The Celtics have traded Jaylen Brown for Paul George, two future first round picks (2028, 2031) and two second round picks (2028, 2030).

It is an almost incomprehensible trade for Celtics fans that were expecting the team to content for a title next season. Unless there is a follow-up trade that happens before October, or Paul George magically plays 70+ games at peak Paul George-level, this trade definitively makes the Celtics less likely to make the NBA Finals.

Contracts: Jaylen’s extra expensive third year

Paul George has 2 years and 114 million remaining on his contract.

Jaylen Brown has 3 years and 185 million remaining. The annual value increases in each of the 3 upcoming seasons. The cost of that third year is almost 66 million. That third year happens to occur during what could be one of the most loaded free-agent classes in NBA history. Here’s a look at the 2028 Unrestricted free-agency class, courtesy of Spotrac.

In this case, Jaylen’s $65m third year was probably as important as the future picks. Paul George’s age and significant health concerns make this trade so lopsided…is this really the best the Celtics could do for the former Finals MVP who us coming off a such a great regular season?

It’s tough, because Tatum’s re-entry changes the Jaylen-Celtics dynamic. The regular seasons means so much less. The exhilaration of the unexpected growth and Jaylen’s ability to held lead that group…is a blip in the long-run of the business of the NBA…which is another reminder of the way NBA fandom now works. Like people and modern dating, it seems like everyone tries to stay unattached.

Jaylen Brown was not openly critical about the endless Giannis trade rumors that swirled for weeks before Miami landed Giannis. But the timing of this deal suggests a Jaylen trade was destined to occur this summer. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and Celtics analytics and cap guru Mike Zarren must have decided this long ago. The contract was too much for them to stomach. They searched for the best deal he could find, but the Pelicans weren’t interested in giving up Trey Murphy III just yet…not for Jaylen. I wonder if Anthony Davis is the other current target. The Washington Wizards just traded for center DeAndre Ayton, and have up and coming Alex Sarr in place. Davis’ contract and age are not ideal for the rising young Wizards.

Analytical Explanations

Advanced analytics don’t value Brown nearly as highly as the accolades and the Celtics fans generally do. Despite all the awards and big stats, despite the Finals MVP in 2024, Brown is viewed by many of the advanced metrics as a fringe All-Star. Tom Haberstroh’s piece for Yahoo Sports dives further in to the numbers. Basically, when Jaylen has shared the court with Tatum, his offensive tendencies don’t contribute to team offensive success the way a shooter like Payton Pritchard does. This isn’t to say that Pritchard can hold a candle to Jaylen when attacking 1-on-1 in a playoff series (regular season defense is nothing like playoff defense). But it is to say, the Celtics prefer Pritchard’s offensive contribution at around 10m per year compared with Jaylen’s at around 55m per year.

*In addition to the contract, Stevens may have his eye on convincing Nikola Jokic to sign with Celtics in the summer of 2028. (Other potential notable FAs in July 2028 are: Giannis, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, and Domantas Sabonis. Six high-quality big men could be on the market two summers from now.

*Jaylen Brown may have wanted out of Boston without saying he wanted out. It may have been brewing for a long time.

After the season ended in a surprising first round loss to the very Sixers that will now be Brown’s teammates, Jaylen said, “This has been my favorite season.” The timing of the quote was odd. Right after the team is upset in the first round? It was a provocative quote, meant to go viral. Knowing the 2024 title-winning season comes in 2nd to the year that Jaylen led the team and watched all the young guys take off and improve. Winning rings is not everything in the NBA. The process of improvement is what leads to the rings. Jaylen and Mazzulla are exactly on the same page there…but to say “This has been my favorite season is to cast a slight shadow on the mainstream narrative that it’s always only ever about winning the title.”

That quote may have been a hint at how much Jaylen has been biting his tongue about being 2nd in the Celtics hierarchy to Jayson Tatum all along. How hard it is to defer when you have such elite physical ability.

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Maybe it was Tatum that was asked and agreed with Stevens that the Celtics move on from Jaylen? This spring, as Tatum was rehabbing and constantly being monitored about his progress and potential return to the court, Tatum mentioned wondering if he should come back during the season at all. The Celtics were playing so well with Brown leading the way, having his most efficient season...it must have been difficult for Tatum to watch. Remember Jaylen won the Finals MVP when Boston beat Dallas in 2024.

As usual, Stevens has kept the lid sealed shut from the media and Tatum has kept his media image pristine. Nobody is labeled the bad guy. It’s more savory than most other NBA franchises would have handled it. Also more vague.

The only people being thrown under the bus here are the fans...because there is no clear picture yet on why it happened. Stevens and new owner Bill Chisolm have set a press conference to announce the trade on Monday, July 6th.

Meanwhile, Jaylen posted a thank you letter on social media…a thank you to Boston for his 10 years spent in the city.

“I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down and accepted every challenge,” Brown wrote. “To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here, I love you.”

Personality-Differences and Branding: Tatum and Brown

Jayson Tatum has always been soft-spoken, sometimes cloyingly self-aware. He clearly wants to be admired...and rake in the endorsements (18 million during the 2025-26 season). Tatum has never said anything that could be considered controversial. Never. His rehab process was well-documented and may as well have been presented by Hallmark.

Brown is different; outspoken, visible and critical on social media (Live Twitch streams have been his go-to over the last couple of years), Brown famously declined a sponsorship with Nike (turning down 50m+ to start his own shoe brand 741. Jaylen is about swimming upstream and community empowerment. He’s also about building his own empire, not being the face of other companies (though he still takes in money from Pepsi, Oakley and Beats by Dre.)

Jaylen may have quietly wanted out when it was becoming more obvious the Celtics weren’t planning on giving him a max extension three years from now. It’s also possible Tatum has more influence than anyone suspects, and Tatum was ready to move on from the duo’s longtime draft-based partnership. Keep in mind neither player chose Boston. But they’ve worked incredibly well and won the most games of any NBA duo over their time together in the NBA.

As a side note: Mazzulla and Tatum are openly religious Christians. Guess who else is? Paul George. Stevens is always careful not to explicitly mention religion but he often talks about character and sacrifice and teamwork in ways that indicate his personal faith and ethics inform his decision-making.

