Ranking the 10 Best Players in Celtics-Raptors Series

The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will meet in the postseason for the first time ever during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The third-seeded Celtics are tasked with beating the Raptors, the No. 2 seed, without forward Gordon Hayward. Hayward is expected to miss the series after injuring his ankle in Game 1 of Boston's first-round series against Philadelphia.

Pascal Siakam and Jaylen Brown are set to battle in the Conference Semifinals. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

With Hayward out for Boston, the Celtics will be devoid their fourth-best player. So who are the best players in this series? Let's rank the top-10 ahead of the Celtics-Raptors best-of-seven showdown.

10. OG Anunoby

Toronto's starting small forward, OG Anunoby is most known for his defense. He guarded Brooklyn's Caris LeVert well in the opening round, holding the wing to 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting in total minutes of 1-on-1 defense in the Raptors' sweep.

9. Normal Powell

The Raptors hold a +62 with Norman Powell on the court, the best player +/- of the 2020 NBA postseason. The guard averaged 17.5 points in the first round, shooting 60.5% from the floor and 45.5% on 3's.

Powell shined in the Raptors' series-clinching victory over the Nets. He went off for 29 points (9-for-14), five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 24 minutes.

8. Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka, Toronto's top reserve, averaged 19.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the opening round. 

Due to in-season injuries to Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol, Ibaka started 27 games this season. He logged 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in 55 appearances. Ibaka is a far more important player than Gasol, the starting center who failed to crack this list.

7. Marcus Smart

One of the best defensive players in basketball, Marcus Smart is the heart and soul of the Celtics. He registered career highs in points (12.9), assists (4.9) and free throw percentage (83.6) this season.

In the wake of Hayward's injury, Smart has been pressed into Boston's starting lineup. Due to various injuries for the Celtics across the year, Smart made 40 starts in 60 games played in 2019-20.

6. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet was Toronto's best player in its four-game shellacking of the Nets. He averaged team-bests in points (21.3) and assists (7.8), while shooting a remarkable 55.9 percent from downtown. 

An impending free agent, the combo guard will be one of the most coveted players on the open market this offseason.

5. Kemba Walker

Boston's prized offseason acquisition, Kemba Walker finally won his first career playoff series, producing 24.3 points in the Celtics' sweep of the 76ers. He poured in a game-best 32 points in the series finale.

Walker, a starting guard for the Eastern Conference All-Star squad, had just four turnovers all series despite a hefty 26.9% usage rate.

4. Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown, Boston's top two-way player, accumulated 21.5 points with 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal per contest in the first round.

3. Kyle Lowry

Lowry's status (ankle sprain) for Game 1 remains a mystery, but assuming he's good to go, the Raptors' longtime All-Star point guard can be expected to do the playmaking on offense and spearheading the NBA's top-ranked defense. 

2. Pascal Siakam

Siakam led the Raptors in scoring and player efficiency this season. An All-Star starter, Siakam is Toronto's best player, a year after being the No. 2 option on its championship-winning squad.

1. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum was on fire against Philadelphia and looks like a true superstar. Holding massive value to the Celtics, Boston owned a +19 net rating in his 145 minutes on the court versus the 76ers. The Celtics logged a -9 during his 47 minutes on the bench.

Tatum produced team-bests per-game marks in points (27.0), rebounds (9.8) and blocks (2.3) in round one.

MLB Predictions 2020: Standings, Awards, Playoffs

American League

AL East

1. Tampa Bay Rays

2. New York Yankees*

3. Boston Red Sox

4. Toronto Blue Jays

5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Chicago White Sox*

3. Cleveland Indians*

4. Kansas City Royals

5. Detroit Tigers

AL West

1. Houston Astros

2. Oakland A's*

3. Los Angeles Angels*

4. Texas Rangers

5. Seattle Mariners

National League

NL East

1. Washington Nationals

2. Atlanta Braves*

3. Philadelphia Phillies

4. New York Mets

5. Miami Marlins

NL Central

1. Cincinnati Reds

2. Chicago Cubs*

3. St. Louis Cardinals*

4. Milwaukee Brewers

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. Arizona Diamondbacks*

3. San Diego Padres*

4. Colorado Rockies

5. San Francisco Giants

* Indicates playoff team (8 clubs in each league make 2020 postseason)

Awards

AL MVP: Mike Trout, Angels

AL Cy Young: Charlie Morton, Rays

AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, White Sox

AL Manager of the Year: Rich Renteria, White Sox

NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves

NL Cy Young: Walker Buehler, Dodgers

NL Rookie of the Year: Shogo Akiyama, Reds

NL Manager of the Year: Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks

Playoffs

AL Wild Card Series

Rays (1) defeat Angels (8)

Astros (2) defeat Indians (7)

Twins (3) defeat A's (6)

Yankees (4) defeat White Sox (5)

NL Wild Card Series

Dodgers (1) defeat Cardinals (8)

