National Basketball Association

Beyond the money (which admittedly at that price is pretty impossible to turn away) Hurley is signing up for a job in which he'd be the 4th guy to lead the Lakers in the last seven years. That's less than a 2-year shelf life on average.

Tatum and Brown are entering the peak of their powers, have made more trips to the conference finals and won more playoff games than anyone since entering the Association. They are four wins away from being undeniable.

It's been the goal since Day 1. Will the Celtics bring home Banner 18?

The Boston Celtics are four wins away from being undeniable. They've been questioned and belittled all year, but with four more wins, they will complete one of the most dominant seasons ever played in NBA history.

We all remember Kyrie's chaotic tenure in Beantown. From pledging his loyalty to the city "if you'll have me," to turning sour, quitting on the team and stomping on Lucky upon his return as an opponent.

He saved the Celtics in Game 1 and put the team on his shoulders in Game 2. Jaylen Brown is shinning under the bright lights of this postseason. Where does it rank him among the best players in the NBA?

The Pacers took two of the five regular season meetings between Boston and Indiana, including a 122-112 win on Dec. 4 which ousted the C's from the NBA In-Season Tournament.

For a rivalry to be at its best, you need two teams either at the peak of their powers or with a long standing history of hatred. The former immediately removes the Sox and New England Patriots from the conversation. The latter is hard to come by in today's age of athlete, where everyone seems "buddy buddy" with each other.

People are tired of always hearing about the Celtics, and how good they are, without ever seeing them win. I get both sides of it. But it's not an excuse to devalue everything the '23-'24 team has done thus far. Nor is it a reason to doubt this team based on past years.

Officiating is always under the microscope in sports. That's because if an official is being noticed, it means a call has been made, and chances are 50% of the people watching the game are displeased to say the least.