Assessing the Boston Celtics top offseason priorities
Assessing the Boston Celtics top offseason priorities
The NBA is expected to have a busy offseason. The free agency market projects to be weak, so most movement will likely come via trades. Despite winning a championship in 2024, the Boston Celtics are projected to be among the more active teams. Brad Stevens must figure out how to reduce the average age of the current roster while ducking under the second luxury tax apron.
Boston's decision-making has been forced to change due to the Achilles tendon injury Jayson Tatum suffered against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. As such, no one within the Celtics rotation can be considered untouchable, especially for the right price.
Jim Jackson joined a recent episode of the "Rich Eisen Show" to discuss what the coming offseason could look like for the Celtics. Jackson also touched on the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is another team that was humbled by a second-round exit. Jackson and Eisen both hit on potential targets for each team and who will be atop of their priority lists.
You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.
Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
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The Knicks are still alive, thanks largely to its superstars — the celebrated but also, in this series, somewhat maligned duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — showing up and showing out with the season on the line. During his pregame media availability, Thibodeau said Towns would be a game-time decision with the left knee contusion he suffered late in New York's Game 4 loss. Asked when he knew he'd be good to go, Towns said, 'I looked at the game, and it said, 'Game 5.' Do or die. That was pretty much all I needed to see.' Advertisement Towns credited the Knicks' medical staff with getting him prepared to be able to compete. 'We put a lot of hours in, trying to get myself ready so I could have a chance,' he said. 'God was good. I was able to go out there and play.' Towns didn't just play; he started, had a double-double by halftime, and finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, his fourth 20-and-10 of the series and ninth of this first postseason as a Knick. 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'That's our guy,' said Hart, who chipped in 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes as he continued to come off the bench. 'We know he's gonna bring it offensively, but I felt like dug in defensively and had great intensity … Sometimes we know it's tough against the pick-and-roll offensively, but the biggest thing when you're getting searched out, at the end of the day, it's about pride. He answered the call, he defended well, he defended without fouling, which is the most important part. And we need that from him again next game.' Advertisement That progress was an important part of the Knicks turning in their best defensive performance of the series — and, given the stakes, arguably their best of the entire season. New York held an Indiana team that had been shooting 50% from the floor in the playoffs as a team and scoring a scorching 121.1 points per 100 possessions through four conference finals games to 40.5% from the field and just 96.9 points-per-100 in Game 5. That's the first time the Pacers have failed to score at least one point per possession in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and just the eighth time in 97 combined regular- and postseason contests. The Pacers made a couple of runs at it, getting within 12 on a 3-pointer by little-used reserve Jarace Walker with just over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and cutting the Knick lead to 14 on a driving Haliburton layup with 3:18 to go in regulation. If that combination of time and score made you start to sweat a little, you might be a Knicks fan who's still working through the trauma of the team squandering a 14-point lead with 2:51 to go in Game 1. 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When other Knicks picked up the assignment — including OG Anunoby, who guarded Haliburton for a stretch in the second quarter, and reserves Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, who continue to make significant contributions now that Thibodeau has actually deigned to go to his bench and lengthen his rotation — they followed suit, staying physical and disciplined to limit Haliburton's easy touches and opportunities to drive into open space. Big men Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa did yeoman's work moving their feet when drawn out into deep water. The gap help behind the initial defender was on time all night, dissuading Haliburton from making his typical deep forays into the paint. Advertisement 'Sometimes, it was probably a combination of him missing some shots he normally makes,' Thibodeau said after the game. 'But I thought our guys were tied together, trying to make him work for everything. That's what you have to do. We have to fight to win every possession.' 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an hour ago
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Brunson, Towns carry Knicks to 111-94 victory that cuts Pacers' series lead to 3-2
NEW YORK — From Jalen Brunson's sizzling start to the 'Knicks in 7! Knicks in 7!' chants at the finish, this was New York's night. Maybe it can still be the Knicks' series. Brunson scored 32 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds despite a bruised left knee and the Knicks stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Indiana Pacers 111-94 on Thursday in Game 5.
