In the case of the Boston Celtics, titles are all the pieces. Outdoors of a championship, nothing is nice sufficient. That’s been the idea of the fanbase ever since Invoice Russell set the (means too excessive) customary within the Sixties. And because the 2022-23 season didn’t finish with Banner 18, it was a failure.
However for 28 different franchises, the 12 months Boston simply had would have been a profitable one. It doesn’t should be handled as such by Celtics followers, however the moments alongside the way in which can nonetheless be appreciated.
So, with the offseason in full swing and our minds wanting extra into subsequent 12 months than final, let’s take a remaining take a look at probably the most memorable second from every participant on the roster in 2022-2023.
(The 2-way guys, JD Davison and Mfiondu Kabengele, and the deep bench gamers, Justin Champagnie, Justin Jackson, and Noah Vonleh, is not going to be included.)
Mike Muscala – Debut with Celtics
Boston traded for Mike Muscala on the deadline in an try to bolster their frontcourt, and in his debut for the Celtics, he gave them precisely what they needed. In a win over the Charlotte Hornets, Muscala nailed 4 three-pointers in 15:38 of motion, dropping 12 factors.
Honorable mentions: 27 factors vs. ATL, 18 factors vs. MIL
Luke Kornet – The Kornet Kontest
Surprisingly, there have been a couple of totally different Luke Kornet moments that will have been good for this spot, however not selecting the Kornet Kontest can be a criminal offense.
Kornet appeared in 69 video games for the Celtics this previous season, however he made a reputation for himself together with his distinctive fashion of protection. Watching Kornet leap within the paint together with his fingers up excessive to defend three-pointers was an expertise loved by native and nationwide broadcasters alike, and it was even adopted by different gamers across the league.
Honorable mentions: The chook celebration, Consuming Jayson Tatum’s Ruffles
Payton Pritchard – 30-point triple-double
This looks like a type of made-up stats posted on Twitter that’s used to farm engagements, however no — Payton Pritchard really notched a 30-point triple-double within the remaining recreation of the common season.
On an evening the place neither staff was rolling out their starters, Pritchard completely took over, torching the Atlanta Hawks’ secondary guys. He completed the sport with 30 factors, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, additionally becoming a member of James Harden because the second participant in NBA historical past with at the least 9 made threes in the identical recreation as a triple-double.
Honorable mentions: January 21 vs. Raptors, offensive rebounding machine
Blake Griffin – Headbutted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Selecting only one Blake Griffin second from final season is unfair, but when there needed to be one, getting headbutted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo and continuing to chuckle in his face must be on the high of the listing.
Griffin dedicated a wrap-around foul on Antetokounmpo to forestall a layup, then the Bucks ahead headbutted him as a response, and all he did was take a step again and begin laughing. The Celtics ahead then proceeded to placed on Jaylen Brown’s masks as a joke whereas on the bench.
Honorable mentions: Bus One Boys, 5 threes towards 76ers
Sam Hauser – Breakout recreation vs. Pistons
This was an enormous 12 months for Sam Hauser, as he emerged as a respectable rotation piece for the Celtics, and his exhibiting towards the Detroit Pistons on November 9 was the start of his ascension.
Hauser nailed six three-pointers and completed the sport with a then-career-high 24 factors, serving to Boston to a 16-point victory. From then on out, Hauser was a reliable bench choice for Joe Mazzulla and among the best three-point shooters within the league (particularly within the first half of the season).
Honorable mentions: Dunk-fest vs. Raptors, game-tying shot vs. Bucks
Grant Williams – Recreation 2 vs. 76ers
Sadly for Grant Williams, many followers will solely bear in mind his lows, however the former Celtics ahead was a optimistic presence on each ends of the courtroom, and his influence reached its peak this season in Recreation 2 of the Jap convention semifinals towards the Philadelphia 76ers.
After incomes sporadic minutes as much as that time within the postseason, Williams burst onto the scene in Recreation 2. His hustle and three-point stroke led to a 12-point, four-rebound, four-assist recreation, which helped raise Boston to a 34-point victory and their first win of the collection.
Honorable mentions: Recreation 4 vs. Warmth, 25 factors vs. Raptors
Robert Williams – Recreation 3 vs. Hawks
Compared to his breakout marketing campaign within the 2021-22 season, Robert Williams had a comparatively quiet 12 months. He returned from surgical procedure halfway by December and didn’t play back-to-backs, however in Recreation 3 towards the Hawks, Williams got here to play.
