Tag: featured

The Syllabus: A Sports Letter for a Cause

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Uncategorized

Four months ago, Grad School Sports was created with a single goal in mind: to provide an online platform for fans to debate and discuss their favorite sports. On Monday April 27, 2020, we are excited to release the first edition of Grad School Syllabus, a weekly sports newsletter delivered directly to your inbox. The Syllabus will include analysis and commentary on the latest sports news, as well as a collection of fun facts, satire, and viral videos that will ease the boredom of social isolation.

While the Syllabus content will surely brighten your day, please also consider the additional philanthropic benefits of subscribing. As Texas A&M University Alumni ‘19, we firmly believe in the school’s core values, particularly that of Selfless Service. One Aggie organization that admirably advances this cause is the 12th Can, a student-run food pantry.

The 12th Can strives to eliminate hunger in the Texas A&M community, raise awareness about food insecurity across college campuses, and exemplify the strength of the Aggie spirit. With campus shut down due to COVID-19 concerns, there are countless students, faculty, and staff uncertain where they will find their next meal. Thus, the 12th Can has sponsored a food drive through April 30, encouraging members of the local community to donate various food items.

While the timeless traditions and legendary school spirit underscore Texas A&M’s unique aura, it is the people – the students, faculty, and staff – that really transform College Station into a home away from home. By harnessing the power and resourcefulness of the Aggie Network, we can ensure that no Aggie gets left behind.

For each new Syllabus subscriber that joins between April 22-April 30, Grad School Sports pledges to donate two cans to the 12th Can. Visit gradschoolsports.net or click the link below to sign up.

Aggies everywhere – our beloved university has blessed us with priceless memories and lifelong friends. What better way to give back than to help a fellow Aggie struggling to make ends meet during these stressful times? Students and alumni of other institutions – we hope that you might subscribe as well, and potentially even donate to your local food bank.

Please consider sharing this with your family, friends, and coworkers. We welcome all to the Grad School Sports community, and remind you that any donation to the 12th Can – no matter how small – can truly change a person’s life for the better.

Subscription Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gADzJYrtNbsV14LrySVFCbpoz7N9trs0GxPqTBOr5f0/edit

What does Jalen Green’s move to the G-League mean for College Basketball?

by Brady Vaughan, posted in Basketball, Collegiate, NCAA Basketball, Professional, Uncategorized

This past week, Jalen Green, the number one high school basketball prospect according to the 2020 ESPN recruiting rankings, made his decision on where he would play next basketball season. No, it wasn’t Memphis nor was it Auburn, schools that had been considered the frontrunners for him. Instead, it was a one year, $500,000 contract with the NBA G-League that offers an additional development program outside of the league’s traditional team structure.

This move allows for professional development from NBA personnel for an entire year while being paid, which cannot happen in college, supposedly.

The move only adds more momentum to the already swift movement that is sweeping over the high school and college basketball ranks. More and more players are leaving, or rejecting, playing at big time colleges in favor of getting paid and playing in professional leagues at home and abroad. Just in the last year, RJ Hampton (former five-star guard out of HS) decided not to go to Kansas but instead to go to the NBL in Australia/New Zealand to play (Hampton has said he would’ve gone to Kansas should he have played in college). Lamelo Ball, younger brother New Orleans Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball, went the same route as Hampton. Isaiah Todd (five-star prospect out of HS in the class of 2020) decommitted from Michigan to pursue development in the G-League, just like Green.

This new movement is good for these players. If they’re good enough to go out and play professionally and, most importantly, get paid, why wouldn’t you choose this route?

Initially, this new wave seems as if it could be extremely detrimental to big time college basketball schools like Duke and Kentucky, who consistently reel in five-star prospects year after year, but I do not believe that is the case.

While top high school players will be more enticed to earn money and get professional development now, there is no shortage of high school basketball players who desire to play college ball. Players who want to go play college basketball will get the chance, and out of that group of players, the best will still likely want to go to the traditional “blue blood” schools like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Kansas.

Thus, if this wave of top players leaving to pursue professional opportunities continues (and I don’t see a reason why it wouldn’t continue), more and more emphasis will be placed on how well college coaches develop players who are not as good as some of those top prospects coming out of high school.

This is something that I think Jay Wright, Bill Self, Roy Williams, and even coaches like Mark Few, and Scott Drew are exceptional at especially in recent memory.

