Shaq’s Magic jersey goes up to the rafters pic.twitter.com/H6Hwwyfbb3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 14, 2024

Pierce claimed that he didn’t know much about Magic’s players before Shaq joined the Orlando side.

“[The Orlando Magic] needed Shaq at that time. He put them on the map. I don’t even know who was on the Magic before Shaq got there.”  

The duo then pivoted to talking about their jersey retirement ceremonies in Boston. Pierce claimed it was the biggest honour he’s ever received. He added that having his jersey number up in the rafters alongside Celtics greats like Bill Russell and Larry Bird was better than being in the Hall of Fame.

Praising Pierce, Garnett mentioned that he was undoubtedly deserving of having his jersey retired by the Celtics. The forward spent 15 years with the franchise and was the Finals MVP when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals and ended the city’s 22-year wait for an NBA title.

Garnett added that he was surprised when he got the call about his jersey retirement in Boston. He felt his body of work with the franchise wasn’t strong enough to warrant having his jersey retired. Pierce cut him off and said,

“First of all, you’ve got the body of work. Shaq got his retired [by the Magic] after only four years… He didn’t win a championship… Your impact in Boston, changing the culture, bringing that presence. I mean, it was like a different glow in that building when you got there.” 

 

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Garnett indeed made a massive impact on the Celtics after joining the team in 2007. They had missed the playoffs for two straight years and hadn’t won a game in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2002. However, in Garnett’s debut season with the Celtics, he, Pierce, and Ray Allen led the franchise to their first NBA title since 1986. The forward’s emotional outburst in the post-game interview after winning the title has been a part of NBA folklore.

The Celtics made the playoffs 5 times during Garnett’s stint with the franchise. They made it to the Conference Finals thrice, the NBA Finals twice, and won the title once. The Celtics’ 2008 title win with Garnett and Pierce leading the charge remains the franchise’s last championship victory. The forward undoubtedly deserved to have his jersey retired by the franchise.

Kevin Garnett is not interested in the Timberwolves retiring his jersey

While Kevin Garnett won that elusive NBA title with the Boston Celtics, he spent most of his career trying to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to their maiden championship. He was drafted fifth overall by the franchise in the 1995 NBA draft and spent 12 seasons with the franchise.

Despite receiving minimal help from the front office, Garnett led the Timberwolves to eight straight playoff berths from 1996 to 2004. They failed to advance past the first round in their first seven attempts but made it to the Conference Finals in 2004. Unfortunately, they ran into Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal-led Lakers juggernaut and lost the series 4-2.

The Timberwolves couldn’t build on that stellar run and missed out on the playoffs in the subsequent three seasons. In the 2007 offseason, they traded Garnett to the Celtics. He played the final 18 months of his career with the Timberwolves as a favor to Flip Saunders, the team’s head coach from 1995 to 2005, who returned to the team in 2014. Saunders brought the legendary forward back by promising him a role in the team’s front office after he retired from playing.

However, Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and tragically passed away in October 2015. Owner Glen Taylor did not come through on the promises made to Garnett. The betrayal hurt him, and that’s why he isn’t keen on receiving a jersey retirement in Minnesota. In an interview with the Athletic in 2020, he said,

“I don’t want any dealings with Glen Taylor or Taylor Corp. or anything that has to do with him. I love my Timberwolves, I’ll always love my guys, I’ll always love the people who f**k with me there… But I don’t do business with snakes. I don’t do business with snake motherf***as. I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like.”

Garnett’s disdain for the Timberwolves owner will ensure the Celtics remain the only franchise to hang his jersey in the rafters. Perhaps his stance might soften in the future, or the franchise could get a new owner, and he would get the honor he deserves.

The post “He Didn’t Win A Championship”: Paul Pierce Uses Shaq’s Lack Of A Magic Title To Reassure Kevin Garnett About His Celtics Jersey Retirement appeared first on The SportsRush.

Celtics’ record through 54 games

2023-24: 42-12
2007-08: 42-12

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 14, 2024

The key to their success has been superstar forward Jayson Tatum‘s impeccable form. The 25-year-old is averaging 27.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season. He’s been the most critical player on offense for the Celtics, leading the team in scoring in 30 games. He played 40 of the Celtics’ first 43 games this year and was the leading scorer 20 times.

