The Celtics may have allowed the even more under-manned Clippers to get a little too close for comfort Sunday, but the Sultan of Stat always has it under control for you, his loyal subjects. Dick Lipe with the noteage as the Celts climbed back to .500. ⬇️

When YAC (yards after catch) is also measured in CK (confirmed kills).

Perhaps the greatest personal joy of this job has been the opportunity to meet and know people like Richie Adubato and Kevin Mackey. There is, therefore, such profound sorrow in dealing with their passing these last few days. Basketball people and so much more. RIP, my brothers.

The Sultan of Stat and the Celtics showed up at the Garden Wednesday night. The Grizzlies? Not really. (Memphis is known for the blues, but that team is in a serious funk.) As a result, Dick Lipe has several Celts stepping into the spotlight. ⬇️

Jordan Walsh gets the start for the Celtics... but Josh Minott gets announced instead in the lavish pregame intro.

The Celtics and 76ers played their third veryclosegame in as many meetings this year. The Sultan of Stat was reminded of his first slow dance with Mrs. Sultan (aka the luckiest woman in the world). Dick Lipe deals with the historic details as the Celts slipped again, 102-100.

The Sultan of Stat has the relevant noteage as the Celtics' bench saved their bacon in Orlando Sunday. Dick Lipe on Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez and more from the latter half of a 1-1 weekend split with the Magic. ⬇️

The Sultan of Stat has the Celtics getting out-3-pointed in Orlando -- thus being hoisted by their own petard. (No, the Sultan doesn't use words like "hoisted" and "petard," but he can sometimes hit you with a "hypotenuse" if you're not paying attention.) Dick Lipe with tonight's key noteage. ⬇️

The Sultan of Stat has the Celtics getting out-3-pointed in Orlando -- thus being hoisted by their own petard. (No, the Sultan doesn't use words like "hoisted" and "petard," but he can sometimes hit you with a "hypotenuse" if you're not paying attention.) Dick Lipe with tonight's key noteage. ⬇️

The Celtics surrendered 37 points in the 1st quarter, but came back to wallop the wobbly one-win Washington Wizards. (Go back and read that last part in Elmer Fudd voice... I dare you.) The Sultan of Stat, Dick Lipe, has the noteage on another big night for Jaylen Brown -- and many others. ⬇️⬇️

The Celtics surrendered 37 points in the 1st quarter, but came back to wallop the wobbly one-win Washington Wizards. (Go back and read that last part in Elmer Fudd voice... I dare you.) The Sultan of Stat, Dick Lipe, has the noteage on another big night for Jaylen Brown -- and many others. ⬇️⬇️

Upon further review... NBA's Last Two Minute Report says the Keyonte George slip that caused Jaylen Brown to trip and fall should have been a foul in Celtics-Jazz laat night. (The INC designation is for incorrect non-call.)

The Celtics were the evil of two lessers tonight, falling to Utah in a battle of -- to put it charitably -- struggling teams. The Celts floundered in the second half against a club on the second night of a back-to-back. The Sultan of Stat, @DickLipe, gives it to you straight. ⬇️

The Celtics were the evil of two lessers tonight, falling to Utah in a battle of -- to put it charitably -- struggling teams. The Celts floundered in the second half against a club on the second night of a back-to-back. The Sultan of Stat, @DickLipe, gives it to you straight. ⬇️

Chris Boucher hits his first 3-pointer as a Celtic. ... Thought he was going to be a bigger factor in the rotation. He still may be.

Kirk probably should have taken a cue from Jake Taylor... point to the fence, then leg out a bunt.

While the World Series Game 7 kept everyone up by going extra innings, the Rockets put the Celtics to bed early. The Sultan of Stat, Dick Lipe, has noteage that's certainly more exciting than the Celts' 27-point loss.

Josh Minott is probably/likely/definitely/almost certainly renting right now. He should consider buying.

Let's try a little NBA Jeopardy... A: Kevin Durant appears to be un-guardable. Q: What is something you could say from the day he entered the league until the moment he retires ... and then probably another five years after that?

Wast told by team the press release was a bit misleading. Celtics NOT wearing these tonight. First time will be Nov. 11 in Philadelphia.

Celtics wearing their new City Edition uniform (modeled here by a mannequin in the press room) tonight vs. Houston. It's the first time in history a Celtic uniform will not feature green.

The Blue Jays should have Dave Stieb throw out the first pitch tonight. And the second pitch and the third pitch and the fourth pitch and... Gotta believe he's still got at least seven good innings in him.

The Celtics dressed up for Halloween as a winning basketball team for the third straight game. Meanwhile, the Sultan of Stat dressed as a cool and debonnair mathematical genius. Then again, the Sultan does that EVERY day. Dick Lipe has the C's rebounding (#seewhathedidthere) for the W.

Donovan Mitchell isn't big on Boston in a sporting sense. (Read about that and more here: bit.ly/48UZ0ra) But when it comes to his feelings about the Yankees, he is...

