The Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla has returned to the Celtics bench after incurring an eye injury. The 34-year-old coach was absent from two games as a result.

Mazzulla explained that he appears at regular, late-afternoon games at the Celtics’ TD Garden, where he got hit in the face on Tuesday prior to the Celtics’ 102-126 victory over the Houston Rockets.

His eyes were red and irritated as he spoke to the media prior to the game and ended up not coaching. He was diagnosed with corneal abrasions in both eyes and temporarily replaced by assistant coach Damon Stoudamire as a result.

“It just didn’t get much better,” Mazzulla revealed before the Celtics’ 123-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. I think in a situation like that I thought it was a good opportunity to trust and empower the staff and the guys.” He added that he did not want to be a distraction to his players.

With a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, the Celtics remain on top of the Eastern Conference standings. They have just two games over the second-placed Brooklyn Nets, who are currently on an 11-game winning streak.

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Thanks to their numerous assets, consisting of young talented players and attractive draft picks, Boston Celtics are one of the biggest players on the NBA trade market. Whenever a superstar player becomes available or seems unhappy with his franchise, Celtics are immediately the main contenders to get him. They pulled off such a deal in 2017 when they got Kyrie Irving from Cleveland Cavaliers, and they are now rumored to have interested in Kawhi Leonard, who wants out of San Antonio Spurs. But, according to team’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Celtics are unlikely to pull off a blockbuster trade this time.

“If I feel like it’ll help our team — we explore every trade of players of certain magnitude or superstar, first-ballot Hall of Fame-type of players,” – Ainge told reporters. “We’re going to take a look and kick the tires and see if there’s something there. But that’s all. I think those things are unlikely.“

Ainge also gushed about Celtics current roster, saying that he is “excited” about the team’s future.

“I feel great that we have a lot of players that people like and want,” – said Ainge. “That’s a great feeling to have. That’s not always the case and that’s the reason we like our guys, too, is we have a lot of talent on our team. I’m excited about our team going forward.”

As currently constructed, Boston Celtics are already considered a title contender. But, adding one superstar player would certainly get them on the same level as the Golden State Warriors, at least talent-wise. Still, Celtics trading for Kawhi Leonard remains a longshot, mostly due to the fact that Leonard expressed a desire to play for Los Angeles Lakers.

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Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart is about to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but it looks like the 24-year-old guard already knows where he wants to play next season.

“I’m here. They’re already planning for me to be here,” – said Smart to reporters after Game 7 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. “Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don’t see a lot of organizations that are as clear about their players as the way this organization does it.“

Marcus Smart established himself as a valuable player for the Celtics in the past couple of seasons, doing a bit of everything. He isn’t a volume scorer, but different ways he impacts the game might make him a valuable addition to a contender.

“I got a lot to think about. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. But that being said, I want to be in Boston. I want to be here,” – Smart added. “I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off. I’ve been here for four years. My heart’s here. But there’s definitely going to be some factors going into it.“

Given the fact that he is a restricted free agent, Celtics would have to match outside offer if they want to keep Smart on their team. There is also an option for Smart to sign the $6.1 million qualifying offer with the Celtics, and then test the unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. He previously told ESPN that he is worth more than $12 million to $14 million per season, which are the offers he was projected to receive.

In the 2017-18 regular season, Marcus Smart averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebound, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

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Eastern Conference Finals has officially kicked off on Sunday night with a showdown between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the Cavaliers were given bigger chance for the win despite not playing on the home court, it was the Celtics who made the statement in the Game 1 and ended up on the better side of the 108-83 score.

Celtics have been playing this entire postseason as the underdogs, being without their two main stars in Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Still, Brad Stevens managed to find a winning formula against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, and now maybe even the Cavs.

Cavaliers never really settled into the game and were trailing 26 points in the first half. They managed to cut into the deficit in the third and entered the fourth quarter being 14 points behind, but that was all they could do. Celtics once again made a big run in the fourth and closed out the Game 1.

LeBron James managed to score only 15 points to go with 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while Kevin Love ended the game with 17 points, 3 assists, and 9 rebounds. The rest of the Cavs starters – George Hill, Kyle Korver, and JR Smith – combined for 14 points.

On the other side, Celtics had three players who scored 20 points or more. Al Horford had a monster game, delivering 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebound and 2 blocks while playing excellent defense on Kevin Love.

“I feel like the coaches came out with a great game plan for our group,” – said Horford after the game. “We just bought in and did what we were supposed to do.“

Marcus Morris did the same against LeBron James while managing to score 21 points and add 10 rebounds. Jaylen Brown also had a stellar performance with 23 points and 8 rebounds.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night.