However, over the last 11 games, Tatum has cemented his position as the first option on offense for the Celtics. He’s led them in scoring ten of 11 games, and they have won nine games. Tatum is averaging 28.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in that span and has entered the MVP conversation. Former Los Angeles Lakers star Nick Young has advocated for the Celtics star to win the award on X(formerly called Twitter) writing,

“JASON TATUM (sic) the light skin mamba is this [year’s] MVP I never seen someone get so disrespected in my life how do yall keep putting the joker (Nikola Jokic) and all these other [people] over him.”

JASON TATUM the light skin mamba is this yr MVP I never seen someone get so disrespected in my life how do yall keep putting the joker and all these other ppl over him

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) February 14, 2024

If Tatum and the Celtics continue their impressive form until the end of the regular season, it’ll be hard to argue against him winning the MVP award. However, he’s undoubtedly more focused on winning the NBA title than adding individual accolades to his resume.

How close are the 2024 Boston Celtics to 2008?

The 2024 Celtics are keeping pace with the 2008 Celtics, who won the franchise’s last NBA title. Like the 2024 Celtics, they started the year 42-12 but went 24-3 the rest of the way to finish 66-16. The 2024 Celtics will have their work cut out to emulate that feat.

The 2024 Celtics are a better team offensively. They have three players averaging over 20 points per game, with Tatum leading the way with 27.3. Paul Pierce was the 2008 Celtics’ leading scorer, averaging 19.6 points per game. However, it’s worth noting that they attempted only 19.1 three-pointers per game, while the 2024 Celtics are averaging a jaw-dropping 42.6 attempts from beyond the arc. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis, the 2024 Celtics’ top-three scorer, combine for 19.3 three-point attempts per game, more than the 2008 Celtics roster.

The title-winning Celtics roster were defensive behemoths. They held opponents to only 89.9 points per game, the joint-lowest in the league, tied with the Detroit Pistons. The 2008 Celtics’ defensive rating of 98.9 is the third-best since the 2005-06 season, trailing only the 2011-12 Celtics (98.2) and the 2011-12 Chicago Bulls (98.3).

The 2024 Celtics have a defensive rating of 111.9, which ranks third in the league this season. They have a top-three defense and the league’s best offense. The 2008 Celtics had the best defense but their offense ranked only 10th in the league. The current roster is statistically superior to the franchise’s last title-winning roster. However, it remains to be seen if they can emulate them and bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Boston after 16 years.

The post Celtics Insider Draws Similarity to 2008 Championship Season, Highlights Jayson Tatum’s Dominant Stretch appeared first on The SportsRush.

After missing several games in the first half of the season, Butler has been relatively injury-free for the past month. However, he has been added to the Heat’s February 11 injury report before tonight’s contest at Kaseya Center. The 34-year-old has been listed as “questionable” for “personal reasons”.

The Heat is listing Butler as questionable for tomorrow’s home game vs. Celtics because of personal reasons. But the hope remains that he’ll be able to play. https://t.co/RacrtlObxm

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) February 10, 2024

Jimmy Butler has suited up for each of the Heat’s last 13 matchups. However, after the contest against the San Antonio Spurs, Butler was absent from practice on Friday and Saturday. Despite his excused absence, team personnel are hopeful that the 6ft 7” forward will kit up tonight.

Butler’s “personal reasons” have not been disclosed to the public. However, the 28-24 Heat will need their veteran forward to compete against a dominant Boston side.

Jimmy Butler is averaging only 15.5 points per game against the Celtics this season

Jimmy Butler had a terrific performance against the Boston Celtics in the 2023 postseason. As the #8 seed, Butler put up 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists to upset Jayson Tatum and Co. 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, he has failed to put up an inspiring performance in each of the two outings against the Boston Celtics this season. On 27^th October, the six-time All-Star only managed to record 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists as the Heat suffered a 111-119 loss. On 25^th January, Butler blew his chance of redeeming himself. Playing 29 minutes, the six-time All-Star could only rack up 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA with a 40-12 record. Considering the fact that Joe Mazzulla’s boys have won 8 out of their last 10 games and have none of their rotational players on the injury report, the Cs will enter the contest as the favorites.

Despite not being favored to win, the Heat will fight tooth and nail to grab a victory. Currently, they are sitting at the 8^th spot in the East. However, a win could have a significant impact, improving their chances of rising in the standings.

