The starting five of the Boston Celtics is perhaps one of the strongest in the NBA. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White compose the first five. But lately, the bench has proven that they are not just second best. Take for instance their recent game versus the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics were without Tatum (ankle), Holiday (shoulder) and Al Horford (toe). Yet the Celtics blasted the Pistons, 129-102. Payton Pritchard fired 20 points in his third start of the campaign. He scored 19 against Milwaukee and 23 against the Pistons. Another player who improved greatly is Sam Hauser. Hauser drained 10 3-pointers in the Celtics game against the Washington Wizards and was on track of shattering Marcus Smart’s record of 11 treys and could have made a run at Golden State’s Klay Thompson’s all-time NBA record of 14 treys. Unfortunately he sprained his ankle. Hauser scored 30 points in under 23 minutes. The other bench players are the ageless Al Horford, 7’2” Luke Kornet, Nemias Queta, Oshae Brissett, Jordan Walsh, Sui Mykhailicik and new accquisitions 7’0” Xavier Tillman and Jaden Springer. As I was ending this column, the Celtics breezed to their ninth win in a row after blasting the Chicago Bulls, 124-113. Hauser scored 23 points while Pritchard tallied 15. Horford again defied “Father Time”, scoring 23 points. Kornet continue to dominate the rebounds, hauling 13 boards while scoring eight points. The Celtics bench is indeed scary.
MARCUS JORDAN AND LARSA PIPPEN
Did you know that Marcus Jordan 33, son of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, had a one-year relationship with Larsa Pippen, 49-year-old ex-wife of another Bulls legend and Jordan’s teammate Scottie Pippen. The couple, however, called it quits recently. Jordan and Pippen won six NBA championships together including two three-peats. Despite the success they enjoyed together on the court, Jordan and Pippen have not been on good terms for quite sometime. According to wire services, Pippen played “sidekick” to Michael Jordan when Pippen arrived on the Bulls scene. Jordan was already the big star, but without Pippen, the Bulls wouldn’t have won their first crown. Pippen, who played until he reached 40 years of age, survived 17 years in the league and was a member of the best 50 Players of All-Time in the NBA. The relationship between Marcus Jordan ans Larsa Pippen may have added even more fuel to the fire.
ISIAH THOMAS TO PHOENIX
Isiah Thomas, former Los Angeles Lakers point gaurd, is officially back in the NBA after signing a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. Thomas is back after playing for the Charlott Hornets nearly two years ago. He is a two-time All-Star and made the NBA All-Second Team in 2017 while playing for the Boston Celtics.
Notes: Philstar columnist and sportscaster Bill Velasco is currently in the ICU of the Manila Doctors hospital after he experienced shortness of breath. Please pray for his recovery.