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NBA

Celtics Fall Short Against Bulls

April 19, 2021 by Terry Lyons

BOSTON – Boston’s All-Star forward Jayson Tatum recorded 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in his first career triple-double for the Celtics, but the club’s six-game winning streak came to an end as the visiting Chicago Bulls outlasted the shorthanded Boston Celtics, 102-96, on Monday night at TD Garden.

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Jaylen Brown led the team with 23 points but Boston played without guards Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker, both sidelined with non-COVID illness. Boston center Robert Williams III (knee) and forward Evan Fournier (health and safety) also remained sidelined.

Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic scored 29 points to carry the Bulls to the victory. Vucevic added nine rebounds as the Bulls won their second straight game after a five-game losing streak. Coby White scored 19 and Thaddeus Young and Garrett Temple 13 apiece as Chicago remained without top scorer Zach LaVine for a third straight game due to health and safety protocol.

 

 

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, Celtics, Chicago Bulls, NBA

While We’re Young (Ideas) – Sunday Sports Notes – April 18

April 18, 2021 by Terry Lyons

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – As 6.8 inches of frosted flakes-sized snow fell this week on the Woo-Sox new digs in Worcester, Massachusetts this week, Major League Baseball recognized Jackie Robinson Day while MLB.com also celebrated the 40-year anniversary of Fernando-Mania and the amazing 1981 season of LA Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year winner of that amazing baseball season.

MLB’s annual tribute allows every player in the league to wear No. 42 and it’s probably the ultimate tribute to any one player of any pro sports league anywhere. Every April 15th, MLB dedicates all of its resources to memorializing the great Brooklyn Dodgers player who broke the color barrier for the majors.

It’s wonderful, as every year new fans of the game are introduced to the story of the great Jackie Robinson. Simply put, it’s a pleasure to behold albeit a daunting challenge to official scorers everywhere in the league.

While not on the level of Jackie Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela deserves praise, especially from the greater Los Angeles area and from a nation of Mexican fans who enjoyed every minute of the full ride of Valenzuela’s MLB career.

“El Toro” broke onto the MLB scene in 1980 and pitched in only 10 games, going (2-0) in 17.2 innings pitched. He struck out 16 batters and allowed eight hits and two runs, none earned. His WHIP (walks, hits over Innings Pitched) was a low 0.74.

The magic of “Fernando-Mania” would come a year later, in 1981, when he went (13-7) over 192.1 innings, earned a 2.48 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP while striking out 180 batters and holding his opponents to a .205 batting average. His performance was limited by the ‘81 MLB player’s strike. Valenzuela’s magical run lasted another nine seasons with the Dodgers, until 1991 when he was released by the Dodgers and picked up, first by the California Angels, then bouncing around to the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and eventually retiring from MLB as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

On December 20, 2006, in Mexicali, BC, Mexico, Valenzuela started for Los Aguilas de Mexicali in the last professional game of his career.

All that aside, that ‘81 season started a five-year run which built to the 1986 season when he went (21-11), threw 20 complete games and struck out a career-high 242 along with earning Gold Glove honors.

MLB dot com recognized the 40th anniversary of Valenzuela’s ‘81 season in a big way and it was fabulous to see this week.

Fernando Valenzuela and his Luis Tiant style delivery

As you might expect with this column’s goal to zig when everyone else zags, so let’s note there’s another anniversary to be recognized this summer, as it’s the 35th year since the Summer of ‘76, MLB’s celebration of the “Bi-Centennial” and the Summer of Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, he who was born in the place of 6.8 inches of April 16, 2021 snowfall.

Fidrych made his MLB rookie debut on April 20, 1976. So sadly, 33 years later – to the exact date – he died in a freak truck accident on his Northborogh, Massachusetts farm, suffocating as his clothes were caught up in the drive shaft underneath his truck.

Back in the Spirit of ‘76, any baseball fan alive recalls the amazing antics and the success they brought to a rookie pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.

Fidrych made the Tigers roster as a non-roster invitee to the Tigers’ spring training and, although he made his debut on April 20, he only pitched one inning through mid-May. In his third MLB appearance on May 15, Fidrych made his first major league start, caught by Bruce Kimm, his battery-mate from 1975 at Triple A minors in Evansville. He held the Cleveland Indians hitless through six innings and tossed an impressive two-hit, (2–1) complete game victory, issuing only one walk while striking-out five batters.

