April 9, 2025 • 21 mins
Some say the Celtics had nothing to play for. The Celtics didn’t care. They went after the New York Knicks at MSG and used their clutch gene to polish off a season sweep of their Atlantic Division rivals. We’re sounding off on it all, including the most clutch plays of the night, how Jayson Tatum is being discussed in the same breath as Larry Bird, and what this win meant to Boston. Let’s go!
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Sound off would be folks on the Boston Celtics getting
a clean season sweep of their Atlantic Division rivals, the
New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
They went down to New York on Tuesday night, played
a game in front of a national audience, and yet again,
for the fourth time this season in four games, came
out on top against the New York Knicks. Boston is
now twenty three to four over its last twenty seven games.
It holds every advantage you could possibly want against the
(00:36):
New York Knicks, and that includes potentially maybe a little
advantage in the mental aspect if these two teams wind
up playing during the postseason. It just felt like New
York had no answers for the Celtics this season, and
in any game that was competitive and or went down
to the wire like this game Tuesday night, the Boston
(00:58):
Celtics were gonna come out on top. So the New
York Knicks got to look in the mirror, especially if
they happen to win in the first round and wind
up facing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi finals,
They're going to have to look in the mirror and
figure out if they can even compete and try to
beat this team once twice, let alone three or four
times in a postseason. They just got to try to
(01:19):
beat them one time. But speaking of a mental aspect
of the game, I love the mental decision that the
Celtics and Joe Missoula made before this game because you
are playing against a team that you might see in
the second round, and the Celtics had six guys on
(01:43):
the injury report going into this morning. We knew el
Horford wasn't gonna play, but the other five guys were
a little bit questionable. Most of them were actually questionable
on the list. A couple of them were probable, but
we didn't know who was going to play. So you're
playing against a team that you might see in the postseason.
(02:05):
And some might say, don't give them more tape to study,
don't give them more of an opportunity to figure out
what you do on the court and figure out how
they can defend it.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
For a possible playoff series. Some might say the.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Second seed is already locked up, there's nothing to play for. Well,
the Celtics said to those people, we don't care. We
are competitors, we want to win and we want to
get right as a group heading into the postseason, and
that's exactly what they did.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
During this game.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Jason Tatum played a season high forty eight minutes in
a game that quote unquote didn't matter. Derek White played
a season high forty three minutes in a game that
people say didn't matter. Christaus Porzingis played these season high
thirty nine minutes in a game that people say did
not matter. It might might not have mattered to you you,
(03:01):
but it definitely mattered to them, and that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
The Celtics did what they felt they needed and wanted
to do tonight in New York. They closed out the
season sweep of the Knicks, and they got a great
opportunity to play with basically all of their key players
outside of Al Horford and outside of Jalen Brown, who
was on a minute's restriction. They got to play with
(03:28):
all of those guys for extended run against a really
good team that they might wind up seeing in the postseason.
This should tell you something about who these guys are, Like,
what is their mental makeup? What are they all about?
They're all about ball, They're all about competing, They're all
(03:50):
about winning.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
There is nothing else with these Boston Celtics. That's the
great thing about them. They don't miss games unless they're
actually injured. They don't just.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Rest, especially the superstars.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
They want to play, and you can't say that about
everyone around the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
In addition to that, we've got to talk about the
clutch three pointers that the Boston Celtics made in this game.
They connected on nineteen on the night, but two of
them were of the utmost importance and they basically decided
this game. The first one came from Jason Tatum with
three point seven seconds left in regulation, and it came
(04:40):
off of one of the most ridiculous, unorthodox, uncomfortable, awkward
step backs I've ever seen in my life. Like when
he actually started to take the shot, I was like,
there's no way this is going in. His eyes can't
be locked on the rim, the concentration that he needs
can't be there, He can't actually feel good and in
(05:01):
rhythm after what just happened. But sure enough, it's Jason Tatum.
He's a super duper, duper star, and he makes it
to send the game to overtime. Just an unreal shot.
He was defended by Ogian Andobi, and Tatum made this.