Boston struggled with rebounding towards Atlanta, so naturally, Williams got here to the rescue. He recorded 13 factors, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, serving to the Celtics to an eight-point win.
Honorable mentions: Jan. 7 vs. Spurs, season debut vs. Magic
Malcolm Brogdon – Recreation 2 vs. 76ers
Recreation 2 towards the 76ers was a blowout win for the Celtics, and Malcolm Brogdon will share the second with Williams as his better of the 12 months. In what was a three-point barrage, Brogdon chipped in with six triples, serving to bury Philadelphia.
Brogdon ended the sport with 23 factors, six rebounds, and two assists, ending second on the staff in scoring behind solely Jaylen Brown’s 25. It was the proper illustration of Brogdon’s three-point prowess, because the veteran guard completed fourth within the league in three-point proportion this 12 months (44.4%).
Honorable mentions: 30 factors vs. Hornets, Recreation 2 vs. Hawks
Al Horford – Recreation 3 vs. 76ers (Elite shooter)
Within the first two video games of the East semifinals towards the 76ers, Al Horford shot simply 2-for-12 from three. Whereas talking with reporters earlier than Recreation 3, he referred to as himself an “elite shooter,” drawing fun from the media scrum. Horford shortly questioned the chuckle and proceeded to have his finest recreation of the postseason.
The veteran large man poured in 5 three-pointers on seven makes an attempt, ending the sport with 17 factors, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. His three-point masterclass lifted Boston to a 12-point win and proved that he’s, in actual fact, an elite shooter.
Honorable mentions: Jan. 19 vs. Warriors, Recreation 7 vs. 76ers (Defending Joel Embiid)
Marcus Good – Recreation 6 vs. 76ers
Recreation 6 of the East semifinals will probably be remembered as the sport the place Jayson Tatum wakened within the fourth quarter, however Marcus Good is the rationale the Celtics gained that contest. As Tatum’s struggles continued, Good stepped up, giving Boston all the pieces he had.
Good completed the sport with 22 factors, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, offering his ordinary hustle protection and power to associate with the stat line. With out Good’s contributions, Boston would have been watching Philadelphia have fun an Jap Convention Finals beginning (for the primary time since 2001).
Honorable mentions: Recreation 5 vs. Warmth, 15 assists vs. Hornets
Derrick White – Recreation-winner vs. Warmth in Recreation 6
Whereas it might have been a lot sweeter if the Celtics had taken down the Miami Warmth in Recreation 7, Derrick White’s Recreation 6 buzzer-beater was by far his finest second of the 12 months. Simply when it appeared like all hope was misplaced and the season was over, White got here swooping in with a putback to ship the Jap Convention Finals to a historic Recreation 7.
White had an outstanding playoff run for the Celtics, dominating the Hawks and (for probably the most half) appearing as their finest participant towards the Warmth. His Recreation 6 heroics introduced Celtics followers from the bottom low to the very best excessive in a literal millisecond.
Honorable mentions: Video games 1 and a pair of vs. Hawks, Jap Convention Participant of the Week
Jaylen Brown – Recreation 6 vs. Hawks
In what was an elite recreation for each himself and Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown helped the Celtics shut out the Hawks in fashion in Recreation 6. Boston’s 10-point fourth-quarter victory fueled the win, and Brown was the headliner all evening lengthy.
Highlighted by a 13-point second quarter, Brown exploded for a game-high 32 factors to associate with 5 rebounds and two assists whereas taking pictures 13-of-25 from the sphere and 6-of-8 from distance. He had a couple of monster scoring nights within the common season (some to associate with a double-double), however placing up 32 in a closeout recreation takes the cake.
Honorable mentions: Recreation-tying shot vs. Warmth, 41 factors vs. Spurs
Jayson Tatum – Recreation 7 vs. 76ers
There was by no means going to be one other selection for Jayson Tatum. With the season on the road, the Celtics celebrity put up a whopping 51 factors to ship the 76ers packing and Boston to their fifth Jap Convention finals look in seven years.
Along with his large scoring evening, which he achieved on 17-of-28 taking pictures from the sphere and 6-of-10 taking pictures from deep, Tatum added 13 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals, and 11 made free throws to his totals. It was an totally dominant efficiency from among the best gamers within the league, and he did it on the grandest stage after a collection filled with disappointment. Completely unbelievable.
Honorable mentions: game-winner vs. 76ers, Recreation 4 vs. Warmth