For baseball fans, it wasn’t the 2-1 win nor the two-hitter that caught their attention, but it was the fact Fidrych frequently paced the mound and talked to the baseball during his pre-pitch warm-ups. Fidrych would strut around the mound, manicure the dirt on the surface of the mound and near the pitching rubber, never allowing the grounds crew to go near his work of art, all the while talking to the baseballs.

Fidrich’s 1980s-style hair, curly and free-flowing earned his his nickname of “The Bird” as he had somewhat of a resemblance to Sesame Street’s “Big Bird” and at 6-foot-three, no one argued with the connection.

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Here’s a glimpse of what happened that summer:

  • May 25: Fidrych started at Fenway Park in Boston and pitched in front of busloads of his friends and family from nearby Worcester and Northborough but lost when he allowed a two-run homer to Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski while his Tigers fell to a Luis Tiant masterpiece shut-out.
  • May 31: Fidrych pitched an 11-inning complete game victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and momentum began to build.
  • June 5: He pitched another 11-inning complete game victory over the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
  • June 11: Fidrych pitched another complete game, 4–3, victory over the California Angels before a crowd of 36,377 on a Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
  • June 19: Fidrych pitched yet another complete game, 4–3, victory over the Kansas City Royals before a crowd of 21,659 on a Wednesday night at Tiger Stadium.
  • June 24: Fidrych returned to Fenway Park in Boston with his friends and family in the stands, yet again. He gave up back-to-back home runs to Fred Lynn and Yastrzemski but won the game in his sixth consecutive start.
  • June 28: Only four days later, Fidrych pitched before 47,855 at Tiger Stadium and an ABC Sports Monday Night Baseball national television audience in the millions, and Fidrych and the Tigers earned a 5–1 complete-game victory over the ‘76 World Series bound New York Yankees. With Fidrych’s pace, the game took only an hour and 51 minutes and Tigers fans would not leave the stadium until The Bird emerged from the dugout for a celebratory curtain call. After the broadcast, which was filled with plenty of “Bird” antics, Fidrych became a national celebrity.
  • July 3: Fidrych pitched before a sell-out crowd of 51,650 on a Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, shutting out the Baltimore Orioles, 4–0, and improving to 9–1 in ten starts. He reduced his earned run average (ERA) to 1.85.
  • July 9: Pitching in front of a sell-out crowd of 51,041 at Tiger Stadium, Fidrych held the KC Royals to one run in nine innings, but run support was non-existent as Dennis Leonard shut out the Tigers, 1–0. Despite the loss, Detroit fans refused to leave the stadium, once again, until “The Bird” made a curtain call.
  • July 13: Mark “The Bird” Fidrych became only the second rookie to start in the MLB All-Star Game (following Dave Stenhouse in 1962) but he gave up two earned runs in the first inning, none in the second, and took the loss.
  • Fidrych got back to his winning ways after the MLB All-Star break and won his tenth game, a 1–0 victory over the Oakland A’s. Four days later in Minneapolis, before Fidrych’s 13th start, the Minnesota Twins released an unlucky 13 homing pigeons on the mound before the game. According to Fidrych, “they tried to do that to blow my concentration,” but he went out and pitched another complete game, an 8–3 win, to improve his record to 11–2.

On the 1976 season, Fidrych went (19-9) with 24 complete games and 250 innings pitched. He struck-out 97 batters and registered a 2.34 ERA and a 1.079 WHIP. He finished second to Jim Palmer in the 1976 American League Cy Young award voting and 11th in the AL MVP voting. He won the AL Rookie of the Year with all but two of the first place votes.

His 1977-through-1980 MLB seasons could not match-up with the magical year of ‘76 after he tore cartilage in his knee, fooling around in the outfield during his 1977 spring training sessions. At the end of the ‘81 season, the Tigers released The Bird and he was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Fidrych reported to the minors but he did not make it back to the majors. A torn rotator cuff injury was later diagnosed, in 1985, an injury he must’ve suffered during a July 4, 1977 game when he suddenly felt his arm “go dead.”

Fidrych had retired from baseball in 1983 at the tender age of 29 years old.

Fidrych lived with his wife, Ann, whom he married in 1986, and they settled nicely, living on a 107-acre farm in Northborough. They had a daughter, Jessica. Aside from fixing up his farmhouse, he worked as a contractor hauling gravel and asphalt in a ten-wheeler. On weekends, he helped out in his mother-in-law’s business, Chet’s Diner, on Route 20 in Northborough. The diner was later operated by his daughter.