Reds (2) defeat Padres (7)

Nationals (3) defeat Cubs (6)

Braves (4) defeat Diamondbacks (5)

ALDS

Yankees (4) defeat Rays (1)

Astros (2) defeat Twins (3)

NLDS

Dodgers (1) defeat Braves (4)

Nationals (3) defeat Reds (2)

ALCS 

Yankees (4) defeat Astros (2)

NLCS

Dodgers (1) defeat Nationals (3)

World Series

Dodgers (1) defeat Yankees (4)

Tremont Waters Named G League Rookie of the Year

Boston Celtics guard Tremont Waters has been named the NBA G League's Rookie of the Year for the 2019-20 season. In 36 games with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, he averaged 18 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.9 steals in 33.8 minutes per game.  

The 51st overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of LSU, Waters split his time between the Celtics and the Red Claws this year as a two-way player. The point guard appeared in 10 games with the Celtics, posting 3.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 8.9 minutes per contest.

Tremont Waters won the 2020 G League Rookie of the Year. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Waters became the fourth Red Claw in franchise history to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Abdel Nader, Tim Frazier, and DeShawn Sims. In addition, Waters was selected to the Eastern Conference Midseason All-NBA G League team.

While the G League’s season was cut short, the NBA will soon begin its reboot in Orlando at the end of July. Waters will be eligible to play, as the league expanded its roster capacity to 17.

Tampa Bay Bucs QB coach: Offense will be Bruce Arians' with 'Brady influence'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback coach Clyde Christensen plans to "keep the offense the same" this season, with the addition of "a [Tom] Brady influence." Christensen says it will remain head coach Bruce Arians’ offense, guided by free-agent addition Tom Brady.

The Buccaneers passed on 62% of their downs last season, seventh-most in the NFL. Arians loves having his quarterbacks air the ball out. Brady fared well in his deep passes last season. According to Pro Football Reference, Brady was one of 14 QBs to post a passer Rating over 100 on throws at least 20 yards downfield.

Brady has two of the best receivers in the NFL by his side in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. The acquisition of longtime target Rob Gronkowski should help Brady and the Bucs become one of the most pass-friendly teams in the league.

The Bucs relied on the passing attack heavily last season, even with turnover prone Jameis Winston under center. When tied or leading, the Bucs passed 55% of the time, according to Sharp Football Stats. The Bucs will likely be ahead more this season than last, but that does not necessarily mean they will pass less often.

Brady, who is entering his age-43 season, has some of his best offensive weapons in a long time and will have plenty of passing opportunities. Sitting second all-time in passing yards and TD passes (trailing Drew Brees in both categories), Brady can pile on to his statistical greatness with the Bucs.

An Ode to Rodney Harrison, the Greatest Free Agent Signing in Patriots History

The NFL free agency market has been quiet lately. The 2020 NFL Draft, which runs April 23-25, is the feature event football fans now have to look forward to.

This year’s free agency period was brutal for the New England Patriots. They were gutted with departures, as franchise icon Tom Brady defected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 legendary seasons in New England.

The Patriots also lost linebackers Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins) and Jamie Collins (Lions). They did, however, add safety Adrian Phillips. An undrafted free agent, Phillips originally entered the NFL with the then-San Diego Chargers in 2014. The defensive back is most known for his elite special teams’ play. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and was named to the first-team All-Pro in 2018, both as a special teamer. Phillips suffered a broken arm in Week 2 last year, a season-ending injury that effectively ended his six-year run with the Chargers.

With the exciting part of free agency come and gone, it gives us a chance to look back on prior free agent signings. Specifically with regards to the Patriots, who is the best signing in team history? That honor belongs to Rodney Harrison.

Rodney Harrison: Patriots Career (2003-08) Overview 

After being released by the Chargers in February of 2003, the 31-year-old safety Harrison joined the Patriots on a six-year pact.

Harrison shined in his first season in New England, leading all NFL defensive backs in tackles (143) in an All-Pro campaign. Named a defensive captain, Harrison helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl with a dominant postseason, collecting two interceptions and a forced fumble across three playoff victories. He picked off a Jake Delhomme pass in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The following season, Harrison again led the league in tackles (138). He was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2004 and again made his mark in the postseason. Harrison intercepted Peyton Manning for the second consecutive postseason, this time in the divisional round in the Patriots’ win over the Indianapolis Colts. He had Manning’s number, and the five-time NFL MVP quarterback even gave a shutout to Harrison in his Hall of Fame speech.

Harrison came through with a pick-six the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. He intercepted a pass from then-rookie Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 87 yards for a TD.  

Adding to his playoff legacy, Harrison intercepted two more passes in Super Bowl XXXIX versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Harrison was the Patriots’ best defensive player during that postseason, amassing four interceptions and leading New England to its second straight title.

