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75th Anniversary All-Celtics Team announced

As the 17-time World Champion Boston Celtics continue their season-long celebration to commemorate their 75th anniversary as an NBA team, the franchise today revealed the complete roster for its 75th Anniversary All-Celtics Team.

Fifteen Celtics legends, as determined by thousands of votes from fans, media members, and historians were selected for the All-Celtics Team. More than thirty media members and historians, selected for their expertise, knowledge, and experience with and around the franchise, comprised 50% of the All-Celtics Team’s final weighted voting. Fans accounted for the remaining 50% of the voting.

The fifteen players selected are: Ray Allen, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Tommy Heinsohn, Dennis Johnson, Sam Jones, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, and Jo Jo White. Each member of the team has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the group combined has a total of 64 championships as players with the Boston Celtics. Players from each of the team’s NBA-best 17 World Champion teams are represented.

“Considering how many world class players have worn a Celtics uniform, selecting our all-time team is yet another reminder of the incredible legacy and singular place in the NBA that the franchise holds,” said Celtics President Rich Gotham. “Our organization thanks all the fans and media who participated in the selection process.”

Legendary basketball coach Bill Fitch has passed away

Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Bill Fitch, the former Gophers men’s basketball coach who went on to a successful career in the NBA, died Wednesday at 89.

He coached the third most games in NBA history and had the 11th most victories.

Fitch’s death was announced by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who started his professional coaching career under Fitch. Carlisle had been in contact with Fitch’s daughter, Marcy Ann Coville, and said Fitch died in Lake Conroe, Texas.

Fitch was a product of the Midwest, raised in Iowa he got his coaching start as an assistant at Creighton before becoming the head coach at Coe College, in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, in 1958.

STATEMENT FROM THE BOSTON CELTICS

Coming off of a 29-win season in 1979, the Celtics had experienced the two worst seasons in the team’s history. But a promising rookie named Larry Bird was set to arrive, and Red Auerbach knew the franchise was at a critical crossroads. He decided to hire Bill Fitch as the head coach, and as was so often the case, Red made the right call. Fitch’s deep knowledge of the game, toughness, and dry wit made him a perfect fit for Boston and the Celtics. Fitch had already built a reputation as a turnaround artist, and his ability to get the best out of his players paid immediate dividends as Fitch orchestrated what was at the time the best turnaround in NBA history, vaulting to a 61-21 record. An offseason trade brought Robert Parish and rookie Kevin McHale to Boston, and they paired with Bird and Cedric Maxwell to form a dominant frontcourt that Fitch led to the Celtics’ 14th banner in 1981 and established a foundation for the team’s brilliant championship run in the 1980s. His record in four years as head coach of the Celtic was a stellar 242-86, a .738 winning percentage. Fitch was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. The Celtics family mourns his loss as we celebrate his legacy.

Pacers sign Lance Stephenson for remainder of season

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Lance Stephenson through the end of the season.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “the 10-year NBA veteran’s second straight standard 10-day contract and fourth 10-day deal overall with the Pacers expired Wednesday after a loss to the Magic… Stephenson, a fan favorite, was drafted 40th overall by Indiana in 2010 and is in his third stint with the franchise. He’s played 19 games for the Pacers this season, averaging 9.4 points, 4.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 48.1% from the field.”

Kyle Lowry set to return for Miami Heat

The Heat will soon have veteran point guard Kyle Lowry back in action. Via the Sun Sentinel:

The breath of fresh air was a familiar face Thursday for the Miami Heat at the morning shootaround in advance of their game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Away from the team for nine games due to personal reasons, point guard Kyle Lowry was back working alongside his teammates for the first time since Jan. 15.

“The shootaround had a great energy to it, just having him back with the group,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I know we were all excited to see him back in here. And I think he just has a great feel being back with the guys, as well.”

Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. undergoes foot surgery

Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. has undergone surgery to address a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. He will begin rehabilitation immediately.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Hardaway suffered the injury Jan. 22 in Golden State, when he planted his left leg for a layup attempt and came up limping, grabbing at his foot. He made both his ensuing foul shots while putting little weight on his left side, and then teammate Theo Pinson and director of player health and performance Casey Smith carried him off the court and into the locker room.”

Hardaway is averaging 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 29.6 minutes in 42 games (20 starts) this season.

There is currently no timetable for his return.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal out with wrist injury

Wizards guard Bradley Beal has been diagnosed with an injury to the scapholunate ligament of his left wrist. He will miss the team’s next four games, beginning with tonight’s game at Milwaukee, and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

The injury, which Beal suffered at the 7:47 mark of the third quarter at Memphis on January 29, was revealed following examination and testing by Wizards Head Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. William Postma and Hand Specialist Dr. Curtis Henn of MedStar Health in conjunction with Dr. Michelle Carlson of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Monumental Basketball Chief of Athlete Care & Performance Dr. Daniel Medina.

The three-time All-Star has averaged 23.2 points, a career-high 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 40 games this season.

Houston Rockets weekly team notes: January 31, 2022

KJ Martin had a season-high 17 points vs. Portland on 1/28 and is averaging 14.7 ppg on 74.1% shooting over the past three games… he is shooting 53.1% overall this season and 52.0% for his career.

Christian Wood has grabbed 14+ rebounds in four of the past five games and 14 times overall this season after doing so eight times prior in his career… he is averaging a career-high 10.3 rpg overall this season and ranks 11th in the NBA.

Following Wednesday’s game vs. Cleveland, Houston will have seven games remaining heading into All-Star break, five of which will be on the road… post All-Star break, the Rockets will play 15 of their final 24 games at Toyota Center.

The Rockets have already outrebounded their opponent 20 times this season after doing so 19 times in 2020-21… Houston has also outrebounded its opponent by double digits five times this season after doing so twice in 2020-21.

Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little will undergo season-ending should surgery

Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little will undergo surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The surgery will be performed on Tuesday, February 1 by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Little will miss the remainder of the season.

In 42 games this season (23 starts), Little averaged career highs of 9.8 points (46.0% FG, 33.1% 3-PT, 73.4% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.86 blocks and 25.9 minutes.

Per the Oregonian, “losing Little hurts the Blazers in a variety of ways. Little was having the best statistical month of his career. In eight games, Little averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field and 40.3% on threes. On the season, Little averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Defensively, Little had proven to be one of the team’s best perimeter defenders. His athleticism and energy helped lead to fast break points, offensive rebounds, captured loose balls and high-flying dunks.”