601: Has Jayson Tatum Surpassed Giannis Antetokounmpo w/ Keith Smith

Last day of the season for the Boston Celtics? LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of wrapping this series up with a sweep in Boston.  Will they do it? And how much does this affect the Celtics going forward? Does it in any way hinder the success of this 2015 season.   In a word: No.  The Celtics had a great season and possess an even greater future.  LHR will explain why on this week’s edition of Celtics Beat.   LHR will also have a special sitdown conversation with 2015 Naismith Hall of Fame Inductee, former Boston Celtic great and two-time NBA World Champion - Jo Jo White.  Jo Jo’s accolades are need little explanation.  A multiple time All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist, his number 10 jersey hangs amongst past Celtics greats in the Garden rafters.  After retiring from the NBA nearly 40 years ago, Jo Jo finally got the call to the Hall during last month’s NCAA Final Four.  To say this was special for Jo Jo would be an understatement. The show will be released this Sunday for coverage of the Boston Celtics in the 2015 NBA Playoffs prior to Sunday’s Game 4.  It’s Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and audiblepodcast.com/celtics.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, April 26, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Apr 20151h 1min

The Boston Celtics are in the NBA’s postseason.  Their reward? LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Game 1 is today at 3 PM ET on ABC.  But Celtics Beat? Right now, wherever you are. This series will broken down in a few angles to say the very least. First up will be David Aldridge - the long time NBA scribe who is now providing his astute work for TNT, NBAtv and NBA.com.  On deck will be Dave McMenamin of who covers the Cavs and the NBA for ESPN.  Quite simply, do the Boston Celtics stand a chance? Well tune into find out.  The show will be released this Sunday for coverage of the Boston Celtics in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.  It’s Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and audiblepodcast.com/celtics.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, April 19, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Apr 20151h 1min

The Boston Celtics are on the brink of the NBA’s postseason in the regular season’s final week.  Can the Celtics close the deal? They all count now, including today’s potential playoff preview against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Garden before the Celts wrap up the regular season with two midweek contests against Toronto and in Milwaukee.   But no matter what happens: Is this 2015 season a success for the Celtics regardless? We’ll pose that very question to Wyc Grousbeck, along with much, much more in our lengthy chat with the lead owner of the Boston Celtics himself. So tune in this Sunday for the 100th episode of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and audiblepodcast.com/celtics.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, April 12, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Apr 20151h 2min

They’re still alive - it’s the first week of April and the Boston Celtics remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference race for the final spot in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.   LHR will be joined by Gary Tanguay, host of the Arbella Early Edition on Comcast Sports Net New England.  In LHR’s mind - it is safe to call this season a success for the Celts no matter what happens from here on out.  What does Gary think? And do the Celtics still need to make a transformative move or can they let this current roster grow will adding bits and pieces along the way? Should the Celtics go all in on a move for say, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Rose, or (gasp!) Kevin Durant?   LHR will also wrap the show up by going Around the NBA in 5. So tune in this Sunday for another edition of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and audiblepodcast.com/celtics  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, April 5, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Apr 20151h 2min

Now the real fun begins as this is judgment week for the Boston Celtics.  Five games in the next days starting with the Doc Rivers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and the Los Angeles Clippers in Boston Sunday night.  Then of course three critical contests await the Celtics starting with a trip down to Charlotte tomorrow to face the Hornets, then some home games with the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks, before a trip north of the border to finish the week against the Toronto Raptors.  The NBA Playoffs may very well be on the line for the Celtics this week.   Boston concluded the last full week of March by sweeping two New York foes in the Nets and Knicks, but dropped some winnable games at home against the Pistons and Heat.  Are there some signs of fatigue that could be setting in? Were those games a warning sign? LHR will discuss this topic and more with new Celtics beat reporter for the Boston Globe, Adam Himmelsbach.   LHR will also wrap the show up by going Around the NBA in 5. So tune in this Sunday for another edition of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and Peak Organic Brewing Company.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, March 29, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 Mars 20151h 1min

Spring is here and so is the sprint to the finish line for the Boston Celtics and the rest of the NBA.  The green team finds themselves right in the midst of the chase for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs.  Larry H. Russell will break down the week that was for the Celtics.  Was it a successful week? Two tough, but somewhat expected losses against two elite Western Conference foes in the Oklahoma City Thunder and the World Champion San Antonio Spurs followed the end of the Celts’ five game winning streak.   Whatever one makes of it, it’s in the books.  LHR will look ahead to what could very well be a make-or-break week for Boston’s playoff hopes with huge games against foes like the Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat.  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves either, as Boston has their hands full tonight when Greg Monroe comes to town with the rest of the Detroit Pistons.   And of course, the guest: LHR will be privileged to be joined by Basketball Hall of Famer Jackie MacMullan of ESPN Boston.  There are few in the media who know more regarding the state of the Celtics than Jackie, and she’ll be sure to provide the Celtics Beat audience the lowdown on Brad Stevens, the Celtics now, and the Celtics in the future.  What does Jackie make of them? More importantly, what do those in an around the NBA make of the Boston Celtics franchise.   LHR will also wrap the show up by going Around the NBA in 5.   So tune in this Sunday for another edition of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and Peak Organic Brewing Company.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, March 22, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Mars 20151h 2min

The Ides of March are upon us: A major checkpoint in the NBA season.  The sprint to the finish line now begins.  Who knew as late as mid January that the Boston Celtics would play a major factor in the outlook of the 2015 NBA campaign?   The playoff chase is officially on.  It was a busy, but successful week for the Celtics with a real highlight win over the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Wednesday.  Plus the team picked up some solid victories against the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.  Fans are thrilled, and host Larry H. Russell is one of them.   LHR will be joined by Ian Thomsen, now of NBA.com.  Ian wrote a feature on Danny Ainge and the Celtics rebuilding project back on February 17th titled “Danny Ainge’s Balancing Act.”  LHR will discuss that feature with Ian, and will dive into further detail with where Ian thinks the Celtics stand in all of this.  How does Boston’s rebuilding plan stack up? Particularly against the rival New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers?   LHR will also wrap the show up by going Around the NBA in 5.   So tune in this Sunday for another edition of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and Peak Organic Brewing Company.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, March 15, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 Mars 20151h 3min

Busy week for the Boston Celtics - I mean real busy.  Plenty of games to talk about, both good and bad.  And plenty of news to talk about, which has been mostly good.   There’s a lot of talk of who the Celts will sign this off-season, and there was even a possible transaction this week with Javale McGee.  Alas, it fell through.  Host LHR will be sure to touch upon that as well as the possibilities this summer as he did in today’s column.   The Celts stayed busy on the court as well with a slew of games this week.  LHR will react on the week that was and look ahead to tonight’s game with former Orlando Magic player Jeff Turner, now serving as the Magic’s color man on FOX Sports Florida.  After a respectable start, Orlando was really fizzled out.  What went wrong? And how can the Celtics exploit some of Orlando’s weaknesses if they want to get this much needed road win?   That’s not all - there’s plenty to talk about around the league as well.  Boston fans saw first hand the greatness of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.  Is he the front runner for the NBA’s MVP award? What about James Harden or LeBron James? Tas Melas of The Starters on NBAtv will stop by to discuss that and more with LHR.   LHR will also wrap the show up by going Around the NBA in 5. So tune in this Sunday for another edition of Celtics Beat, presented by lynda.com/clns and Peak Organic Brewing Company.  Available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Sunday, March 8, 2015.  Powered by CLNS Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Mars 20151h