lt;p id="02x9TF"&gt;To a lesser degree, Indiana has their own collection of strong and springy athletes. Siakam, Toppin, Nesmith, Nembhard, Mathurin and Sheppard are wing-sized players that can slide up and down the positional scale on either end.&lt;/p&gt;
  76. &lt;p id="3LMltr"&gt;Due to factors like age, injuries and roster changes, Boston is missing this same type of versatility at the wing/forward spot. Horford and Jrue have lost a step, and the rest of the roster wins more with skill, timing and shotmaking. Brown and Tatum account for a significant amount of the explosive plays and above-the-rim finishes, which masks a lack of athleticism around them.&lt;/p&gt;
  77. &lt;p id="sAUcDd"&gt;The team found ways to offset this throughout the year — primarily with record-breaking 3PT volume — but it led to unnecessary pressure and wear on the Jays. &lt;/p&gt;
  78. &lt;p id="4qpXux"&gt;When you look at the Pacers and Thunder, the stars are part of this equation, but they get to play more of a supporting role in terms of energy and athleticism. Dort, Caruso and Wallace can do a lot of the dirty work for OKC, while Nesmith, Nembhard and Toppin fit similarly for Indiana.&lt;/p&gt;
  79. &lt;p id="UrFI4F"&gt;Currently, there aren’t many options on the roster that can replicate this dynamic for Boston. Jordan Walsh fits the mold in some ways, but after a sophomore season without much playing time it’s unclear if he’s part of the long-term plans. Another offseason in the weight room could open the door for Walsh to earn real minutes in Tatum’s absence, but it’s far from a reliable solution.&lt;/p&gt;
  80. &lt;p id="0hnO2J"&gt;The draft and trade market offer other opportunities to address this. The Pacers and Thunder built their versatility up using both options. Boston can take a swing someone like Adou Theiro or Drake Powell with either of their draft picks, while also exploring trade options to find more established players.&lt;/p&gt;
  81. &lt;p id="Dtiut6"&gt;If they can inject the wing depth with more athleticism and youth, it’ll allow Tatum and Brown to scale back a bit. As they both recover from surgeries, it’s important to make sure they’re not overextended.&lt;/p&gt;
  82. &lt;p id="oThK29"&gt;The Thunder and Pacers aren’t going anywhere, and other teams are starting to load up as well. If the Celtics want to keep pace and ensure their window stays open, they need a roster that can run with anyone — and that means addressing the lack of athleticism.&lt;/p&gt;
  83.  
  84. </content>
  85.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/18/24450787/learning-from-the-nba-finals-the-boston-celtics-have-a-wing-deficiency"/>
  86.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/18/24450787/learning-from-the-nba-finals-the-boston-celtics-have-a-wing-deficiency</id>
  87.    <author>
  88.      <name>Nate Moskowitz</name>
  89.    </author>
  90.  </entry>
  91.  <entry>
  92.    <published>2025-06-17T12:52:22-04:00</published>
  93.    <updated>2025-06-17T12:52:22-04:00</updated>
  94.    <title>One year ago today: The Celtics captured Banner 18</title>
  95.    <content type="html">  
  96.  
  97.    &lt;figure&gt;
  98.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Finals-Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OOG_ipuqI94rNI2QVuJZSjvo314=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74137535/usa_today_23570760.0.jpg" /&gt;
  99.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Pool Photo-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  100.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  101.  
  102.  &lt;p&gt;It has been one year since the Celtics won their 18th championship.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="yh9LB5"&gt;June 17th, 2024 is a day that all of us will likely remember for the rest of our lives.&lt;/p&gt;
  103. &lt;p id="cxDiiD"&gt;The night the &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Boston Celtics&lt;/a&gt; finally captured Banner 18.&lt;/p&gt;
  104. &lt;p id="Mlsuj6"&gt;“The best team in basketball all year. All the work, all the sacrifice, handing the enormous weight of massive expectations, ends tonight here. It's over, time to say it again Boston: anything is possible. Banner number 18 has been secured, the Celtics are NBA champions,” Mike Breen said as the clock ran out.&lt;/p&gt;
  105. &lt;div id="SGHoAT"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/85rTJEOxNFc?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  106. &lt;p id="FbbUOG"&gt;That moment when it happens is one that I know I’ll never forget because the journey to get there was so difficult, even for the fans.&lt;/p&gt;
  107. &lt;p id="gFe405"&gt;All the heartache in the journey to get there. The 2022 Finals and the 2023 3-0 comeback that never was, specifically. Those were the moments that made capturing that 18th title so great.&lt;/p&gt;
  108. &lt;p id="5SEtTp"&gt;Enjoying the journey is also very important. From the 64-18 regular season to dispatching the Heat, to knocking out Cleveland in game 5, &lt;a href="https://youtu.be/Kap5f5fH710?si=XP2y6ibqHX4BzD4U"&gt;to Jaylen’s corner 3&lt;/a&gt; and eventual sweep of the Pacers, to &lt;a href="https://youtu.be/1-9_3ixfsww?si=F8kANdiVYqvpchXu"&gt;Game 1 Porzingis&lt;/a&gt; and the Finals as whole, it is those moments that make the championship so much fun to look back on.&lt;/p&gt;
