The Boston Celtics face some tough questions this summer
When Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon injury against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics' current championship window slammed shut. As such, multiple veteran members of Boston's roster are heading into the summer with question marks hanging over their heads.
Similarly, Brad Stevens must now undertake the mammoth task of retooling the rotation on the fly and building them around Tatum, despite not knowing what type of player will be returning from injury. It's fair to argue that, as currently constructed, the Celtics are facing an uncertain future, which is far from ideal considering the extortionate payroll the team is committed to paying.
Advertisement
Recently, the "Sporting Logically" YouTube channel dissected Boston's roster and future outlook based on the current rotation of players. The host noted that this version of the team will never be the same again and that even with roster changes, a championship isn't guaranteed.
You can watch the full YouTube video by clicking on the link above.
Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: The Celtics face some tough questions this summer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Knicks fans erupt after Mitchell Robinson's violent Tyrese Haliburton block
The post Knicks fans erupt after Mitchell Robinson's violent Tyrese Haliburton block appeared first on ClutchPoints. Mitchell Robinson turned to his right hand to wake up the Madison Square Garden crowd. And hand Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton a rather forgettable moment on his end. But Robinson ignited the New York Knicks fans in this crucial NBA Playoffs meeting. Advertisement With their season on the line, Tom Thibodeau threw in his big defender. Robinson tracked Haliburton inside the paint as the Pacers star attempted a circus layup. Robinson swatted it with violent intent, however. Robinson delivered the type of play that extended the Eastern Conference Finals. His Knicks faced elimination walking into MSG Thursday — as the Pacers held a 3-1 advantage. Haliburton even drew comparisons to Stephen Curry beforehand. But the Knicks pummeled Indiana 111-94 to force a Game 6 on Saturday. But the Robinson blocked got the Knicks fans turning up the decibel levels inside the arena. And spark multiple online reactions. Reactions sprout for Knicks' Mitchell Robinson block on Tyrese Haliburton Brad Penner-Imagn Images Fans flooded to X (formerly known as Twitter) to sound off on the Robinson block. Plus his overall play in Game 5. One fan reminded others of Robinson's longevity. Advertisement 'Just a reminder that Mitchell Robinson is the longest tenure Knick. Put some respect on that mans name!' the fan account posted. The account Hoops Herald posted clips of his biggest plays before he joined the Knicks. As a reminder of how dominant Robinson is. That fiery block wasn't Robinson's lone highlight. Jalen Brunson lobbed him the basketball before that swat. Robinson delivered this throw down to spark the early first quarter energy. The 27-year-old center raised his game another level with the Knicks facing elimination. Or even the Pacers celebrating the Eastern Conference title on their home floor. Robinson clearly wasn't in the mood to end his season. Robinson finished with six points and grabbed six rebounds. He pulled off both marks through 20 minutes of action.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha worries about 'brutal' changes
Nadia Sawalha has been feeling "tearful" about budget cuts at ITV. The 60-year-old actress has been a regular panellist on 'Loose Women', the daytime TV talk-show, for more than a decade, but Nadia has confessed to fearing for her future, after ITV announced a series of budget cuts. Nadia - who previously starred on shows such as 'EastEnders', 'The Bill' and 'Casualty' - said on her YouTube channel: "What people don't realise at 'Loose Women' is that we're self-employed, I am self-employed. Every contract is a new contract. "I could be let go tomorrow, I could be let go in five years - you don't know because we're not employees." ITV recently announced that 'Loose Women' will be restricted to a 30-week run from 2026 onwards. But Nadia really fears how the changes could impact people who work behind the camera at ITV. The actress explained: "What's been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people … are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way." As part of ITV's new plans, 'Lorraine' will now operate on a 30-week "seasonal basis", while a raft of shows will be broadcast from a new location in central London. Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV's Media and Entertainment Division, recently acknowledged that the broadcaster is going through a "transition". He said: "I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off screen in our Daytime production teams. "We will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition." Kevin recognises that the changes might be painful for some staff members. However, he's convinced that the changes need to made in order for ITV to thrive. He said: "Daytime has been a core element of ITV's schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade."
