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About Paul Flannery

Paul Flannery began his journalism career answering phones at the Boston Herald before embarking on a cross-country odyssey that included stops in Oregon, Virginia and Philadelphia. He then returned home to Boston, where he was the online editor at Boston magazine and began covering the Celtics in 2008. Flannery also contributes to the Phoenix and teaches sports journalism at Boston University.

 
COLUMNS
Paul Flannery
01/26/2010 - 8:18am
Five questions for the Celtics
Even before the Celtics went into a prolonged funk, Doc Rivers had his doubts about the way his team was playing. “We like our record, but we’re not building,” the coach said then. “We’re winning games, but we’re not improving.”
Paul Flannery
01/23/2010 - 9:14am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics revel in KG's return
Kevin Garnett was introduced to a rousing ovation from the TD Garden crowd. He threw down a dunk in the first quarter and scored nine points in the first nine minutes.
Paul Flannery
01/19/2010 - 2:02am
The Three-Pointer: Searching for a Celtics identity
It’s not time to panic, but it is time for the Celtics to take stock of their situation.
Paul Flannery
01/14/2010 - 12:17am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics teach Nets another lesson
At times this season, the Celtics have struggled against mediocre teams. Fortunately for them, the Nets aren’t mediocre. They’re awful. It’s been a long time since epic Nets failures of the past such as Dennis Hopson and Dave Feitl roamed what is now called the Izod Center.
Paul Flannery
01/12/2010 - 1:24am
The Three-Pointer: Technically, Celtics lose again to Hawks
The Celtics have played the Hawks three times now, and each game has served a painful lesson. The first defeat taught the Celtics that if they didn’t play with energy, they would get crushed. The second showed that the Celtics had to work to match the Hawks physically. The lesson from Monday night: Don’t get thrown out.
Paul Flannery
01/09/2010 - 8:53am
The Three-Pointer: Rivalry Continued To Take Shape In Celtics' Loss
In the Eastern Conference hierarchy, the Magic have what the Celtics want and the Cavaliers have their attention. But it’s the Hawks that seem to bring out the best and the worst in the Celtics.
Paul Flannery
01/08/2010 - 8:00am
The downfall of Gilbert Arenas
Paul Flannery
01/05/2010 - 2:36am
Now Celtics Have a Real Need for Sheed
After the Celtics got run off the court by the Phoenix Suns, Kendrick Perkins went to Rasheed Wallace and told the veteran big man that now was the time for him to be a leader.
Paul Flannery
12/31/2009 - 1:36am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Living an Uncomfortable Existence
The losing streak is now three games, and while there were extenuating circumstances, this was the worst loss of the three. Yes the injuries are piling up and yes, the trip was long and tiring, but the Celtics had less pop than day-old champagne and provided decidedly less buzz.
Paul Flannery
12/29/2009 - 11:42pm
A Look Back: 2009 Celtics Executed Transition Game
In time, 2009 will be viewed as a bridge year for the Celtics.
Paul Flannery
12/29/2009 - 3:30am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Find Fools Gold Against Warriors
Playing the Warriors can sometimes be as much an exercise in restraint as anything else. There are so many open shots and available fast break opportunities that it can be incredibly enticing to settle for the first good thing that presents itself. Enticing as it may be, it can also be a sucker’s bet if you’re not careful. The Celtics, who play such a tightly controlled form of basketball, were easy marks most of the night, especially after dominating the first quarter.
Paul Flannery
12/25/2009 - 11:37pm
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Leave Their Mark On Magic
Privately, and sometimes publicly, the Celtics will admit that if there is any one team in the Eastern Conference that makes them nervous it’s the Orlando Magic. A certain respect is paid to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it’s not lip service either. Any team that has LeBron James is certainly worthy of everyone’s respect. But the Magic, with all their matchup-inducing headaches, are never far from their thoughts.
Paul Flannery
12/23/2009 - 1:03am
The Three-Pointer: A Not-So-Subtle Reminder
There’s a hackish lead in here somewhere. Something about a tale of two halves. But cliché as it may be, there’s something to that.
Paul Flannery
12/19/2009 - 12:38am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics' Streak Unraveled With Ejection
The Celtics winning streak may have unraveled in the last five minutes of their 98-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night, but its seed was sown much earlier.
Paul Flannery
12/13/2009 - 1:09am
The Three-Pointer: No Bull on the Road for Celtics
Another night, another city, another Celtics victory.   The Celtics have played a dozen road games so far this season and they have left town with a victory 11 times. The only time the C’s suffered a defeat on the road was four weeks ago in Indiana. There was no danger of a repeat performance in a 106-80 win over the Bulls on Saturday (recap), and not just because the Celtics have figured out the road game better than every other team in the NBA.  
Paul Flannery
12/09/2009 - 1:24am
The Truth About Sheed
“I would say, unfortunately, I know he’s on your team right now, but Rasheed Wallace was someone I don’t believe anyone cared for. Looking back, it’s probably because he’s one of the smartest players in the league. He was outspoken about how there were biases and how relationships affected the refereeing.” “So they got mad at him because he was telling the truth about their biases?” “Exactly.”
Paul Flannery
12/08/2009 - 4:56am
The Talented Mr. Jennings
The NBA’s newest sensation is set to make his Boston debut Tuesday when Brandon Jennings and the Bucks play the Celtics.
Paul Flannery
12/05/2009 - 12:43am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Head Home the Hottest Team Around
Before the Celtics went on their four-game road trip the mood around the team was one of unease. What had happened to this once-dominant team that we had seen in early November? They were winning games, mostly, but they were making things very hard on themselves, and the double-digit blowouts were just a distant memory.
Paul Flannery
12/02/2009 - 12:12am
The Three-Pointer: Is Perkins An All-Star?
So maybe the problem for the Celtics the last few weeks was that they just needed to get out of town. Two days after closing out Miami on the road with some vintage Celtics defense down the stretch, the C’s routed Charlotte, 108-90, with great offense and defense.
Paul Flannery
11/22/2009 - 7:25pm
The Three Pointer: A Win Is a Win ... Even Against the Knicks
It’s all about perspective these days for the Celtics. They played the Orlando Magic down to the wire on Friday night, but were in the words of their coach, Doc Rivers, “awful.”
Paul Flannery
11/21/2009 - 8:13am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Struggles Keep On Coming
There are times for analysis, times for insight and then there are times when one should simply get out of the way and just let the coach call it.
Paul Flannery
11/17/2009 - 12:01am
Respect Is Hard to Come By For Celtics
Kevin Garnett was talking about defending the pick and roll Monday, which is the most essential play in basketball and one that has been giving the Celtics all kinds of trouble ever since Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns worked it to death a little over a week ago. In his career Garnett must have seen the pick and roll, what? Fifty thousand times? More? Listening to him talk was like listening to John Hannah talk about leverage or Pedro Martinez talk about working both sides of the plate. The mundane can truly be fascinating with the right person speaking.
Paul Flannery
11/12/2009 - 1:21am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Find Their Legs
There are nights like this in the NBA sometimes.
Paul Flannery
11/10/2009 - 2:01am
How Rasheed Wallace Found 'The Answer'
The two-hour practice was over and there was Rasheed Wallace, still on the court, working on his shot.
Paul Flannery
11/08/2009 - 12:34am
The Three-Pointer: Celtics Win Ugly
There are two things you never apologize for in the NBA: Big-money contracts and wins of any kind. If someone wants to give you the full mid-level exception you don’t ask twice and if you can pull out a road win on the second night of a back-to-back in front of a half-full arena somewhere on the Jersey Turnpike, you take it and don’t look back.