The post Is Jimmy Butler Playing Tonight vs the Celtics? Feb 11th Injury Report for Heat Star Ahead of 2023 ECF Rematch appeared first on The SportsRush.

Explaining how the players segregated themselves into smaller groups, Garnett said,

“Wherever the name tags were, we moved them… We’re sitting right here doing what we do. Bron, Chris Bosh, and D-Wade right here, they doing what they do. Jameer Nelson, Dwight [Howard], and Rashaad Lewis, they sitting right there… And then we looked up and everybody was like, ‘We was cool, but it wasn’t cool.'”

“It was just like some tension in the air,” Pierce added. While Garnett and Pierce tried to find the most apt way to describe the players’ feelings about stars from the other teams, Allen encapsulated it in one line, saying,

“I ain’t f**king with these dudes.”

The All-Star locker room had a different atmosphere back in the day.

Watch the latest episode of Ticket & The Truth on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/yLZKTDFu9z

— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) February 8, 2024

Garnett explained that the players put their differences aside to play together on the court but couldn’t hide their hostility towards each other. He also claimed that he refused to sign jerseys that did not belong to his teammates. The animosity between these groups was palpable. They were all in a slugfest for control of the East and couldn’t keep their differences aside and fully immerse in the joy of the All-Star weekend.

Garnett, Pierce, and Allen are trying to explain the cultural shift in the NBA here. While modern players from rival teams hug it out and laugh with each other, and swap jerseys after the game, there was no friendly chitchat or endearment between All-Star teammates back in the day.

Kevin Garnett revealed how much the Celtics despised LeBron James

After LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010, the battle for supremacy in the Eastern Conference commenced between the Big 3 in Miami and the Boston Celtics. The two teams combined to deliver one of the best seven-game series in the 2012 playoffs. With the series tied at 2-2, the Celtics won the crucial Game 5 and had the chance to close the series at home and head to the NBA Finals. During an appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast in 2019, Garnett credited the win in Miami to Boston mentally breaking James. He said,

“We broke LeBron. We didn’t give a f**k about LeBron. We didn’t fear LeBron and we didn’t think he could beat the all five of us. That’s how it felt.” 

The Heat won Game 6 on the road, courtesy of James’ incredible 45-point outing. His incredible performance is often recognized as his best in the playoffs.

James’ 31-point performance in Game 7 helped the Heat beat the Celtics 101-88 and advance to the NBA Finals for the second year running. Garnett hinted that the officiating in Games 6 and 7 reeked of foul play and admits he’s still upset about that series loss.

The resentment that the Heat and the Celtics had towards each other was apparent. Neither team wanted the other to succeed, especially at the expense of their glory. While the teams acknowledged the talent of the other roster, they did not respect them and wanted to beat them badly.

The post “I Ain’t F**king with These Dudes”: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce Describe Sharing a Locker Room with LeBron James and Co at the All Star Game appeared first on The SportsRush.

During the 1984 playoffs, the defending champions Philadelphia 76ers faced the New Jersey Nets in the first round. The Dr. J and Moses Malone-led 76ers were heavy favourites to win the series and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. However, the Nets surprisingly won Games 1 and 2, leaving Philadelphia on the brink of elimination.

The 76ers came back to tie the series at 2-2 after wins in Games 3 and 4, and ahead of the series finale, Dr. J was convinced Philadelphia would win Game 5 and advance to the next round. His self-belief bordered on over-confidence as he told media members, “You might as well mail in the stats,” suggesting the Nets had no chance. Dr. J would end up regretting his comments.

New Jersey beat Philadelphia 101-98 and ended their season. Dr. J finished the game with 12 points and four assists and earned an earful and a warning from Nets head coach Stan Albeck, who said,

“That statement was so unlike Doc. I’m sure he said it in haste. But it went out on the wires and my wife heard about it. We decided that if we won, we’d have 10,000 copies of the stat sheet passed out and have everyone mail one to Doc.”

Prior to their 1984 Game 5 elimination game vs. the New Jersey Nets, Julius Erving told the press that the Nets “might as well mail in the stats”. He was certain that his defending champion Sixers would win the Series.

The Nets still delivered an upset, and afterward, Nets… pic.twitter.com/8NCsFTB438

— The NBA Realist (@nbarealist23) February 4, 2024

Dr. J failed to fill out the stat sheet and was forced to eat the humble pie. It was probably one of the most embarrassing moments of his legendary career.