Among those coaches, they have produced a few notable players who have had significant impacts on their respective teams and made them some of the premier teams in America during their tenure in college. These guys include Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova), Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova), Frank Mason (Kansas), Devonte Graham (Kansas), Killian Tillie (Gonzaga), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga), Johnathan Motley (Baylor), and Mark Vital (Baylor) just to name a few.

That list of players includes six Final Four appearances (one for Arcidiacono, two for DiVincenzo, one for Graham, one for Tillie, and one for Hachimura), three National Titles (one for Arcidiacono and two for DiVincenzo), one Wooden Award Winner (Mason), two more premier candidates for the Wooden award in their respective seasons (Motley ’16-’17 and Graham ’17-‘18), and arguably one of the best defenders and most athletic players in college basketball currently (Vital).

Now that is not to say that coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari are not good at developing players, because they are good. It just so happens that these two coaches are at the two schools – Duke and Kentucky – that consistently reel in five-star prospect after five-star prospect. Just look at the growth that players like Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Tyus Jones, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis have had over their careers.

This new wave is definitely an obstacle that college coaches will have to adjust to quickly, as many for these college coaches have probably been recruiting these five-star guys for over three to five years.

But let me get this clear: not every five-star prospect will choose to go play professionally. The vast majority will still likely play collegiately because the professional teams and leagues have to have interest in the player as well as vice versa. It’s a two way street.

College Basketball will be fine. This just means that college coaches will have to adjust their recruiting tactics. And in that sense, we get to see some of the best coaches in America face a little adversity and see how they will overcome it.

As always, follow me on Twitter for more sports related content @bradyvaughan30

The Effects of the 2020 MLB Draft

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

Last week, Major League Baseball (“MLB”) and the MLB Players Association (“MLBPA”) reached an agreement on the framework of a delayed and shortened 2020 amateur draft according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. The draft would be pushed back to July, the number of rounds would be drastically reduced to around 5-10, and bonuses would be severely restricted. Meanwhile, the NCAA will permit Division I, Division II, and Division III spring-sport athletes who had their seasons shortened by the Coronavirus pandemic to have an additional year of eligibility. So what does this mean for the future of amateur baseball, and are there any real winners from the aforementioned announcements?

First, the MLB First Year Player Draft has been 40 rounds since 2012. Assuming the 2020 draft is 10 rounds, 900 draft hopefuls will not hear their name called and will have mainly two options: sign as a free agent or go (for some, return) to college.

While the shortening of the 2020 MLB draft is unfortunate news for high school seniors who were hoping to forego collegiate baseball in order to cash in with a major league club, the real losers of this deal are the many college seniors who will most likely not be drafted within these 10 rounds. Now while these seniors are eligible to either sign with a professional club or go back to school there are cons to both. If they choose to sign the professional contract it will be for a lot less money than what has typically been given. Teams will be limited to spending no more than $20,000 to sign any undrafted player. According to Baseball America, of the 960 players who signed professional contracts last year, 680 signed for more than $20,000. This provision severely restricts the bargaining power an undrafted free agent has.

Now say the college senior decides to go back to school. While he may get another shot to prove himself and climb up draft boards, he does it while tacking on another year to his age. On average, college seniors are 22 years old. In 2021, these seniors will be 23 years old. While the 1 year age difference isn’t drastic, scouts and executives could use the player’s age as a bargaining tool during bonus negotiations after the player is drafted. Further, teams may opt to draft players from the high school or junior college ranks given that these players would be on average 3-4 years younger than the 2021 college seniors.  Unfortunately, a shortened 2020 MLB draft is negatively affecting this year’s college seniors.

Since the vast majority of 2020 seniors will head back to their respective schools for the 2021 season, there will be an overflow of talent at top Division 1, Division 2 and Division III schools. The beneficiary of this overflow of talent will be Junior College (“JUCO”) teams across the country. While JUCO is a route that is often looked upon with scorn by the average parent, it is a fantastic option for an incoming college freshman who realistically won’t touch the field at a top Division 1 or Division 2 school. Instead of sitting on the pine for a year at a 4-year school, an incoming freshman could go to JUCO and play 30 games in the fall, get in the weight room to get stronger, and then play a 50-60 game schedule in the spring. Not to mention if a player has a fantastic season they could enter the MLB draft after one year, whereas they would have to wait 3 years at a 4-year school. While the JUCO ranks already boast hundreds of elite-level prospects, next year there could be “must-watch” baseball at the local community college. If you are a baseball fan looking for something to do next spring, go check out your local junior college where the field could potentially be flooded by MLB level talent.

