I try to break down games with a focus on tactics, player impact, and the details that shape how the Celtics play. @azmatlanba on Twitter or Bluesky.
Noah Penda: the perfect fit for the Celtics?
Noah Penda doesn’t need the ball to impact games. He cuts, connects, rebounds, rotates and defends with rare precision. For a Celtics team that values two-way versatility, the fit is easy to see.
Winning the margins: who drives Boston’s possession edge?
Joe Mazzulla wants to "dominate the margins." Using on/off data, we looked at which Celtics help their team win the possession battle, and how it translates to winning.
CelticsBlog exit interview: Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday’s second season in Boston didn’t live up to the promise of his first. As his shooting faltered and his driving vanished, the Celtics may now have to explore trade options this summer.
CelticsBlog exit interview: Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet quietly won the Celtics’ backup center battle and became a key piece of the rotation. With his contract up, the Celtics may have to reckon with the value he brings.
10 takeaways from the last page of this Celtics season
The defense cracked, the legs gave out, and the effort didn’t show up when it mattered most. Between missed rebounds and missed chances, Boston left the Madison Square Garden with more questions than answers.
The 12 minutes that changed everything for the Celtics
Luke Kornet’s presence transformed the paint, and everyone followed. Boston’s defensive shape, focus, and energy flipped the game, and maybe the series.
10 takeaways from Game 5 that proved the Celtics are still alive
Without Jayson Tatum , the Celtics leaned on Jaylen Brown’s leadership, smart play-calling, and a revived bench unit. From Luke Kornet’s defensive wall to Derrick White’s scoring burst, Boston found answers, and attitude, just in time.
10 takeaways from when it all slipped away in Game 4
Tatum’s injury was the cruelest blow in a series that already felt uneasy. Boston kept settling for pull-up threes while the Knicks attacked the glass and the paint. Game 4 didn’t flip the series — it exposed how fragile it’s always been.
10 takeaways from Game 3 vs. the Knicks: Boston find answers, but questions remain
Boston made key tactical adjustments on offense to stretch the floor, exploit mismatches, and spark Payton Pritchard’s breakout night. Defensive lapses still lingered, but improved rim protection and transition scoring brought the Celtics back into the series.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s defensive lapses cost the Celtics a game — maybe both
Jaylen Brown lost his man. Jayson Tatum jogged back. In the playoffs, those breakdowns aren’t just plays — they’re turning points.