Dr. J once fought Larry Bird after getting cooked by the Celtics legend

While Dr. J had no problem trash-talking, he took exception when Larry Bird did it to him months after his infamous, over-confident jibe at the Nets. During a regular season game between the 76ers and the Boston Celtics, who were both 5-0, a fight broke out between Dr. J and Bird, leading to both players and Charles Barkley being ejected from the game.

During an interview, Hall of Fame referee Dick Bavetta revealed what led to the fight between the two. He said,

“Larry Bird has an unbelievable night. Every shot he took — Erving is guarding him — and as every shot went in that Larry took, he went further back and kept on saying to Erving, ‘Aren’t you going to guard me? Can you do any better?'”

Bird had 42 points, while Dr. J struggled and had only six. The frustrated 76ers star punched the Celtics icon and commenced a massive brawl. Dr. J landed two punches on Bird, who was being held back by Barkley.

November 9, 1984: The Larry Bird/Julius Erving fight.

Each was ejected & fined $7,500. Philadelphia’s Moses Malone & Charles Barkley were fined $3,500 & $1,000 for their roles in the fight. Bird scored 42 PTS (17-23 FG) in a 130-119 Celtics win. Barkley scored 27 for the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/UYEoLsBmXe

— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) November 9, 2023

Bird and Dr. J were fined $7,500, while Barkley and Moses Malone also received smaller fines. 1984 wasn’t a good year for the 76ers star’s reputation. The loss to the Nets and the fight with Bird were bad looks for Dr. J.

The post “That Statement Was So Unlike Doc”: Julius Erving’s Hasty Comments Against Nets in 1984 Proved Costly to Sixers Legend appeared first on The SportsRush.

Bryant redeemed himself by leading the Lakers to the NBA title and winning the Finals MVP in the subsequent season. In 2010, he led LA to another NBA Finals appearance and gave himself the opportunity to surpass O’Neal’s championship tally. However, standing in his and the Lakers’ way once again were the Celtics. The 2010 NBA Finals would be the two teams’ 12th meeting in the championship series. The Lakers were a dismal 2-9 against their arch-nemesis in the NBA Finals.

Before the 2010 Finals, many, including Sports Illustrated writer Lee Jenkins, dubbed the series as Bryant’s ultimate challenge as a Laker. In an iconic column, he wrote that the 2008 NBA MVP could cement his legacy as the greatest player in franchise history if he beat the Celtics in the Finals,

“Although several legends never beat the Celtics in the Finals, Bryant is surrounded by those who did: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tutors the Los Angeles big men, Magic Johnson is part owner, James Worthy hosts pre- and postgame TV shows… They are constant reminders that Bryant probably has one more hurdle to clear to become the Greatest Laker ever.”

Jenkins was right. Of all the Lakers’ icons, only a handful, including Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, could claim they had beaten the Celtics in the Finals. Bryant had the chance to join them or become another name on the list of Lakers greats who couldn’t beat Boston.

Kobe Bryant’s magnum opus

With his legacy on the line, Kobe Bryant went to work against the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. In a low-scoring series, where the two teams combined to breach the 100-point barrier only twice in seven games, the guard averaged 28.6 points, eight rebounds, and 3.9 assists to lead the Lakers to a 4-3 series win and only their third NBA Finals victory over the Celtics in 12 attempts.

The hard-fought Game 7 ended 83-79, with Bryant scoring 23 in the slugfest. In an interview in 2023, he admitted winning that series against the Celtics topped the list of his greatest achievements. He said,

“I got to say beating the Celtics in Game 7 [was the proudest moment of my career]. Because it was the hardest, it was myself, Pau, and players that other teams didn’t want.”

Bryant did it all as a Laker. He spent 20 years with the team, won five titles, was named NBA MVP twice, won the 2008 NBA MVP award, and, most importantly, beat Boston. He’s inarguably the greatest Laker ever, and it’ll be a long time before someone takes that distinction from him.

The post “Kobe Bryant Probably Has One More Hurdle to Clear”: When Lakers Legend’s Stature Was Questioned Ahead of 2010 NBA Finals vs Celtics appeared first on The SportsRush.