Audio On Demand

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Pete Prisco Tim Tebow cant play

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On this episode of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with the Boston Herald's Jeff P Howe about the Patriots offseason, Rob Gronkowski's back surgery, Danny Amendola replacing Wes Welker, and how this seasons team will stack up against last seasons.

It Is What Is Cast: Injury Expert Will Carroll

In the latest edition of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with Will Carroll. Injury expert and lead writer for Sports Medicine, Bleacher Report. They talk about the injury to Rob Gronkowski and what his back surgery could mean for his season.

Jeff Van Gundy on Doc and…

Jeff Van Gundy on Doc and the Celtics

Jeff joined the show to discuss the rumors of Doc heading to the Clippers. Jeff said that he will not discuss his future but that his brother would be a great candidate anywhere.

Stephen A. Smith on Doc to the Clippers

Stephen A. joined the show to discuss the status of trade negotiations between the Clippers and the Celtics. Stephen said that it is a 50-50 proposition that Doc ends up in Los Angeles.

"Celtics Summer Cooler" With Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell - Hour 2

Grande and Max take more calls on the Celtics and discuss what lies ahead for Doc Rivers with Steve Bulpett.

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Red Sox Manager John Farrell with Salk and Holley

We check in with Red Sox skipper John Farrell for our weekly Sox update and get the latest on the injury to Clay Buchholz, and a whole lot more.

John Farrell postgame press conference

John Farrell postgame press conference

Jonny Gomes postgame with Joe & Dave after the second Rays game

Joe & Dave talked to the Sox outfielder, who pounded the ball out of the park to win the second game of the doubleheader against the Rays.

Shawn Thornton on D&C: St…

Shawn Thornton on D&C: Still anybody's series

The Bruins have looked quite good taking a 2-1 lead on the Blackhawks, but Shawn Thornton says the team is not getting ahead of itself. Thornton also talks about what makes Patrice Bergeron such a great player and teammate. He also squeezes in a few shots at his friend Keegan Bradley.