Like I said, it was like an uncomfortable move. He
actually stepped back with his right foot and his shoulders
(05:24):
were facing away from the basket. And then he winds
up swinging his left leg out to the left, kind
of a little bit of a step back to the left,
and then fires it up after he squared his shoulders
to the rim and connects on the shot. An unreal shot.
And again, like I said, just one of the most
unorthodox step backs that you'll ever see. And somehow he
(05:47):
had the level of concentration to make that shot. Unreal
stuff from Jason Tatum. Now, the next one that we
got to talk about is the go ahead three pointer
from Christaps Porzingis with forty second forty seconds left in ot.
This one was a little bit more straightforward. Let's just
say it was much more straightforward.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Okay. He sets a.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Screen for a little pick and pop with Derek White
on the left wing. Chris tops pops up to the
top of the arc. Derek White winds up, taking both defenders,
flips it over the top to Porzingis. He catches it
about thirty feet from the rim. This was deep and
he caught it and let it rip all in one motion,
(06:29):
drained it right through the net, barely touched the back
of the rim. No doubter from the second at left
his fingers, And that was the biggest shot of the
game other than Tatum shot. That gave the Celtics a
three point lead, the cushion that they needed. Then they
wound up finishing it off, and they did so, by
the way, by clutch free throw shooting from Drew Holliday,
(06:50):
Who's been doing it all season long. Drew made four
free throws during the final thirty or so seconds. He's
now seventy for seventy seven from the free throw line
this season. That might be kind of like lost in
all of the greatness of the season and everyone three
or four guys going for the record for three point
makes in a season. Are we forgetting about what Drew
(07:13):
Holliday is doing at the free throw line. He's ninety
plus percent from the free throw line this year and drained,
as I said, all four clutch ones during the final
thirty or so seconds of this game to make sure
that the Celtics came out on top. I love this
win for the Celtics. They went for it. They played
their guys, they played them big minutes, they made big shots,
(07:36):
they overcame adversity. Talk about a way to possibly go
out in terms of playing all of your main players
big minutes as we head into the final days of
the regular season. Awesome win for the Celtics, and we're
going to talk about more of it right now as
we get into our fan commentary. We got three comments tonight.
(07:58):
The first is up from Celtic D two, who compares
Jason Tatum to Royalty in this comment. You gotta listen
to this one. Next up, Jeremy Shipe makes a comment
on why this particular win was important for Boston. And
then lastly we've got Anita GM on the Celtics coming
through in the clutch. All right, Celtics D two, it's
(08:22):
on you. First one up, all right, folks. First fan
comment of the night from Celtics D two, and this
person says Tatum doing bird like things with a few
exclamation points at the end. And you gotta put the
exclamation points at the end if you're comparing someone to
(08:42):
Larry Birt. Okay, that's Larry Legend. That is one of
the greatest players in the history of the NBA. But
damn it, did Jason Tatum look like he was on
that level tonight. He made some shots that were just unguardable,
like the knicks were all over him, and somehow he
(09:03):
still made the shots. And then, as I already detailed,
that three pointer that he made to send the game
to overtime, like that might be the most ridiculous one
I've ever seen him make in the clutch, just so unorthodox.
It just looked like he was out of rhythm. Somehow
makes it. You know when guys do like the double
(09:23):
clutch fake on a three pointer, and you're like, Okay,
he's out of rhythm. There's no way this is going in.
That's how I felt when JT pulled up for that shot.
It just felt like he was out a rhythm. No
way it's going in up.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Sorry, don't doubt him, because he can do birdlike things.
He can make shots that you think that there's no
way for him to put it through the rim, And
he did that throughout the second half tonight. He winds
up with thirty two points on eleven for twenty two
shooting from the field, four of eleven from distance. So
(09:57):
you gotta love the numbers in terms of a ffficiency
from Jason Tatum. Tonight also added in seven boards and
five assists, a block, a steal, like as always, just
getting it done across the board. But that efficiency was
great to see, especially the way that he shot the
ball during the second half. As we've seen throughout his
entire career, starting with his rookie season, anytime Jason Tatum
(10:21):
gets hot like he's one of those guys that you
simply cannot turn off. Like you remember back in the
day when the Celtics would play Kobe and he was
just in that rhythm. It didn't matter if Tony Allen
was in his pocket like He's gonna make the shot,
because that's who he is. He can get that locked in.