  109. &lt;p id="CWynUR"&gt;Payton Pritchard’s half court buzzer beater that sent that game to halftime is one of the best moments in the history of one of the most historic franchises in sports.&lt;/p&gt;
  110. &lt;div id="cQkO9p"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOxfD1y6cDM?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  111. &lt;p id="v5qCrd"&gt;The 2024 Celtics were also one of the most dominate teams of all time.  Their .842 winning percentage from their 16-3 playoff record is the 10th best playoff winning percentage of all time. Their +10.72 point differential in the regular season is the 6th best in NBA history, they had been 5th best but will be passed by the 2024-25 Thunder who are at +11.9.&lt;/p&gt;
  112. &lt;p id="nrcZBj"&gt;They were an all-time great team and deserve to be remembered as one.&lt;/p&gt;
  113. &lt;p id="fd7mYm"&gt;The game itself was dominated from Boston, as well. The dominate the &lt;a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/"&gt;Mavericks&lt;/a&gt; from the jump and it ended in a 106-88 Celtics win. Jayson Tatum put together a huge game, with 31 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.&lt;/p&gt;
  114. &lt;div id="A3lzuQ"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5FTi-c1t0BM?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  115. &lt;p id="6EUM5l"&gt;Jaylen Brown had 21 points, Jrue Holiday had 15 points and Derrick White had 14 points as the only other Celtics to score in double figures.&lt;/p&gt;
  116. &lt;p id="T3Rs4E"&gt;Derrick White also needed to get his teeth fixed after the game.&lt;/p&gt;
  117. &lt;div id="gPjeDZ"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBqgSMCeeoY?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  118. &lt;p id="XiXW7Z"&gt;The way this season ended and what is coming next this summer is also a great reminder of how precious every season is and how every year you have a chance to win the championship, you have to grab it because it isn’t promised to be that way for long.&lt;/p&gt;
  119. &lt;p id="N0o6Ik"&gt;The 2024 Celtics did just that and their legacy will hang forever in TD Garden because of it, no matter what comes during this summer.&lt;/p&gt;
  120. &lt;p id="VNuQ2C"&gt;If you want to relive the championship, the NBA has their Chasing History series in Game 5 and the Raising 18 documentary that they put out in October.&lt;/p&gt;
  121. &lt;div id="8BiXaI"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y0w2RD3HBBk?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  122. &lt;div id="mH55zI"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UZhM-v_w75I?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  123. &lt;p id="ThXMvt"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SidelineFilmz"&gt;Sideline films&lt;/a&gt; also put together a great video on the title as well that I highly recommend.&lt;/p&gt;
  124. &lt;div id="jqQw8S"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5u_XytNfNao?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  125.  
  126. </content>
  127.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/17/24450829/one-year-ago-today-the-boston-celtics-captured-banner-18-dallas-mavericks-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown"/>
  128.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/17/24450829/one-year-ago-today-the-boston-celtics-captured-banner-18-dallas-mavericks-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown</id>
  129.    <author>
  130.      <name>Jack Anderson</name>
  131.    </author>
  132.  </entry>
  133.  <entry>
  134.    <published>2025-06-16T18:32:53-04:00</published>
  135.    <updated>2025-06-16T18:32:53-04:00</updated>
  136.    <title>Catch Pacers vs. Thunder Game 5 live on Playback</title>
  137.    <content type="html">  
  138.  
  139.    &lt;figure&gt;
  140.      &lt;img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RTD_qVCGiutkEIFAJxw31ZwjV8U=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827813/large_celticsblog.com.minimal.0.png" /&gt;
  141.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  142.  
  143.  &lt;p&gt;Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saved the Thunder’s season with more 4th quarter heroics. The Oklahoma City Thunder will need more from their role players at home to regain control of the series. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="bDqLYv"&gt;Boston Celtics fans can empathise with Indiana Pacers fans as they prepare for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The feeling of letting a 3-1 lead in the finals slip through your fingers is up there with some of the worst pain a sports fan can experience. Alas, counting out the Indiana Pacers has not been a wise move in the 2025 playoffs. Catch the Game 5 action live in the &lt;a href="https://www.playback.tv/celticsblog?s=1763e739"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CelticsBlog Playback room&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
  144. &lt;p id="PRHUfN"&gt;Download the Playback app today and be part of the conversation as the action unfolds.&lt;/p&gt;
  145. &lt;div id="L0sAQx"&gt;
  146.  
  147.  
  148.    &lt;title&gt;celticsblog&lt;/title&gt;
  149.  
  150.  
  151.    
