With regards to the Boston Celtics, titles are every thing. Exterior of a championship, nothing is sweet sufficient. That’s been the assumption of the fanbase ever since Invoice Russell set the (method too excessive) customary within the Sixties. And for the reason that 2022-23 season didn’t finish with Banner 18, it was a failure.
However for 28 different franchises, the yr Boston simply had would have been a profitable one. It doesn’t need to 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 trying extra into subsequent yr than final, let’s take a ultimate 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, won’t 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 just a few totally different Luke Kornet moments that might have been excellent for this spot, however not selecting the Kornet Kontest can be against the law.
Kornet appeared in 69 video games for the Celtics this previous season, however he made a reputation for himself along with his distinctive type of protection. Watching Kornet leap within the paint along with his arms 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 chicken 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 truly notched a 30-point triple-double within the ultimate recreation of the common season.
On an evening the place neither crew 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 not less than 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
Choosing 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 snort 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 in opposition to 76ers
Sam Hauser – Breakout recreation vs. Pistons
This was an enormous yr for Sam Hauser, as he emerged as a professional rotation piece for the Celtics, and his displaying in opposition to 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 possibility for Joe Mazzulla and among the finest 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 constructive presence on each ends of the court docket, and his impression reached its peak this season in Recreation 2 of the Japanese convention semifinals in opposition to 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 elevate Boston to a 34-point victory and their first win of the sequence.
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 yr. He returned from surgical procedure halfway by way of December and didn’t play back-to-backs, however in Recreation 3 in opposition to the Hawks, Williams got here to play.
Boston struggled with rebounding in opposition to 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 in opposition to the 76ers was a blowout win for the Celtics, and Malcolm Brogdon will share the second with Williams as his better of the yr. 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 crew in scoring behind solely Jaylen Brown’s 25. It was the right illustration of Brogdon’s three-point prowess, because the veteran guard completed fourth within the league in three-point share this yr (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 in opposition to 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 amusing from the media scrum. Horford rapidly questioned the chuckle and proceeded to have his greatest recreation of the postseason.
The veteran massive 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, the truth is, 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 can be remembered as the sport the place Jayson Tatum awakened 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 every thing he had.
Good completed the sport with 22 factors, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, offering his standard hustle protection and power to go together with the stat line. With out Good’s contributions, Boston would have been watching Philadelphia have a good time an Japanese 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 could 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 greatest second of the yr. 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 Japanese 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 greatest participant in opposition to the Warmth. His Recreation 6 heroics introduced Celtics followers from the bottom low to the best excessive in a literal millisecond.
Honorable mentions: Video games 1 and a pair of vs. Hawks, Japanese 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 type in Recreation 6. Boston’s 10-point fourth-quarter victory fueled the win, and Brown was the headliner all night time lengthy.
Highlighted by a 13-point second quarter, Brown exploded for a game-high 32 factors to go together with 5 rebounds and two assists whereas capturing 13-of-25 from the sector and 6-of-8 from distance. He had just a few monster scoring nights within the common season (some to go together 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 famous person put up a whopping 51 factors to ship the 76ers packing and Boston to their fifth Japanese Convention finals look in seven years.
Along with his large scoring night time, which he achieved on 17-of-28 capturing from the sector and 6-of-10 capturing 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 finest gamers within the league, and he did it on the grandest stage after a sequence filled with disappointment. Completely unbelievable.
Honorable mentions: game-winner vs. 76ers, Recreation 4 vs. Warmth