Backed by Austin Reaves’ 32-point performance, the Los Angeles Lakers seemed to arguably be a better side than with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lineup. Hence, after the incredible win, Reaves was asked to reveal how the Lakers would incorporate the learnings from tonight once LBJ and AD return.

According to the point guard, the team simply followed James’ instructions from a few nights ago. Further, he stressed the fact that the Purple & Gold were competing with intent and putting in the effort, especially on the defensive end.

“If you remember Bron’s quote from the other night ‘go out and do your job’ and I feel like that’s just what we did tonight. It was nothing special, it wasn’t like we were out there running a million set plays. We went out there and competed our ass off, we gave it a 110% on the defensive end,” Reaves said.

“Any time you don’t have those two it’s going to have to be a team effort, you’re going to have to come together and just grind. We’re all talented players and this is an opportunity to show the world what you can do.” Austin Reaves on the Lakers collective effort. pic.twitter.com/KLJJy7UOIv

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 2, 2024

After the LA side’s previous loss against the Atlanta Hawks, the King gave out a blunt instruction to his teammates. According to the 6ft 9” forward, the team would perform better if every player, who takes on the floor, fulfilled their role.

“I don’t have any message for my teammates. Just go out and do your job,” LeBron said.

Apart from scoring the most points for the Lakers, Austin Reaves did a great job as the team’s leader. Even though he only dished out 3 assists, there were numerous moments in the contest when AR exhibited signs of being a true veteran.

Austin Reaves stepped up on the road against the NBA’s top team, scoring a season-high 32 PTS and knocking down a career-high 7 triples!

Lakers win 114-105 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/fZ4OLabsrU

— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2024

Austin Reaves has been in trade rumor conversations

For the longest time, the team has been rumored to acquire Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. Ahead of the February 8 trade deadline, numerous players have been rumored to be a part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ trading block. Austin Reaves is the only player who has constantly been brought up during such conversations.

However, by putting up an outstanding 32-point display against the Boston Celtics, Austin Reaves is proving that he is essential for the Lakers’ success. Skip Bayless, who is known for criticizing players, surprisingly displayed his faith in the 25-year-old.

After the Lakers-Celtics contest, the UNISPUTED analyst revealed how he wasn’t on board with Rob Pelinka and co. parting ways with Reaves. Taking it to X (formerly “Twitter”), Bayless wrote:

And the Lakers should or even would consider giving up Austin Reaves for Dejounte Murray??? STOP IT. AR just scored 32 at Boston on 7-10 threes WITHOUT A TURNOVER. Doesn’t play D like Dejounte, but more valuable. Just knows how to play, fearlessly.

And the Lakers should or even would consider giving up Austin Reaves for Dejounte Murray??? STOP IT. AR just scored 32 at Boston on 7-10 threes WITHOUT A TURNOVER. Doesn’t play D like Dejounte, but more valuable. Just knows how to play, fearlessly.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 2, 2024

Austin Reaves has been one of the more impactful players on the Lakers. Despite coming off the bench for many games, the 6ft 5” guard has averaged 15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Certainly, the future looks bright for AR. However, LeBron James is not getting any younger. And the Lakers would like to capitalize on James’ twilight years. Hence, it won’t be surprising if they do part ways with Reaves to add Dejounte Murray to the roster.

The post “If You Remember LeBron James’ Quote…”: Austin Reaves Reflects on Lakers Leader’s Post-Game Comments After ‘Huge’ Celtics Win appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Lakers have had a few players constantly featuring in their injury report. It continues to be the case tonight as well. For yet another game, Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent will be sidelined. Whereas, Anthony Davis and LeBron James are listed as “questionable”.

Anthony Davis, who missed Tuesday’s game in Atlanta, has been upgraded for Thursday’s game in Boston per the Lakers pic.twitter.com/Zch1DSCCpF

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 31, 2024

James has been added to the dreadful list due to the left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. This has been the same injury responsible for LBJ being a persistent addition to the injury report for the past few weeks. And just like the multiple games that he’s suited up for despite being on the report, fans can expect LeBron James to suit up considering the LA side’s awful position in the standings.

LeBron James has only missed five games this season

Despite being added to the injury report almost every other game, King James has suited up for 44 out of the 49 games. It’s incredible that the 6ft 9” forward has only missed out on five games while playing 34.7 minutes per game at age 39.