Jason Tatum is that guy. Larry Bird was that guy.
(10:44):
So yes, Jason Tatum was doing Bird like things during
this game. And if we're being honest, Jason Tatum is
putting together a resume that is as good as Birds,
if not better, at this point of his career. Obviously
doesn't have the championships at this stage, He's got one
(11:04):
Bird had I think two or three at this point
of his career in terms of what season he's in,
but all of the other numbers, Tatum is either catching
up or passing him.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
I said to Jason Tatum shortly after his rookie season
came to an end. We did a film study where
we sat down in the film room out at the
Hourback Center and I looked at him and I said,
You're gonna be one of the greatest players to.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ever play the game, because you could see it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And now that's coming to fruition and as Celtics d
two says in one tweet, he mentions Bird and he
mentions Tatum, or she mentions Bird and Tatum like.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
We're at that point. Jason Tatum is that great, one.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Of the top basketball players in the world during what
may be the golden age of basketball in the world.
Truly incredible what Tatum is doing. And it was incredible
what he did tonight, especially capping it all off with
that three pointer to send this game to ot. Next up,
(12:17):
we've got Jeremy Shipe saying big to overcome that late
game adversity for a w will serve them well going
into late regular season and playoffs. And it's those last
couple of words that mean the most to me, Jeremy.
It's all about the playoffs. That's what this game was.
That's why the Celtics played their guys, that's why they
(12:38):
competed at such a high level, and that's why.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
They didn't give up.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
There were some moments where this game looked like it
was going sideways. They were down by eleven, they weren't
really playing all too well early in the game, but
they somehow kept chugging along, kept chipping away and found
their rhythm. And then late in the game, as Jeremy
talks about here, like there was some adversity that they
had to overcome. Number One, They were without Jaylen Brown,
(13:05):
who has said publicly he's on a minute's restriction. Joe
gave him about twenty two minutes tonight. They were without him.
They were also without Al Horford, as we've already discussed.
Then you're laid in regulation, winning and playing from ahead
for the majority of the second half. Then with a
minute twenty nine left, Ogiano Noobi puts back a layup
(13:26):
on an offensive rebound, gives the Knicks a lead, and
the Knicks were basically ahead for the entirety of the
rest of the quarter. Until Jason Tatum's game tying three pointer.
So somehow the Celtics found a way to force overtime.
And you just gotta love it. When push comes to shove,
winning teams win, they find a way they make winning plays.
(13:50):
And that is what the Celtics did, and in particular
Jason Tatum did during that fourth quarter and then going
into overtime, big play after big play, every bucket that
they needed to get they got it. And then they
get into overtime. And then by the way, in overtime,
like there was a couple moments where you didn't know
how that was gonna go. I thought a one piece
(14:13):
of adversity that happened with around two and a half
two minutes left, Derek White was handling the ball going left,
and I thought Josh Hart pushed him. As Josh Hart
was leaving him to go and defend someone else, he
pushed Derek White. Derek White fell over, had to throw
the ball up as he was falling down. Ball gets
picked off by Karl Anthony Towns. Towns takes it the
(14:34):
other way, ties the game up with a fast break layup.