Consider how quickly former Celtics coach Ime Udoka was replaced after an incident of alleged sexual misconduct (likely a consensual affair involving an obviously imbalanced power dynamic between Ime and a younger female staffer). Rather than being offered a chance to explain himself and repair his image as coach of the Celtics, Udoka was dismissed without details.

Who replaced Ime? Young Joe Mazzulla, who is an openly religious Christian.

I’m not accusing anyone in the Celtics organization of religious intolerance…but I’m suggesting there may have been a comfort that wasn’t quite the same with Jaylen as others.

Brown became a Muslim in recent years and went to Mecca in July 2024. It’s clear Jaylen is very comfortable non-conforming in a way that Tatum is not. That may have played a part in the way this situation ended.

Not in a feud, but in a genuinely mutual and frustrating parting of ways.

Depth of the new Eastern Conference

The Sixers will be intriguing to watch next season. The pure sprinting and slashing speed of Tyrese Maxey. The explosive hops of VJ Edgecombe. The shooting of the one-legged goliath Joel Embiid. Now the dynamism of Jaylen Brown.

The Eastern Conference has not been deeper or stronger in decades.

If it isn’t the Celtics in the East (or the defending champion Knicks, the 60+ win Pistons, the Giannis-led Heat, the lost-in-the-shuffle but talented Cavs, the Kawhi-returning-Raptors, the Haliburton-returning, Zubac-boosted Pacers, the theoretically rising Hawks, it may well be this new version of the Philadelphia 76erers.

More on the overall picture of both conferences when the dust settles.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and subscribing.

My writing can also be found at darkoindex.medium.com and Splice Today

Also, in addition to listening to podcasts, I love making them.

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May 5, 2026

Knicks 63 percent

Philly defense never came

But...only one game

(Knicks 1-0)

Wolves take opener

Wemby brick pile up to roof

May 5

Knicks 63 percent

Philly defense never came

But...only one game

(Knicks 1-0)

Wolves take opener

Wemby brick pile up to roof

Guess going seven.

(Wolves 1-0)

May 6, 2026

Yes, the Strus got loose

But Pistons smothered the rest

Harden turnovers

(Detroit 1-0)

Lebronathons smushed

Caruso face elbow smash

Shae Shae Shae Shae Shae

(OKC 1-0)

May 7

Embiid reclining

VJ going to be great

Knicks OG +12:

(Knicks 2-0)

Spurs demolish Wolves

Sometimes snooze fest is required

Game 3 here we go

(Tied 1-1)

May 8

Harden hardening

Jenkins jackpot off the bench

Steady Cade for win

(Pistons 2-0)

Thundering bench mob

Lakers dissolve 3rd Quarter

No Luka no series

(Thunder 2-0)

(Harden too old, Mitchell neutralized by Bridges and OG, Pistons will bludgeon Mobley and Allen...maybe foul trouble kills them...but I doubt it).

Knicks over Sixers in 7

(Embiid will be awesome and then miss half the series with a knee. If Embiid is out, Maxey will be doubled and Knicks wilp destroy Sixers.

OKC over Lakers in 5.

Lakers get a game if Marcus or Kennard hit 3s.

Spurs over Wolves in 6.

Ant's knee is too much of a problem. Wemby is Wemby. Dylan Harper is ready to announce himself. Spurs physicality will match up with Wolves. Castle will hit a game-winner. In addition to Edwards’ limp, the Wolves will miss Donta's energy.

East Haikus

Pistons fans worry

82 games means little

Magic fans dreaming

Celtics breathe easy

Embiid returned and Uh-Oh

Edgecombe Game 2 memory

Hawks and Knicks Oh My

Four games down and 3 to go

Can CJ find way?

Cleveland can't sustain

The winds come and go, no flow

Raptors all defense

West Haikus

OKC OK

Sun complaints will go unheard

On to the second

Wemby head alright

Dylan Harper is rising

Blazers now cinders

Wolves injury bite!

Nuggets in a 3-1 hole

Will this go seven?

Rockets woke from slumber

Likely too late to matter

Will Luka return?

East Haikus

Pistons fans worry

82 games means little

Magic fans dreaming

Celtics breathe easy

Embiid returned and Uh-Oh

Edgecombe Game 2 memory

Hawks and Knicks Oh My

Four games down and 3 to go

Can CJ find way?

Cleveland can't sustain

The winds come and go, no flow

Raptors all defense

West Haikus

OKC OK

Sun complaints will go unheard

On to the second

Wemby head alright

Dylan Harper is rising

Blazers now cinders

Wolves injury bite!

Nuggets in a 3-1 hole

Will this go seven?

Rockets woke from slumber

Likely too late to matter

Will Luka return?

First round picks.

East

Pistons over Magic in 5

Orlando played one game fully healthy and with the defensive intensity many had expected all season. It won't be enough to make this series close and it kept Charlotte from the playoffs once again. Next year, Hornets. Kon Knueppel hit the rookie wall in March.

Cade Cunningham is rounding back into shape and the Pistons will be fine in this one.

Celtics over Sixers in 4

No Joel Embiid due to an appendix that burst at an inopportune time. Tatum is back and looking almost like himself. The late season 39-minute game logs tell us Mazzulla won't hold back at all. If there are close 4th quarters in this series, the Celtics would love to see playmaking, attacking the rim, getting open 3s. Jaylen Brown has excelled as a playmaker this year. Tatum has the height to make tough crosscourt passes. Celtics fans would love to see both playmkaing in crunch time. Can Payton Pritchard continue to find daylight in the playoffs against better defense? Can Baylor Scheierman sustain his massive growth as a shooter and glue guy? Can Neemias Queta stay out of foul trouble? These are the questions the Celtics will need to answer in future rounds.

Knicks over Hawks in 6

The battle of the Jalens. Brunson and Johnson. Jalen Johnson has quietly become a top 20 NBA player, with his length, passing vision, versatility, rebounding and shooting. The Hawks play an unorthodox no-point-guard style. They are collectively longer than anyone except maybe OKC. After adding McCollum and Kispert, and as the schedule eased, they hit their stride and went on a 12-game winning streak.

The Knicks are clearly the more talented team, with the massive expectations. Expect this seriesto go 6 or 7. The Hawks will need Nickeil Walker-Alexander to sustain his newfound scoring prowess in order to pull out wins.