Mike Vrabel (right) celebrates with Rodney Harrison (left) after the safety secured a game-sealing interception in Super Bowl 39. (AP)

Following the 2008 season, Harrison retired from the NFL after 15 seasons—six with the Patriots. Across six years in New England, he accumulated 634 tackles with eight interceptions, 32 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine sacks. In addition to his regular-season totals, Harrison also mustered seven interceptions in nine playoffs contests.

Titans Release Dion Lewis

After two unproductive seasons in Nashville, the Tennessee Titans are cutting running back Dion Lewis. The Titans informed Lewis that he’ll be released, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Lewis signed a four-year, $20 million deal in 2018.

Due to the emergence of Derrick Henry, arguably the NFL's most dominant running back, Lewis became an afterthought in the Titans' offense.  Lewis amassed just 209 yards on 54 carries and caught only 25 passes for 164 yards last year.

Lewis played 61 percent of the snaps in his first season in Tennessee, but that percentage shrunk to 37 in 2019. 

Lewis was a non-factor in the Titans' offense last season. (James Kenney/AP)

Releasing Lewis clears just over $4 million from the salary cap, making this a no-brainer move for the Titans. The release of Lewis gives the Titans more funds to negotiate with Henry, a free agent. The Titans may place the franchise tag on Henry if the two sides cannot come to terms on a deal.

The Titans are rumored to have interest in free agent QB Tom Brady, but could opt to bring back Ryan Tannehill instead. After leading the Titans to the AFC Championship in his first season with the franchise, Tannehill could ink a long-term deal to remain in Tennessee. Tannehill made his first career Pro Bowl in 2019, won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and led the league in passer rating.

Lewis enjoyed his best seasons with the New England Patriots. A member of the Patriots for three years (2015-17), Lewis helped the Patriots win Super LI. He played a crucial role in the team's run to Super LII during his impressive 2017 campaign.

Lewis forced 49 missed tackles in 2017 and registered 3.17 yards after contact, both team-highs, according to Pro Football Focus. Even more impressive, Lewis ranked first in Pro Football Focus’ “elusive rating,” which combines missed tackles and yards after contact.

A force in the passing game, Lewis did not drop a single pass (35 targets) in 2017, one of only 11 players to see more than 30 targets without dropping a pass. In terms of catch rate, he ranked first (91.4%) in the league among qualified players.

Unable to replicate that level of success with the Titans, the 29-year-old Lewis will look to join a new team this offseason. Lewis, a fifth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, has collected 19 TDs (11 rushing, seven receiving, one kick return) in his nine-year career. He has accumulated 2,310 rushing yards, to go along with 172 catches and 1,281 receiving yards, in 85 games played.

Red Sox Fan Favorite Brock Holt Joins Brewers

Brock Holt signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, ending a seven-year run in Boston. The 31-year-old infielder will make $3.25 million in 2020. Holt's deal includes a $5 million team option for 2021.

While Holt expressed a desire to return, the Boston Red Sox opted for a different path, signing infielder Jose Peraza earlier in the winter. Peraza, the 25-year-old who was non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds at the start of the offseason, is under contract through 2022.

Holt hit a career-high .297 in 2019, smacking three homers and posting 31 RBIs. He played every position for the Red Sox except catcher, pitcher and center field. 

Brock Holt played for the Red Sox from 2013-2019. (AP)

Brewers manager Craig Counsell admitted he was unsure where exactly Holt will play in the field, but made it clear the super utility man is set for regular playing time.

“I told him that you don't know where you're going to play, you just know that we'll find a spot for you to play," Counsell said. “He comes with a great reputation from everywhere that he's been."

Leaving Boston was not an easy choice for Holt, a fan favorite known for his tremendous charity work.

“I loved it there. I loved playing at Fenway, I love the fans, I love the city,” Holt said. “I was a huge part of the community. So it was tough. It was tough for me to come to the fact that I wasn’t going back."

I honestly never expected to wear any other uniform but a #RedSox uniform. I loved it there."

Brock Holt admits it is very difficult leaving Boston, but that he "couldn't be more excited" to join the #Brewers clubhouse. pic.twitter.com/KWI4ZJJLIc

— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) February 19, 2020

A one-time All-Star (2015), Holt won World Series championships with the Red Sox in 2013 and 2018. He was not active for the playoff roster during the '13 postseason, but played an integral role in the '18 championship campaign. 

Holt produced a performance for the ages in Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS against the New York Yankees. He went 4-for-6 with five RBIs in Boston's 16-1 blowout win at Yankees Stadium. Holt collected a single, a double and a triple before belting a homer in his final at-bat. Holt became the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle in the postseason, a record that still holds to the day.

THANK YOU BROCK HOLT.

Only guy to ever hit for the cycle in the postseason.

Forever in the history books. Legend.

pic.twitter.com/sixtzBp9z1

— Savage Boston Sports 🇺🇸🍀❄️☃️ (@SavageBoston) February 18, 2020