That was with two pH six remaining in overtime and
at that point, I don't know what's happening. You know,
that game could go either way. And that was a
moment that the Celtics just okay, all right, that happened.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Let's move on.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And seconds later, Christaps Porzingis goes to the free throw line,
gets fouled in the paint, goes up in cans two
free throws to put the Celtics back ahead. Jalen Brunson
then drains a jumper to tie the game back up
with one thirty eight left in overtime.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Beautiful shot.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
He played great tonight, by the way, and what do
the Celtics do. They answer back with a three pointer,
the one we already spoke about with Christaps Porzingiz, the
pick and pop with Derek White. Every time the Celtics
had to make a play, they did it. And when
you have that lodged into your memory as you go
(15:32):
into the playoffs. And by the way, they already have
the ability to lean on all of the plays they
made last year to go and win a championship while
going sixteen to three during the postseason. They already have
that to lean on. Now they've got.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
These moments, recent moments.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
This is important stuff. And that's exactly what Jeremy Shipe
is saying. This is big to overcome that type of
adversity in a game like this where both teams are
going for it during the final week of the regular season,
and it's big stuff that the Celtics are gonna be
able to carry over into the NBA playoffs, which are
starting up pretty darn soon. We'll find out who the Celtics'
(16:14):
opponent is in the playoffs about a week from today.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
So great comment from you, Jeremy.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I appreciate you giving us a listen and sending this
comment in hope to hear more from you here moving forward.
All right, folks, last comment of the night. This one's
coming from Anita GM and it has a little bit
to do.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
It's similar to.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Our last comment from Jeremy, but Anita says, Celtics kept
on fighting. They know how to close out a game
and win a game. I couldn't agree with you anymore, Anita.
The Celtics have figured it out, Like I trust them
in the clutch. Do you remember just a couple short
(16:54):
seasons ago when it would be a tight game going
into the final minutes and you just didn't have that
level of trust with what the Celtics were gonna be
able to pull off, Like you would be hopeful. You
know that they've got the talent, but you just didn't
know what was gonna happen. Sometimes they got sped up,
they made bad decisions, they didn't make free throws, sometimes
(17:18):
turn the ball over, were loose with their dribbles, weren't
reading the defense. None of that exists anymore. Now this
team goes into the clutch and you expect them to
make the plays. You expect them to come through in
the clutch. You expect them to make the open shots.
(17:40):
They've been building up this repository of positive reinforcement. Touched
down on this in the last comment. But they have
all of this stuff to lean on and it just
keeps growing. That repository just keeps growing. There's a lot
of people out there that have questioned Jatum in his
(18:00):
clutch gene for I don't even know why, because if
you look at the numbers, he's one of the most
clutch players in the league. But now he's got a
moment like this recently that he can lean on and
remember in the back of his mind. Anytime he has
that opportunity when it comes up in the postseason, and
(18:22):
it will come up in the postseason because you know
the Celtics are going to play close games. But Anita,
I am so with you on this. They know how
to close out games, they know how to win games,
and every win is so important in the playoffs because
one game can change a series, and in turn, one
(18:43):
game can then wind up changing an entire season in
a postseason run. So great to see the Celtics doing
this tonight. And this wasn't against some chump team going
to the lottery. This was against the number three seed
in the East, a team that is loaded with town,
a team that literally was built to compete with the Celtics.
(19:06):
And the Celtics pulled off this win unshockingly in the
clutch on the road, and they have now tied the
best road record that the Celtics have ever had in
their history. And I say this every time they set
a new record or tie a record in franchise history.
This is the most storied franchise in basketball history. And
(19:32):
yet again tonight it seems like for what the fifth
sixth straight night they've made some form of history. They
did it again tonight. They tied the best road record
that the Boston Celtics have ever had, and now that
sets up a showdown tomorrow night down in Orlando against
the Magic. What is on the line here we go.
(19:55):
If the Boston Celtics win this game Wednesday night in Orlando,
they will tie the all time NBA record, not just
the Celtics. We're talking about every basketball team that has
ever played a game in NBA history. The Boston Celtics
can tie for the best road record ever. That's what's
(20:19):
on the line during their final road game of the season.
It's coming up tomorrow night, Wednesday night, at seven o'clock.
It's down in Orlando against the Magic, who are also
fighting for their playoff lives. It's gonna be a fun one.
The Celtics are playing for history. I'm pretty sure that
the stay ready group is gonna get a ton of
run during this game. Let's see what they can pull off.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
I appreciate all of you giving us a listen for
sending in your commentary. We will be back on Wednesday
night with another audio edition, and then for the final
two games of the season, we'll have both audio on
the podcast networks and our episodes coming right at you.
