The Sultan of Stat has the goods on Jayson Tatum's return and the Celtic victory. Benevolent Sultan that he is, Dick Lipe also makes note of Cooper Flagg's "homecoming."
(Not to say a lot of people came down from Maine to see Flagg's Garden debut, but the joint began to smell like a lobster roll.)
League exec checks in by phone after the game: "If he's gonna play like that and they're gonna play like that, that's gonna be a bitch of a team to stop. I know it was against Dallas, but holy $#×& that was smooth."
27 minutes, 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists. Boxes checked. ✅️
The repaired Jayson Tatum coupe went from 0-to-JT in one half.
Hitting that heavily guarded trey from the left corner was the dashboard indicator.
After an 0-for-6 start, Tatum breaks the seal with a follow-up jam and 3-pointer. Celtics lead, 58-53, at the half.
Upon review, Pritchard's follow-up did not beat the first quarter buzzer. Dallas leads Celtics, 22-21, after one.
Pitcher's duel at the Garden ... 2-2 after 3:26.
If it's been your dream to burglarize a home in Maine... tonight could be your best opportunity.
They're all here.
Mazzulla on Tatum: "We always knew he was coming back this year."
Said he knew it when Jayson got the Achilles surgery right away.
Adds that Tatum will start tonight.
Front, back and overall look at the Garden white-out for Jayson Tatum's return game (note the "BACK TO 0" on the sleeve) tonight
The Celtics were clearly ready to put this in motion.
Not a great start for the Great State Friday... (Bugs Bunny voice: "Ain't I a stinkah?")
Celtics lost to the Knicks last year when, after getting big leads, the offense stagnated, and their defense deflated and failed to pick up the slack.
Bottom line:
Even at less than full capacity, Tatum can bring more than expected -- for his own skills AND his effect on others.
If Jayson Tatum defers to the collective upon his return, it will elevate the Celtics immeasurably. A player of his immense talent in a passing-cutting-flowing offense makes him and them unguardable.
It's how they won in '24. So hard for a defense to focus on any single player.
After being with Len on draft day, from New York to the Eastern shuttle back to the press conference in Boston, I spoke with Mrs. Bias that night for a follow-up story. I just remember the joy and pride in her voice.
It remains impossible to fathom just how quickly life changed.
The Hornets took the Celtics' script and recited in their face Wednesday. Rare to see the Celts outworked.
But no one out-pizzas the Sultan of Stat. Dick Lipe has the relevant noteage. ⬇️
The Celtics held out starters Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta in Milwaukee, but the Sultan of Stat doesn't believe in load management.
He also doesn't believe in dry January, but that's another story.
Dick Lipe on Hugo's big night and MUCH more (stay for the Ricky Davis mystery guest cameo).
Perhaps not the most enticing way to advertise this game in the guide... even excusing the current events issue with Simons.
With all due respect to Deni Avdija, Jalen Johnson and others, Queta was a fourth-string center last year. The distance he has traveled from there until now is measured in light years.
On March 1st, with several precincts still to report, I'm nonetheless ready to call the NBA Most Improved Player race for Neemias Queta...
The Celtic star went for 27 points and 17 rebounds and more -- and was greeted by "M-V-P" chants when he went to the line late in the game.
Jaylen Brown? Nah.
The Sultan of Stat, @DickLipe, has details on a Neemias Queta masterpiece and a victory over Philadelphia.
Philly's best player, Tyrese Maxey, goes 4-for-18 from the floor in first half. Teammates at 50 pct (14-28). Celtics lead Sixers, 62-50, at the break.
Reposting the Sultan of Stat's noteage from the Celtics' truly historic offensive explosion Friday.
Even when Dick Lipe factors in the Nets' degree of (not much) difficulty, this is some seriously amazing, uh... stuff.
The Celtics' blowout of the Nets sent the Sultan of Stat to the math lab. His calculator was placed in concussion protocol trying to keep up with the hot shooting.
Dick Lipe notes it's the second-best offensive rating ever.
(Over on X, @SeanGrandePBP has a Stojko Vrankovic reference in his post.)
The Velvet Fog, Mel Torme... who wrote the greatest Christmas song of all time.
Source: YouTube share.google/5BoKI6QbSB6J...
Welcome back to the Island, Glenn.
The Celtics were engaged in a tight battle with the Nuggets into the second have... only to have their Rocky Mountain oysters summarily crushed. The Sultan of Stat (Dick Lipe) has details of a downfall on the final night of an otherwise very successful trip. ⬇️
While the sporting world at large has been talking about US men and women winning Olympic hockey gold, the Celtics have quietly been on a roll out West. Fortunately for you, the Sultan of Stat has kept his nose to the calculator.
Dick Lipe -- our own Miracle on Nice -- has the noteage from Phoenix.
While the sporting world at large has been talking about US men and women winning Olympic hockey gold, the Celtics have quietly been on a roll out West. Fortunately for you, the Sultan of Stat has kept his nose to the calculator.
Dick Lipe -- our own Miracle on Nice -- has the noteage from Phoenix.
I was at Madison Square Garden when he did the anthem before Celtics-Knicks in April '08. Huge fan of his work (Sopranos, Godfather II, Boardwalk Empire).
Maybe he was having an off day, but my quick review in the next day's Herald: "He sings with the fishes."
#HappyBirthdayUncleJunior
The Celtics treated the Lakers on Pat Riley Day in LA like pigeons will be treating Pat's new statue outside the arena.
The Sultan of Stat, Dick Lipe, has noteage on Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard & defense.
(Shouldn't Mr. Lipe be getting a similar honor -- a Sultan of Statue?)