Cavs over Raptors in 5

The Cavs have gone somewhat overlooked as the Celtics and Pistons distanced themselves from the pack. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden remain offensive engines. Enough shooting and lob-threats surrounding them, and this offense will produce in the playoffs. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have had up-and-down seasons and struggled with injuries in the past. If healthy and in sync, the Cavs are as potent as any team in the East…except maybe the top version of this Celtics team. The Raptors don't have enough shooting and may be without Immanuel Quickley, a playmaking spark they need. Scottie Barnes remains overlooked as an all-around threat. Colin Murray-Bowles has developed into a nice young center who can spread the floor.

West

Thunder over Suns in 5

OKC likely will roll. Maybe Phoenix steals one at home thanks to Jalen Green hitting all his 3s and the Phoenix altitude slowing down OKCs defense late.

Spurs over Blazers in 5

Wemby plus playoffs equals good for the NBA. Deni Avdija made a statement in the play-in, but Phoenix’ defense is not San Antonio's. Watch for the young Spurs guards Castle, and Harper, to put Portland's big men in foul trouble.

The Spurs will get their playoff seasoning and the Blazers will put up a fight at home.

Nuggets over Wolves in 6

The Nuggets finally got healthy. What a mess this year has been. The Wolves are tough, but can Julius Randle defend Jokic or extend out to the 3 to defend the Nuggets barrage of shooting? Anthony Edwards is electricity contained in human form, sparking and causing havoc at the rim. He's always a joy to watch. As is the best passer in the game, Nikola Jokic. These will be must-watch games. The Wolves need Jaden McDaniels to become Scottie Pippen if they plan to advance. Ayo Dosunmu and Tim Hardaway Jr could be x-factors. Watch for Aaron Gordon. Is he healthy enough to defend the way he normally does?

Rockets over Lakers in 6

Nothing much to say here except the timing is rough. Luka and Austin Reaves bothbeing out means this isn't going to be fun for Lakers fans.

Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are fun. Reed Shepoard hitting 30 footers is fun. Okay, maybe it'll be a little fun.

Hooray for the Playoffs!

Bronny James Delivers In Extended Role Against Pacers As LeBron Says Son 'Belongs' In NBA (That Version of Pacers Lineup Did Not Belong in the NBA Either)

NBA Expansion Fees From Las Vegas, Seattle, Europe Could Deliver $20 Billion To Current Owners (Oh Goody…Those Owners Really Deserve and Need All That Extra Billions)

Adam Silver Believes 65-Game Rule 'Working', NBA Not Currently Willing To Reassess (If by "Working" He Means Pissing Off Everyone Who Has to Vote on All-NBA Teams and the Players That Have Been Injured in a Too-Long 82-Game Season…then Yes, it's Working)

Adam Silver On Tanking: We Are Going To Fix It, Full Stop (Your Not British, Adam. You Can't Say 'Full Stop. You Must Say "End of Sentence.")

Bill Self Denies Imminent Retirement Reports, Says No Timetable On Decision (Time for a Bit of Self-Reflection)

Brad Stevens Not Interested In Leaving Celtics To Become North Carolina Head Coach (Busy Searching Through 16 Year-Olds in Playing in Spain and France)

New Thunder Arena To Be Named Continental Coliseum With 2028 Opening (Not Thunderdome? Lost Opportunity)

Jalen Williams Says Wrist Feels 'Better Than It Ever Has' (Can't Be True. Best Time of Life for thr Wrist is Age 12)

Markelle Fultz, Raptors Sign 10-Day Contract (What Might Have Been...)

2. If a team doesn’t finish the season with 27 or more wins, the players must compete in a team-only edition of Survivor in which they have to vote each other off the “island” (the team's practice facility) until only 1 player is left. This would be a foolproof way to blow up any team chemistry that still existed on that team.

3. If a team doesn’t finish the season with 27 or more wins, the team must play only rookies for the first 20 games of the next season.

4. All players and staff members of the teams with the two worst records in the NBA would be forced to vacation in either: North Korea, Siberia or Nebraska.

5. If a team doesn’t win 25 or more games, those teams would be forced to practice with only one basketball for the entirety of the following year’s training camp. Just one.

6. If a team doesn’t win 25 or more games, those teams would be forced to practice on 8-foot basketball hoops for the first week of that fall's training camp.

7. If a team doesn’t win 20 or more games, those teams can only sell tickets for the upper levels of their arenas for the first 5 home games of the following season. The lower level seats would have to remain empty until home game #6.

8. If a team doesn’t win 20 or more games, those teams would have to forfeit the first 4 games of the following season, starting them 0-4. (The Four Forfeits Rule)

9. If a team doesn’t win 20 or more games, those teams would be required to read the entire Twilight series and take online quizzes after reading each book during the offseason.

10. If a team doesn’t win 20 or more games, one of their lead assistant coaches would be required to draw up a new defensive scheme and submit them to the league office, where Tom Thibodeau would analyze the schemes and give the schemes a grade. If the scheme didn’t receive a passing grade, the coach would be fired and the team would have to submit another scheme.

Notes on the Eastern Conference contenders, and playoff and seeding odds from Basketball Reference.

1. Detroit Pistons (40-13)

Odds of finishing with #1 seed: 96.5%

Odds of winning the East: 35.2%

Upcoming games of note: 2/19 @ NYK; 2/23 vs SA; 2/25 vs OKC; 2/27 vs CLE; 3/3 @ CLE; 3/5 @ SA

At some point, we have to hand it to these Pistons. They haven’t lost two in a row since late December. They are on a 62-win pace. Detroit has compiled a 19-7 record against + .500 foes (tops in the NBA). At the same time, the schedule is about to test the mettle of the top-seeded Pistons. Two games with the revamped Cavs are must watches; two with the Spurs are as well; one with OKC and one with the Knicks right out of the chute. The next two weeks will tell us a lot about these Pistons. The odds give Detroit only a 20% chance to win the East, compared with the 35% at basketball reference. That has something to do with their smaller market, but also has to do with the fact they haven’t done it before in the playoffs.

Last April, Detroit easily could have beaten the Knicks in their rugged 1st round matchup. The Pistons took New York to Game 6, losing 3 of those games by a total of 6 points. A most frustrating conclusion to a redemptive season, including a controversial ending in Game 4 (Knicks won by 1), in which the officials admitted post-game that they’d missed a foul on Tim Hardaway’s 3-point attempt.

