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Jack Simone

@jacksimone.bsky.social

12K followers 53 following 850 posts

Celtics reporter: http://HardwoodHoudini.com | Co-Host: How ‘Bout Them Celtics podcast (YouTube, Spotify, Apple, etc.)

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · Nov 22

NEW: Xavier Tillman is family first, basketball second. It's what makes him who he is.

"Whether he's playing a lot, playing a little, he's the same human being. And I think that's why guys respect him."

I spoke with X and others for Hardwood Houdini: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Xavier Tillman is perfect for the Celtics for all of the most important reasons

Boston Celtics big man Xavier Tillman has built a life of priorities - family, human, basketball player - and it's why he's loved everywhere he goes.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 2d

Joe Mazzulla doesn’t want the Celtics to put their issues behind them. He wants them to embrace it.

So, every time Philly made a run, Boston breathed it in, felt the emotions, and went from there.

That’s how they won. That’s how they’ll continue to win.

More in my story below:

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: The 76ers did everything in their power to force a Celtics collapse on Friday night. But it never happened.

Boston always responded. Joe Mazzulla wants them to embrace the moment.

“Instead of trying to kind of get out of the emotion, feel it.”
hardwoodhoudini.com/celtics-embi...

Celtics’ Joel Embiid plan didn’t just work—it proved this team’s edge is real

The Boston Celtics put Xavier Tillman on Joel Embiid to close out a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, but that was merely one example of a much larger mindset.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 4d

NEW: In three years with the Wolves, Josh Minott barely played. In two starts with the Celtics, he grabbed 23 rebounds and held opponents to 6-of-28 shooting.

"It's just a blessing to be here."

Minott has found a home in Boston.

More here: hardwoodhoudini.com/josh-minott-...

Josh Minott’s Celtics breakout is haunting the Timberwolves already

In just two starts with the Boston Celtics, Josh Minott is making Minnesota Timberwolves fans look silly.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 8d

NEW: Rebounding has failed the Celtics. Shot-making, too. Now, they're in a hole they haven't experienced in over a decade.

Process over results is the way out. But the process is new. As are the results.

“We got to chip away at it.”

More from Detroit: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Celtics just stumbled into test they haven't faced in over a decade

A 0-3 start to the Boston Celtics season hasn't caused panic, but it should certainly cause reflection.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 12d

NEW: The third quarter was near-perfect new Celtics basketball. The fourth was not. But it's all part of the learning process.

“Maybe just got a little comfortable. Gave them life.”

More on Maxey and the Celtics' tough Opening Night loss: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Tyrese Maxey helped Celtics gain two learning points on Opening Night

The Boston Celtics should want to replicate their third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers on Opening Night, but thanks to Tyrese Maxey, not the fourth.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 12d

No update on Jaylen Brown's status from Joe Mazzulla. Said they're going to see how he feels during his pre-game shootaround.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 13d

NEW: Opening Night is special. These aren't the same Celtics from past years. But the preparation is the same.

“It's basketball, at the end of the day.”

New Celtics, new excitement: The thrill of the unknown.

Read more from Joe, DWhite, and Neemi here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

New-look Celtics are finally here with unknown thrill (and some of the same)

The Boston Celtics are still using the same preparation tactics, yet the thrill of the unknown will be more prevalent than ever.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 13d

NEW: The life of an E-10 player isn't an easy one. But it's worth it. And with the Celtics, it's more than just an opportunity.

“Great staff, great organization. It's fun to show up to work every day.”

More on the inner workings here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Training camp life with the Celtics was a chance to keep dreams alive

For those on E-10 contracts, the Boston Celtics provide a chance to keep their NBA dreams alive.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 14d

NEW: The Celtics are going to play fast. That means transition, help defense, and lots of screens.

But off-ball movement is just as important.

“The crucial part to playing fast is getting your spots fast.”