Major League Baseball has been hoping for an opportunity to decrease the size and amount of players in the minor leagues. The uncertainty brought on by COVID-19 has given them a chance to act on their wish. The NCAA did the right thing by granting spring athletes another year of eligibility. Next year’s college baseball season will be especially intriguing with an influx of talent that will be caused by a shortened 2020 MLB draft. The 2021 “Road to Omaha” will be fun to watch.

The Importance of Sports

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football

March 12, 2020 will live in infamy as a day in which both professional sports leagues and the NCAA decided to shut down their operations in hopes of slowing down a global pandemic.  It is an unprecedented situation that hopefully we will never see again in our lives.

Receiving the news yesterday that sports were cancelled for the foreseeable future was tough to fully digest. For those that don’t know, I am incredibly passionate about sports. The way I see it, sports are one of the few things in this world that truly unites every single one of us. In an era filled with hatred of one another for differences in religion and politics, sports gives us a chance to find common ground with our fellow humans. Each day, sports stadiums are filled with people from all different walks of life: rich or poor, conservative or liberal, Christian or atheist, who go to a ballgame to cheer on their hometown teams. Even during World War II, American professional baseball players serving in the U.S. military played baseball against German prisoners of war in order to keep their skills sharp. In times of great distress, sports act as a sort of peace treaty that provides common ground. Thus, when I saw the tweet below I was infuriated that someone who was directly involved in the sports industry could make such an ignorant comment.

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1237930978909327360

While I respect others opinions, on a day in which thousands of college athletes learned they had potentially played their last game ever, a tweet so vile and out of touch with the reality of the situation was unnecessary. “Sports aren’t *that* important” writes someone whose livelihood depends on people tuning in to watch football. Tell the senior baseball player who had two Tommy John surgeries in college and was finally getting his chance to show scouts his true potential that sports are not that important. How about the hourly worker at the American Airlines Center who works nights in order to pay their way through school? Please tell them that sports are not that important. And how about the countless softball players who just played their last game because there is no professional softball league in the United States? Go tell them that sports are not that important.

As a former athlete, sports gave me some of the most memorable moments of my life as well as lasting friendships. Additionally, the life lessons I learned along the way are invaluable. My heart goes out to all of the athletes who learned they just put on the uniform for the last time. But, once again, their sport is really not that important.

Yes, it will be challenging, but we as a society will survive without sports. However, in this time of fear and panic I truly believe sports would have made people’s days just a little bit better. It would have given some people suffering from diseases or even the Coronavirus just a bit more hope to carry on and to make it to the next day.

I started Grad School Sports to connect sports fans around the country. We all have opinions about the game, yet often don’t have a platform to truly make our voice heard. While we may be without sports for the foreseeable future, there is no reason why we have to stop talking about them. Through discussion and debates, different sports topics make people think critically and analyze different situations. It truly is remarkable how pivotal sports are to our society. So, if you are just as distressed about the news as I am and want a safe space to talk about sports, please visit our website. Although it won’t be easy, if us sports fans stick together we can make it through these volatile times.

Sportsbooks Obligations to Bettors

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Last week, a good friend of mine traveled to Boston, MA to partake in the 2020 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (“Conference”). According to its official website, the conference’s goal “is to provide a forum for industry professionals (executives and leading researchers) and students to discuss the increasing role of analytics in the global sports industry” and it has attracted icons such as Mike Leach, Larry Fitzgerald, Daryl Morey and Matthew Berry among others. The conference has grown steadily over the years and is regarded as a “can’t-miss” event in the world of sports analytics.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. NCAA gave states and other governmental bodies the right to authorize sports betting. This in turn led some state legislatures to draft legislation that would legalize sports betting in their states. As sports wagering has grown at an exponential rate in states where it is legal, there are more and more discussions on different policies that must be enacted in order to maintain fairness and integrity. With the Houston Astros scandal and sports betting being the talk of the Conference, a hypothetical was asked among the patrons: Do leagues have a responsibility to bettors when the integrity of the game is challenged? For example, should sportsbooks/leagues reimburse bettors who bet the Yankees to win the 2017 ALCS?

