Blog | off-the-glass

Dec 6, 2019
4 min

Good to Great: How the Best Teams in the NBA Can Get Better

Franchise Sports The best teams in the NBA have begun to separate themselves from the pack. And with the fall of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, there’s plenty of space at the top of the basketball mountain. From Long Beach to Cream City, from H-Town to Bean Town, there are some seriously good clubs in the Association this season. But what can they do to get even better? (Stats via NBA.com) Honorable Mentions A few of your favorite teams may not have made the following lis

Jaylen Brown In The Hunt For Most Improved? Here's How.

Matt Esposito

Nov 14, 2019
3 min

Jaylen Brown In The Hunt For Most Improved? Here's How.

(source, Hoopshype) Before you ask - Yes, I do promise to return back to my scouting roots and provide some updates on rookies. But now, in the fashion of Sauron's Eye in Middle Earth, we must shine our attention on Jaylen Brown. The fourth year Celtic has had an odd journey throughout his time in Boston. After selecting him over players like Dragan Bender and Kris Dunn, many fans were eager to write off Brown as a Danny Ainge bust. His first season showed promise, however. B

Enes Kanter Knows When He Speaks Out About Turkish Human Rights Abuses, People Listen

Justin Quinn

Nov 14, 2019
3 min

Enes Kanter Knows When He Speaks Out About Turkish Human Rights Abuses, People Listen

You Are My Hope To call Boston Celtics big man Enes Kanter outspoken is something of an understatement. But the 6-foot-10 center has good reason to be, having struggled with politically-motivated harassment by the Turkish government for years because of his and his family's political views. Now, with Turkey's entrance into neighboring Syria following the decision of the U.S. to pull its troops out of the troubled country -- adding yet another layer of complexity to an already

Justin Quinn

Oct 25, 2019
2 min

Tacko Fall's Bizarre Injury

Sports Illustrated It's not all champagne and caviar being tall. Sure, you get all the cache of being the person everyone asks to get something off of a high shelf, but it comes with drawbacks too, as new Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall was reminded of this week. While he wasn't especially likely to play in last night's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers (who are a somewhat vertically-gifted team themselves), Fall instead found himself sidelined as he works his way

Marquist Parker

Oct 24, 2019
2 min

Opening Night Takeaways: Boston Celtics

USA Today The Boston Celtics’ season started with a 107-93 loss at the hands of the rival Philadelphia 76ers. While Boston is not a place for moral victories, even in defeat there are plenty takeaways from this showing. Since last night was a loss, let’s start with the bad: Kemba was a no-show Kemba Walker didn’t look like a player worth a max contract in his first game in green. He appeared to be pressing and his outside shot (1-6 from deep) failed him. This won’t be a long-

2019-20 Breakout Player Series: Robert Williams

Cameron Tabatabaie

Oct 23, 2019
2 min

2019-20 Breakout Player Series: Robert Williams

Getty Images One of the most pressing issues for the Boston Celtics this upcoming season will be the team’s frontcourt rotation. Al Horford and Aron Baynes are gone, leaving two glaring holes upfront for the C’s. Newcomer Enes Kanter might very well get the starting job for the Celtics, at least to start the season. He’s an established veteran, and a potent offensive weapon. His defense, though, leaves much to be desired. Therein lies the biggest opportunity for second-year b

The $115M Man: Why I Love The Jaylen Brown Contract

Gus Saltonstall

Oct 23, 2019
3 min

The $115M Man: Why I Love The Jaylen Brown Contract

Branded Sports The Boston Celtics recently agreed to give fourth year player Jaylen Brown a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $115 million. The agreement between the player and organization comes in the wake of Brown, very publicly, turning down a 4-year deal worth $80 million. The contract announcement turned some heads across the NBA media landscape, but the majority of the negative chirping was contained to the Twitter world. It’s undoubtedly a hefty sum of mon

2019-20 NBA Team Preview Series: Boston Celtics

Marquist Parker

Oct 19, 2019
2 min

2019-20 NBA Team Preview Series: Boston Celtics

Sky Sports 2018-2019 Record: 49–33, 3rd in the Atlantic Division, 4th in the East. Lost 4-1 to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Season Recap: The 2018 Boston Celtics were one of the biggest disappointments of last season. The team that many picked as an NBA Title favorite crumbled under the weight of ego and expectations. The constant infighting and inconsistent play on both ends doomed what was supposed to be the coming-out party for this generatio

Who Will Be First Time All-Stars In 2019-20?

Matt Esposito

Oct 18, 2019
4 min

Who Will Be First Time All-Stars In 2019-20?

SB Nation Ah, yes, I remember my first time. If you just read that opening sentence, it means that my editors are doing one of two things. Option A: I have worn them down so much that they just decided to let me run rampant with these blogs. Option B: Someone isn't doing their job. Regardless, let's jump head first into the discussion. Which players can reach their first All-Star game this year? The best way to approach this is to consider who may not be participating in the

Global Expansion Bringing Global Problems Close to Home for the NBA

Justin Quinn

Oct 17, 2019
5 min

Global Expansion Bringing Global Problems Close to Home for the NBA

Forbes With the NBA's reach extending further than ever before globally, it has found itself embroiled in a tense international situation, one that is beginning to be felt both in business interests and outspoken players like the Boston Celtics' Enes Kanter. After Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey sparked an international incident by tweeting his support for pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, the ripples have been shaking a delicate balance the league has attempted to maintai

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Four)

Justin Quinn

Oct 10, 2019
9 min

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Four)