  152.    &lt;div id="playback-embed" style="height: 900px; width: 100%"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  153.  
  154.    
  155.    &lt;script src="https://www.playback.tv/embed/v1.js"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  156.  
  157.    
  158.    &lt;script type="text/javascript"&gt;
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  165. &lt;/div&gt;
  166.  
  167. </content>
  168.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/16/24450031/catch-pacers-vs-thunder-game-5-live-on-playback"/>
  169.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/16/24450031/catch-pacers-vs-thunder-game-5-live-on-playback</id>
  170.    <author>
  171.      <name>Jacob Issenberg</name>
  172.    </author>
  173.  </entry>
  174.  <entry>
  175.    <published>2025-06-15T18:50:43-04:00</published>
  176.    <updated>2025-06-15T18:50:43-04:00</updated>
  177.    <title>Deal or No Deal: Derrick White</title>
  178.    <content type="html">  
  179.  
  180.    &lt;figure&gt;
  181.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JPZNMbTOGxvxWPPmXOSPZOzjLXo=/0x0:4733x3155/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74134778/usa_today_25220918.0.jpg" /&gt;
  182.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  183.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  184.  
  185.  &lt;p&gt;Should the Boston Celtics keep Derrick White?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="yLXXNN"&gt;Welcome back to the Deal or No Deal series where we break down if the &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt; should bring back a certain player for the 2025-26 NBA season. If a player is under “Deal” then the player should not be brought back. If “No Deal” then the player should be brought back.&lt;/p&gt;
  186. &lt;p id="ntKK4c"&gt;The next player in this series is Derrick White. White had a career season this year averaging a career high 16.4 PPG, alongside 4.8 AST, 4.5 REB, on 44% shooting from the field, 38% shooting from three, and 84% from the free throw line.&lt;/p&gt;
  187. &lt;p id="33yMXc"&gt;White’s career year was highlighted by breaking the Celtics single season record for made threes but he was not recognized with any awards as he was snubbed for an all defensive team. With Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis missing extended periods of time with injury, White stepped up to be one of Boston’s most consistent and important players.&lt;/p&gt;
  188. &lt;div id="3Tj5EA"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-THnVnlOPYw?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  189. &lt;p id="ZfmdrU"&gt;This might be the most obvious No Deal of all time but you never know what could happen in the offseason. With all of the rumors swirling around the Celtics roster, Shams Charania reported that Boston would prefer not to trade Derrick White this offseason. &lt;/p&gt;
  190. &lt;p id="N92SV9"&gt;However, this hasn’t stopped teams from calling about him and with Desmond Bane just getting traded to the Orlando Magic for 5 first round picks, Brad Stevens might listen to some of these offers more intently.&lt;/p&gt;
  191. &lt;div id="rbQCAg"&gt;
  192. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;
  193. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;The Celtics’ offseason focus is trading Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Sam Hauser, per &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@ShamsCharania&lt;/a&gt; on &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@PatMcAfeeShow&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;He said “they’re going to get offers on the three guys they’re focused on” and they “prefer not to trade” Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. &lt;a href="https://t.co/35U2oDNTpk"&gt;pic.twitter.com/35U2oDNTpk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— SleeperCeltics (@SleeperCeltics) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/SleeperCeltics/status/1932862628616913177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;June 11, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  194. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  195. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  196.  
  197. &lt;/div&gt;
  198. &lt;p id="U4bBez"&gt;Building a Derrick White trade package is interesting because every team in the NBA would love to have a player like him but not every team has the salaries to match his $28 million contract. &lt;/p&gt;
  199. &lt;p id="GQHvgv"&gt;The first team that comes to mind for a potential trade is the &lt;a href="https://www.canishoopus.com"&gt;Minnesota Timberwolves&lt;/a&gt;. My idea for a trade involves Minnesota sending Jaden McDaniels, Terrance Shannon Jr, MIN 2025 First Round Pick (17th Overall), and MIN 2026 First Round Pick Swap.&lt;/p&gt;
  200. &lt;p id="aHvaMl"&gt;The Timberwolves have said that Jaden McDaniels is an untouchable when it comes to a Kevin Durant trade but would they be willing to part ways with him for Derrick White? Probably not, but he is the only salary on the Timberwolves that would make this trade work. Shannon Jr is a good young player that Boston could like and two first round picks might be a lot but the Celtics could be asking for this kind of haul when it comes to a player of White’s caliber. &lt;/p&gt;