At first thought it sounds like a great idea. There is conclusive evidence that proves the Astros players knowingly cheated during the 2017 playoffs. Thus, any bettor who had the Red Sox, Yankees or Dodgers (the three teams the Astros beat that postseason) should be reimbursed. While the numbers undoubtedly say the Astros benefited from their illegal actions, are we 100% certain the Red Sox, Yankees or Dodgers would have beaten them if the Astros hadn’t cheated? To that, I believe there is still uncertainty which would make it impossible for sportsbooks to reimburse fans who bet against the Astros and I, myself, am a die-hard Yankees fan. Additionally, based on the evidence it looks as if the Astros cheated for the majority of the 2017 season. Are sportsbooks supposed to refund anyone who placed a bet on a game in which the Astros were participating in and won? What about the games in which the Astros lost? Do sportsbooks allow fans to keep their money over a game that was inherently ‘rigged’? Additionally, baseball in general has been tainted the past 20-30 years over player’s alleged steroid use and there are still many players who juice today. Steroid usage is strictly prohibited by Major League Baseball (“MLB”) and players who engage in the illegal activity would be “challenging the integrity of the game.” Would sportsbooks have to refund those fans who bet on MLB games in which there were players who were doping? When it’s all said and done it is a completely ridiculous notion due to the unpredictability of sports in general.

Sports have been entertaining the masses for years due to their randomness. In essence, sports are truly a game of chance. Yes, there are players and teams that are vastly more talented than others, however in the grand scheme of things anybody can beat anybody on any given day in the world of sports. Just look at all the monumental upsets that have happened just in the last 15 years. In 2008, the New York Giants (+14/+475) shocked the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl which cost the Patriots an undefeated season. In 2007, Appalachian State (+42.5) upset the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House which many consider to be the greatest upset this century. While there wasn’t foul play in either of these games, it goes to show that there are no sure bets in sports. Even the heaviest of favorites can fall prey to the underdog. Ultimately, sports are a game of chance and bettors are aware of this fact each time they enter a sportsbook to place a bet.

Lastly, sportsbooks are essentially just third-party vendors. They share no ties to the sports leagues in which they offer fans odds. Therefore, they have no duty to ensure fairness or integrity to the fans who place bets. Now, in a few years if leagues themselves ever wish to offer odds to fans then I believe they would need to ensure there is no foul play in their games. And if there was found to be any then there would need to be reimbursement options for fans who placed bets. Leagues can control what occurs in their games. Sportsbooks have no control because they have no direct relationship to any professional sports leagues. Until the leagues themselves offer fans odds, then bettors ought to understand there is a great risk in wagering on sports due to the unpredictability of athletic games and should assume all liability.

The Proposed CBA

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL

The new CBA proposal is intriguing for a variety of reasons. The complexity of it all is enough to make a sports attorney salivate, meanwhile the psychological and physical consequences of the deal have sports psychologists and physicians pondering what this will do to the future of the NFL. While the deal can be perceived as being beneficial to both the owners and the players, the real question is whether the deal makes sense for the National Football League (“NFL”) as a whole. The answer to that question is as intricate as the proposed deal itself. While the owners and the players are essentially the official members of the NFL, I believe this deal affects the fans as well as the league’s future players. Put simply, this proposal could have a lasting impact on the league.

The NFL is currently concerned about the safety of its players due to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (“CTE”) findings, and rightfully so. The findings are troublesome and have prompted some young NFL players to consider early retirement for fear of future mental illnesses. So, while the revenue split between the owners and players would move from 47 to 48.5%, players would be forced to play an extra regular season game. Is that worth it for the players? That depends on whom you ask. Stars who have big contracts as well as prime sponsorships, such as J.J. Watt and Russell Wilson, are strongly opposed to this deal. Whereas, lesser-known players, the ones who make up the majority of the league, would be all for a deal that would ultimately give them more money in their pocket at the end of the day. For star players who are making millions off the field in endorsements and other business ventures, adding one more game to an already grueling schedule in exchange for a little more money is a deal-breaker. Likewise, there are 2nd and 3rd string players who make around the league minimum salary at $480k per year who understand their playing careers could potentially last 1-2 more years. Thus, it is important they make as much money as possible each year, and in this case the new CBA deal would make sense. Additionally, will future NFL stars in the college ranks forego careers in the NFL for fear of injury due to the increased schedule length? The NFL has seen several great players the last 3 years retire in the primes of their careers specifically due to fear of CTE. Could the added schedule push more players to early retirement? Only time will tell. 