On YouTube from the Celtics studio. So again, thanks for
(21:02):
giving giving us a listen. Great win for the Celtics
tonight and I'll see you tomorrow night after the Celtics
take on the Matic down there
Sound off would be folks on the Boston Celtics getting
a clean season sweep of their Atlantic Division rivals, the
New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
They went down to New York on Tuesday night, played
a game in front of a national audience, and yet again,
for the fourth time this season in four games, came
out on top against the New York Knicks. Boston is
now twenty three to four over its last twenty seven games.
It holds every advantage you could possibly want against the
(00:36):
New York Knicks, and that includes potentially maybe a little
advantage in the mental aspect if these two teams wind
up playing during the postseason. It just felt like New
York had no answers for the Celtics this season, and
in any game that was competitive and or went down
to the wire like this game Tuesday night, the Boston
(00:58):
Celtics were gonna come out on top. So the New
York Knicks got to look in the mirror, especially if
they happen to win in the first round and wind
up facing the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi finals,
They're going to have to look in the mirror and
figure out if they can even compete and try to
beat this team once twice, let alone three or four
times in a postseason. They just got to try to
(01:19):
beat them one time. But speaking of a mental aspect
of the game, I love the mental decision that the
Celtics and Joe Missoula made before this game because you
are playing against a team that you might see in
the second round, and the Celtics had six guys on
(01:43):
the injury report going into this morning. We knew el
Horford wasn't gonna play, but the other five guys were
a little bit questionable. Most of them were actually questionable
on the list. A couple of them were probable, but
we didn't know who was going to play. So you're
playing against a team that you might see in the postseason.
(02:05):
And some might say, don't give them more tape to study,
don't give them more of an opportunity to figure out
what you do on the court and figure out how
they can defend it.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
For a possible playoff series. Some might say the.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Second seed is already locked up, there's nothing to play for. Well,
the Celtics said to those people, we don't care. We
are competitors, we want to win and we want to
get right as a group heading into the postseason, and
that's exactly what they did.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
During this game.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Jason Tatum played a season high forty eight minutes in
a game that quote unquote didn't matter. Derek White played
a season high forty three minutes in a game that
people say didn't matter. Christaus Porzingis played these season high
thirty nine minutes in a game that people say did
not matter. It might might not have mattered to you you,
(03:01):
but it definitely mattered to them, and that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
The Celtics did what they felt they needed and wanted
to do tonight in New York. They closed out the
season sweep of the Knicks, and they got a great
opportunity to play with basically all of their key players
outside of Al Horford and outside of Jalen Brown, who
was on a minute's restriction. They got to play with
(03:28):
all of those guys for extended run against a really
good team that they might wind up seeing in the postseason.
This should tell you something about who these guys are, Like,
what is their mental makeup? What are they all about?
They're all about ball, They're all about competing, They're all
(03:50):
about winning.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
There is nothing else with these Boston Celtics. That's the
great thing about them. They don't miss games unless they're
actually injured. They don't just.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Rest, especially the superstars.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
They want to play, and you can't say that about
everyone around the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
All Right.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
In addition to that, we've got to talk about the
clutch three pointers that the Boston Celtics made in this game.
They connected on nineteen on the night, but two of
them were of the utmost importance and they basically decided
this game. The first one came from Jason Tatum with
three point seven seconds left in regulation, and it came
(04:40):
off of one of the most ridiculous, unorthodox, uncomfortable, awkward
step backs I've ever seen in my life. Like when
he actually started to take the shot, I was like,
there's no way this is going in. His eyes can't
be locked on the rim, the concentration that he needs
can't be there, He can't actually feel good and in
(05:01):
rhythm after what just happened. But sure enough, it's Jason Tatum.
He's a super duper, duper star, and he makes it
to send the game to overtime. Just an unreal shot.
He was defended by Ogian Andobi, and Tatum made this.
Like I said, it was like an uncomfortable move. He
actually stepped back with his right foot and his shoulders
(05:24):
were facing away from the basket. And then he winds
up swinging his left leg out to the left, kind
of a little bit of a step back to the left,
and then fires it up after he squared his shoulders
to the rim and connects on the shot. An unreal shot.
