Top-dog status not a concern to team-first Celtics
Mon Jun 10 5:30pm ET
Field Level Media
BOSTON -- Prior to the Celtics' 105-98 victory over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, Dallas coach Jason Kidd seemingly tried to pit Boston stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against each other.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Kidd referred to Brown as the Celtics' best player. Both Brown and Tatum were unfazed by the remark, but it later became evident that Boston coach Joe Mazzulla took it to heart.
"I'm really tired of hearing about one guy or this guy or that guy and everybody trying to make it out to be anything other than Celtic basketball," Mazzulla said following Sunday's win. "Everybody that stepped on that court today made winning plays on both ends of the floor, is the most important thing."
Brown scored 21 points and Tatum finished with 18 to go along with 12 assists and nine rebounds in Game 2. However, it was Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard that ended up stealing the spotlight.
Holiday supplied team highs in points with 26 and rebounds with 11, while White sealed the victory by ferociously blocking P.J. Washington's dunk attempt with 50.5 seconds left in regulation to prevent Dallas from pulling within 103-100. Pritchard gave the Celtics a lift as the buzzer sounded in the third quarter, banking in a 34-foot 3-pointer to put Boston up by nine.
And those plays didn't go unnoticed by the man who was anointed as the Celtics' best player just one day earlier.
"We got a lot of weapons on our team, so we just got to trust what we've been doing all season long, trust our game plan," Brown said. "I thought we had a bunch of great looks. If you go back and look in the first half, Sam (Hauser) had a bunch of great looks, D-White had some looks that didn't go down.
"But we didn't panic. We kept guarding, we stayed in the game and we kept trusting it and we made enough (Sunday) to win the game. But we expect to shoot the ball better going forward when we get on the road."
The series now shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Wednesday, but playing as the visitor has presented few challenges for Boston. The Celtics are 6-0 on the road during the playoffs, and they have won 22 of their past 27 games away from home dating back to the regular season.
"They haven't lost a game since May something, right? Yeah, they're hot," Kidd said of the Celtics. "And not just on the road, but at home. We've got to protect home, and that's it. We've got to find a way, continue, again, to build on our defense. Our defense put us in a position to win (Sunday). Unfortunately, our offense didn't help us."
Kidd is hoping guard Kyrie Irving can get back on track, as the former Celtic has scored just 28 points on 13-of-37 shooting (35.1 percent) through the first two games of the Finals.
Boston fans were jawing at Irving any time he touched the ball in Games 1 and 2, a reaction stemming from Irving's decision to leave the Celtics for the Brooklyn Nets once free agency hit in June 2019.
"You have to accept the ups and downs of this. That's, I would say, the toughest challenge when you're in a series," Irving said. "You want to play extremely well, especially when you're playing in a Finals. ... (Sunday's loss) wasn't all on me, but I'm definitely taking the majority of it because my teammates look to me to convert a lot of these shots and ease the burden of not just Luka (Doncic) but everyone else and settle our team.
"We definitely made our dinner on the defensive end, but now offensively I have to play better."
Doncic posted a triple-double on Sunday, racking up 32 points, 11 boards and 11 assists. Washington had 17 points and Irving chipped in 16.
"At the end of the day, it's basketball, away or home," Doncic said. "We've just got to play better basketball to win."
--Nick Galle, Field Level Media
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Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry is expected to return to the team for the 2024-25 campaign. Lowry is a free agent after completing a short-term deal with his hometown team. The Knicks and Clippers have reportedly kept tabs on him, but according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the 38-year-old is "widely" expected to re-sign with the 76ers. Lowry averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 assists in 28.4 minutes after moving to Philadelphia in February. The former All-Star is clearly past his best and only a deep-league asset in fantasy basketball at this point.
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Paul George could remain in the Pacific Division as a member of the Golden State Warriors. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, a "very close eye" should be kept on the Warriors regarding George if Klay Thompson leaves the team. George has previously linked with moving to the East, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic seen as the most realistic landing spots for the nine-time All-Star. Considering Thompson's massively disappointing campaign in 2023-24, George would be a major upgrade for the Warriors, adding value to the team at both ends of the floor.
