by Zack Cox on Thu, May 11, 2017 at 8:00AM 2,218 Share this: Sign Stephon Gilmore: Check. Bring back Malcolm Butler: Done, at least for the time being. Now, it’s up to the New England Patriots to figure out where both of their star cornerbacks will play this season. Gilmore and Butler both are boundary corners, playing the lion’s share of their snaps on the outside in 2016. So is Eric Rowe, who should maintain his standing as New England’s No. 3 cornerback following Gilmore’s arrival. The Patriots’ primary slot cornerback was Logan Ryan, but now resides in Nashville after signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Ryan played 309 snaps in slot coverage last season, while Butler, Gilmore (then with the
Tag: games
Wizards Show Not-So-Subtle Solidarity For Kelly Oubre Jr. In Game 4
Share this: Sunday might have been the most love Kelly Oubre Jr. has gotten at a Washington Wizards game. And he didn’t even play. The Wizards swingman was suspended for Game 4 of his team’s second-round NBA playoff series against the Boston Celtics after bull-rushing Kelly Olynyk in Game 3. The suspension didn’t really come as much of a surprise (just watch the play for yourself), but don’t tell that to team owner Ted Leonsis. Leonsis and his son both showed up to Verizon Center on Sunday rocking Oubre’s No. 12 jersey over their business attire, with the Wizards owner even tweeting out a photo of himself with the hashtag “#FreeOubre.” Lest Washington fans didn’t see Leonsis’ show of support for Oubre, everyone in
Isaiah Thomas, John Wall Both Know Celtics, Wizards Don’t Like Each Other
The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards clearly don’t like each other. The two teams exchanged unpleasantries throughout the regular season, and the rivalry has boiled over into their Eastern Conference semifinals series. While the first two games at TD Garden were physical, they didn’t hold a candle to Game 3 at the Verizon Center on Thursday night. Three players were ejected from the contest, which Washington ultimately won 116-89. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first player tossed from the game after he viciously shoved Kelly Olynyk in the second quarter. Terry Rozier and Brandon Jennings followed suit in the fourth quarter, as both players wer... NESN.com
Brad Stevens Gives Great Explanation Of Isaiah Thomas’ Drive For Excellence
Share this: Isaiah Thomas has taken his game to another level in the 2017 NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics guard has been an offensive machine through the team’s first eight games of the postseason, averaging 28 points per contest. Thomas’ heroics led the Celtics to a comeback series win over the Chicago Bulls in the first round, and currently has Boston sitting on a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Wizards in their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup. Prior to Game 3 of Celtics-Wizards, Brad Stevens was asked to shed light on Thomas’ pursuit of excellence, and the Celtics head coach responded with an awesome answer. Here’s Stevens’ full comment, courtesy of MassLive’s Jay King. So just how good has Thomas been in this year’s playoffs? So good,
Rajon Rondo Officially Ruled Out Of Celtics-Bulls Game 6 With Thumb Injury
Share this: UPDATE (7 p.m. ET): Rajon Rondo officially has been ruled out of the Chicago Bulls’ Game 6 versus the Boston Celtics on Friday. From Bulls media relations dept For tomorrow night’s game vs. the Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo (right thumb fracture) is OUT. — chuck swirsky (@ctsbulls) April 27, 2017 ORIGINAL STORY: Injuries appear to be catching up to the Chicago Bulls ahead of their do-or-die Game 6 against the Boston Celtics. Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo, who has missed the team’s last three games with a fractured thumb, is unlikely to play Friday in Chicago, coach Fred Hoiberg said Thursday. “Nothing’s changed as of now,” Hoiberg told reporters during a conference call, via ESPN.com. “… Rajon, most likely, will come in and work out (Thursday night), but
How Celtics Are Finding Their Playoff Identity Amid Comeback Vs. Bulls
Share this: BOSTON — Don’t look now, but Brad Stevens’ scrappy group of regular season overachievers are starting to figure out how to win in the playoffs. First things first: They’ve have some luck on their side. The Celtics looked dead in the water in their first-round NBA playoff series against the Chicago Bulls until Rajon Rondo went out with a fractured thumb after Game 2. Rondo’s absence absolutely helped facilitate Boston’s three-game win streak, the latest a 108-97 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night that pushed the C’s one game away from completing a historic comeback. But to equate Boston’s recent success solely to the Bulls’ failures without Rondo would miss an important point: The Celtics, after repeated postseason struggles under Stevens, appear to have developed the mental toughness required
Celtics Notes: Isaiah Thomas Can’t Handle Avery Bradley Praising His Defense
Share this: BOSTON — That Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley both played key roles in the Celtics’ Game 5 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday is no surprise. But Bradley shining on offense and Thomas stepping up on defense? Now that’s a little more eye-opening. Bradley, usually known for his smothering defense, went off for a playoff career high 24 points, hitting 11 of 19 shots while grabbing six rebounds. And the 5-foot-9 (on paper) Thomas, often labeled a defensive liability, held his own on defense down the stretch, even snatching a clutch defensive rebound in traffic in the fourth quarter. In fact, the All-Star point guard’s defensive effort was good enough to prompt this humorous exchange between he and Bradley in their postgame