NFL fans around the country should be enthused by this deal because it means more football.  The regular season schedule would include an added game as well as 2 extra games in the 1st round of the playoffs. What’s not to love? However, the added schedule could mean more serious injuries for players which in turn could lead some parents to question whether or not they should allow their children to play the sport. Participation in high school football around the country has been declining the past few years, and high school athletes could decide to partake in other sports if they feel there are too many negative consequences associated with playing football long term. The NFL and football are not disappearing anytime soon, but the NFL has to be concerned with the declining levels of participation. I am not sure this deal will impact youth involvement, and if this deal is made we would have to wait 10-15 years for more conclusive evidence. Bottom line, as a fan of the NFL I would be excited about the possibility of a few more games each year.

Any proposed CBA deal will come with scrutiny. While we did not dive into the added specifics of the deal, on the surface level I believe this deal all depends on what each individual player values. If its a player who values the money, then you hope this deal is made. If it’s a player who is more concerned with their overall health and wellness, then this deal has its flaws. Overall, it will be intriguing to see the arguments being made on both sides of the aisle, both for and against this proposed CBA.

Fade Fernando’s Picks from God 2-29-20

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy everyone and welcome back to this week’s edition of Fade Fernando’s Picks from God. First off, I would like to apologize to everyone for last week’s mediocre picks. Sometimes you just have to let your bookie win. Secondly, this article will be short and to the point as I am writing this in the wee hours of the night. Who knew Baylor kids knew how to have a good time? Anywho, after checking the lines it is safe to say this isn’t exactly a friendly board. Nonetheless, as we begin this Lenten season here are 4 potential winners for Saturday February 29th.

Michigan State vs. Maryland -3: After coming into the season as national title contenders, Michigan State has fallen by the wayside. While they have plenty of talent led by Cassius Winston, they have yet to really find their groove this season. I don’t see them putting it altogether against a Maryland team that has been better than advertised. Anthony Cowan and Jalen Smith are studs who will pose matchup nightmares for the Spartans. Don’t over think this one. Take the home favorites.

St. Mary’s vs. Gonzaga -13: Last teams these two teams met at St. Mary’s it was a total bloodbath in favor of the Bulldogs. I don’t expect any different this time around. Gonzaga has played stellar basketball all season which has prompted many experts to believe they will earn a #1 seed come March. Yes, there was the recent slip-up against BYU. However, that game has me even more convinced coach Mark Few will have his team focused and ready to go against the Gaels. Bulldogs by 15.

Auburn +6.5 vs. Kentucky: This pick is gutsy solely due to the fact that we have no idea which Auburn Tigers team will take the floor. Will it be the team that beat these Wildcats at home by 9? Or will we see the team that got blown out by Florida while only scoring a measly 47 points? If it is the former then the Wildcats will be on upset watch. This Auburn is fantastic when they put it all together and I expect them to be sharp when its tip-off time at Rupp Arena. Coach Calipari has another strong squad again, but 6.5 is a lot of points in a battle of two top 15 teams. Take the road dogs to cover.

Texas A&M +11 vs. LSU: The Aggies were the only game I picked correctly last week and I’m taking them again on the road against the Tigers. While they ultimately lost (and didn’t cover) against Kentucky earlier this week, there were many bright spots in the game as they kept within striking distance. While the Ags don’t have enough firepower to win this game outright, I think they do enough to keep it close and cover the big spread.

* Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.

Expanding the Game: Part One

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

On Monday night, SP Gerrit Cole made his highly anticipated Yankees debut at George M. Steinbrenner Field in front of a sold-out crowd along with thousands more watching from home. Who am I kidding? Its Major League Baseball (“MLB”). Naturally, the game was not televised, and one had to scavenge the internet to find highlights from Cole’s first start other than a side view of one of his two strikeouts. Yankees Twitter, a collection of media voices and bloggers that you do not want to upset, was up in arms. How could there not be some sort of way to watch one of the biggest free agent signings in recent memory debut for arguably the most famous sports franchise in the world? If you are the MLB, it’s a question that must be answered.

A week ago, my good friend Ethan Myers proposed this question to me: “You get named commissioner of MLB. You have 3 years to maximize growth. How do you do it?” In an era in which current commissioner Rob Manfred seems to be doing everything possible to ruin the beautiful game of baseball, it was a rather intriguing inquiry. From a business standpoint, how do you in fact grow a multi-billion-dollar entity?