Donovan Mitchell isn't big on Boston in a sporting sense. (Read about that and more here: bit.ly/48UZ0ra) But when it comes to his feelings about the Yankees, he is...

I spoke with Donovan Mitchell about his and Red Sox fans' mutual... shall we say *dislike* of the Yankees. We also manage to squeeze in some discussion of the Cavaliers' quest to get back in gear after their brilliant 2024-25 ended prematurely. bit.ly/48UZ0ra

I spoke with Donovan Mitchell about his and Red Sox fans' mutual... shall we say *dislike* of the Yankees. We also manage to squeeze in some discussion of the Cavaliers' quest to get back in gear after their brilliant 2024-25 ended prematurely. bit.ly/48UZ0ra

It was hard to think the you'd have to count to two (as in consecutive Celtic wins) with the Cavaliers in town. But the Sultan of Stat, mathematical genius that he is, has you covered. The great Dick Lipe brings you all the best noteage -- and sneaks in a Michael Jordan cameo, too

Cleveland 42, Celtics 40 after one quarter. It's Defense Optional night at the Garden, and the C's and Cavs have voted...

The nearly week-long Celtic Nation-al nightmare is over. After an 0-3 start, the C's have broken through in New Orleans. The Sultan of Stat has the key noteage from the win over the Big (and) Easy Pelicans. Dick Lipe talks Josh Minott, Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta & more. ⬇️

The Sultan of Stat has the latest on the Celtics, who continue to be a fountain of forgiveness. Detroit missed 53 shots today, but the Celts said, "Don't worry. Here are 30 second-chance points." @DickLipe brings you the noteage from the Bostonians' 0-3 start to the season.

The Celtics fell to 0-2 on the very, very young season... but, hey, they did make some history tonight in New York. The Sultan of Stat (Dick Lipe) has details of the record-breaker -- and much more. ⬇️

The NBA gambling allegations are certainly troubling (and prop bets are insidious), but anyone involved with the league knows relationships and honest personal stuff can always affect the margins. Bottom line: If you knew how many things could impact your bet, you wouldn't bet.

The league responds...

Meanwhile, managing to escape arrest by the feds... (In related news, "...WHO'S A GOOD DOGGIE? YES, YOU ARE.")

The Sultan of Stat had to wait until morning to compose and deliver his noteage from the Celtics' opening night loss to Philly... He suffered a concussion trying to calculate how they blew a double-digit 4th-quarter lead. Dick Lipe has the stuff you'll want to know. (Or not.)

He finishes with 40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks and 0 turnovers in 30 minutes against Dallas. #yikes

Mike Brown used 11 players in the win over Cleveland... So, yeah, things are a little different with the Knicks this year.

BREAKING: Victor Wembanyama is fking ridiculous. (I'd say the NBA should make him the new logo, but he's too tall to fit on the patch.)

VJ Edgecomb (23 shots, 12 of them 3-pointers): "Hold my Gatorade; this rock's goin' up."

Quick scouting report on Anfernee Simons: Not shy.

The green that borders the Celtics' floor and fills the lane is a darker shade now -- closer to the green on their uniforms (as directed by the league). The court is sent out each summer to be stripped and refinished. The new look brings the parquet into better contrast.

League owns up to the error in the Last Two Minute Report, saying Houston should have been assessed a technical foul when Kevin Durant called a timeout the Rockets didn't have.

Scott "The Extender" Foster the lead ref for Celtics-Sixers. Does that mean we're going overtime ... or playing a doubleheader?

Philly had four offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points in the first quarter. Celtics/Mazzulla have been emphasizing defensive rebounding since they showed up for camp. ... Evidently still a work in progress.

What a way for Seattle to go out... Toronto's Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth. He threw 17 pitches, and just two of them were in the strike zone. The Mariners, complicit in their own demise, swung anyway. All three third strikes came on swings at pitches that were out of the zone.

Halloween month is pretty crazy in Salem, Mass., as you can imagine... But the scariest thing in the city today has to be me speaking to young and impressionable students at Salem State Univ.

The Celtics closed out their preseason Wednesday night, and you know what that means for the Sultan of Stat: Now he switches to the hard stuff. Dick Lipe has the sobering tale of Xavier Tillman's game-winner over Toronto, Derrick White's big night and more. ⬇️

We can all acknowledge baseball's way different now. But folks getting rightfully excited about the Dodgers' pitching in the first two NLCS games should note that the 1966 Orioles closed out a 4-game World Series sweep of LA with THREE complete-game shutouts (Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker, Dave McNally).

If you'll excuse the indulgence... 40 years ago today, I boarded USAir 323, the 5:50 pm departure to Indianapolis, with the Celtics. It was my first day at the old Boston Herald and first day on the NBA beat. I could not have imagined -- or be more appreciative -- of the ride that continues.