The growth of Jalen Duren as an inside threat has been huge. Duren has boosted his scoring by 6 ppg (17.7 now), and remains a dominant rebounder (10.4 rpg). Cade Cunningham has added efficiency to his already all-around game. Cunningham is getting to the line over 7 times per game and reduced his turnovers from last year. The Pistons are a ridiculous 29-6 when they win the turnovers battle, 2nd only to the Knicks (26-3). Detroit is 4th in offensive rebounding and 3rd in free-throw attempts.

The biggest question for these Pistons: Do they have enough shooting to survive the grittiest games? Every playoff foe will hug Duncan Robinson, foul Duren and Stewart and force Cade Cunningham to do it solo. The goal will be to wear Cunningham and the Pistons down and keep them off the glass. The second round will be fascinating. If forced to make a pick, Detroit has the best shot at coming out of the East, thanks to home court, but it’s a four-way race.

2. Boston Celtics (34-19)

Odds of finishing with #2 seed: 44%; #3: 36%; #4: 16%

Odds of winning the East: 24.1%

Upcoming games of note: 2/22 @ LAL; 2/25 @ DEN; 3/8 @ CLE; 3/10 @ SA; 3/12 @ OKC; 3/22 v MIN; 3/25 v OKC

Jaylen Brown (improved passing, midrange), Payton Pritchard (post-footwork insane), Derrick White (everything off the ball) and Neemias Queta (rim-protection; screening and lob threat) all deserve Celtics fan love.

Joe Mazzulla has orchestrated this rebuilt roster into a ferociously feisty team with a bench that ramps us the defensive intensity as needed (Hello, Hugo and Jordan Walsh!). This Tatum-less version of the Cs was supposed to win 43-45 games. Mazzulla and the hyper-efficient Brown (taking advantage of the leadership role) have them on a 53-win pace.

And yet…the playoffs loom and Tatum’s return remains likely but not guaranteed. Most have speculated early March for Tatum’s return. I wouldn’t expect him to play in back-to-backs and I wouldn’t expect more than 20-25 minutes. Having Tatum come in off the bench will be strange…but also a huge boost if he’s even 80% of what he’s been. Getting off the rust before next year is the silver lining, regardless of how this year’s Celtics do in April or May. This is all a bonus. And a thrillingly enjoyable 53 games so far.

Speculation on how the Celtics would fare in a 2nd round matchup with Cleveland or New York is…pure speculation. It’s too hard to know what they will look like with Tatum back. Getting Nikola Vucevic’s rebounding and post-facilitation are big pluses, though his defense remains a minus. The rebounds will be especially needed against Detroit and New York especially, as Mitchell Robinson and Duren are two of the best at eating up the offensive glass.

3. New York Knicks (35-20)

Odds of finishing with #2 seed: 41%, #3 seed: 35%; #4 seed: 20%

Odds of winning the East: 21.4%

Upcoming games of note: 2/19 v DET; 2/21 v HOU; 2/24 @ CLE; 3/1 v SA; 3/4 v OKC

The Bi-polar Knicks have played three seasons in one:

Part A: Great beginning (23-9)

Part B: January slog (2-9)

Part C: Phoenix Rising (10-2)

Everyone knows January is a slog. Teams are just waiting to get to that All-Star break and prepare for the more meaningful (seed-setting games of March and April) last third of the season. However, the Knicks may have dug themselves a hole here. Now the Knicks are engaged in a three-way fight for the 2nd seed (home-court in Round 2.)

Karl-Anthony Towns remains a polarizing superstar. An incredible shooter who has an unorthodox body (all flailing arms and legs) on drives to the rim, Towns’ defense remains a liability, especially in the pick-and-roll.

The Knicks know Mitchell Robinson is their playoff answer—but then “Hack-a-Mitch” becomes an issue. (New rule: teams get 2 “Hack-a-guy” fouls per quarter. After that, it just gets ridiculous). But the Knicks also know Towns’ shooting can win them 2 games in a series. Mike Brown’s job becomes leveraging the offense of Towns with the defense of Robinson, which is often matchup-based. Towns, like Julius Randle who the Knicks exchanged to acquire him, has been known to fade in and out (a cinematographer’s dream) in key moments.

Jalen Brunson remains impossible to guard thanks to his nimble footwork, ability to launch from any angle while finding balance, and his pure unfettered confidence. Brunson one-on-one is just ridiculous. This gives New York an edge in close games, as we saw last spring. The games that didn’t involve Indiana, anyway.

4. Cleveland Cavs (34-21)

Odds of finishing with #2 seed: 13%, #3 seed: 26%; #4 seed: 46%

Odds of winning the East: 11%

Upcoming games of note: 2/22 @ OKC; 2/24 v NYK; 2/27 @ DET; 3/3 v DET; 3/8 v BOS

The odds give Cleveland a 22% chance, nearly even with the other three teams listed above. Donovan Mitchell got his wish. He encouraged the Cavs front office to pursue the enigmatic yet amazingly durable 36 year-old James Harden, he of the beautiful lob passes and silky step-back three-pointer. Mitchell had lost faith in his buddy Darius Garland’s feet. The Cavs went all-in. Now they need to win.

Will they? Who knows. Harden provides Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen at least three easy buckets each per game. Mitchell can rest as needed throughout the remaining 27 games of the season. Round 2 of the playoffs will be lots of fun. Can Harden remove the playoff albatross he’s been living with for the last decade-plus? Can Evan Mobley be a Garnett-like defensive force at the biggest moments?

The Cavs have a legit shot. That’s all we know right now.

Teams 5-9

Toronto Raptors - Not enough offense or shooting.

Philadelphia 76ers - Embiid’s knee once again. Maxey is great, but who else can step up if no Embiid?

Orlando Magic - Not enough coherence. The Bane plan could have worked, but injuries and Banchero’s inconsistency have thwarted the Magic rise.

Miami Heat - The thrilling pace was unsustainable. They are a .500 team trying to figure out their future. Giannis ain’t coming.

Charlotte Hornets - The thrilling pace…may be sort of sustainable. The rise of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel have been tantalizing for success-starved Hornets fans. Credit to former Celtics-coach Charles Lee for convincing LaMelo Ball that winning is fun and sharing is good. The Hornets have been great since inserting Moussa Diabate into the starting lineup. Let’s hope for a Hornets-Knicks first round matchup.

Still, it would be a surprise if any of these five teams win more than two playoff games.

