FOOTBALL’S FINEST NBA: Brogdon and White provide valuable experience from the bench

CONTINUED FROM 16 once again, Brandeis responded — DiCenso and King each got an RBI to level the game at four apiece. In the next inning, Josh Liu ’26 pumped double to score Michaud and restore the Brandeis lead. However, a strong fourth-inning performance put the Spartan back in the driver's seat — 8-5. The rest of the game was a backand-forth affair, until the bottom of the eight when Brandeis took its final lead of the game at 12-11. Sadly, a four run ninth inning put the Spartans up three heading into the final frame. Even though the team lost 15-12, there were more positives than negatives to their performance. They recorded 15 hits against one of the nation’s best teams. Case may have taken the series 4-0, but Brandeis showed its resilience throughout the whole weekend. in good shape for another run to the NBA Finals. “The Jays” have stayed consistently productive throughout the season. While new Head Coach Joe Mazzulla remains cautious managing William III’s minutes on the hardwood, Horford does not disappoint as a starter as he does a decent job defensively containing smaller guards after pickand-roll actions and facilitating the offense with his vision and veteran experience. Smart, with his size and lengthy wingspan, continues to excel in every defensive matchup, averaging 2.3 steals per game in this series so far — proving why he was named Defensive Player of the Year last season.

The team will return to action tomorrow, April 26 to host the Tufts University Jumbos in a highly anticipated New England rivalry. With only five games remaining, the Judges will look to end their season on the best note possible. The season has not been a storybook one, but the team has the opportunity to write the ending.

What makes the Celtics a scary match-up this year is the abundance of scoring options. The decision last summer to sign Brogdon has proven to be a great success, as Brogdon was just honored with the Sixth-Manof-the-Year Award for his regular season performance. Coming off the bench in all 67 games played, Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in only 26 minutes of average game time. Although Brogdon is easily qualified for a starting position, playing him from the bench and pairing him with one of “the Jays” ensures constant scoring energy for all 48 minutes.

Another unsung hero that stepped up during the early playoff run is White, who averages almost 20 points with unbelievable efficiency. He is currently shooting 52% from downtown with a 58 overall field-goal percentage. Combined with his 89% free-throw strike, White is currently a premium member of the 180 club — a combined 180% in all three major shooting stats — and approaching a 200-club level performance. If White can stay hot in the upcoming series on the Celtics’ road to the finals, it should be safe to say that nothing could stop Boston this postseason.

The only problem the Celtics face, in my opinion, is the turnovers. When the Celtics have good control of the ball on offense and are able to set up their defense, their game has always been a nightmare for the opponents. However, when they allow fastbreak points or simply do not take care of the ball, they lose grasp of the outcome of the game. This has been reflected by the late Tatum turnover, which he took personally in the game three loss and the 16 team turnovers in the close game four. Impatience remains to be the sole enemy of the Boston squad.

As the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers swept the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics have a sense of urgency to advance as soon as possible. Today, April 25, the Celtics will host the Hawks as they hope to close out the series. The Celtics’ fans are keeping their eyes on Joel Embiid’s injury updates, while the Celtics shall focus and take care of business tonight in the TD Garden.