  201. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  202.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/J5PXeXAIQ9xfth__aLw9vcMDWa8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26028351/IMG_0290.jpeg"&gt;
  203.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  204. &lt;p id="CDz2Vc"&gt;The next team I thought about when it came to a Derrick White trade is the &lt;a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com"&gt;Detroit Pistons&lt;/a&gt;. In this scenario Detroit would give up Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, DET 2026 First Round Pick and DET 2028 First Round Pick. &lt;/p&gt;
  205. &lt;p id="CykWhe"&gt;Ivey is a young guard coming off of injury but he has shown flashes of looking like a future star. Stewart is tough, big body center that will become an instant fan favorite in Boston and fill the big man position that the Celtics need. Boston would also save about $3 Million in salary with this trade and that could be something the Celtics are interested in. &lt;/p&gt;
  206. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  207.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AiyD3xByHtMDBFmXIasBUN7Co90=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26028350/IMG_0294.jpeg"&gt;
  208.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  209. &lt;p id="li7QYm"&gt;The next trade proposal I have is with the &lt;a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com"&gt;Dallas Mavericks&lt;/a&gt; who are in the market for another guard. Dallas would give up Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, Oliver-Maxence Prosper, DAL 2026 First Round Pick, and LAL 2029 First Round Pick. &lt;/p&gt;
  210. &lt;p id="4eGbRE"&gt;Gafford and Martin are great depth pieces in positions of need for the Celtics and Prosper is a nice young player that showed flashes of potential last year. The draft picks are once again the main prize in this deal as the &lt;a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com"&gt;Lakers&lt;/a&gt; 2029 Pick could be the best asset out of anything they acquire. &lt;/p&gt;
  211. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  212.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tBR2rDYNdmN3KUMtwMkXKuVz93U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26028356/IMG_0297.jpeg"&gt;
  213.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  214. &lt;p id="JmYGJ0"&gt;The final trade proposal I have is a deal with the &lt;a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com"&gt;Golden State Warriors&lt;/a&gt;. Golden State gives up Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, GSW 2028 First Round Pick, GSW 2029 First Round Pick Swap, and GSW 2030 First Round Pick. &lt;/p&gt;
  215. &lt;p id="RQZ5nX"&gt;Moody and Hield are depth pieces that are useful for the Celtics but it’s the three first round picks that are the main draw of this deal. Boston also saves $7.3 Million in this deal and with the Celtics cutting salary, this would be the most attractive deal. &lt;/p&gt;
  216. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  217.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jTgFCEPb59YHXPy1AQOWWu7Gj8E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26028352/IMG_0292.jpeg"&gt;
  218.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  219. &lt;p id="Jx3jHz"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Final Verdict: No Deal&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
  220. &lt;p id="ViXIxg"&gt;Although White could fetch the biggest haul out of everyone on the team, I don’t see a world where the Celtics move him. Derrick White is maybe the most important player on this team outside of the Jays and I don’t think there is a deal out there right now that a team can make to get Brad Stevens to move him.&lt;/p&gt;
  221. &lt;p id="E9gABh"&gt;However, the NBA Offseason is a wild time and any team could be desperate enough to give up a kings ransom for White. The city of Boston would be outraged at even the thought of a trade happening so I think Brad Stevens will hold on to him and there could be a chance White puts up an all-star season in return. &lt;/p&gt;
  222.  
  223. </content>
  224.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/15/24449661/deal-or-no-deal-derrick-white-boston-celtics-nba-offseason-brad-stevens"/>
  225.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/15/24449661/deal-or-no-deal-derrick-white-boston-celtics-nba-offseason-brad-stevens</id>
  226.    <author>
  227.      <name>Ian Inangelo</name>
  228.    </author>
  229.  </entry>
  230.  <entry>
  231.    <published>2025-06-14T10:02:49-04:00</published>
  232.    <updated>2025-06-14T10:02:49-04:00</updated>
  233.    <title>Jayson Tatum steps up to support St. Louis after tragedy hits hometown</title>
  234.    <content type="html">  
  235.  
  236.    &lt;figure&gt;
  237.      &lt;img alt="NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CylnN0to2MwXDyw27HAO0EYva-I=/0x0:2428x1619/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74133148/usa_today_23213818.0.jpg" /&gt;
  238.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Winslow Townson-Imagn Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  239.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  240.  