Hooray for the stretch run.

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NBA fans, we’ve survived the trade deadline (Giannis stayed!) and the All-Star break (Mini-games that were kinda fun until the final one). We’ve arrived at the unofficial two-thirds mark of the NBA season. Here comes the stretch run toward the playoffs.

Notes on the Western Conference contenders, and playoff and seeding odds from Basketball Reference.

1. OKC Thunder (42-14)

Odds of finishing with #1 seed: 92.3%

Odds of finishing top 6: 100%

Upcoming games of note: 2/22 v CLE; 2/25 @ DET; 2/27 v DEN; 3/4 @ NYK; 3/12 v BOS

Though basketball reference gives them a 67% chance to win the West, I see it as far from guaranteed. Since starting 24-1, they’ve gone 18-13. The title hangover didn’t hit the young Thunder until January. On top of that, the Thunder have the 2nd toughest remaining schedule. Jalen Williams is dealing with a nagging hamstring. Hartenstein has been on and off with injuries. Most importantly, SGA is dealing with a abdominal strain. Perhaps the biggest concern, though, is the way the Spurs were unbothered by OKC’s defense in the first three games they played this year. I’m hoping the Spurs can make it to through the first two rounds so we see that matchup in the West Finals.

2. San Antonio Spurs (38-16)

Odds of finishing with #1 seed: 7.7%

Odds of finishing top 6: 100%

Upcoming games of note: 2/23 @ DET; 3/1 @ NYK; 3/5 v DET; 3/8 v HOU; 3/10 v BOS; 3/12 v DEN

Basketball reference gives the Spurs a 14.4% chance of winning the West. The Spurs will be hoping to secure a 2nd or 3rd seed by April 4th in order to rest Wemby as much as possible before the playoffs. Unfortunately, the schedule gets grueling in early March, as seen above. The Spurs have 3 games remaining with Denver, who sit 4 games behind them in the loss column. San Antonio’s rise has been one of the better stories in the NBA this year, but all eyes will focus on the playoffs. It’s critical Wembanyama is close to 100% from the grind of mid-April and May.

3. Denver Nuggets (35-20)

Odds of finishing with #3 seed: 24%, #4 seed: 29%; #5 seed: 20%

Odds of finishing top 6: 91%

Upcoming games of note: 2/25 v BOS; 2/27 @ OKC; 3/1 v MIN; 3/6 v NYK; 3/9 @ OKC; 3/11 v HOU; 3/12 @ SAS

The Nuggets have the toughest schedule remaining. It’s going to be an uphill climb (mountainous even) to gain home court in the playoffs.

When the Nuggets are at their best, Aaron Gordon is knocking down corner 3s and causing havoc defensively. One of the better playoff defenders in the Association, Gordon needs to be at near-peak form for the Nuggets to genuinely contend. Peyton Watson’s ascension has helped during the lean months when half of the Nuggets roster was injured.

Jamal Murray put the team on his back for stretches of December and January and the Nuggets won plenty of games that the experts doubted they’d win without Jokic. Now Jokic has returned, but Gordon is still on the mend. Denver may be careful over the next two months in the hopes of finding their health in mid-April.

4. Houston Rockets (33-20)

Odds of finishing with #3 seed: 47%, #4 seed: 25%; #5 seed: 13%

Odds of finishing top 6: 98%

Upcoming games of note: 2/21 @ NYK; 3/8 @ SAS; 3/11 @ DEN

Houston has one of the softest (6th easiest) remaining schedules. Unfortunately, the Rockets without Steven Adams have barely been above .500. Since December 1st, they’ve gone 20-16.

Playoff defenses will load up on Durant and rebound far better than these regular season foes. The loss of Steven Adams has turned the Rockets secret weapon (offensive rebounding) into an open secret. Adams has the highest +/- (+6.1) of any Rocket. He’s out for the year. Houston will need better perimeter balance from Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason and they’ll need something from Dorian Finney-Smith if they plan to score enough to beat the better half of the NBA.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22)

Odds of finishing with #3 seed: 13%, #4 seed: 24%; #5 seed: 28%

Odds of finishing top 6: 85%

The Wolves have the 3rd most difficult schedule remaining. They run hot and cold. Their record when leading at halftime: 17-10. Their record when trailing at the half: 15-12 (best win% in the NBA when down at the half). Sometimes, the Wolves play like the team that went to the West Finals two years in a row. Other times, the Wolves fall apart like a 20 year-old station wagon.

Can Minnesota come close to sustaining their peak level and play well for three straight playoff rounds to win the West?

Too much still seems to hinge on Julius Randle (great stretch right now), whose playoff resume remains questionable. The addition of Ayo Dosunmu gives them some off the bounce hope during the minutes when Edwards rests or is double-teamed.

Teams 6-10

Phoenix Suns - Devin Booker and not enough else.

LA Lakers - Luka and Austin, if healthy, and the no-defense-left LeBron.

Golden State Warriors - Poor Steph, Jimmy out and Porzingis still getting extra opinions on what happened to his stamina.

Portland Trail Blazers - Next year will be lots of fun.

Los Angeles Clippers - Kawhi has kept them afloat. Who knows…maybe Darius Garland can actually find his footing again.

It would be a something of a shock to any of those five teams win more than two playoff games.

Wembanyama, with his 8-foot wingspan, is a one-man defense. +20 in 7 minutes of 2nd quarter play, and +21 in 21 total minutes for the game. The NBA Cup semis would not be lopsided. Not with Vic back.

Stephon Castle's fearlessness also stands out. Castle made the Lakers defense look anemic and stagnant on Tuesday, scoring 30 points on only 14 field-goal attempts, but without Wemby in that first quarter, OKC'S defense led him into 3 turnovers. The Spurs were collectively shaky, going 0 of 12 from deep. It was shocking they weren't getting blown out.

But Castle and De'Aaron Fox settled into a groove in the 2nd, when Vic joined them. With Wembanyama adding spacing to the offense, the Spurs guards attacked OKC's paint repeatedly and their open 3s started dropping.

On a few drives, Castle showed his skills, with Dwayne Wade-like speed, physicality and body-control. It was fitting that Wade sat courtside with Stan Van Gundy and Michael Grady, commenting on the game during the Prime telecast.