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pacers vs. Knicks: 'Do or die' mentality fuels Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson as New York lives to fight another day
NEW YORK — In a despondent visiting locker room at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Josh Hart was searching. He'd just committed a handful of 'just bad, stupid turnovers' that helped kickstart the Pacers' potent transition attack, fueling Indiana's offense in a 130-121 win in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals. After a near-flawless performance by Tyrese Haliburton gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven set, pushing New York to the brink of elimination, Hart was asked what message his team could rally around as they exited Indianapolis. Advertisement 'We're going back home,' Hart said. 'I've never known this team to quit. That's not the character of the guys we have in the locker room. Obviously, our backs are against the wall, but we're competitors, and we're going to bring it until the series is over.' It's not over yet. 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. 'I thought he was very aggressive, and I think that's super important,' Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Towns. 'I think Jalen, as well.' Ah, yes: Jalen, as well. Brunson made his first three shots in the first 89 seconds of Game 5, staking the Knicks to an early edge that they'd never relinquish. New York would push the advantage as high as 22 points in the third quarter before settling in for a 111-94 Game 5 win to cut their series deficit to 3-2, and giving the Pacers plenty to think about on the flight back to Indianapolis ahead of Game 6 on Saturday. Advertisement The Knicks' superstar point guard came out hot and stayed that way, scoring 14 points and dishing a pair of assists in the first quarter, establishing from the jump that New York would be able to get to its game offensively and was not at all interested in embarking on an early summer vacation. "He was cooking, that's what I saw — I saw him cooking,' Towns said. 'When he's playing like that and he's hitting shots, obviously it energizes everyone.' Two nights after Indiana's All-NBA table-setter energized his team with his shot-making and ball movement, Brunson responded in kind, finishing with 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes of work. It's Brunson's 22nd 30-point, five-assist game in the playoffs, tying Oscar Robertson for 15th all-time; he's now averaging 33 points and 5.4 assists per game on 51/36/93 shooting splits in these conference finals, continuing to burnish his reputation as one of the game's elite postseason offensive weapons. '[Haliburton] played phenomenal in Game 4,' Brunson said. 'I mean, our backs are against the wall. I wasn't thinking, 'I need to play better than him.' I was just thinking, 'I need to help my team win.' And that's my mindset every time I'm on the court — just help my team win.' Advertisement Brunson also carried that mindset over to the defensive end on Thursday, playing like a competitor eager to offer an emphatic response to multiple days of conversation about the success Indiana has had hunting him in this series. When the Pacers worked to put him in actions in Game 5, Brunson played with energy, physicality and tenacity. Jalen Brunson set the tone early and never let up, scoring 32 points to keep the Knicks' season alive. (Photo by) (Al Bello via Getty Images) When he hedged on ball screens and recovered back to his man, he didn't go half-speed with a half-hearted reach; he worked to turn back the ball-handler, sprint back to his man, and keep a body on a body. When he got switched into a mismatch, against Haliburton or Myles Turner, he didn't just concede or commit a bailout foul; he forced the opponent to make plays over the top of him or through him. Sometimes, they did; sometimes, they didn't. That's progress. '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. Advertisement On Thursday, though, Aaron Nesmith wasn't coming out of the bullpen to start chucking lightning bolts. The Pacers forward, still battling through a sprained right ankle, played just 16 ineffective minutes in Game 5, missing seven of his eight shots and checking out for good with five and a half minutes to go in the fourth. On Thursday, Pascal Siakam wasn't ending every good possession of New York defense with a backbreaking fadeaway, or sprinting the length of the court off of every Knick make or miss for deflating transition buckets. Six days after scoring what Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle called 'a quiet 39 points,' the Pacers All-Star forward finished with an actually quiet 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting. And on Thursday, Haliburton wasn't getting loose to torture New York with impossible haymakers. In fact, he wasn't really going anywhere. After four games largely spent flailing in his wake, the Knicks defense finally found some success limiting Haliburton's freedom of movement, holding the All-NBA point guard to just eight points on 2-for-7 shooting and six assists — just his second single-digit scoring performance of this postseason, and his fewest helpers in the series. Advertisement Thibodeau is fond of saying that you don't defend superstar players individually, you guard them with your entire team, and dimming Haliburton's shine on Thursday was a collective effort. Mikal Bridges turned in his best and most committed defensive performance of the series, giving the Pacers a taste of their own medicine by extending his pickup point, applying backcourt ball pressure on Indiana's lead guard, and staying connected to Haliburton all over the court. 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.' That extends to the other end of the floor, too. Thibodeau insisted after the game that New York didn't necessarily make a concerted effort to hunt Haliburton the same way that Indiana's been hunting Brunson all series long. When opportunities presented themselves, though — a Bridges post touch here, a Bridges-Mitchell Robinson pick-and-roll in secondary action there, some double high ball screens that forced Haliburton to navigate traffic — well, let's just say New York didn't turn them down: Through four games, the Pacers had outscored New York by 28 points in 152 minutes with Haliburton on the court; in Game 5, Indiana lost his minutes by 23. Advertisement 'I feel like we picked up our intensity a little bit, obviously,' Brunson said after the game about the defensive improvements, on Haliburton and in general. 'I think we paid attention to detail better as a team. The little things go a long way. If we pay attention to the minute things, the things that just don't seem like a huge deal, they really do help.' The devil's in the details, the magic's in the work, and the Knicks, still, are in the fight. They've staved off elimination once. Do it again on Saturday in Indianapolis, and they come home for Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. It's a tall task. But Hart's never known this Knicks team to quit, and on Thursday, they sure didn't look like they were ready to start any time soon.