And again, like I said, just one of the most
unorthodox step backs that you'll ever see. And somehow he
(05:47):
had the level of concentration to make that shot. Unreal
stuff from Jason Tatum. Now, the next one that we
got to talk about is the go ahead three pointer
from Christaps Porzingis with forty second forty seconds left in ot.
This one was a little bit more straightforward. Let's just
say it was much more straightforward.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Okay. He sets a.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Screen for a little pick and pop with Derek White
on the left wing. Chris tops pops up to the
top of the arc. Derek White winds up, taking both defenders,
flips it over the top to Porzingis. He catches it
about thirty feet from the rim. This was deep and
he caught it and let it rip all in one motion,
(06:29):
drained it right through the net, barely touched the back
of the rim. No doubter from the second at left
his fingers, And that was the biggest shot of the
game other than Tatum shot. That gave the Celtics a
three point lead, the cushion that they needed. Then they
wound up finishing it off, and they did so, by
the way, by clutch free throw shooting from Drew Holliday,
(06:50):
Who's been doing it all season long. Drew made four
free throws during the final thirty or so seconds. He's
now seventy for seventy seven from the free throw line
this season. That might be kind of like lost in
all of the greatness of the season and everyone three
or four guys going for the record for three point
makes in a season. Are we forgetting about what Drew
(07:13):
Holliday is doing at the free throw line. He's ninety
plus percent from the free throw line this year and drained,
as I said, all four clutch ones during the final
thirty or so seconds of this game to make sure
that the Celtics came out on top. I love this
win for the Celtics. They went for it. They played
their guys, they played them big minutes, they made big shots,
(07:36):
they overcame adversity. Talk about a way to possibly go
out in terms of playing all of your main players
big minutes as we head into the final days of
the regular season. Awesome win for the Celtics, and we're
going to talk about more of it right now as
we get into our fan commentary. We got three comments tonight.
(07:58):
The first is up from Celtic D two, who compares
Jason Tatum to Royalty in this comment. You gotta listen
to this one. Next up, Jeremy Shipe makes a comment
on why this particular win was important for Boston. And
then lastly we've got Anita GM on the Celtics coming
through in the clutch. All right, Celtics D two, it's
(08:22):
on you. First one up, all right, folks. First fan
comment of the night from Celtics D two, and this
person says Tatum doing bird like things with a few
exclamation points at the end. And you gotta put the
exclamation points at the end if you're comparing someone to
(08:42):
Larry Birt. Okay, that's Larry Legend. That is one of
the greatest players in the history of the NBA. But
damn it, did Jason Tatum look like he was on
that level tonight. He made some shots that were just unguardable,
like the knicks were all over him, and somehow he
(09:03):
still made the shots. And then, as I already detailed,
that three pointer that he made to send the game
to overtime, like that might be the most ridiculous one
I've ever seen him make in the clutch, just so unorthodox.
It just looked like he was out of rhythm. Somehow
makes it. You know when guys do like the double
(09:23):
clutch fake on a three pointer, and you're like, Okay,
he's out of rhythm. There's no way this is going in.
That's how I felt when JT pulled up for that shot.
It just felt like he was out a rhythm. No
way it's going in up.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Sorry, don't doubt him, because he can do birdlike things.
He can make shots that you think that there's no
way for him to put it through the rim, And
he did that throughout the second half tonight. He winds
up with thirty two points on eleven for twenty two
shooting from the field, four of eleven from distance. So
(09:57):
you gotta love the numbers in terms of a ffficiency
from Jason Tatum. Tonight also added in seven boards and
five assists, a block, a steal, like as always, just
getting it done across the board. But that efficiency was
great to see, especially the way that he shot the
ball during the second half. As we've seen throughout his
entire career, starting with his rookie season, anytime Jason Tatum
(10:21):
gets hot like he's one of those guys that you
simply cannot turn off. Like you remember back in the
day when the Celtics would play Kobe and he was
just in that rhythm. It didn't matter if Tony Allen
was in his pocket like He's gonna make the shot,
because that's who he is. He can get that locked in.