This is the first of a 3-part series in which Mr. Myers and I will try to take on the task of expanding the game of baseball.  From the complaints of an overly long season to the objections to the length of the games, there are numerous items that must be addressed to ensure MLB’s success and future growth. With a growing number of parents concerned about the safety of their children playing football, MLB has a golden opportunity to attract thousands of new fans. It all starts with MLB’s presence on social media.

While I won’t go into too much detail in this article, MLB has a marketing problem that was highly evident in their ability to televise Gerrit Cole’s Yankee debut. Last summer, the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) highly marketed Zion Williamson’s Summer League debut with the New Orleans Pelicans. Williamson had yet to play a single minute of professional basketball, yet the way the NBA promoted him it appeared as if Jesus Christ himself was going to come down from the heavens and throw down a windmill slam. Gerrit Cole had just finished 2nd in Cy Young voting, put together a tremendous postseason in which he was practically unhittable, and was then rewarded with a $324 million contract from the New York Yankees, the most valuable team in professional baseball. Cole is as accomplished a pitcher there is in the league and generated a large amount of buzz in the offseason. Yet, one could not even find highlights from his two innings of work. MLB has to have hundreds of cameras out there capturing his every move. Every pitch, every strikeout, heck every step he takes as to be captured and uploaded onto social media. Yankees fans are captivated by his every move and for good reason as the man has as an electric of an arm as anyone in the game. Without even throwing a pitch, Mr. Cole is already New York royalty and is beloved by fans.

You want to grow the game? Start by showing kids on Twitter how baseball treats its stars. Illustrate how baseball players are beloved by their team’s fans and you may just catch the heart of young little leaguers who dream of making it to the pros. Furthermore, showcase the talent level that is found at the big-league level. Gerrit Cole averages a 96.5 MPH fastball and also possesses one of the nastiest sliders in baseball. Market those pitches. Make the videos accessible via Twitter and highlight the difference in pitches by signifying the high level of velocity or the exemplary spin rate. While the duration of the game may make it “boring,” there are still flashes of brilliance that must be emphasized to the novel baseball fan for the game to see consistent growth.

As a devoted Yankees fan, I was highly disappointed that Gerrit Cole’s first Yankees start was not broadcasted. However, it brought to light an important issue that MLB must address as its lack of marketability is concerning.

Tatum and Mitchell Duel in Utah

by Jacksonrboland, posted in NBA

Jayson Tatum has been the best player in basketball since he returned from the All-Star break. I don’t want to hear an argument against that because I really don’t see one. Tatum closed out this four game road trip averaging 34.5 points a game on 57 percent shooting. Yes, FIFTY-SEVEN PERCENT from the field…insane. Tatum did it again Wednesday night with 33 points and 11 rebounds in a 114-103 win in Utah. He’s playing like a man possessed right now and I could go on and on about him, but I’ll hold back. I wouldn’t be doing anyone justice without paying my respect to Donovan Mitchell. He was unreal Wednesday night. Mitchell had 37 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and the Celtics didn’t have answer for him. Fortunately for the C’s, no one else on Utah could make shots. Really, it was pretty sloppy offensively to start for both teams, but with two top ten defenses going at it, you kind of expect good looks to be at a premium.

Here’s just a glimpse of Tatum’s night:

Courtesy: Boston Celtics

It looked like Tatum was going to need to do it himself after the first half ended. Tatum had 25 of his 33 points in the first two quarters and was shooting 10-13 from the field. The rest of the starters? A BRUTAL 28 points on 8-26 shooting combined….that’s TOUGH, man. Especially considering the Celtics pretty much rely solely on their starters for scoring production. Luckily, the reinforcements were there in the second half. Jaylen Brown took over the third quarter. When Tatum went to the bench, Brown reminded us once again he’s really good, too, and scored seven straight points. It helped ignite a Celtic’s offense that was looking pretty lackluster. Then, it was Marcus Smart’s turn in the fourth. After starting 0-5 from three, he rattled off three straight threes to put the Celts up 13, which seemingly took the Jazz out of it. It wasn’t sexy, but Daniel Theis’ game cannot be ignored. He was consistent and helped keep the Celtics afloat despite some offensive struggles in the first half. His stat line won’t blow you away, 16 points and 7 boards, but they don’t leave Utah with a win without him. Theis was a big reason Rudy Gobert could never get going, and let me tell you, I never thought that would be something I write down.