Pierre McGuire, NBC Sports, on the Stanley Cup Finals

Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury, and Jagr.

Tony Amonte, CSNNE: on Hossa injury

Tony Amonte calls out Marian Hossa for missing Game 3 and recaps the Bruins win.

Shawn Thornton on D&C: St…

Shawn Thornton on D&C: Still anybody's series

The Bruins have looked quite good taking a 2-1 lead on the Blackhawks, but Shawn Thornton says the team is not getting ahead of itself. Thornton also talks about what makes Patrice Bergeron such a great player and teammate. He also squeezes in a few shots at his friend Keegan Bradley.

Keegan Bradley joins D&C live at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut

Keegan Bradley hopped on the set in Connecticut with D&C to talk some golf, but seeing as how he's a big Boston sports fan, the interview covered a lot of ground. You can hear Keegan talk about the Bruins' Cup chances, the Doc Rivers deal that almost was, and Shawn Thornton's lacking golf game.

SI's Michael McCann breaks down the Aaron Hernandez situation

Legal expert Michael McCann joined D&C to take on the topic of the day: Just what exactly is happening with Aaron Hernandez? McCann addressed Hernandez' lack of cooperation in the investigation so far, and how that may play out as the case moves along.

LB talks Bruins Blackhawk…

LB talks Bruins Blackhawks in studio

LB joins Mut and Merloni and discusses the Stanley Cup Finals and takes phone calls from listeners.

Mut and Merloni respond to the Boston Herald

Despite many other important newsworthy items, the Boston Herald decided it was appropriate to put a story about Mut and Lou sending a vulgar cake to a Chicago radio station on the front page of today’s paper. Mut and Merloni respond, make it clear it was just a good natured joke and not meant to offend anyone.

Buster Olney, ESPN, on the struggles of Andrew Bailey

Buster joins the program to discuss the problems of Andrew Bailey, what closers are available in the market, the Buchholz injury, and the latest in the biogensis scandal.

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Aaron Hernandez questioned in murder probe: Is the 'Patriot Way' a thing of the past?

We talk about the developing Aaron Hernandez story line and look at it from the context of 'the Patriot Way', the theory that the Patriots only deal with high character athletes. Is that Patriot way gone? Did it ever even exist? We discuss.

An hour with Jack Edwards: Blackhawks will not go down without a fight

We check in with Jack Edwards live on location for an hour of Stanley Cup preview. Jack warns us all not to get overconfident, the Bruins haven't won anything yet.

NHL Network's Kathryn Tappen with Salk and Holley

We talk pucks with the lovely and talented Kathryn Tappen of the NHL Network and preview game 4 of the Stanley Cup final and beyond.

Bernie Carbo

Bernie Carbo

Mikey gets a surprise call from Red Sox legend Bernie Carbo. They talk about old-time baseball and Bernie's new book.

Tom Bean and Luke Poling, producers, writers and directors of 'Plimpton!'

Mikey talks with Tom and Luke about their new movie, "Plimpton!" and finds out what it was like to try to encapsulate everything George Plimpton accomplished during his life.

Daily Planet, Friday May 31st

Today on the Daily Planet, the Red Sox and Yankees face off in the Bronx, Claude Julien doesn't want players wasting energy, and Dwight Howard and free agency.

Salk and Holley's Answer …

Salk and Holley's Answer the Question - 06/19/13

You ask us, we answer it. Or you ask Jack, he answers it.

Salk and Holley's Answer the Question - 06/17/13

You ask, we answer. Today featuring NESN's Jack Edwards.

Salk and Holley's Answer the Question - 06/13/13

The new way we end the show. You ask, we answer.

SI's Michael McCann break…

SI's Michael McCann breaks down the Aaron Hernandez situation

Legal expert Michael McCann joined D&C to take on the topic of the day: Just what exactly is happening with Aaron Hernandez? McCann addressed Hernandez' lack of cooperation in the investigation so far, and how that may play out as the case moves along.

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Don Cherry on the Stanley…

Don Cherry on the Stanley Cup

Don Cherry joined the show to discuss the Cup finals. He said that he still thinks the Bruins will win the series over Chicago. Grapes added that he would not give Evgeni Malkin a dime and called him a loser.

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Pierre McGuire of NBC Spo…

Pierre McGuire of NBC Sports analyzes the Stanley Cup finals

Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury and Jagr.

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Shawn Thornton on D&C: St…

Shawn Thornton on D&C: Still anybody's series

The Bruins have looked quite good taking a 2-1 lead on the Blackhawks, but Shawn Thornton says the team is not getting ahead of itself. Thornton also talks about what makes Patrice Bergeron such a great player and teammate. He also squeezes in a few shots at his friend Keegan Bradley.

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