He died, as noted above, on April 13, 2009 at the age of 54.

To my knowledge and via research online, there were no mentions of Fidrych this past week.

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Filed Under: While We're Young Ideas Tagged With: MLB, NBA, While We're Young Ideas

Celtics Sign Jabari Parker

April 17, 2021 by Terry Lyons

BOSTON – (Source: Official team news release) – The Boston Celtics have signed forward Jabari Parker, the team announced. Selected with the second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker, 26, has averaged 14.8 points (49.3% FG, 32.3% 3-PT, 74.0% FT), 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 28.8 minutes in 288 career games (190 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, and Sacramento.

He has averaged at least 14.0 points in four of his seven NBA seasons, including each of the last two years (2018-19/2019-20).

In a corresponding roster move, the Celtics have waived center Moe Wagner.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, Celtics, NBA

Celtics Hold on for Win Over LA Lakers

April 16, 2021 by Terry Lyons

LOS ANGELES  – Jaylen Brown scored 40 points and the Boston Celtics held on to a 27-point lead in the fourth quarter before settling for an eight-point victory, 121-113, over the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown made 13 of his first 14 shots and hit three 3-pointers and fell two points shy of his NBA career high, to lead Boston who have won eight of 11 and three of three to conclude this road trip.

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Boston led 113-86 with seven minutes to play, shortly after coach Brad Stevens pulled his starters. But Talen Horton-Tucker and Ben McLemore led a 24-2 run by the Lakers that forced Brown and Boston’s first string back into the game.

Guards Payton Pritchard and Marcus Smart added 15 points each for the Celtics, who never trailed despite committing 21 turnovers. Boston also won with just 14 points from All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, whose streak of scoring 20 points in 11 consecutive games ended.

Boston faced a depleted Lakers line-up. In addition to being without NBA All-Stars and MVP candidates Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers faced Boston without newly acquired center Andre Drummond, who has a bruised right big toe, and power forward Markieff Morris, who has a sprained left ankle.

LA Guard Dennis Schröder nearly sat out with an infection on the ball of his right foot, but contributed eight points and eight assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also played through mid-game back spasms, and center Marc Gasol stayed in after dislocating his pinky finger, which got popped back into place during a timeout.

Boston is a bit banged-up as well. Starting center Robert Williams III missed the game with left knee soreness and swelling. The Celtics were 8-2 since he joined the starting lineup at the trade deadline after center Daniel Theis was dealt to Chicago. … Forward Evan Fournier missed his fifth straight game under the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, LA Lakers, NBA

Celtics Edge Trail Blazers, 116-115

April 14, 2021 by Terry Lyons

PORTLAND – Boston All-Star forward Jayson Tatum scored 32 points, and added nine rebounds and five assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 116-115 victory at Portland on Tuesday. The Celtics’ other All-Star, Jaylen Brown, scored 24 points and guard Kemba Walker had one of his better all-around games with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Boston won for the fourth straight game and sixth time in the past seven.

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Portland’s All-Star phenom Damian Lillard had 28 points and 10 assists, and veteran forward Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting for the Trail Blazers. Norman Powell added 20 points and CJ McCollum had 16 points as Portland lost for the fifth time in the past seven games.

Robert Williams added 16 points and seven rebounds and Marcus Smart had 13 points and seven assists for Boston.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, Celtics, NBA, Portland Trail Blazers

Pro Teams Postpone Games in Minnesota

April 12, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL – Monday’s 2:10pm series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins was postponed as a cautionary move by the Twins and local authorities as the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul reacts to the fatal shooting death of Daunte Wright after a police traffic stop in the Brooklyn Center area.

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“Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interests of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today’s game.

The decision was made by the Minnesota Twins after consultation with Major League Baseball, and local and state officials. Information regarding the rescheduling of today’s game, and corresponding ticket details, will be released in the near future.

The Minnesota Twins organization extends its sympathies to the family of Daunte Wright.”

The NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the NHL’s Minnesota Wild also postponed home games because of a 7:00pm (local) city-wide curfew put in place as authorities brace for another display of civic protests. The Minneapolis area was at the heart of intense protests last Memorial Day weekend after the fatal shooting of George Floyd. A dismissed Minneapolis police officer is currently on trial for that incident which was the root of nation-wide protests last May.

