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Steve Nash Is Being Exposed Against Boston

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3 years ago

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Steve Nash Is Being Exposed Against Boston


NEW YORK – So now we all know why the Celtics didn’t exit of the best way to keep away from the Nets within the first spherical, didn’t kick away the season finale (hello, Milwaukee), didn’t sweat the outcomes of the play-in like a excessive schooler does the SAT. Brooklyn had star energy, however no system. An explosive offense that, because it seems, didn’t have a prayer in opposition to the NBA’s stingiest protection.

Boston took Sport 3 of its first-round sequence in opposition to Brooklyn, grabbing a commanding 3–0 lead. The primary quarter was shut. Jayson Tatum acquired scorching for the Celtics. Kyrie Irving and Bruce Brown carried the Nets. Each groups shot 50% from the ground. After a back-and-forth second quarter, Boston went into the locker room up three.

The Nets ought to have stayed there. Two minutes into the third, the Celtics swelled the result in 10. Brooklyn clawed its manner again a number of instances. Brown, the Boston-born guard, scored a team-high 26. Nic Claxton added 13 factors and 7 rebounds off the bench. However the Nets have been greedy. Late within the third quarter, Steve Nash inserted Blake Griffin, who had not performed a significant minute in additional than a month. Griffin knocked down a pair of threes and two free throws in his eight minutes. He was additionally hunted relentlessly on the defensive finish and completed his stint a minus-four.

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“It’s disappointing,” Steve Nash stated. “Clearly we didn’t play an excellent recreation.”

The Celtics at the moment are one win away from advancing and this group appears poised to make a run. Boston’s protection is choking. They compelled 21 turnovers on Saturday, scoring 37 factors off them. Irving completed with 16 factors, lacking all seven of his threes. Durant’s closing stat line appears respectable—16 factors, eight rebounds, eight assists—however for the third straight recreation Durant regarded pedestrian. Halfway by way of the second quarter, he had three discipline purpose makes an attempt. He didn’t crack double figures till deep into the third. After trying 20 free throws in Sport 2, Durant didn’t rise up his first try till late within the fourth.

“Only a shitty recreation, man,” stated Durant. “Shitty recreation.”

What’s the deal? Durant has performed in dozens of playoff sequence in his profession. This one could also be his worst. He dedicated 5 turnovers in Sport 3, the third straight recreation he has kicked away 5 or extra. He was outscored within the first half by Payton Pritchard. Brown tried eight extra pictures than him. After failing to make a shot within the second half of Sport 2, Durant didn’t have an official try over the ultimate 11 minutes of Sport 3.

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“I’m simply considering an excessive amount of, to be trustworthy,” stated Durant. “This complete sequence … the primary two video games, I used to be making an attempt to be too aggressive. A group is loading up on me, taking me out of all my actions, I felt like was making an attempt to power it. My method to this recreation was to play off of everyone. Get within the circulate of the offense. Let the ball transfer and discover me … I felt that we had an excellent circulate.”

A few of that is on Durant. He needs to be higher. However his coach isn’t serving to. “I don’t assume fatigue has set in,” stated Durant. OK. However Durant performed 46 minutes on Saturday. He performed 42 in Sport 2 and 41 in Sport 1. Within the final six video games of the common season, Durant averaged 42. Boston is sending waves of bodily defenders at Durant, from Tatum to Jaylen Brown to Grant Williams. They’re sapping Durant’s vitality. And Nash continues to depart him on the ground.

The most important mismatch of this sequence is within the teaching field. Ime Udoka is dominating. That is Phil Jackson vs. John Calipari. Joe Torre vs. Grady Little. Invoice Parcells vs. Wealthy Kotite. It’s develop into embarrassing. Brooklyn’s offense is a gentle food plan of isolations. Motion is minimal. They set screens to create switches, however in these conditions Boston’s protection doesn’t miss a beat. Accidents to Ben Simmons and Joe Harris have crippled Brooklyn’s depth however 5 minutes of Cam Thomas within the second quarter can’t be worse than watching a visibly exhausted Durant fumble by way of the ultimate minutes.

Nash’s job safety wasn’t in query coming into this sequence. Now it might be a miracle if he survived it.

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Boston will survive, will advance and the query turns into—who would you prefer to beat them? “We play each side of the ball aggressively,” Brown stated. “That is what we like, that is what we take delight in.” Tatum broke out of a mini scoring droop to attain 39 factors in Sport 3. Brown (23 factors) typically appears like the following finest participant on the ground. Marcus Good continues to thrive as a playmaker and Williams’s physicality has made an affect. Robert Williams, the Celtics’ defensive anchor, made his return following a monthlong absence from knee surgical procedure and performed 16 pain-free minutes.

“Getting Rob again is large for our group,” stated Tatum. “I may be Rob’s largest fan.”