Courtesy: The Boston Herald

This was a road trip to remember for Jayson Tatum, but no one wants to get back to Boston more quickly than Gordon Hayward. He was bad tonight. It was easy to see from his body language coming back to Utah was hard for him. It’s even tougher considering the Jazz faithful boo’ed him every time he touched the ball. Literally, every time. I mean, I respect it from Jazz fans, but it looked like it got to Hayward and took him out of the game. He still mustered up 12 points, but on a poor 4-12 shooting. He had some really good looks, too, the stroke just wasn’t there.

Don’t get it twisted, this is an impressive win for the Celtics. Game two of a back-to-back closing out a West Coast trip, the Celts easily could’ve phoned it in and said just get us back to Boston. But, they came out with some fire Wednesday night, especially defensively, must’ve read my blog following the Blazers game. They were putting pressure on the Jazz all night and were contesting almost every shot. That’s the Celtics defense I know and love. They head back to Boston finishing 3-1 on the road trip and are now only a game back of Toronto for the 2 seed in the East. The C’s have more than earned this nice two day break before facing the Rockets back at the Garden on Saturday.

Hopefully, they use that time to get healthy. Yes, I’m talking to you, Kemba.

Tatum Does It Again, but We Can’t Forget Jaylen Brown

by Jacksonrboland, posted in Basketball, NBA

Before I get to all the good things the Celtics did in the 118-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, I need to address the problems. Unlike Sunday, the defense was less than impressive. I know what you’re thinking, the Celtics won by 12 and held the Blazers to only 106 points, which in today’s NBA is pretty impressive. But, I thought the Celtics were more fortunate than good defensively. The Blazers had A LOT of good looks throughout the night, especially from three, the shots just didn’t fall. Hayward had a turnover problem, committing 5 and Marcus Smart couldn’t find his stroke going 4-16 from the field. Plus, no Damian Lillard for an already injury-riddled Blazers team really played in the Celtics’ favor. Negativity aside, The C’s took care of business against the shorthanded Blazers and gained some ground on the Toronto Raptors in the standings. Now to the good stuff.

I really wanted to start with Jaylen Brown, I really did, but Tatum stole the show once again. He followed up his 41 point performance in L.A. with 36 points on 14-22 shooting, including 8-12 from three. It was getting to the point I thought every shot he took was going in. Did you know he’s only 21? For the past two games, in which he’s averaging 38.5 points, he’s been wearing a purple arm band to pay homage to his idol, Kobe Bryant. He may never take it off. If he plays like this Wednesday against the Utah Jazz, he may ask for year-round West Coast trips.

Jaylen Brown wanted to remind us all Tatum isn’t the only young Celtic making strides this year. Brown put up 24 points along with 7 boards and was again pretty stout defensively. If he’s able to get to the basket with ease, like he was tonight, you can basically pencil in a solid performance from him. I know I bashed on them to start, but Hayward and Smart did a lot of good things, too. Hayward didn’t put up a lot of shots, but was efficient adding 12 points on 5-7 shooting. Marcus Smart took four of the first five shots of this game and missed them all, but then followed it up with three straight three pointers. That’s what he does. He’ll make you want to pull your hair out and then knock down big shot after big shot. My fellow Oklahoma State Cowboy also continued his case for an All-Defensive team. He came away with 2 steals, a block and forced CJ McCollum to take some tough shots, never letting him get comfortable. Like Brad Stevens once said, I love him and I trust him.

Speaking of Brad, he got his second technical in as many games. Go ahead and fact check me on this, there’s no way that’s ever happened to him before. Do we have a new bad boy in the NBA? I think so. They came away with the win Tuesday, but I’m interested to see how they come out and play Wednesday. They’ll be playing their second game of a back to back to end the West Coast trip, and then will have two days off before playing the Rockets on Saturday. This isn’t to say they don’t want to win, but if they get down, how much energy and fight are they going to show? This team is still trying to get healthy, so I wouldn’t blame them if they coast so they can get home. Of course I hope that doesn’t happen, but this team has aspirations far beyond a February win against the Jazz. The Jazz have been one of the more inconsistent teams this year, but will no doubt be a handful for the Celtics.

Oh, and Kemba missed his third straight game and by the time you’re reading this he’ll probably be ruled out for the game in Utah. I’m not worried, you’re worried.