The NBA issued the following statement in announcing the cancellation of the Brooklyn Nets at Timberwolves game:

“The National Basketball Association announced that in light of the tragic events in the Minneapolis area yesterday, tonight’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed. The decision to postpone was made by the NBA after consultation with the Timberwolves organization and local and state officials.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Daunte Wright during this difficult time.”

Brooklyn Center police held a news conference and stated the officer that shot Wright Sunday afternoon did so accidentally, confusing a fire arm with a police taser.

 

Filed Under: Boston Sports, MLB, NBA, NHL, Red Sox Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, MLB, NBA, NHL, Red Sox

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook – April 11th

April 11, 2021 by Terry Lyons

Sports Notes, Thoughts, and Observations on Masters Weekend

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – This will be a column of free-flowing thoughts and observations from the past week. In honor of the Masters, I bring you a Sunday Sports Notebook “Unlike Any Other.”

“One Shining Moment” was lauded last week just before the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament came to a wonderful Final Four close with one amazing semi-final game (Gonzaga over UCLA) and an incredible display of overall offensive and defensive talent by the 2021 NCAA Champion Baylor Bears with their title win over the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Little did we know that “One Shining Moment is actually a not-so-distant cousin to the famous Masters mantra “Tradition Unlike Any Other”  – a phrase made famous by CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz. The catch-phrase, can be attributed (once said Nantz) to the same man who was behind “One Shining Moment.” That is Doug Towey, the CBS Sports Creative Director who so sadly passed away in 2009 at the age of 61. … In the sports industry, it’s important to “Make a Mark,“and Towey did that behind the scenes at Blackrock with two iconic spring sports traditions that will – hopefully – last forever.

Speaking of “Making a Mark,” Rick Welts, the President of the Golden State Warriors, this week announced that this season would be his last with the franchise. In full disclosure, I used to report to Welts when he was the head of communications and marketing at the NBA – a bit before his promotion to the President of NBA Properties.

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In one of Welts’ senior management presentations at an internal business summit held at the Doral Conference Center in Rye Brook, NY, he noted the most important things to consider if you were to be a success at the NBA. Four of them always resonated with me and rose to the top of Welts’ list:

  1. Know the NBA’s History
  2. You’re Often Judged by the Way You Contribute to the Goals of Others
  3. Conflict is Good; Un-resolved Conflict is Not Good.
  4. Make a Mark

That, indeed, is what Welts did and will continue to do so, in some fashion, I am sure.

Winning seems to follow Rick Welts around, as evidenced by a laundry list of amazing career accomplishments. Here are a few off the top of my head:

  1. In his first sports job, as a ballboy for the now defunct Seattle SuperSonics, the Sonics won the NBA Championship (1979). More importantly, those years struck the chords for a lifetime friendship between Welts and Bill Russell, the NBA’s “Babe Ruth.”
  2. As the head of NBA Properties, the business and marketing arm of the league, Welts spearheaded the launch and marketing of the WNBA, together with USA Basketball and his staff, he planned and executed all media, marketing and PR efforts behind the 1992 USA Basketball Dream Team – from inception to the staging of the Basketball Tournament of the Americas in Portland (the USA had to qualify for Barcelona ‘92) and right up until the USOC took over marketing rights at the ‘92 Summer Games. Welts built NBA Properties and further grew its influence in Consumer Products (think NBA Hoop Cards, E/A Sports video games, apparel, you name it) into a $2 Billion operation that had a mantra of, “we’re not just in the business to sell, but more importantly to renew and improve existing sponsorships, licensees and advertisers.” … Aside from those major marks, Welts was behind the expansion of the NBA All-Star Game into a full NBA All-Star Weekend, complete with All-Star Saturday’s Slam-Dunk and popular Three-Point Shootout. … He played a lead roll in most of the NBA’s International business and marketing efforts, including the establishment of regional offices around the world. … There’s plenty more but column inches, even online, are somewhat limited.
  3. After his stint at the NBA league office, Welts took a side-step to work with Chase Carey and FOX Sports’ interests in professional sports, including STAPLES Center, the LA Dodgers and other investments but the lure of the NBA came calling and he joined the Phoenix Suns as President, and later team CEO, running the franchise’s business operations. … In 2002, when Welts joined, the Suns went 36-46 but by 2004-05, they soared to a 62-20 record under Coach Mike D’Antoni. (The Suns fell short in the Western Conference finals.)
  4. After his nine-year stint with the Suns, Welts joined the Golden State Warriors as team President in October, 2011. Of course, most credit is due to all-star level talent and strong coaching by Steve Kerr, but welts helped place an organizational foundation under the Warriors that resulted in five appearances in the NBA Finals and three NBA Championships (2015, ‘17 and ‘18).
  5. In addition to his successes around the court, Welts also made a huge mark when, in May, 2011, he announced to the sports industry and the world that he was gay, and in doing so, was the first executive in m major sports to take that step so publicly in a front page New York Times story, nonetheless. … Welts noted he received thousands of notes, emails and not one was negative in any manner. … His tireless philanthropic work and true inspiration to all in the SF-Bay area just might outshine those 60+ win seasons and three NBA championship rings.
  6. Most recently, Welts next took on one of the most difficult tasks in the sports industry as the Warriors’ lead exec for the club’s move from Oakland to San Francisco and the building of the brand new Chase Center and its surrounding, privately financed “Thrive City” multi-purpose entertainment facilities.