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Boston Celtics will have to make the final push in the regular season without their guard Marcus Smart. The team announced that the 24-year-old underwent a surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. This will keep Smart sidelined for six to eight weeks. The Celtics are hoping for the most optimistic outcome, meaning that he recovers in time for Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Marcus Smart injured his thumb in the first half of Sunday’s 97-99 loss to Indiana Pacers. The injury was initially regarded as a sprain, and Smart returned to court and finished the game. On Monday, however, additional tests showed that the injury is more serious and Smart opted for a surgery.

This is the second time this season he has been out with an injury. He missed 11 games before the All-Star break, after cutting his hand in a hotel in Los Angeles. According to Smart, this pause made him appreciate playing basketball even more.

“I love this game. I love to play,” – said Smart at the time. “So when that kinda gets taken away from you, temporarily or permanently, you kinda start realizing how much you do miss this game and how much it is easy to take it for granted when you can’t do that.“

Boston Celtics drafted Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He played a solid rookie season while being selected in the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. During his time with the Celtics, Smart became an important role player for the team and a big part of their system. In this season he has been averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

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Although the Boston Celtics fans hoped that Gordon Hayward could end up returning faster than expected and play in the Eastern Conference playoffs, that won’t happen. Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens has definitely said that Hayward won’t play this season.

“He’s not playing this year. I don’t know what else to say,” – said Stevens.

Gordon Hayward broke his ankle in the NBA season opener against Cleveland Cavaliers and he was immediately ruled out for the season. Still, The Player’s Tribune video of Hayward practicing and looking well fueled the conversation about his possible return in this season.

“Sometimes when you’re in the midst of that long rehab, you don’t feel the progress of the day to day the way now we all might see a video or somebody that hasn’t seen him may seen a video and say, ‘Man, he really is getting better.’ But he’s a super long way away from even being on 1-on-0 workout where he’s cutting.” – Stevens added.

The road back with @GordonHayward.

Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/Rp4GT8zDkB

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 2, 2018

Both Stevens and Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge previously stated that Hayward is making progress, but that he is still unable to even travel with the team on away games.

Gordon Hayward was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the ninth overall pick in 2010 NBA Draft. After a mediocre rookie season in which he didn’t play much, he started getting more playing time in his second season in NBA and his performances improved. The 2016-17 season was his most impressive one since Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. After becoming an unrestricted agent in the 2017 offseason, he signed a four-year, $128 million contract with the Boston Celtics.

The post Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward Won’t Play This Season Says Coach Brad Stevens appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla has returned to the Celtics bench after incurring an eye injury. The 34-year-old coach was absent from two games as a result.

Mazzulla explained that he appears at regular, late-afternoon games at the Celtics’ TD Garden, where he got hit in the face on Tuesday prior to the Celtics’ 102-126 victory over the Houston Rockets.

His eyes were red and irritated as he spoke to the media prior to the game and ended up not coaching. He was diagnosed with corneal abrasions in both eyes and temporarily replaced by assistant coach Damon Stoudamire as a result.

“It just didn’t get much better,” Mazzulla revealed before the Celtics’ 123-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. I think in a situation like that I thought it was a good opportunity to trust and empower the staff and the guys.” He added that he did not want to be a distraction to his players.

With a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, the Celtics remain on top of the Eastern Conference standings. They have just two games over the second-placed Brooklyn Nets, who are currently on an 11-game winning streak.

The post Joe Mazzulla Returns to Celtics Bench Following Injury appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Thanks to their numerous assets, consisting of young talented players and attractive draft picks, Boston Celtics are one of the biggest players on the NBA trade market. Whenever a superstar player becomes available or seems unhappy with his franchise, Celtics are immediately the main contenders to get him. They pulled off such a deal in 2017 when they got Kyrie Irving from Cleveland Cavaliers, and they are now rumored to have interested in Kawhi Leonard, who wants out of San Antonio Spurs. But, according to team’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Celtics are unlikely to pull off a blockbuster trade this time.

“If I feel like it’ll help our team — we explore every trade of players of certain magnitude or superstar, first-ballot Hall of Fame-type of players,” – Ainge told reporters. “We’re going to take a look and kick the tires and see if there’s something there. But that’s all. I think those things are unlikely.“

Ainge also gushed about Celtics current roster, saying that he is “excited” about the team’s future.

“I feel great that we have a lot of players that people like and want,” – said Ainge. “That’s a great feeling to have. That’s not always the case and that’s the reason we like our guys, too, is we have a lot of talent on our team. I’m excited about our team going forward.”

As currently constructed, Boston Celtics are already considered a title contender. But, adding one superstar player would certainly get them on the same level as the Golden State Warriors, at least talent-wise. Still, Celtics trading for Kawhi Leonard remains a longshot, mostly due to the fact that Leonard expressed a desire to play for Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Boston Celtics “Unlikely” to Pull off a Blockbuster Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart is about to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, but it looks like the 24-year-old guard already knows where he wants to play next season.

