Jack Simone

Forget the box score—this is where the Celtics are actually winning The Boston Celtics are working hard to grow together off the court.

NEW: The Celtics are a work in progress. But growth they've achieved behind the scenes is more important than growth on the court.

“It's honestly about being vulnerable.”

“Everyone's got strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, things that are annoying.”

More: hardwoodhoudini.com/forget-box-s...

Celtics stuck in brutal clutch-time nightmare that could define their season The Boston Celtics lost another clutch game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

NEW: The Celtics are 2-5 in clutch games this year. Tuesday night in Philly was the latest, and perhaps the most brutal.

“I think we’re going to be in a lot of close games this year… It’d be nice to start winning some of them.”

More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-stuc...

Opponents found a Celtics weak spot (and they’re abusing it) Teams are running all over the Boston Celtics, and it's slowly turning into a trend.

NEW: Teams are starting to run on the Celtics, and it’s working. Every small decision impacts transition, and they’re all piling up.

“It's all about communication.”

“We got to match up better… You just got to get back.”

More from Orlando: hardwoodhoudini.com/magic-jazz-f...

The one thing Payton Pritchard’s doing that changes everything Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard isn't shooting well from three, but inside the arc, everything he touches turns to gold.

NEW: Payton Pritchard hasn't shot well from long range this season. But he's become one of the best two-point scorers in the league.

“I don't even think when I'm doing a move, it just happens so naturally.”

More on Pritchard dominating the interior: hardwoodhoudini.com/one-thing-pa...

Joe Mazzulla doesn’t want the Celtics to put their issues behind them. He wants them to embrace it.

So, every time Philly made a run, Boston breathed it in, felt the emotions, and went from there.

That’s how they won. That’s how they’ll continue to win.

More in my story below:

Celtics’ Joel Embiid plan didn’t just work—it proved this team’s edge is real The Boston Celtics put Xavier Tillman on Joel Embiid to close out a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, but that was merely one example of a much larger mindset.

NEW: The 76ers did everything in their power to force a Celtics collapse on Friday night. But it never happened.

Boston always responded. Joe Mazzulla wants them to embrace the moment.

“Instead of trying to kind of get out of the emotion, feel it.”
hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-embi...

Josh Minott’s Celtics breakout is haunting the Timberwolves already In just two starts with the Boston Celtics, Josh Minott is making Minnesota Timberwolves fans look silly.

NEW: In three years with the Wolves, Josh Minott barely played. In two starts with the Celtics, he grabbed 23 rebounds and held opponents to 6-of-28 shooting.

"It's just a blessing to be here."

Minott has found a home in Boston.

More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/josh-minott-...

Celtics just stumbled into test they haven't faced in over a decade A 0-3 start to the Boston Celtics season hasn't caused panic, but it should certainly cause reflection.

NEW: Rebounding has failed the Celtics. Shot-making, too. Now, they're in a hole they haven't experienced in over a decade.

Process over results is the way out. But the process is new. As are the results.

“We got to chip away at it.”

More from Detroit: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Tyrese Maxey helped Celtics gain two learning points on Opening Night The Boston Celtics should want to replicate their third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers on Opening Night, but thanks to Tyrese Maxey, not the fourth.

NEW: The third quarter was near-perfect new Celtics basketball. The fourth was not. But it's all part of the learning process.

“Maybe just got a little comfortable. Gave them life.”

More on Maxey and the Celtics' tough Opening Night loss: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

No update on Jaylen Brown's status from Joe Mazzulla. Said they're going to see how he feels during his pre-game shootaround.

New-look Celtics are finally here with unknown thrill (and some of the same) The Boston Celtics are still using the same preparation tactics, yet the thrill of the unknown will be more prevalent than ever.

NEW: Opening Night is special. These aren't the same Celtics from past years. But the preparation is the same.

“It's basketball, at the end of the day.”

New Celtics, new excitement: The thrill of the unknown.

Read more from Joe, DWhite, and Neemi here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Training camp life with the Celtics was a chance to keep dreams alive For those on E-10 contracts, the Boston Celtics provide a chance to keep their NBA dreams alive.