On one particularly jaw-dropping drive, Castle was in semi-transition, Euro-stepped, collided with defenders, rotated 360 in mid-air and made a contested lay-up off the glass. It stunned the trio.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1pm3egb/highlight_stephon_castle_banks_in_the/

Castle's overall line of 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting, with 6 turnovers ended in a -7. Fox shared more minutes with Wemby and finished +7. It's hard to remember Castle is only in his 2nd year in the league.

These types of games show that he'll be ready to meet the big moments when they come…and they may be coming this April and May.

Full game highlights

Castle, Not Made of Sand - a little Jimi Hendrix for Stephon Castle.

https://youtu.be/_JYkbmtvwjY?si=NQSMogRT4r1YDATn

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Out Sunday Due To Elbow Bursitis (Left Arm is Shai's Push-Off Arm...Kind of a Big Deal for Shai)

• James Harden Passes Carmelo Anthony For No. 10 On NBA All-Time Scorers (Harden Stepped Back and Took a Look at this List)

Harden (10th) Will Likely Pass Shaq Within a Month, after that Durant (Still Climbing), then Wilt and Dirk.

• Franz Wagner Leaves Game With Lower Leg Injury, Will Be Re-Evaluated In Orlando (Just When Paolo Returns)

• Zion Williamson To Be Re-Evaluated In 3 Weeks With Grade 2 Right Adductor Strain (Pelicans About to Trade Murphy and Herb and Hoping to Recoup a Draft Pick After the Queen-for-Pick deal)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Out 4 Weeks with Calf Strain, Focused On Getting Healthy, 'Not Running From A Situation' (Prefers to Take Airplane to New York or Houston)

• Warriors Not Worried About Jimmy Butler's Knee (Focused on Steph Curry's Quad and Draymond's Foot)

• Dereck Lively II Seeks Multiple Opinions On Right Foot (Mavs About to Hit Reset with Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford on the Block)

• Lawrence Frank Expected To Sign Contract Extension With Clippers (Ballmer Demanded He Sign Age 35+ Free-Agents?! During a Fast-Paced NBA Era)

2. Watching your team play many games is one way to recognize life is full of losses. (Especially when your team is missing Jayson Tatum)

3. The season unfolds as the weather changes and the seasons pass. Fall becomes winter becomes spring. (Without following closely, time slips away from us).

4. The anticipation of a game in the evening provides something to look forward to at the end of the day. (My 80 year-old mother recently said, without a hint of sarcasm, “I don’t know that I’ve ever been a person who looks forward to things.”)

band: Spoon:

song: “Something to Look Forward To”

album: Kill the Moonlight

5. After the game ends and your team loses, you know there will be another one within a day or two. (Tiny shots of redemption in real life.)

6. Listening to a basketball podcast while you walk, or shoot baskets, or commute.

Examples: The Zach Lowe Show, Thinking Basketball (Ben Taylor), Dunc’d On Basketball (Nate Duncan)

7. Appreciating the growth of a young basketball player over time. (Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and now Hugo Gonzalez)

8. Following the ending of a basketball player’s career over time. (Al Horford giving it one more season to see if he can make a run with the Warriors)

9. Noticing the specific and unique artistry of one basketball player. (Anthony Edwards slashing to the hoop)

10. Noticing the incredible improvisation involved in one pass. (Jokic Jokic Jokic)

11. Noticing the non-choreographed, but clearly practiced, set of moves involved in one drive to the hoop. (also referred to as one’s “bag”) (Steph Curry dribbling circles around defenders).

12. Recognizing the story within the box score. (Paul Reed)

13. Recognizing the stories beyond the box score. (all the injuries, the ebbs and flows of a team’s season, noticing the way a screen sets up an easy basket).

14. Identifying as a fan of a team gives us a sense of collective identity. (we)

15. Collective identity is good for our mental health. (we need the “we”)

16. Collective identity builds resilience and self-esteem and reduces isolation and depression. (Especially these days)

17. Sometimes you watch a game and you might make an involuntary noise because you are surprised with delight. (We need to be surprised in order to not become numb).

18. A player’s injury might remind us of our own mortality. (Nobody gets out of here alive)

19. A player’s recovery from injury might remind us of our own mortality. (Nobody)

20. We are all “officially questionable.”

1. Introduction

   The NBA’s Haves and Have-Nots

   There’s a widening gulf between the Top 5 and the Bottom 8

   3:00

2. In NBA News...

   Headlines from the last week. Real news, with a dash of absurdity.

   5:00

3. Two-Man Lineup Data Leaders

   (Shout-out to two Celtics: Neemias Queta and Payton Pritchard, currently 8th in +/- NBA among 2-man lineups).

4. 7:00

   To the Box Scores!

HOU @ CLE

Rockets 114, Cavs 104

Rockets too big, Cavs missing shooters

8:40

CHA @ IND

Pacers 127, Hornets 118

2nd win for Indiana!

10:20

TOR @ PHI

Raptors 121, Sixers 112

12:45

GS @ MIA

Heat 110, Warriors 96

14:18

WAS @ MIN

Wolves 120, Wizards 109

Worst team ever watch: Philadelphia Process Sixers 10-72 in 2016

16:56

DEN @ NOP

Nuggets 125, Pelicans 118

Jokic sneezes out a triple-double and Peyton Watson goes for a career-high 32.

19:12

SAC @ OKC

Thunder 113, Kings 99

Ho-hum, OKC moves to 15-1.

21:58

NYK @ DAL

Knicks 113, Mavs 111

Mavs in mid-disintegration.

23:40

CHI @ POR

Bulls 122, Blazers 121

Vucevic buzzer-beater. Blazers missing guards.

Thanks for listening.

Please share and subscribe.

Start in front of the rim. Two feet away. Shooting arm only. Elbow under. Need a new ball. My not-very-large hands don’t have a great grip on this ball. It’s only a year or two old, but I’ve been using it regularly. Raise arm up. Elbow under. Flip wrist. The ball drops through the old net. A subconscious settling within me.

Over the next thirty minutes. I miss as many as I make. But I get warm enough to go on a few streaks. When the ball swishes through, a familiar feeling meanders through me. I know how to do this. I’d left this childhood ritual behind for too many years. Alone on a basketball court. Shooting. Running after a long rebound before the ball bounces too far away. Elbow jumpers. Layups. Around the world. Top-of-the-key three-pointers. When I get adventurous, moving back to the 24-26 feet range of the NBA line at the top of the key. Getting my feet under me, and putting an extra oomph in the release. When those drop through, a sense of accomplishment. A desire to see how many out of 10. Near the end of the half-hour or forty-five minutes, free-throws. Again, the choice whether or not to count. If I’m shooting well, I count. Take 10. Maybe 20.