What’s Next or Who’s Got Next? Welts seems to be keeping it close to the vest while looking forward to a near-future, post global pandemic return to some normalcy and maybe travel to some of the spots he didn’t really get to see while on the job, whether they be Paris or Barcelona or other points in the worlds.

His interview with Mark Spears of The Undefeated touched on many of these very topics. Click HERE to read that column.

While Welts takes a well-deserved break from the pressure and running an organization in the middle to third quarter of the COVID-19 pandemic, this columnists wonders aloud what might happen if the Seattle SuperSonics franchise were to be resurrected sometime soon in the Emerald City and an ownership stake and President/CEO position came calling for a man to jump-start the expansion franchise?

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Filed Under: While We're Young Ideas Tagged With: NBA, Rick Welts, Sunday, TL's Sunday Notebook, While We're Young Ideas

Tatum Scores 53; Celtics Win in OT

April 10, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Boston Celtics all-star forward Jason Tatum scored a career-high 53 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to lead the Celtics to a 145-136 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. It was the first 50-point game for the 23-year-old Tatum. Boston’s Jaylen Brown had 26 points. Marcus Smart added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds to help Boston to its fourth win in five games.

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“Scoring 50 is a big thing in this league,” said Tatum. “It’s a night I’ll always remember. First 50-point game and we got the win on top of that. Every win right now is big. So we’ll take it.”

Boston erased a 17-point deficit in the third quarter and then led by eight points in the fourth before Minnesota was able to fight back and send it into overtime. The Celtics took a 135-129 lead on a three-pointer by guard Kemba Walker.

Minnesota got within 135-132 on a three-point play by D’Angelo Russell. But Boston outscored the Timberwolves 10-4 to close-out the home victory. Center Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Russell finished with 26 points and Anthony Edwards had 24 points in the loss.

Boston finished their seven-game homestead at (4-3) and now depart for a three-game Western swing that starts in Denver on Sunday, April 11. Boston also plays at Portland and at Los Angeles against the Lakers on Thursday night.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, Celtics, Jason Tatum, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

NBA: Celtics Approach Final Month

April 9, 2021 by Terry Lyons

Boston Celtics Competing for Playoff Spot in Eastern Conference

BOSTON – Since dropping six of eight games between March 11 and 24th, the Boston Celtics utilized the NBA Trading deadline to shake-up an inconsistent line-up and have won three of their last four games and five of their last eight. After a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight which caps a seven-game home stand (3-3), Boston heads out west for three games to begin the crucial final month of the NBA regular season.

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Remember! The NBA season began a month later than usual and will conclude on May 16, rather than the normal mid-April finish.

Boston is coming off an important and hard fought victory over the Knicks, (101-99) at TD Garden. Celtics’ all-star swingman Jaylen Brown had a double-double effort with a game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds with two steals while fellow all-star forward Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Boston’s team-leader in guard Marcus Smart had one of his best all-around performances of the season with 17 points and nine assists.

Celtics forward-center Tristan Thompson made his return to the lineup and recorded seven points, eight rebounds and a season-high three blocks in just over 22 minutes coming off the bench.

The Knicks were led by RJ Barrett and his 29 points and five rebounds while Julius Randle added 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Newly acquired Celtics forward Evan Fournier is out and under league protocol guidelines. Just a week ago, Fournier scored 20 of his 23 points against Houston (April 2) during the fourth quarter on seven-for-seven shooting including six three pointers.

Fournier’s performance came after his scoreless, 0-for-10 debut with the Celtics after his trade from Orlando. According
to ESPN Stats & Info, Fournier is the second Boston Celtics player in the last 25 seasons to score 20 points on 100% shooting in a quarter, joining Paul Pierce who recorded the feat in 2009 against Chicago.