NEW: The life of an E-10 player isn't an easy one. But it's worth it. And with the Celtics, it's more than just an opportunity.

“Great staff, great organization. It's fun to show up to work every day.”

More on the inner workings here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Hauser, Minott, and more ready to quietly lift up new Celtics plan Off-ball movement is just as important to the Boston Celtics' new fast-paced style as everything else.

NEW: The Celtics are going to play fast. That means transition, help defense, and lots of screens.

But off-ball movement is just as important.

“The crucial part to playing fast is getting your spots fast.”

More from Hauser, Jaylen, and Mazzulla here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

New Celtics learning process will sit at core of everything they want to do The new Boston Celtics big-man room will need to learn quickly, as they will be at the center of the offense.

NEW: The Celtics' center room is brand new. That means developing new chemistry, learning new screens, and understanding new tendencies.

"Being able to make the right read... Being able to do that over and over again."

More here on the process: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Luka Garza just showed off new Celtics big man plans in debut The Boston Celtics want their bigs to be in the center of everything this year, and Luka Garza showed that off against the Memphis Grizzlies.

NEW: The Celtics want their bigs more involved this season. Luka Garza was at the eye of that hurricane in Memphis. And there's no place he'd rather be.

“I want to be a part of the action, so it makes it easy.”

More here on Garza and the art of the screen: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Celtics' new offensive style doesn't mean end of the three-ball The Boston Celtics will still shoot threes, but the state of their new offense will be a fluid one.

NEW: The Celtics' new offense will be ever-changing, but they don't plan on losing the roots they've grown for the last two years.

"We'd still like to shoot a lot of threes."

From Memphis on the fluidity of Boston's offensive plans: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Payton Pritchard ready to help pick up pieices of crushed Celtics area of need The Boston Celtics are reshaping their defense, and guys like Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Josh Minott have lived that process.

NEW: Defensive physicality has been at the forefront of Celtics training camp. “It's definitely been a war out there.”

But it's so much more than that.

“We're learning.”

“It's a holistic approach.”

On the Celtics' defensive revamp: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Joe Mazzulla doesn't want the Celtics to have a head coach In the mind of Joe Mazzulla, there is no head coach of the Boston Celtics, because that's the culture he wants to create.

Joe Mazzulla doesn't want to be 'Coach.' He wants to be 'Joe.' That relationship has been deeply woven into the fabric of Celtics culture, on and off the court.

"I feel like I'd run through a wall for him."

A deep look at what drives Mazzulla's Celtics: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

The Knicks have started playing the same drop they did against Tatum in the regular season on Brown, and he's found White and Pritchard for easy pick-and-pop threes.

Great screen reads by the guards, and great job making the right play by Brown. He's been awesome tonight.

Sam Hauser is AVAILABLE to play in Game 5 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Official statement from the Celtics on Jayson Tatum undergoing successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.

Knicks just scored off a turnover, and Jayson Tatum is down on the ground writhing in pain. He's holding his ankle. Doesn't look good.

Sam Hauser is OUT tonight for Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Joe Mazzulla on managing stacked guard room with Pritchard's emergence this year: “You give the game what it needs. You trust all your guys... It’s just more about all the guys understanding that we have a ton of depth… We have a lot of trust in each other.”

Tom Thibodeau on what went wrong in Game 3: “Getting back in defensive transition. You gotta challenge their shots. They can go on runs, so you can’t let your guard down at all.”

Pregame scenes before Celtics-Knicks Game 4 tonight at 7:30pm. Celtics win, it’s 2-2 going back to Boston. Knicks win, it’s a 3-1 series lead.

Jrue Holiday this morning:

“I just think it’s us against the world.”

Sam Hauser is QUESTIONABLE to play tomorrow in Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Stunning last two games for the Celtics. Just about as bad as Tatum and Porzingis could be on offense.

And all the Knicks have done is make winning plays. They’ve been dogs.

The Celtics have gotten every single open three they've wanted in this fourth quarter - they just can't make them.

The refs calling that foul on Porzingis after not calling anything on the last two Celtics possessions is absolutely horrendous officiating. Awful.