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This is my preferred form of exercise. Too out of shape to compete with others. Still young enough to enjoy the familiarity of the swish. A sense of continuity from childhood, a feeling that I need more often. That the semi-anxious, overly-competitive 13 year-old and the tired 45 year-old are the same me.

Timer goes off. Time is up. Drink some water and get in the car to retrieve the 8 year-old.

What about you? Do you have a basketball ritual? Did you have one in the past?

Listening to:

Satellite - Brad Mehldau - Tribute to Elliott Smith Ride Into the Sun

Original version by Elliott Smith

A relaxing trip through the NBA box scores, for the night of November 12th, 2025.

Introduction:

B-Ball Paul Reed to the Rescue in Detroit

Best and Worst teams

OKC, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland

Team field-goal percentage is through the roof.

4:31

MEM @ BOS

Celtics 131, Grizzlies 95

Celtics finally get an easy one. No Ja Morant.

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7:18

MIL @ CHA

Hornets 111, Bucks 100

No Giannis and Hornets get a win.

8:33

CHI @ DET

Pistons 124, Bulls 113

Entire Pistons starting 5 was out, but Paul Reed was in.

10:08

ORL @ NYK

Magic 124, Knicks 107

Magic take off as Banchero goes out.

12:12

CLE @ MIA

Cavs 130, Heat 116

Cavs bench comes to life.

15:05

GS @ SA

Warriors 125, Spurs 120

Curry drops 46 in old fashioned 3rd quarter.

18:08

WAS @ HOU

Rockets 135, Wizards 112

Rockets just obliterating teams.

20:15

PHX @ DAL

Suns 124, Mavs 114

Mavs in turmoil.

23:10

LAL @ OKC

Thunder 121, Lakers 92

Statement made. Don’t mess with OKC.

26:05

POR @ NOP

Blazers 125, Pelicans 117

Pelicans woes continue.

28:04

ATL @ SAC

Hawks 133, Kings 100

42 assists for Atlanta. Enjoying the ball movement without Trae.

30:33

DEN @ LAC

Nuggets 130, Clippers 116

Jokic drops 55 in 33 minutes.

I remained an obsessive Celtics fan when I moved to the west coast in 2003, with a hint of interest in the Warriors. I watched some of those 2003-2005 games on television. Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson were the lone bright spots. Some tough seasons to stomach, while my Celtics were spinning their wheels in the years before 2007 and the KG and Ray Allen trades. Corey suffered through enough Pacers pain to let go of that attachment after a few years as he embraced the energy of the Oracle during the “We Believe” era of Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. That crew turned the Warriors into a turbo-charged 42-win team that somehow took out the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors won 48 games and led the NBA in scoring during the 2007-08 season.

Then came the Warriors lull before the Curry era took flight.

Corey and I don’t get to many NBA games in person these days. We’re middle-aged fathers and teachers. We watched a Pacers-Knicks playoff game together last May. We took our daughters to a Cal Women’s college basketball game.

We got tickets to the Chase Center for an early season Sunday night matchup with the injury-ravaged Pacers two weeks ago. When Curry missed games earlier in the week with a flu, Corey asked if we should sell the tickets. A Warriors game without Steph Curry is more like a “Warriors” game. It was a reasonable question from a deflated fan. Yet…as a middle-aged man without thousands of dollars to spend on NBA tickets every year, I had really been looking forward to seeing a game together, and replied that he should sell them now if he wasn’t committed to going to the game. I hate the uncertainty of a plan that has been made turning into a “maybe.”

We kept the tickets. We drove into San Francisco with plenty of time before the game.

As we entered the arena, Curry who had been “officially questionable” hours earlier was “out.” Meanwhile the Pacers injury report was like a clown car, overflowing with names. 10—count them, 10 Pacers were out.

Tyrese Haliburton - out (right Achilles tendon tear); Quenton Jackson - out (right hamstring strain); Kam Jones - out (lower back stress reaction); Bennedict Mathurin - out - (great right toe sprain); T.J. McConnell - out (left hamstring strain); Aaron Nesmith - out (right forearm contusion); Pascal Siakam - out (rest); Obi Toppin - out (right foot stress reaction); Taelon Peter - questionable (sore right groin); Johnny Furphy - out (left ankle sprain);

I went to the concession stand and got a Mexican chicken bowl. Then we sat down in our seats and watched Aaron Nesmith (out with a forearm contusion) swish three-pointers for 15 minutes.

In the Pacers lay-up line, I counted only 9 players. Corey asked if they could play 4-on-5 if enough players fouled out. I determined they would have to forfeit. (Now that I check the box score, I see that 11 Pacers took the court.).

Game Time

Alas, we were sitting there, at what was soon to become an NBA game, with some nice lower-level seats, on the angle, not stuck behind the hoop. We predicted a blow-out. I said Warriors 128-107. I don’t remember what Corey said, though I think the margin on his guess was over 30.

We discussed the possibilities of career highs for Warriors center Quinten Post and Moses Moody.

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The Pacers Starting 5:

Jay Huff, a 27 year-old very tall and very thin backup center, got the start at power forward for Indiana. This was Huff’s 4th career start.

Isaiah Jackson, a legitimate rim protecting big who has been a regular starter this year for the Pacers. Jackson is 24.

Andrew Nembhard, an underrated quality point guard returning from a shoulder injury on opening night.

Ben Sheppard, a defensive-minded reserve guard who was thrust into a starting role after the top three point guards all went down, starting his 5th game of the season.

Jarace Walker, a talented but raw young forward. This was Walker’s 12th career start.

Sidenote: ArtButMakeItSports is an entertaining follow on Bluesky.

Here is Jay Huff jumping with his arms straight down, as he defends a Draymond Green inbounds pass.

***

Before the game started, Corey noted that Steph was in sweats on the bench, drinking a bottle of water. I calmly said, “I think we need to let it go.”

I might have said, “Yes, but we get to see Jay Huff’s 4th career start.”

If I had more time today, I’d go into more detail about the game itself.