Fournier’s seven three-pointers on the night was also tied for the second most by a Celtic in franchise history coming off of the bench behind Eddie House’s eight three pointers which he made against Sacramento on Jan. 28, 2009.

Boston tonight faces a (13-39) Minnesota team, losers in three of their last four games, including a 141-137 loss at Indiana (April 7) to begin this current two-game road-trip. Minnesota’s head coach, Chris Finch, took over on February 22. He is 6-15 since taking the reigns from dismissed Coach Ryan Saunders.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, Celtics, NBA Tagged With: Boston Celtics, NBA

ShotTracker Obtains Added Financing

March 31, 2021 by Terry Lyons

KANSAS CITY – (Source: Official News Release) –  DDSports – doing business as – ShotTracker, a revolutionary sports technology that captures rich performance data via sensors and provides statistics and analytics with sub-second latency, today announced a new round of financing by Hearst Ventures, the venture capital unit of Hearst. The $2 million investment by Hearst Ventures is in addition to an $11 million USD investment led by Evertz Technologies Limited (Evertz) and Verizon Ventures, which was announced earlier this year. It completes the current funding round for the company.

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Early funding for ShotTracker came from a group of investors, including the late David Stern, former NBA Commissioner and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, among others.

“We are proud to have brought on Hearst Ventures as our latest investment partner,” said ShotTracker Chief Executive Officer Bill Moses. “Their expertise and knowledge of the media partnerships space will be pivotal as we refine and grow not just our offering to NCAA men’s and women’s basketball programs, but to broadcast partners as well. That broadcast integration has been the most requested element for our technology and we feel will be a key for our growth in the coming years.”

“Our goal with ShotTracker from day one is to go beyond the work we do with our partner schools,” said ShotTracker Co-Founder and President Davyeon Ross. “This investment, on top of our work with Evertz and Verizon Ventures, gives us a much wider runway and a greater opportunity for scaling success of our business going forward. We will continue to focus on our platform for NCAA men’s and women’s basketball, but additional opportunities are now coming into focus that will make this partnership very important for us.”

ShotTracker brings elite-level, real-time analytics to the court. The company’s patented technology tracks data in three parts: a ShotTracker-enabled ball, sensors on players’ jerseys and court sensors that map the court in 3D. Data is processed through the company’s proprietary algorithm displayed on the ShotTracker app and dashboard and is also integrated with Evertz’s cloud-based live production solutions. The real-time data can be used to automate camera productions from remote locations and can be licensed by media and sports data companies and will be enhanced by all the innovation Verizon is bringing through their cutting-edge work in 5G.

Filed Under: Sports Business Tagged With: David Stern, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, NBA, ShotTracker, Sports Biz, Sports Business

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TL's Sunday Notes | March 30

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While We're Young (Ideas) and March Go Out Like a Lyons
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DigitalSportsDesk.com
3 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Gotta Give Pitino the credit. Constant and Full-Court Press made the difference and his players were in condition to wear down UConn. digitalsportsdesk.com/st-johns-defeats-mighty-uconn/ ... See MoreSee Less

Gotta Give Pitino the credit.  Constant and Full-Court Press made the difference and his players were in condition to wear down UConn. https://digitalsportsdesk.com/st-johns-defeats-mighty-uconn/
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DigitalSportsDesk.com
4 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Groundhog Day!

whileyoungideas.substack.com/p/tls-sunday-sports-notes-feb-2 ... See MoreSee Less

Groundhog Day!

https://whileyoungideas.substack.com/p/tls-sunday-sports-notes-feb-2
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DigitalSportsDesk.com
4 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

Plenty O' Notes and a Look at Boston Pro sports for 2025 - ... See MoreSee Less

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TL's Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 12 - Digital Sports Desk

digitalsportsdesk.com

In each round-up, there are far too many questions and not nearly enough definitive answers to the woes facing the New England clubs, the Celtics included. It might be time for some major shake-ups at...
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DigitalSportsDesk.com
5 months ago
DigitalSportsDesk.com

The first Sunday Sports Notes of 2025 | Including Some Predictions

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TL's Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 5 - Digital Sports Desk

digitalsportsdesk.com

KEY DATES IN 2025: Everyone needs to circle these dates on their sports calendar: KEY DATES IN 2025: Everyone needs to circle these dates on their sports calendar:
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