Community Picks: Toronto 0% vs Boston 0%

They were the alphas (along with Al Horford), the guys with the ball in their hands leading a team to the conference finals, and they liked it — these are young players trying to carve out a role (or, in Rozier's case, prove to other team's he's a starting point guard) and they didn't want to take a step back. But that's what had to happen with the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to the rotation. The result was a lack of a pecking order on offense, uncomfortable sacrifices, and precious little of the fluid play that got them within a game of the Finals a year ago. Continue to Article

January 15, 2019 8:22:pm EST

The Boston Celtics' defense has been on a downward spiral lately, but they may get a much-needed boost with the possible return of Aron Baynes tomorrow night against the Toronto Raptors. Out with a left fourth metacarpal fracture injury, Baynes is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game for the first time since suffering the injury in December. Baynes, whose defensive rating a year ago (96.6) was tops in the NBA, has once again been among the league's better defenders this season with a defensive rating this season of 97.3 which is tops in the NBA among players who have appeared in at least 25 games and average at least 14 minutes like Baynes. Continue to Article

January 15, 2019 8:18:pm EST

The Toronto Raptors will visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in a matchup that was once expected to be a battle of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors (33-12) have done their part, leading the conference with the best record in the NBA. The Celtics, meanwhile, are fifth in the East at 25-18, seven games behind. Continue to Article

January 15, 2019 3:27:pm EST

Jayson Tatum to debut Nike's self-lacing "Adapt BB" shoe vs. Raptors originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com Nike has chosen one of the NBA's brightest young stars to debut its shoe of the future. Nike on Tuesday rolled out the Adapt BB, a laceless basketball shoe that can be adjusted via mobile app. And Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will be the first to wear the new-age kicks Wednesday night in Boston's home game against the Toronto Raptors. Continue to Article

January 15, 2019 11:04:am EST

Jaylen Brown weighs in on Celtics' issues: "We can't point fingers" originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com A few Boston Celtics players -- notably Kyrie Irving -- have opened up about the team's struggles during a disappointing road trip. On Monday night, it was Jaylen Brown's turn. Following a 109-102 loss, the Celtics' third in a row, Brown was asked about how the team can play less uptight and gave a noteworthy answer. Continue to Article

January 15, 2019 8:00:am EST