  241.  &lt;p&gt;Tatum’s foundation is hosting another tornado response drive in St. Louis on Saturday. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="yfRpnj"&gt;In mid-May, just a few days after &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/5/15/24430310/jayson-tatum-achilles-tendon-injury-celtics-nba-playoffs-surgery-recovery-timeline"&gt;Jayson Tatum&lt;/a&gt; ruptured his Achilles, a tornado swept through his hometown of St. Louis. The tornado damaged about 5,000 buildings, injuring 38 people and killing five.&lt;/p&gt;
  242. &lt;p id="K5goDb"&gt;A few weeks later, Tatum’s foundation — the Jayson Tatum Foundation — hosted a food drive to assist affected families. The June 1st drive collected more than 52,000 lbs. of food and supplies that were dispersed to those in need. &lt;/p&gt;
  243. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  244.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-e9sAMNHo70tdn8QqPq15RzVoks=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26027698/Screenshot_2025_06_14_at_1.26.34_PM.png"&gt;
  245.      &lt;cite&gt;Jayson Tatum Foundation&lt;/cite&gt;
  246.      &lt;figcaption&gt;Jayson Tatum’s foundation hosted a tornado response drive in St. Louis on Saturday.  &lt;/figcaption&gt;
  247.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  248. &lt;p id="qiCyIu"&gt;On June 14th, Tatum’s foundation is hosting a second drive to collect food items, personal care products, and household cleaning supplies. &lt;/p&gt;
  249. &lt;div id="To7OfF"&gt;
  250. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;
  251. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;We're hosting a        donation event! Join The Jayson Tatum Foundation, &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreChaminade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@WeAreChaminade&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/STLFoodbank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@stlfoodbank&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/KMOV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@KMOV&lt;/a&gt;, &amp;amp; &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/KTRS550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@ktrs550&lt;/a&gt; for a drive-thru donation event to help STL tornado victims.&lt;br&gt;   Sat, June 14, 9am–2pm&lt;br&gt;   Chaminade Prep-425 S Lindbergh&lt;br&gt;  Donate food and supplies &lt;a href="https://t.co/HoJYcPYRMK"&gt;pic.twitter.com/HoJYcPYRMK&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— The Jayson Tatum Foundation (@supportjtf) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/supportjtf/status/1933524886212776190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;June 13, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  252. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  253. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  254.  
  255. &lt;/div&gt;
  256. &lt;p id="9elZ76"&gt;Both drives have taken place at Chaminade College Preparatory School, where Tatum attended high school. &lt;/p&gt;
  257. &lt;h3 id="97RcHU"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Jayson Tatum Foundation works to uplift the St. Louis area year-round&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
  258. &lt;p id="YRTHO8"&gt;The tornado response donation drive is one of many events Tatum’s foundation has hosted to impact the St. Louis community. The foundation, whose mission is to “positively impact and inspire children, teens and their families through education, athletics and support, and to encourage them to strive to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.” The organization is mostly focused on the St. Louis area, and hosts an annual new backpack and school supply drive, a Thanksgiving meal giveaway, and a toy and coat drive. &lt;/p&gt;
  259. &lt;p id="R8Umnu"&gt;In addition, the foundation provides select &lt;a href="https://thejaysontatumfoundation.org/scholarship/"&gt;graduating high school seniors with a $10,000&lt;/a&gt; scholarship to help with expenses, and &lt;a href="https://thejaysontatumfoundation.org/sofi-homebuyer-grant-program/"&gt;provide grants&lt;/a&gt; to low-to-moderate-income first-time homebuyers. &lt;/p&gt;
  260. &lt;p id="a2NJd4"&gt;The &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Celtics&lt;/a&gt; star, in the meantime, is rehabbing in Boston. &lt;/p&gt;
  261.  
  262. </content>
  263.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/14/24448879/jayson-tatum-foundation-st-louis-tornado"/>
  264.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/14/24448879/jayson-tatum-foundation-st-louis-tornado</id>
  265.    <author>
  266.      <name>Noa Dalzell</name>
  267.    </author>
  268.  </entry>
  269.  <entry>
  270.    <published>2025-06-14T09:00:00-04:00</published>
  271.    <updated>2025-06-14T09:00:00-04:00</updated>
  272.    <title>Noah Penda: the perfect fit for the Celtics?</title>
  273.    <content type="html">  
  274.  
  275.    &lt;figure&gt;
  276.      &lt;img alt="Le Mans player #93 Noah Penda is seen in action during..." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W4sC0CgJHS0bfQESbRm5AKvmlgU=/0x845:4000x3512/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74133080/2184920028.0.jpg" /&gt;
  277.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Laurent Coust/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  278.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  279.  