In his 21^st professional campaign, the King has been unbelievably good. Anointed as the 2024 Western Conference All-Star Captain, James is putting up 24.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.

20x #NBAAllStar and 2024 All-Star Captain, LeBron James pic.twitter.com/Sm86JEJAwT

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2024

James is expected to play through his injury. However, if the four-time MVP decides to sit out, it’ll be extremely tough for the Lakers to emerge victorious. This campaign, playing without LBJ, the California side has a losing 2-3 record.

The Boston Celtics are in exceptional form, winning 8 out of their last 10 games. Add the fact that Joe Mazzulla will have a fully healthy roster tonight and it’s not surprising why the Cs will enter the contest as the favorites.

The post Is LeBron James Playing Tonight vs Celtics? Lakers’ Feb 1st Injury Report Shows Worrying Signs Ahead of Mammoth Clash appeared first on The SportsRush.

Jrue Holiday didn’t believe in sugarcoating when talking about the Boston Celtics’ 96-115 loss. When assessing his side’s performance, the two-way guard stated that the Los Angeles Clippers were better in every department.

“Good old-fashioned a** whooping. They did everything better – rebounding, transition, 50-50 ball, seemed like they were a step ahead,” Holiday assessed.

Before tonight, Joe Mazzulla’s boys had won 20 games at home. With the 19-point loss, tonight marks only the second loss that they have suffered when playing at TD Garden. Knowing that the Celtics are not invincible, Holiday stated that the loss was “humbling”. However, he did assure that the Celtics would learn from the mistakes that they committed tonight.

“Definitely humbling, I think to be able to come home and get your butt kicked. But you know it’s a long season, we know that we can learn from this,” Holiday claimed.

“Good old-fashioned ass whooping… They did everything better”

Jrue Holiday explains why the Clippers were able to dominate the Celtics pic.twitter.com/cvaYPZ82t6

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) January 28, 2024

The bout between the two powerhouses was expected to be much more entertaining than it turned out to be. However, Ty Lue’s boys seemed to be in control of the game and were in the driver’s seat throughout the 48 minutes.

Jayson Tatum was the only member of the Cs to record more than 20 points, while the remaining starters combined for a forgettable 17-point outing. Kawhi Leonard was the undisputed star of the night, lodging 26 points and 7 rebounds while leading the Clippers to a massive win.

If it wasn’t clear before, this victory has made the Los Angeles Clippers serious contenders to win the 2024 NBA championship. On the other side of things, Holiday’s words about the Celtics being humbled couldn’t have been more accurate. All season long, the franchise has been touted as the favorite to be champions this year. However, they lost to a squad that still has a few things to figure out, despite all the chemistry Boston has. When it all comes down to it, the loss allows the Celtics to wonder if there is more that they can consistently do during their time in the short pants.

The previous loss against Jrue Holiday and Co. motivated Paul George to suit up tonight

The Los Angeles Clippers faced off against the Boston Celtics in December of 2023 as well. During that contest in LA, Jayson Tatum and co. put up a picture-perfect performance to defeat the Clippers 145-108.

The Clippers used this 37-point blowout loss as motivation and approached tonight’s contest with a vengeance. Following the game, Ty Lue explained that his boys were beyond determined to prove themselves tonight.

“The guys were pretty motivated… When they came to LA they did us pretty bad. So guys were locked in,” Lue said.

Due to a groin injury, there were concerns regarding Paul George’s availability for tonight. However, the Clippers’ head coach revealed that PG insisted on suiting up.

“This was a game we thought PG might be out, but he wanted to play to see where we’re at,” Lue disclosed.

Ty Lue on the Clippers’ blowout win over the Celtics:

“The guys were pretty motivated… When they came to LA they did us pretty bad. So guys were locked in… This was a game we thought PG might be out, but he wanted to play to see where we’re at.” pic.twitter.com/YpuhiBDdW8

— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) January 28, 2024

Paul George played for merely 22:29 minutes, practically sitting out for the entire fourth period. While shooting the ball at a high efficiency, the forward finished the night with 17 points and 6 rebounds. These numbers might not be as visually appealing but were essential for the Clippers to clinch their 30th win of the season. And with the confidence it has likely brought to the entire team, the squad has been empowered to be dominant against just about any team in the NBA.

The post “Good Old-Fashioned A** Whooping”: Jrue Holiday Doesn’t Mince His Words Following Blowout Celtics Loss To Clippers appeared first on The SportsRush.