Jason Tatum is that guy. Larry Bird was that guy.
(10:44):
So yes, Jason Tatum was doing Bird like things during
this game. And if we're being honest, Jason Tatum is
putting together a resume that is as good as Birds,
if not better, at this point of his career. Obviously
doesn't have the championships at this stage, He's got one
(11:04):
Bird had I think two or three at this point
of his career in terms of what season he's in,
but all of the other numbers, Tatum is either catching
up or passing him.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
I said to Jason Tatum shortly after his rookie season
came to an end. We did a film study where
we sat down in the film room out at the
Hourback Center and I looked at him and I said,
You're gonna be one of the greatest players to.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ever play the game, because you could see it.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
And now that's coming to fruition and as Celtics d
two says in one tweet, he mentions Bird and he
mentions Tatum, or she mentions Bird and Tatum like.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
We're at that point. Jason Tatum is that great, one.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Of the top basketball players in the world during what
may be the golden age of basketball in the world.
Truly incredible what Tatum is doing. And it was incredible
what he did tonight, especially capping it all off with
that three pointer to send this game to ot. Next up,
(12:17):
we've got Jeremy Shipe saying big to overcome that late
game adversity for a w will serve them well going
into late regular season and playoffs. And it's those last
couple of words that mean the most to me, Jeremy.
It's all about the playoffs. That's what this game was.
That's why the Celtics played their guys, that's why they
(12:38):
competed at such a high level, and that's why.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
They didn't give up.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
There were some moments where this game looked like it
was going sideways. They were down by eleven, they weren't
really playing all too well early in the game, but
they somehow kept chugging along, kept chipping away and found
their rhythm. And then late in the game, as Jeremy
talks about here, like there was some adversity that they
had to overcome. Number One, They were without Jaylen Brown,
(13:05):
who has said publicly he's on a minute's restriction. Joe
gave him about twenty two minutes tonight. They were without him.
They were also without Al Horford, as we've already discussed.
Then you're laid in regulation, winning and playing from ahead
for the majority of the second half. Then with a
minute twenty nine left, Ogiano Noobi puts back a layup
(13:26):
on an offensive rebound, gives the Knicks a lead, and
the Knicks were basically ahead for the entirety of the
rest of the quarter. Until Jason Tatum's game tying three pointer.
So somehow the Celtics found a way to force overtime.
And you just gotta love it. When push comes to shove,
winning teams win, they find a way they make winning plays.
(13:50):
And that is what the Celtics did, and in particular
Jason Tatum did during that fourth quarter and then going
into overtime, big play after big play, every bucket that
they needed to get they got it. And then they
get into overtime. And then by the way, in overtime,
like there was a couple moments where you didn't know
how that was gonna go. I thought a one piece
(14:13):
of adversity that happened with around two and a half
two minutes left, Derek White was handling the ball going left,
and I thought Josh Hart pushed him. As Josh Hart
was leaving him to go and defend someone else, he
pushed Derek White. Derek White fell over, had to throw
the ball up as he was falling down. Ball gets
picked off by Karl Anthony Towns. Towns takes it the
(14:34):
other way, ties the game up with a fast break layup.
That was with two pH six remaining in overtime and
at that point, I don't know what's happening. You know,
that game could go either way. And that was a
moment that the Celtics just okay, all right, that happened.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Let's move on.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And seconds later, Christaps Porzingis goes to the free throw line,
gets fouled in the paint, goes up in cans two
free throws to put the Celtics back ahead. Jalen Brunson
then drains a jumper to tie the game back up
with one thirty eight left in overtime.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Beautiful shot.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
He played great tonight, by the way, and what do
the Celtics do. They answer back with a three pointer,
the one we already spoke about with Christaps Porzingiz, the
pick and pop with Derek White. Every time the Celtics
had to make a play, they did it. And when
you have that lodged into your memory as you go
(15:32):
into the playoffs. And by the way, they already have
the ability to lean on all of the plays they
made last year to go and win a championship while
going sixteen to three during the postseason. They already have
that to lean on. Now they've got.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
These moments, recent moments.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
This is important stuff. And that's exactly what Jeremy Shipe
is saying. This is big to overcome that type of
adversity in a game like this where both teams are
going for it during the final week of the regular season,
and it's big stuff that the Celtics are gonna be
able to carry over into the NBA playoffs, which are
starting up pretty darn soon. We'll find out who the Celtics'
(16:14):
opponent is in the playoffs about a week from today.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
So great comment from you, Jeremy.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
I appreciate you giving us a listen and sending this
comment in hope to hear more from you here moving forward.