  280.  &lt;p&gt;Noah Penda doesn’t need the ball to impact games. He cuts, connects, rebounds, rotates and defends with rare precision. For a Celtics team that values two-way versatility, the fit is easy to see.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="qBYHzt"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;With the draft coming up soon and the french basketball season coming to an end&lt;/strong&gt;, the timing is perfect to study Noah Penda’s potential as a new Celtic. Le Mans Sarthe Basket winger was voted Betclic Élite’s best young player of the season on Wednesday. He follows in the footsteps of Zaccharie Risacher and Victor Wembanyama, the first picks of the last two drafts.&lt;/p&gt;
  281. &lt;p id="3Kn02I"&gt;He is projected to go in the second part of the first round and could be a great pick for the &lt;a href="https://www.celticsblog.com"&gt;Boston Celtics&lt;/a&gt; if they want to add defensive playmaking and connecting tissue on offense. As the Celtics end the season with the 24th-ranked opponent turnover rate and the 3rd-lowest transition volume, Noah Penda could bring another alternative to Mazzulla-ball.&lt;/p&gt;
  282. &lt;h2 id="LDGbIB"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ready to win&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
  283. &lt;p id="82DbU3"&gt;His coach, Guillaume Vizade, who has worked with him in various contexts (in his previous club and for the French national under-20 team), believes a winning environment like the Celtics is well suited to his personality:&lt;/p&gt;
  284. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="mXAkUq"&gt;“As he’s a competitor and very committed to the team project, I think an already successful team looking for a player who can improve on what already exists would be a good fit. He’s able to adapt constantly thanks to his basketball IQ, and will always find a way to help the team and boost the productivity of its line-ups.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  285. &lt;p id="Jq4vQK"&gt;As Jrue Holiday might be traded, and Al Horford not getting any younger, the Celtics will need to find elite defenders to replenish the roster. What if the young man was the defensive prospect they could place a bet on? At 6’8” with a 7-foot wingspan, Penda might be one of the best defensive players in this draft, as he is already the top defensive playmaker in the French league. His current coach believes his body is ready for the big league:&lt;/p&gt;
  286. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="sl0zFL"&gt;“Physically, he has many of the attributes of a modern NBA winger. His measurements, his power and his ability to move to the right place at the right time (counter-timing, lateral speed to hold off duels). His physical assets could make him a Swiss army knife defensively in the NBA and a connector offensively. The final element that I find reassuring is that he has not stopped progressing so far. I think this progression will continue in the ultra-competitive environment of the NBA.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  287. &lt;p id="yCt3Ls"&gt;Now that you know what his coach thinks about him, let’s look at what the statistics and film have to say.&lt;/p&gt;
  288. &lt;h2 id="xScNVc"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One of a kind&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
  289. &lt;p id="x79e5b"&gt;With a large enough statistical sample now available to compare player performances, it’s easier to spot the outliers — those who clearly stand out from the pack. Noah Penda is one of them.&lt;/p&gt;
  290. &lt;p id="nLafx3"&gt;During the 2024–2025 season with Le Mans in Betclic Élite, he delivered a defensive performance that no one else has matched. His raw stats aren’t always eye-catching because of his versatility and the fact that he plays 26 minutes per game. But once you adjust for playing time and compare him to the rest of the league, he becomes truly unique.&lt;/p&gt;
  291. &lt;p id="oV9rIA"&gt;If you focus on the key defensive stats — blocks, steals, rebounds, and fouls — his overall impact is the best in the league.&lt;/p&gt;
  292. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  293.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xxSg2t3lK1uULhDBeLyQFXE3d38=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26013644/Noah_Penda___Articles_stats_percentile.png"&gt;
  294.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  295. &lt;p id="c2Wtht"&gt;Normalizing the numbers to 40 minutes for all Pro A players smooths out the influence of playing time. Per 40 minutes, Noah Penda averages 1.5 blocks, 1.7 steals, 8.1 rebounds, and just 2.9 fouls.&lt;/p&gt;
  296. &lt;p id="pWYeD8"&gt;So who else in Betclic Élite combines this level of production and defensive efficiency? No one. Nobody brings this kind of impact on that side of the ball. The only two players who come close to his efficiency are Andre Roberson (the former OKC Thunder player) and Kevarrius Hayes, but both foul a lot more.&lt;/p&gt;
  297. &lt;figure class="e-image"&gt;
  298.        &lt;img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z3BXnvCvBq8t3ebFMpyrCwgontI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26013647/Noah_Penda_article___Scatter_plot_defense.png"&gt;
  299.  &lt;/figure&gt;
  300. &lt;p id="wxarCg"&gt;His defensive presence also makes him one of the league’s best at triggering transition opportunities — helping Le Mans pressure opposing offenses and defenses alike. Another marker of his impact? He’s among the players defending the most isolations per game. That kind of volume shows he’s frequently matched up with the opponent’s top scorer.&lt;/p&gt;
  301. &lt;p id="2fno8X"&gt;Even better, when opposing scorers finish a play in isolation against Noah Penda, they only convert 27% of their attempts. How is that possible? Because he can guard various profiles — from very quick point guards to post-up big men.&lt;/p&gt;
  302. &lt;div id="MCYS8U"&gt;
  303. &lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"&gt;
  304. &lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Opposing scorers have an astounding 27.3% FG (!) when guarded by Noah Penda in isolation. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The multi-positional defending, lateral quickness, physicality &amp;amp; overbearing length — these are the makings of an All-NBA defender &amp;amp; Penda fits that bill. &lt;a href="https://t.co/mYBtK5GmWf"&gt;pic.twitter.com/mYBtK5GmWf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/mcfNBA/status/1914312262770184192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;April 21, 2025&lt;/a&gt;
  305. &lt;/blockquote&gt;
  306. &lt;script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
  307.  