The three-time NBA MVP claimed the Boston Celtics are the only team in the East that should not make any changes to their roster. Johnson’s opinion makes sense. The Celtics are 34-10 and own the best record in the NBA, looking like the team to beat in the East.

However, unlike Johnson, Boston’s top brass isn’t satisfied with the roster. Last month, NBA insider Shams Charania noted that the Celtics will aggressively pursue moves that could improve their bench strength. The franchise will stop at nothing to end their 16-year wait for an NBA title.

Given the Celtics’ unquenching desire to improve the roster, Johnson suggested that the chasing pack in the East needs to pull up its sock and get to work. He advised the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Atlanta Hawks to make moves before the trade deadline on February 8th.

Outside of the Boston Celtics, multiple teams in the East need to make a trade before the deadline including the Bucks, 76ers, Knicks, Cavaliers, and the Hawks.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 24, 2024

The Bucks haven’t made a notable roster move since the season commenced. However, on Tuesday, they made a massive change to their coaching staff. The team fired head coach Adrian Griffin, who will be replaced by former Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers as per the reports. It was a shocking move, considering the Bucks have the joint-second-best record in the NBA. The four other teams Johnson named aren’t involved in any potentially significant trade talks, but things could change quickly.

BREAKING: Bucks are hiring Doc Rivers as HC, per CNN Sports pic.twitter.com/CnWsvah2kB

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 24, 2024

Over in the West, the Lakers icon named four teams that shouldn’t tinker with their roster. The quartet Johnson named are the top four teams in the Western Conference standings.

Looking at the Western Conference, I think the World Champion Nuggets, the Clippers, the Timberwolves, and the Thunder don’t need a trade. The Lakers, the Pelicans, the Suns, the Mavericks, the Warriors and the Kings definitely need to make some trades before the deadline!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 24, 2024

The Hall of Famer warned the chasing pack that they needed to make moves to compete with the top four teams in the West. He called out the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.

The Phoenix Suns are interested in pursuing Miles Bridges

(via @PHNX_Sports) pic.twitter.com/IIWBlreWSk

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) January 24, 2024

The Suns and Warriors are reportedly engaged in talks to improve their roster. Recent reports suggest Phoenix is close to acquiring Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Golden State is reportedly shopping Andrew Wiggins around the league, hoping to land a quality player in return. The Mavericks, Kings, and Pelicans aren’t rumoured to be involved in a landscape-altering move.

Magic Johnson’s Lakers eyeing massive moves

The Lakers are rumored to be making massive moves to improve their roster. On the Run It Back podcast, NBA insider Sham Charania reported that the team is interested in landing Hawks star Dejounte Murray and is willing to part ways with guard D’Angelo Russell to facilitate the move. He said:

“They had some pretty extensive conversations about a Dejounte Murray trade a couple of weeks ago. It centered around D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 first-round draft pick, and a pick swap I’m told.”

“The Lakers are doing their due diligence. Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown Jr., Tyus Jones, Terry Rozier, I’m told those are names to keep an eye on.”@ShamsCharania on the Los Angeles Lakers.

: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/sAPkThm8bk

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 22, 2024

Russell has been in terrific form recently. He has averaged 27.4 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in his last five games. However, it’s unlikely that he’ll be on the roster beyond the trade deadline. Any move the Lakers make will see the point guard traded.

LeBron James has been coy about the future of his teammates. When asked about potential trades after the Lakers’ win over the Mavericks, he said,

“I don’t play fantasy basketball. What I do is focus on the guys here in uniform and focus on work every day. It’s too disrespectful to be thinking about what we need or what we don’t have. I don’t do that to my teammates. We’ve been putting in the work and that’s what we got to continue to do.”

LeBron James, when asked if his team needs moves as the trade deadline approaches, said: “I don’t play fantasy basketball” and vowed to continue to work hard with the group L.A. has pic.twitter.com/sjq6Bh9MrB

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 18, 2024

James is publicly backing his teammates, but privately, he’s likely pushing Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to make moves and improve the roster. One year ago, the Lakers were reeling, like they are now, and Pelinka made multiple moves to build a team that reached the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers need a repeat of that in the next two weeks.

The post Ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Names 5 Teams That Don’t Need to Make a Move Before February 8 appeared first on The SportsRush.