All right, folks, last comment of the night. This one's
coming from Anita GM and it has a little bit
to do.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
It's similar to.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Our last comment from Jeremy, but Anita says, Celtics kept
on fighting. They know how to close out a game
and win a game. I couldn't agree with you anymore, Anita.
The Celtics have figured it out, Like I trust them
in the clutch. Do you remember just a couple short
(16:54):
seasons ago when it would be a tight game going
into the final minutes and you just didn't have that
level of trust with what the Celtics were gonna be
able to pull off, Like you would be hopeful. You
know that they've got the talent, but you just didn't
know what was gonna happen. Sometimes they got sped up,
they made bad decisions, they didn't make free throws, sometimes
(17:18):
turn the ball over, were loose with their dribbles, weren't
reading the defense. None of that exists anymore. Now this
team goes into the clutch and you expect them to
make the plays. You expect them to come through in
the clutch. You expect them to make the open shots.
(17:40):
They've been building up this repository of positive reinforcement. Touched
down on this in the last comment. But they have
all of this stuff to lean on and it just
keeps growing. That repository just keeps growing. There's a lot
of people out there that have questioned Jatum in his
(18:00):
clutch gene for I don't even know why, because if
you look at the numbers, he's one of the most
clutch players in the league. But now he's got a
moment like this recently that he can lean on and
remember in the back of his mind. Anytime he has
that opportunity when it comes up in the postseason, and
(18:22):
it will come up in the postseason because you know
the Celtics are going to play close games. But Anita,
I am so with you on this. They know how
to close out games, they know how to win games,
and every win is so important in the playoffs because
one game can change a series, and in turn, one
(18:43):
game can then wind up changing an entire season in
a postseason run. So great to see the Celtics doing
this tonight. And this wasn't against some chump team going
to the lottery. This was against the number three seed
in the East, a team that is loaded with town,
a team that literally was built to compete with the Celtics.
(19:06):
And the Celtics pulled off this win unshockingly in the
clutch on the road, and they have now tied the
best road record that the Celtics have ever had in
their history. And I say this every time they set
a new record or tie a record in franchise history.
This is the most storied franchise in basketball history. And
(19:32):
yet again tonight it seems like for what the fifth
sixth straight night they've made some form of history. They
did it again tonight. They tied the best road record
that the Boston Celtics have ever had, and now that
sets up a showdown tomorrow night down in Orlando against
the Magic. What is on the line here we go.
(19:55):
If the Boston Celtics win this game Wednesday night in Orlando,
they will tie the all time NBA record, not just
the Celtics. We're talking about every basketball team that has
ever played a game in NBA history. The Boston Celtics
can tie for the best road record ever. That's what's
(20:19):
on the line during their final road game of the season.
It's coming up tomorrow night, Wednesday night, at seven o'clock.
It's down in Orlando against the Magic, who are also
fighting for their playoff lives. It's gonna be a fun one.
The Celtics are playing for history. I'm pretty sure that
the stay ready group is gonna get a ton of
run during this game. Let's see what they can pull off.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
I appreciate all of you giving us a listen for
sending in your commentary. We will be back on Wednesday
night with another audio edition, and then for the final
two games of the season, we'll have both audio on
the podcast networks and our episodes coming right at you.
On YouTube from the Celtics studio. So again, thanks for
(21:02):
giving giving us a listen. Great win for the Celtics
tonight and I'll see you tomorrow night after the Celtics
take on the Matic down there
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