  308. &lt;/div&gt;
  309. &lt;p id="rcx3TB"&gt;Here’s one example: Penda is guarding one of the best point guards in the league. On paper, a player with Noah’s size shouldn’t be able to keep up with that kind of speed. But he’s built differently. His mobility, size, and density make him an elite defender in multiple roles.&lt;/p&gt;
  310. &lt;div id="xAv2ZO"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/rx8z0u?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  311. &lt;p id="lKXQJi"&gt;In the play above, he defends a quick ball-handler in transition — a rare skill for a player at his position. But that’s not the limit of his versatility. In the next action, he starts in the weak-side corner and, after a pick-and-roll, rotates perfectly to take away an easy layup at the rim.&lt;/p&gt;
  312. &lt;p id="GvJsD5"&gt;He quickly recognizes the next threat coming from behind and uses his unique physical tools to block the shot with one hand.&lt;/p&gt;
  313. &lt;div id="RVGIUF"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/407owp?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  314. &lt;p id="GBbhMn"&gt;You’ll even find sequences like the one below where he does both in the same possession. First, his help at the rim forces the offense to swing the ball to the corner. He rotates, switches to the ball-handler, stays in front, and when it seems like he’s about to get blown by, his wingspan and hand-eye coordination allow him to block the shot.&lt;/p&gt;
  315. &lt;div id="IDvLp8"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/jox876?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  316. &lt;p id="rZKFNj"&gt;Noah Penda’s defensive influence is as versatile as it is disruptive — and a huge part of why his team can run in transition. In today’s game, where pick-and-rolls dominate, Penda is built to blow them up. He’s mobile and strong enough to guard either the ball-handler or the screener. And once the scoring threat is neutralized, his length makes passes far tougher to execute.&lt;/p&gt;
  317. &lt;div id="cgqSRG"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/8higdw?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  318. &lt;p id="hl7zRm"&gt;Even when he’s off the ball, his presence alone complicates passing lanes in tight spaces. He reads the game well and can afford to gamble or float between two players because he won’t get beat easily. On top of that, he’s confident enough with the ball in his hands to push the break and make smart decisions in transition.&lt;/p&gt;
  319. &lt;p id="McUs3p"&gt;In a league where spacing is everything, a profile like Noah Penda’s might be the key to building a great defense. Take this play, for example: he’s defending a player just one pass away from the ball, but he still manages to slide over, disrupt the drive, and shut it down thanks to his exceptional timing and physical tools.&lt;/p&gt;
  320. &lt;div id="wP7mwq"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/zdnepx?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  321. &lt;p id="6XTmMt"&gt;The other upside to his game comes right after his defensive ability. He is able to get stops, indeed, but he can also grab the rebound and carry the ball in transition. As mentioned earlier, he grabs more rebounds per 40 minutes than 80% of the Betclic Élite players. That’s already really impressive. But the real value comes from his ability to dribble and pass to launch the transition.&lt;/p&gt;
  322. &lt;p id="qx9kvQ"&gt;The numbers say it clearly — Noah Penda is a one-of-a-kind defender in France, maybe even in Europe. Across all European leagues, very few players post this kind of defensive output with so few fouls. His mix of sharp instincts, elite coordination, length, and mobility could make him one of the most versatile defenders in the world. But what about his offense?&lt;/p&gt;
  323. &lt;h2 id="S9OzQL"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can he be a connector in the nba?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
  324. &lt;p id="ylL9pT"&gt;The offense is the biggest question mark. What could be a great upside is his connecting, his passing, and his capacity to read the game. His great basketball IQ — which is highlighted by his defense — also impacts the other side of the court. He can pass on the move, which could be great as a roll-man or in a secondary ball-handler role. Like Luke Kornet, he can also be a stationary offensive hub thanks to his ability to read plays and find the open man. Overall, he is a willing and good passer. As he ranks in the 59th percentile in assists per 40 minutes among wings, it shows how much of a team player he is.&lt;/p&gt;
  325. &lt;div id="jBvH7z"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/4f8tj9?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  326. &lt;p id="WyZBAt"&gt;While the passing seems to be his biggest upside on offense, he’s also great at cutting, ranking in the 70th percentile for “cuts made per 40 minutes.” This is not a surprise, as we often see how smart players excel at cutting, passing, and reading the game. Penda is one of them.&lt;/p&gt;
  327. &lt;div id="YzrCx8"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/v5ptgg?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  328. &lt;p id="p9MRT6"&gt;Offensively, he can also drive and play with his back to the basket, ranking in the 70th percentile in post-up attempts per 40 minutes in the French league. As the Celtics like to attack mismatches, he could also bring some slight offensive creation from the post-up against weaker defenders.&lt;/p&gt;
  329. &lt;div id="WuyXJu"&gt;&lt;div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"&gt;&lt;iframe src="https://streamable.com/o/biudft?autoplay=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media *;"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  330. &lt;p id="LJV50e"&gt;So why wouldn’t it work? Mainly because of the shooting. He’s improved a lot, and insights from Le Mans coaching staff suggest that he is very serious and cautious about his shooting training. And the numbers back up this impression. His free throw percentage went from 55% in 2021 to 72% this season. Same with his 3-point efficiency, improving from 24% to 34% over four years. But will it be enough to play in the NBA? One thing is certain: his work ethic is strong. When we asked Coach Vizade about it, here’s what he had to say:&lt;/p&gt;
  331. &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;p id="weNAGq"&gt;“Noah is a player who is very consistent in his work and commitment, and this translates into regularity in his productions. As well as being consistent every year, he’s making progress in the way he trains. His intentions progress along with his determination and over the three years I’ve always had a player with a thirst for learning and evolving on a daily basis. He also connects well with his partners and makes sure he’s always supporting them on both sides of the court.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
  332. &lt;p id="q1YDd2"&gt;If he can reach league-average efficiency on shooting in his first seasons, Penda will be able to stay on the court and become one of the most impactful two-way role players. His ability to play a wide variety of roles on both offense and defense fits perfectly in the modern game. At just 20 years old, he has already proven he can be part of a winning environment — and his teams are often at their best when he’s on the court (66th percentile in plus/minus this season).&lt;/p&gt;
  333. &lt;p id="GtuPhm"&gt;Noah Penda will have an instant impact on the team that drafts him. Defensively, he’ll be easy to plug into various coverages. Offensively, he can pass, cut, screen, and move without the ball — or create chaos in transition. What more can you ask for from a rookie in a winning team looking to retool for the future? With most of the other Celtics already elite shooters, he could bring something different. Penda could offer what Holiday gave the Celtics on the defensive end and find a role off the ball on offense.&lt;/p&gt;
  334.  