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According to NBA insider Keith Smith, Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett will decline his $2.5 million player option, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. The veteran, who signed a two-year contract last June, appeared in 55 games for the C's during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds. While there's a good chance Brissett will find a new team, his production needs to improve before he finds his way onto any fantasy roster ahead of the 2024-25 season.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, impending free agent guard Malik Beasley isn't expected to return to Milwaukee. The 27-year-old appeared in 79 games for the Bucks during the regular season, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He also shot 41.3% from deep, making him among the most proficient three-point threats in the National Basketball Association. Unfortunately, Beasley didn't see the floor as often late in the season, negatively impacting his statistical contributions for fantasy managers. At any rate, with Milwaukee strapped for cash this offseason, the team can't afford Beasley, who could seek around $13 million. As such, his fantasy outlook will hinge on where he signs for the 2024-25 campaign.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may be on the Magic and 76er's radars. But first, he must decline his $15.4 million player option. TNT's Chris Haynes reported that KCP might decline his player option if he doesn't reach an extension agreement with the Nuggets before the deadline. However, even if he reaches unrestricted free agency, both sides could still work things out, although Philadelphia and Orlando have the cap space needed to make an enticing offer. The 31-year-old has played in Denver for the last two seasons, appearing in 76 games in each of them. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 10.1 points and shooting 40.6% from behind the arc. Caldwell-Pope will likely remain a starter wherever he ends up moving ahead, which isn't bad for fantasy purposes, even if he's not the most consistent producer.
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According to SNY's Ian Begley, several teams have "checked in" on Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. The veteran finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He also shot a career-high 40.2% from behind the arc. Without question, Grant would bolster a starting lineup for any club. However, he hasn't logged more than 63 games in any of the previous four seasons, which makes him a risky investment for teams. The same is true for fantasy managers.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, contract talks between guard Klay Thompson and Golden State are "frozen." While the Warriors have the luxury of negotiating a new deal right now, there hasn't been any movement. As a result, Slater indicated that Thompson's exit from Golden State "feels closer and more probable than ever before." The 34-year-old spent time between the starting lineup and a bench role during the 2023-24 campaign. As such, Thompson's statistical contributions regressed from a season ago, and he finished the year by averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.7% from behind the arc. At any rate, there are rumblings he could end up in Orlando, a team that has expressed interest. But since there "has been no traction" between both sides, other clubs with money this offseason could enter the equation.
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According to Nick Moyle of The San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama has been working on his dribbling with the help of former player Jamal Crawford. The 20-year-old had a stellar inaugural campaign, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 1.6 steals. As a result, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year while earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. However, he had issues taking care of the ball, logging 3.7 turnovers per contest. Hopefully, Wembanyama's time with Crawford will help him improve. Either way, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has top-10 fantasy potential in all formats for the 2024-25 season.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (shoulder) is expected to resume basketball activities in the next two weeks. "I hate being around basketball and not being able to play," said Morant at his youth basketball camp. "I don't got too much longer. I can wait to make sure I'm able to play and be cleared when the season comes." The 24-year-old began the 2023-24 campaign, serving a 25-game suspension. He eventually returned, although he suffered a torn labrum that resulted in surgery after appearing in nine contests. But if Morant can stay out of trouble and remain healthy in 2024-25, he has top-10 fantasy potential in all formats.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will likely decline his player option if he doesn't agree on a contract extension with his current team. Haynes added that even if KCP declines, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll leave Denver. However, Caldwell-Pope will have a "plethora of teams at his doorstop" if he hits the open market. The 31-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Nuggets, where he has been instrumental in the team's success. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 10.1 points and 1.3 steals while shooting 40.6% from behind the arc. With that said, if Caldwell-Pope stays in Denver, he'll have to fight with Nikola Jokic and the rest of the starters for scoring chances. Yet, if he lands on a new team for the 2024-25 season, his production could increase.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, impending free agent forward Tobias Harris is expected to receive "ample interest" from teams this offseason. Haynes mentioned Utah, Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans as the clubs with the strongest chance of landing the veteran, adding that he doesn't "see a scenario where Tobias is back in Philly." Harris, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has played for the Bucks, Magic, Pistons, Clippers, and most recently, the 76ers. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. Despite being in the league for well over a decade, the 31-year-old could remain a starter for whatever team he lands on. While he's past his prime, he still has a lot to offer fantasy managers, even more so due to his durability.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo.com, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson could be traded this offseason. Per Fischer, the Knicks "have contacted opposing teams about moving Mitchell." However, specific clubs weren't mentioned. The 2018 No. 36 overall pick has averaged 8.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in six seasons in New York. Yet, he has missed time over the years because of various ailments. With that said, Mitchell's defensive prowess should make him an attractive asset for category participants. But his inability to stay on the floor is an issue.