Boston Sports Journal & Cosmopolitan The Celts would not win another banner in Doc's tenure despite his well-intentioned optimism, with Danny tearing down the remnants of the title team in a rebuild that started in 2013. Garnett, Pierce, Terry and Doc left first, the former three to Brooklyn in the infamous Nets trade, the latter to the Clippers, where he coaches today. Current head coach Brad Stevens was pilfered from Butler, and Rondo sent packing to Dallas, ushering in the

Celtics Center Watch 2019-20: Timelord Needs...Time

Matt Esposito

Oct 9, 2019
3 min

Celtics Center Watch 2019-20: Timelord Needs...Time

(photo: CBS Sports) 99 percent of me wanted to leave this blog blank so to place an emphasis on a title which was both visually and mentally pleasing. That one percent, however, beckons me to write this piece, like how Celtics fans willed Brad Stevens to play Tacko Fall in their preseason opener. To all those who #FellforFall, I apologize. This edition of Celtics Center Watch has Robert "Timelord" Williams under the microscope. Stick around and you'll see me breakdown his per

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Three)

Justin Quinn

Oct 7, 2019
9 min

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Three)

Open-Court Basketball & Postmates Food played a significant role in Paul Pierce's career as he led the team from the wilderness era following Bird, McHale and Parish's departure to the next in which he would join -- or more accurately, be joined -- by Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for Boston's 17th and most recent banner. Early in his amateur career, a young Truth would play early-morning ball with assistant coach and one-time police officer Scott Collins, who would treat the y

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Two)

Justin Quinn

Sep 30, 2019
5 min

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part Two)

People & Loudon County Dabbling in the restaurant business might be a common trend for NBA stars now, but in the league's early days, few players made enough from their player salaries to embark on what has always been a risky venture. But in the 1960s and 70s, a select group of Celtics had a hand in the rise of a fast food giant, and later generations of Boston players would make their own mark on commercial dining culture. While Red's dalliance in Chinese restaurant ownersh

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part One)

Justin Quinn

Sep 27, 2019
7 min

From Chinese to Chipotle: An Edible History of the Boston Celtics (Part One)

Sports Illustrated & The Spruce Eats Few things in life evoke more passion, debate, ire and certainty than sports, but food is in the conversation. So, for me, an anthropologist who happens to be as enamored with basketball as he is with the culture of one of society's most fundamental components -- what we eat -- makes this article both a natural fit and a surprise. It is a surprise in that this article, a cultural history of the food that powered the NBA's winningest franch

The Top 50 NBA Players Entering the 2019-20 Season: 41-45

Jac Manuell/Kory Waldron

Sep 14, 2019
3 min

The Top 50 NBA Players Entering the 2019-20 Season: 41-45

Kory Waldron and Jac Manuell hit you with the top 50 NBA players for this upcoming season. 45. Josh Richardson 2018-2019 Season Stats: 16.6 PPG 3.6 RPG 4.1 APG 1.1 STLS PER: 14 TS%: 53.6% WS: 5.6 - 41/36/86 Josh Richardson proved he could be ‘the guy’ on a playoff team in the Miami Heat. His two-way ability is up there with some of the best guards in the league. He had a career year in 2018-19 and with a reduced role in Philly expect his efficiency to only improve. His scorin

Jayson Tatum Must Take More Free Throws, But How Much More?

Matt Esposito

Sep 9, 2019
4 min

Jayson Tatum Must Take More Free Throws, But How Much More?

Slam Ah, this old refrain. By now, Boston Celtics fans are used to hearing this line. Everyone from Bill Simmons to the guy selling knock off tees on Friend Street has claimed that Jayson Tatum must get to the stripe more. It is a rare day when casual fandom and hoops intellect collide, but both Simmons and Mr. Comeonbuyyourgirlanewshirt are correct. The evidence is abundant but the narrative is twisted. Many believe that mid-range jumpers must be brought to the ceremonial al

Cameron Tabatabaie

Aug 30, 2019
4 min

The Celtics Have a Jaylen Brown Problem

The Celtics might have a Jaylen Brown problem AP Photo Two All-Star players turned their backs on the Celtics this summer, and yet somehow the grass is pretty green in Boston. The team replaced the disgruntled Kyrie Irving with the beloved Kemba Walker, and has pivoted from an aging Al Horford by fully embracing what is the 5th youngest roster in the league. This reloaded Celtics club has been the centerpiece of USA Basketball this summer, and fans in Boston and beyond seem p

Hot Take Marathon: Brooklyn Will Finish the Season With the 3rd Seed

Jac Manuell

Aug 21, 2019
3 min

Hot Take Marathon: Brooklyn Will Finish the Season With the 3rd Seed

ABC7 Eyewitness News There are innumerable national pundits that are strangely low on the 2019-20 Nets. It’s not as if the Eastern Conference improved markedly, in fact if anything the stranglehold up top strengthened while the rest of the teams underneath would give themselves a decent shot at making some noise for a top-four seed. Milwaukee and Philadelphia are in a tier of their own at the top of the East. From there, there are up to seven teams who are vying for status as

Daniel Theis Can Outsmart His Way Into the Celtics Starting Lineup

Matt Esposito

Aug 20, 2019
3 min

Daniel Theis Can Outsmart His Way Into the Celtics Starting Lineup

SB Nation (Celtics Blog) In The Memory Code author Lynne Kelly theorized that Stonehenge was built to help Neolithic Britons remember important times for crop cycles. By that logic, FIBA basketball was created to remind me that it's August and time to write about Celtic role players. Without further ado, I now present a short piece on Boston big man Daniel Theis, his play against the Czech Republic in the VTG Supercup, and the likelihood that Brad Stevens names him their star