“I’m here. They’re already planning for me to be here,” – said Smart to reporters after Game 7 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. “Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don’t see a lot of organizations that are as clear about their players as the way this organization does it.“

Marcus Smart established himself as a valuable player for the Celtics in the past couple of seasons, doing a bit of everything. He isn’t a volume scorer, but different ways he impacts the game might make him a valuable addition to a contender.

“I got a lot to think about. There’s a lot of factors that go into it. But that being said, I want to be in Boston. I want to be here,” – Smart added. “I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off. I’ve been here for four years. My heart’s here. But there’s definitely going to be some factors going into it.“

Given the fact that he is a restricted free agent, Celtics would have to match outside offer if they want to keep Smart on their team. There is also an option for Smart to sign the $6.1 million qualifying offer with the Celtics, and then test the unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019. He previously told ESPN that he is worth more than $12 million to $14 million per season, which are the offers he was projected to receive.

In the 2017-18 regular season, Marcus Smart averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebound, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart Wants to Stay in Boston appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Eastern Conference Finals has officially kicked off on Sunday night with a showdown between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the Cavaliers were given bigger chance for the win despite not playing on the home court, it was the Celtics who made the statement in the Game 1 and ended up on the better side of the 108-83 score.

Celtics have been playing this entire postseason as the underdogs, being without their two main stars in Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Still, Brad Stevens managed to find a winning formula against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, and now maybe even the Cavs.

Cavaliers never really settled into the game and were trailing 26 points in the first half. They managed to cut into the deficit in the third and entered the fourth quarter being 14 points behind, but that was all they could do. Celtics once again made a big run in the fourth and closed out the Game 1.

LeBron James managed to score only 15 points to go with 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while Kevin Love ended the game with 17 points, 3 assists, and 9 rebounds. The rest of the Cavs starters – George Hill, Kyle Korver, and JR Smith – combined for 14 points.

On the other side, Celtics had three players who scored 20 points or more. Al Horford had a monster game, delivering 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebound and 2 blocks while playing excellent defense on Kevin Love.

“I feel like the coaches came out with a great game plan for our group,” – said Horford after the game. “We just bought in and did what we were supposed to do.“

Marcus Morris did the same against LeBron James while managing to score 21 points and add 10 rebounds. Jaylen Brown also had a stellar performance with 23 points and 8 rebounds.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night.

The post Celtics take 1-0 Lead in the Eastern Conference Finals Against the Cavs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Boston Celtics will have to make the final push in the regular season without their guard Marcus Smart. The team announced that the 24-year-old underwent a surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb. This will keep Smart sidelined for six to eight weeks. The Celtics are hoping for the most optimistic outcome, meaning that he recovers in time for Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Marcus Smart injured his thumb in the first half of Sunday’s 97-99 loss to Indiana Pacers. The injury was initially regarded as a sprain, and Smart returned to court and finished the game. On Monday, however, additional tests showed that the injury is more serious and Smart opted for a surgery.

This is the second time this season he has been out with an injury. He missed 11 games before the All-Star break, after cutting his hand in a hotel in Los Angeles. According to Smart, this pause made him appreciate playing basketball even more.

“I love this game. I love to play,” – said Smart at the time. “So when that kinda gets taken away from you, temporarily or permanently, you kinda start realizing how much you do miss this game and how much it is easy to take it for granted when you can’t do that.“

Boston Celtics drafted Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He played a solid rookie season while being selected in the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. During his time with the Celtics, Smart became an important role player for the team and a big part of their system. In this season he has been averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post Celtics’ Marcus Smart To Miss Six to Eight After Undergoing Right Thumb Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Although the Boston Celtics fans hoped that Gordon Hayward could end up returning faster than expected and play in the Eastern Conference playoffs, that won’t happen. Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens has definitely said that Hayward won’t play this season.

“He’s not playing this year. I don’t know what else to say,” – said Stevens.

Gordon Hayward broke his ankle in the NBA season opener against Cleveland Cavaliers and he was immediately ruled out for the season. Still, The Player’s Tribune video of Hayward practicing and looking well fueled the conversation about his possible return in this season.

“Sometimes when you’re in the midst of that long rehab, you don’t feel the progress of the day to day the way now we all might see a video or somebody that hasn’t seen him may seen a video and say, ‘Man, he really is getting better.’ But he’s a super long way away from even being on 1-on-0 workout where he’s cutting.” – Stevens added.

The road back with @GordonHayward.

Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/Rp4GT8zDkB

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 2, 2018

Both Stevens and Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge previously stated that Hayward is making progress, but that he is still unable to even travel with the team on away games.

Gordon Hayward was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the ninth overall pick in 2010 NBA Draft. After a mediocre rookie season in which he didn’t play much, he started getting more playing time in his second season in NBA and his performances improved. The 2016-17 season was his most impressive one since Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. After becoming an unrestricted agent in the 2017 offseason, he signed a four-year, $128 million contract with the Boston Celtics.

The post Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward Won’t Play This Season Says Coach Brad Stevens appeared first on SportzBonanza.