The first half saw an enormous amount of missed three-pointers. Later that night, I checked and Indiana has the 2nd best defense against 3s in the NBA. Despite that 1-9 record, Indiana won’t let you have those 3s.

The Warriors finished 12 of 44 from deep *27%)

The Pacers 11 of 39 (28%).

And that includes a 2nd half boost that included about 7 minutes of blowout time during the 4th quarter.

To their credit the Pacers fought hard in the first half, going into halftime down only 7.

Warriors 48-41 in what Corey wondered might be a rare game in which neither team eclipses 100 points. Has this happened yet in the 2025 NBA season? I doubt it.

The Warriors opened the floodgates and poured in 39 points in the 4th, to win it 114-83.

Jay Huff, you ask? 12 points, 11 boards, 2 3s, 3 blocks. Huff had another 3 rim out as time wound down.

Tony Bradley was the star of the game for Indiana, with 6 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block— playing 16 minutes, finishing an even +/- of zero.

On the Warriors side, Jimmy Buckets was his super-efficient self, going 21/9/7 with 2 steals on 10 of 15 shooting (0 threes attempted!)

Moses Moody and Al Horford chipped in with some 3s.

Corey was worried about old Al (who came into the game shooting 20% from deep). I told him, “Al is 39. What did you expect?” We looked up the numbers. Lifetime 37.6%. Ooh. 20% from deep so far. We agreed he’d finish around 32 or 35%."

After 4 of 6, Al went up to 30% in one night.

And the game ended. The Pacers flew off. Their 82-game season will be a trial. Nothing like last year’s miraculous Finals run. It’s a shame.

The Warriors, meanwhile? They’ve got a shot this year.

But it’s all about health. Steph needs to get right if they have any real hope.

In the 2014 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics had the 6th pick. Boston had won only 25 games during the 2013-14 season. Brad Stevens was a new coach. Rajon Rondo had been traded to Dallas in December, effectively pulling the plug on the season after a modest 10-12 start to the year. The Celtics were running out Jordan Crawford as their point guard that spring. Not Jamal Crawford. Jordan. The losses piled up and the May draft lottery landed the Celtics around where they’d expected. The sixth pick.

When Marcus Smart was drafted, it seemed like a natural fit. The Celtics needed an identity and they needed a point guard. Marcus came ready into the NBA ready to mix it up, afraid of nobody. By the way, an unknown Serbian center named Nikola Jokic was taken 41st by the Nuggets. Jokic is the lowest draft pick ever to win an NBA MVP.

As we got to know Marcus in Boston, his tenacious defense, his infectious selflessness, his desire to help the team…all of these aspects gave spirit to the franchise. A building block, but not of the blue-chip, high-scoring variety. Instead, a defensive tone-shifter. Unparalleled hands, instincts that seemed to sense where his opponent was headed before he’d even taken that first step. We fell in love with Marcus with every loose ball he recovered. Every primal scream. Every Celtics 8-0 run that was sparked by his point-of-attack defense.

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Marcus helped the Celtics improve to 40-42 and make the playoffs (7th seed!) in his rookie year. By spring of 2016, the Celtics were fun again, finishing with 48 wins and playing a tough first round playoff series with Atlanta. The diminutive but mighty Isaiah Thomas and the rugged Jae Crowder came over mid-season and the Celtics offense took off. In June 2016, Jaylen Brown was drafted (thanks to that Brooklyn trade) and Jayson Tatum in June 2017. Those years before the two Jays arrived are foggy. Isaiah’s meteoric rise sticks out in the memory bank. RIP Tommy Heinsohn, beloved Celtics TV commentator, shouting “The LITTLE guy!

In 2019, at age 24 Marcus won his first All-Defense-1st-Team award. The next year he made 1st team again and finished 6th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. After the 2021-22 season, Marcus won the Defensive Player of the Year, the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton in 1995-96.

It’s crazy to think that was only three years ago. During the summer of 2023, Marcus was traded to Memphis in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. It was a bitter pill to swallow. From a cerebral roster-building perspective, KPs range from deep and rim protection unlocked a new level of Celtics dominance. Opposing defenses had no good options with the ball flying around. . He was the perfect fit next to Jayson, Jaylen, Derrick White and (at the time) new addition Jrue Holiday. That starting unit was a force to be reckoned with when healthy. Us Celtics fans have that title to savor from June 2024.

And yet…Marcus was in Memphis, nursing injuries. The fact Marcus didn’t get to savor that title is a shame. Marcus did everything right…even if his three-point shot was less-than-ideal (it improved from his rookie year!)…even if his playmaking wasn’t perfect…even if he kind of got lost in the shuffle after that Defensive Player of the Year win.

Marcus was in Memphis. Then Marcus was in Washington, the purgatory of today’s NBA. The Wizards, who are slowly building themselves into a team that hopes to compete in 2 or 3 years. Marcus became a free-agent. At age 31, a physical guard with a lengthy injury checklist, Marcus’ days had become numbered.

The Lakers wanted defenders to complement Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves. The Lakers signed Marcus. 2 years. 11 million.

Watching Marcus play in that gold Lakers uniform against Wemby and the Spurs was tough. Marcus got one of his patented, jump-back-as-if-attacked offensive foul calls on Julian Champagnie, who shook his head after the whistle. The slow-motion camera caught Marcus’ sly grin as he got back up. Marcus made all 10 of his free-throws, despite missing 6 of 7 from deep and missing 7 of 10 field-goals, finishing +3 in a game the Lakers won by 2 points.

I want to see Marcus in the playoffs again. This year it won’t be against the Celtics. Thank goodness.

As I get older (now a middle-aged fan at 45), I realize one of the reasons why fandom is meaningful. The aspect that has nothing to do with the titles or the stats. The reason to follow a player’s career from age 20 to age 31, even after your team trades him away, is because you have a soft spot for a person whose determination becomes palpable when they step onto a basketball court. A person who can’t help but channel his passion into the game of basketball. You want that person to find his way out of the purgatory of Washington’s NBA franchise. But did it have to be LA?

First to the Floor - A YouTube channel devoted to the Celtics created a great tribute to Marcus.

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Episode 3. Kept it going so far. Light the beam.

Introduction

Playing Fast, But Not Loose!

NBA’s increased pace this season:

98.8 possessions per game to 100.1 this year so far. Hard to sustain.

New season, fresh legs. Increased pace leads to increased injuries?

Free-Throw A…

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