Host Danny Leroux talks with Kevin Pelton of ESPN (@kpelton.bsky.social) about the NBA playoffs.

They break down each of the four second-round series in terms of the key matchups, swing factors and much more plus other NBA discussion.

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During the Boston Celtics closeout Game 5 victory over the Miami Heat, there was some good news shared on Kristaps Porzingis. TNT sideline reporter Chris Haynes shared that Porzingis is hopeful to make a return in a couple of weeks.

“He is likely out for next series, as well. The hope is that he can make a return if the Celtics were to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals," Hayes said about Porzingis' absence.

Boston ruled Porzingis out for Game 5 against Miami due to a strained right soleus (calf). Porzingis came up lame during Game 4 and had to ask out. Further examinations ruled out a more serious injury, such as damage to the Achilles tendon.

Boston awaits the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic. Cleveland can end the series with a Game 6 victory in Orlando on Friday. If the Cavs win in six games, the Eastern Conference semifinals will start in Boston on Sunday, May 5. If the Magic win to force a Game 7, the semifinals will start in Boston on Tuesday, May 7. 

Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out for Game 5 by the Boston Celtics with a right soleus strain. The soleus is part of the calf muscle.

The injury is expected to keep Porzingis out of multiple games. According to Jeff Stotts, the average time missed for a soleus strain is 17 days.

The injury is the same one that has kept Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the Milwaukee Bucks' first round series against the Indiana Pacers.

Brad Stevens has been named the 23-24 NBA Executive of the Year.

Stevens received 16 out of 29 possible first place votes, six second place votes and three third place votes for a total of 101 points.

Sam Presti finished second ahead of Tim Connelly, Leon Rose, Nico Harrison and Rafael Stone.

During the past year, Stevens acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday via trade while the Boston Celtics had the best record in the NBA.

Kristaps Porzingis left Game 4 of the Boston Celtics' first round series against the Miami Heat with a non-contact injury.

The Celtics publicly announced Porzingis was doubtful to return with right calf tightness.

Sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the early indications are Porzingis did not sustain an injury to his Achilles. 

When a player tears his Achilles, it is typically a fairly obvious immediate diagnosis. 

The Eastern Conference seeds are set following the end of regular season on Sunday. The first round begins on Saturday, April 20th.

First Round Matchups

• No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 (Sixers, Heat, Bulls or Hawks)

• No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 (Sixers or Heat)

• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Play-In

• No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 8 Miami Heat

• No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Atlanta Hawks

Host Danny Leroux talks Celtics with Jared Weiss and the NBA’s closing stretch with Keith Smith of Spotrac.

Weiss and Leroux break down the Celtics’ phenomenal regular season and their playoff outlook while Leroux and Smith discuss Jrue Holiday’s extension, calibrating player salaries in the new cap environment and much more.

Sponsored by Factor Meals (code: realgm50) and PrizePicks (code: clns).

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Jrue Holiday and the Boston Celtics have agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension.

Holiday is declining his $37.3 million player option for 24-25 to sign a long-term deal that will take him through the 27-28 season. Holiday's extension saves the Celtics several million dollars on the cap next year

Holiday was acquired by the Celtics before the start of training camp after the Milwaukee Bucks traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of the Damian Lillard deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics made NBA history by combining for a record-low two free throw attempts in the entire game.

The Celtics also are the first team in history to not shoot a single free throw throughout an entire game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo shot the only two free throws in the game for the Bucks, who won 104-91.

"I thought it was a physical game, and then they handed me the stat sheet, and I told them, 'No, I need the full game. I thought it was the halftime stats. I didn't look at the minutes. And then I said, 'Wow, two free throws for a basketball game. That's crazy,'" said Doc Rivers after the game.

The Boston Celtics have signed center Neemias Queta to a standard NBA contract.

Queta has appeared in 26 games with the Celtics since signing a two-way contract with the franchise on September 17, 2023. The 7-0 center is recording career-highs in his first season with Boston, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 11.4 minutes per game.

Queta scored a career-high 14 points on 4-of-7 made field goals and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the Celtics’ 145-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 23. Queta has recorded both of his career double-doubles this season, including his 10-point, 10-rebound performance against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 19.