The Big Story – Celtics Feeling The Heat: In all likelihood by the time you read this the Celtics season will have ended with a big thud. As I write this they trail the Miami Heat 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals after what can only be described as a 30-point surrender to a team all the “experts” said the Celtics should run out of the playoffs with relative ease.
The only trepidation I have for writing their obituary now is the perverse way they play better after putting themselves in a position when their backs are against the wall. But after doing that multiple times in the last two postseasons it doesn’t feel like they can do it this time. Especially since no team in history has ever come back to win after trailing 0-3.
We’ll do our autopsy next week.
Sports 101: What do 1950s-’60s NFL stars Paul Hornung, “Jaguar Jon” Arnett, John Brodie, Ron Kramer and Len Dawsonhave in common?
News Item – More Last-Minute NHL Heroics: The Bruins learned the hard way you have to play the Florida Panthers past the final buzzer. That was the case again in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals, a game that appeared headed to a fifth overtime before Matthew Tkachuk did it again with 12.7 seconds left in the fourth OT to give them a 3-2 win over Carolina.
News Item – Greatest Team Sports Prospect Ever: That’s what NBA info guru Adrian Wojnarowski drooled out about 18-year-old French hoopster Victor Wenbanyama after Houston won the NBA lottery last week. I get it, at 7’5” he’s mobile with skills of a guard while also being a top rim protector. But that’s what the slobbering New York press said about the now on his third team Kristaps Porzingis.And best ever? Sorry, I’m a skeptic with a sense of history who knows monumental all-timers Wilt Chamberlain, Lew Alcindor and LeBron James all lived up to that title, while Greg Oden and Ralph Sampson did not. Said another way: I’m curious, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
And, one more thing. Not sure if this is a bad omen, but when I saw his picture for the first time, I thought it was Sampson.
News Item – Durability Need Not Apply: Who can be surprised that in the age of the detestable “load management” Jayson Tatum was the only all-NBA first-teamer to play even 70 games. The others, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ranged from 63 to 68.
Ditto for the second and third teams, where only three were over 70, while Steph Curry, LeBron James and Damian Lillard played 56, 55 and 58 respectively.
Alumni News
Xander Bogaerts: After going hitless in 11 at-bats during their weekend series, he was hitting .257 with 6 homers and 16 RBI. Which isn’t much more productive offensively than Kiké Hernandez and Yu Chang’s combined 6 homers and 24 RBI from shortstop so far in 2023.
Michael Wacha: After Chaim Bloom was too cheap/dumb to give him a two-year deal after going 11-2 last year, he has moved to 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA after 6 shutout innings in the Padres 7-0 win on Sunday. That his cheaper replacement, Corey Kluber, lasted just 2.1 innings in dropping to 2-6 with an unsightly 6.26 ERA was interesting.
The Numbers:
4 – major championships now won by Brooks Koepka after taking the PGA championship Sunday to move him within one of tying Phil Mickelson for most majors won among active players.
205 – home runs the Red Sox are on pace to hit after hitting just 155 last year.
515 – length in feet for the monstrous homer hit by the demoted Bobby Dalbec last week while playing for AAA Worcester.
Random Thoughts:
Jayson Tatum — pink shoes on Friday night. A long way from high black Cons or Pumps.
I’ve heard him recently compared to Vlade Divac, Magic Johnson and Bill Russell (as a rebounder), but position aside, with his feel for the game and ability to influence every aspect of every game with no apparent athleticism, for my money Nikola Jokic is the only player I’ve ever seen that reminds me of Larry Bird.
Sports 101 Answer: Those players were picks 1 through 5 before Jim Brown was taken sixth by Cleveland in the 1957 draft.
Final Thought: There’s a difference between being the most valuable NFL player ever (Tom Brady) and being the best actual football player ever.
In my not so humble opinion the latter was the indestructibleJim Brown,who died last week at 87. The stat rationale is too long, so I’ll just comment on an ESPN poll that had him the GOAT of running backs. The great Barry Sanders was second, but check out the difference between him playing on grass vs. artificial turf. JB just had grass.Trust me, with the highest yards per carry average ever he was the best.
RIP, big fella.
Email Dave Long at [email protected].