The Nets tried to strike an optimistic tone after the sport. “It’s about our character now,” Nash stated. “About digging deep and having delight.” Ben Simmons is prone to make his debut in Sport 4 however … come on. No group has come again from a 3–0 deficit and Brooklyn doesn’t appear like it will likely be the primary. The Nets gave the impression to be the boogeyman coming into the postseason. The Celtics are one win away from slaying it. 

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Boston, MA

Pelicans' Brandon Boston honors a late friend in his pregame ritual. 'You don't ever recover.'

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6 hours ago

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November 24, 2024

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Pelicans' Brandon Boston honors a late friend in his pregame ritual. 'You don't ever recover.'


Three years ago, Boston made a small change. He started tucking a five dollar bill into his shoe before taking the court. Five was significant to him because it was the jersey number his close friend and former college teammate, Terrence Clarke, wore.



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Boston College Football Coach, Players Talk Impact of 1984 Team on 40th Anniversary of Hail Flutie

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14 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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Boston College Football Coach, Players Talk Impact of 1984 Team on 40th Anniversary of Hail Flutie


Saturday was an important day for the Boston College football program. 

Not only did the Eagles secure bowl eligibility with a 41-21 win over the UNC Tar Heels, but it also marked the 40th anniversary of the “Hail Flutie,” a Hail Mary touchdown pass that former quarterback Doug Flutie threw as time expired to give Boston College a 47-45 win over the reigning national champions the Miami Hurricanes. 

Members of the 1984 team were in attendance at Alumni Stadium and were honored as a way to mark the milestone. 

After the game, Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien as well as quarterback Grayson James and offensive lineman Drew Kendall spoke about the impact of that team and how them being at the game helped them come out with the victory. 

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“It’s sweet,” said James. “Just being able to know what he’s done, done for this program, just being able to see guys like that come back and support, it’s awesome. It makes us want to put on a show for them and put on a show for the whole BC community, so it definitely got us going knowing that team was there today.” 

Kendall emphasized that the season and that team made impacts on the program that are still felt today. 

“Obviously they kind of put Boston College on the map,” said Kendall. “They were, I believe, a top five team in the country, No. 2- I’m not 100-percent, but they really put Boston College on the map and what they did has kind of allowed Boston College as a program to thrive. Of course Doug Flutie is the only Heisman at Boston College so hopefully we can get another one day but their toughness and their determination has really rubbed off through the program throughout the years.” 

O’Brien shared that he showed film from the Hail Flutie game the day before the Eagles matchup against the Tar Heels as a part of preparation.

“I told them in this room on Friday, I showed them the last drive of the Miami game,” said O’Brien. “That that was a team, quite obviously, that played 60 minutes. They understood what playing 60 minutes was all about and on this screen right behind me, I showed that drive. And then, when you have the ‘84 team here, they were 10-2, ranked fifth in the country, Heisman Trophy winner in the house, you got to play well. It’s kind of in the same vein a little bit as the Red Bandanna Game, like you got to play well in these games. There’s a lot of tradition here at Boston College and for those guys to be here meant a lot to our program and it was important for us to go out there and win.” 

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Injury Updates: Boston College Football vs UNC

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23 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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Injury Updates: Boston College Football vs UNC


The Boston College Eagles (5-5, 2-4 ACC) football team looks to become bowl eligible as it returns to Alumni Stadium to take on the UNC Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3 ACC).

Both teams are currently dealing with injuries in the program.

Below is a look at the latest injury updates for both teams.

[This story will be updated throughout the game with the latest injury news].

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LB Caleb LaVallee | Questionable: Tar Heels linebacker Caleb LaVallee’s status for today’s game has yet to be determined. He has not played since UNC’s Nov. 2 game against FSU. He is dealing with a lower body injury and has been reportedly “monitored” this week.

RB Darwin Barlow | Questionable: Tar Heels running back Darwin Barlow’s status has yet to be revealed. Barlow’s appeared in three games this season, most recently in the team’s Nov. 2 game against FSU. 

TE Bryson Nesbit | Out: Tar Heels tight end Bryson Nesbit will miss the game against the Eagles with an injury. 

DB Max Tucker | Out: Eagles defensive back Max Tucker will miss the Eagles game against UNC. Tucker exited Boston College’s matchup against No. 13 SMU early in the game and did not return. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien considered him “day-to-day.” 

DB Bryquice Brown | Out: Eagles defensive back Bryquice Brown will miss the Eagles game against UNC. Brown exited Boston College’s matchup against No. 13 SMU and did not return. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien considered him “day-to-day.” 

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LB Kam Arnold | Questionable: Eagles linebacker Kam Arnold’s status for today’s game has yet to be revealed. Arnold has missed Boston College’s last three games with an upper body injury. 

RB Turbo Richard | Questionable: Eagles running back Turbo Richard’s status for the game has also not been revealed. Like Arnold, Richard has also missed the Eagles last three games as he’s dealing with an ankle injury. 

Players Out For Season: LB Owen McGowan, CB Amari Jackson, RB Alex Broome, LB Jaylen Blackwell. 



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