More from Hauser, Jaylen, and Mazzulla here: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Hauser, Minott, and more ready to quietly lift up new Celtics plan

Off-ball movement is just as important to the Boston Celtics' new fast-paced style as everything else.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 17d

NEW: The Celtics' center room is brand new. That means developing new chemistry, learning new screens, and understanding new tendencies.

"Being able to make the right read... Being able to do that over and over again."

More here on the process: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

New Celtics learning process will sit at core of everything they want to do

The new Boston Celtics big-man room will need to learn quickly, as they will be at the center of the offense.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 24d

NEW: The Celtics want their bigs more involved this season. Luka Garza was at the eye of that hurricane in Memphis. And there's no place he'd rather be.

“I want to be a part of the action, so it makes it easy.”

More here on Garza and the art of the screen: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Luka Garza just showed off new Celtics big man plans in debut

The Boston Celtics want their bigs to be in the center of everything this year, and Luka Garza showed that off against the Memphis Grizzlies.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: The Celtics' new offense will be ever-changing, but they don't plan on losing the roots they've grown for the last two years.

"We'd still like to shoot a lot of threes."

From Memphis on the fluidity of Boston's offensive plans: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Celtics' new offensive style doesn't mean end of the three-ball

The Boston Celtics will still shoot threes, but the state of their new offense will be a fluid one.

hardwoodhoudini.com

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · Oct 4

NEW: Defensive physicality has been at the forefront of Celtics training camp. “It's definitely been a war out there.”

But it's so much more than that.

“We're learning.”

“It's a holistic approach.”

On the Celtics' defensive revamp: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Payton Pritchard ready to help pick up pieices of crushed Celtics area of need

The Boston Celtics are reshaping their defense, and guys like Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Josh Minott have lived that process.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · Oct 1

Joe Mazzulla doesn't want to be 'Coach.' He wants to be 'Joe.' That relationship has been deeply woven into the fabric of Celtics culture, on and off the court.

"I feel like I'd run through a wall for him."

A deep look at what drives Mazzulla's Celtics: hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celti...

Joe Mazzulla doesn't want the Celtics to have a head coach

In the mind of Joe Mazzulla, there is no head coach of the Boston Celtics, because that's the culture he wants to create.

hardwoodhoudini.com

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 15

The Knicks have started playing the same drop they did against Tatum in the regular season on Brown, and he's found White and Pritchard for easy pick-and-pop threes.

Great screen reads by the guards, and great job making the right play by Brown. He's been awesome tonight.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 14

Sam Hauser is AVAILABLE to play in Game 5 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 13

Official statement from the Celtics on Jayson Tatum undergoing successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 13

Knicks just scored off a turnover, and Jayson Tatum is down on the ground writhing in pain. He's holding his ankle. Doesn't look good.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 12

Sam Hauser is OUT tonight for Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 12

Joe Mazzulla on managing stacked guard room with Pritchard's emergence this year: “You give the game what it needs. You trust all your guys... It’s just more about all the guys understanding that we have a ton of depth… We have a lot of trust in each other.”

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 12

Tom Thibodeau on what went wrong in Game 3: “Getting back in defensive transition. You gotta challenge their shots. They can go on runs, so you can’t let your guard down at all.”

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 12

Pregame scenes before Celtics-Knicks Game 4 tonight at 7:30pm. Celtics win, it’s 2-2 going back to Boston. Knicks win, it’s a 3-1 series lead.

Jrue Holiday this morning:

“I just think it’s us against the world.”

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Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 11

Sam Hauser is QUESTIONABLE to play tomorrow in Game 4 vs. the Knicks, per Celtics PR.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 8

Stunning last two games for the Celtics. Just about as bad as Tatum and Porzingis could be on offense.

And all the Knicks have done is make winning plays. They’ve been dogs.

Jack Simone @jacksimone.bsky.social · May 8

The Celtics have gotten every single open three they've wanted in this fourth quarter - they just can't make them.