  335. </content>
  336.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/14/24440073/noah-penda-boston-celtics-nba-draft-le-mans-sarthe-basket-france-basketball-guillaume-vizade"/>
  337.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/14/24440073/noah-penda-boston-celtics-nba-draft-le-mans-sarthe-basket-france-basketball-guillaume-vizade</id>
  338.    <author>
  339.      <name>Azad Rosay</name>
  340.    </author>
  341.  </entry>
  342.  <entry>
  343.    <published>2025-06-13T14:17:19-04:00</published>
  344.    <updated>2025-06-13T14:17:19-04:00</updated>
  345.    <title>Phil Pressey to be named Maine Celtics Head Coach</title>
  346.    <content type="html">  
  347.  
  348.    &lt;figure&gt;
  349.      &lt;img alt="Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bb_qD7fWe8JT3UVHjlNhz7H-wlA=/0x0:3233x2155/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74132195/468622122.0.jpg" /&gt;
  350.        &lt;figcaption&gt;Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;
  351.    &lt;/figure&gt;
  352.  
  353.  &lt;p&gt;The former Missouri guard gets his first head coaching opportunity&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="cfSS8x"&gt;According to &lt;a href="https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1933580072692166893"&gt;Michael Scotto of HoopsHype&lt;/a&gt;, the Maine Celtics are expected to name Phil Pressey as the franchise’s next head coach.&lt;/p&gt;
  354. &lt;p id="mg1Eih"&gt;Pressey will become the 11th head coach in team history, taking over for Tyler Lashbrook, who was named head coach in 2024.&lt;/p&gt;
  355. &lt;p id="D3VUm2"&gt;Pressey, a former Missouri standout, went undrafted in 2013 but played on Boston’s summer league team earning himself a contract with the Celtics and after a strong showing in the NBA Summer League. He played two seasons in Boston before bouncing around the league with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and briefly the Golden State Warriors. He later played overseas in Spain with Movistar Estudiantes and FC Barcelona and in Turkey with Besiktas.&lt;/p&gt;
  356. &lt;p id="HULNjd"&gt;He also has ties to Maine. Early in his career, Pressey spent time with Maine as he developed through the Celtics organization.&lt;/p&gt;
  357. &lt;p id="4njXgD"&gt;Most recently, Pressey served as a player development coach for the Boston Celtics. He joined head coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff in the summer of 2023 and was part of a developmental pipeline that has proven crucial to Boston’s long-term success.&lt;/p&gt;
  358. &lt;p id="c9PqDT"&gt;Boston’s G League affiliate has become a valuable asset in developing young talent. Players like JD Davison, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, and Baylor Scheierman have all spent time in Maine early in their careers. With the Celtics competing for championships in recent years, Maine has served as a proving ground for players not yet ready for rotation minutes at the NBA level.&lt;/p&gt;
  359. &lt;p id="q8yEkQ"&gt;Pressey’s experience in both playing and developing talent gives him a strong foundation heading into his first head coaching role. He’ll be tasked not only with leading Maine on the court, but continuing to help groom the next wave of players for Mazzulla’s Celtics.&lt;/p&gt;
  360.  
  361. </content>
  362.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/13/24448755/phil-pressey-to-be-named-maine-celtics-head-coach"/>
  363.    <id>https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/13/24448755/phil-pressey-to-be-named-maine-celtics-head-coach</id>
  364.    <author>
  365.      <name>Mark Aboyoun</name>
  366.    </author>
  367.  </entry>
  368. </feed>
  369.  

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