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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
01/26/2009 - 3:32pm
It all comes back to defense
Ask the Celtics a question, and they will inevitably respond with an answer about their defense. Ask them about their improved bench play: Defense. Ask about Eddie House hitting 3’s: Defense. Ask if they prefer Robert DeLeo or John Rogers to replace Sal DiMasi as Speaker of the House: You get the idea.
Paul Flannery
01/21/2009 - 5:56am
Are The Celtics Back?
When a beatdown the likes of which the Celtics laid on the Suns takes place, it leaves a man with three options. He can: 1. Contemplate a world in which the Celtics mascot dunks from a trampoline on a late-night talk show (and gets booed) and wonder, really, what Red would have thought if he saw the Celtics dancers, Lucky, and/or Gino at the Garden today.
Paul Flannery
01/15/2009 - 1:17pm
An NBA Season that is Halfway to Fantastic
A Zen koan for you all: What is the midway point of the NBA season?
Paul Flannery
01/12/2009 - 6:31pm
The Celtics at the Midway Point
On Wednesday the Celtics will reach the midway point of their season and about the only thing we know for sure at this point is that they are not as bad as they’ve been in 2009, and they weren’t as good as they were at the end of 2008. In other words, the Celtics are somewhere between the Jordan-era Bulls and the every-era Clippers.
Paul Flannery
12/29/2008 - 10:00am
Red Letter Day
"But to put all our eggs in one basket, to say this is the game we have circled. We circle all games." -- Kevin Garnett, Dec. 23, 2008.
Paul Flannery
12/18/2008 - 5:01am
Life Beyond the Celtics: The Grass Is NOT Greener
Covering a team that never loses means that it’s important to realize there is basketball life beyond Rte. 128. It’s a big world out there. Let’s dive in… Item: The Sixers fired Mo Cheeks after a 9-14 start, bringing the number of fired coaches to six. To look at it another way, 20 percent of the NBA’s coaches have been fired a little more than 25 percent into the season. Or to look at it yet another way, first-year Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is now the third-longest tenured coach in the Atlantic Division.
Paul Flannery
12/11/2008 - 5:18am
Are the Celtics Better than Last Year?
The talk began around Thanksgiving, after the Celtics destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers by 24 points on Nov. 28. It picked up last week when the C’s were beating Orlando by 19, Indiana by 18 and an up-and-coming Portland team by 15 in game that wasn’t really that close.
Paul Flannery
12/09/2008 - 10:18am
Flannery Breaks It Down With Free Darko
If you are a regular reader of Free Darko, you already know about The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac. For the uninitiated, Free Darko is an online collective, consisting of oddly named characters like Bethlehem Shoals, Big Baby Belafonte, Brown Recluse, Esq., Dr. Lawyer Indianchief and Silverbird5000. They are, essentially, more than just a little bit off-beat fans of the NBA, which is different than being basketball fans in general, or fans of an individual team, in particular.
Paul Flannery
11/24/2008 - 10:18am
The Return of the Green Machine
After the Celtics escaped Milwaukee with an overtime win on Nov. 15, they stood at 9-2 on the young season. They had just completed an arduous stretch in which they played eight games in 12 days, and won seven of those. But something didn’t feel right about the Celtics’ solid start as defending champions. Sure, they were winning games, but often they played from behind or needed dramatic fourth quarter flourishes by Paul Pierce to make it happen. The buzzer-to-buzzer blowouts that characterized the 2007-08 season seemed like a thing of the past.
Paul Flannery
11/10/2008 - 2:15am
That's Leon Pow!
“I'm more struck at the fact that Leon (Pow) gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play. That's ridiculous. I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. It's the illusion that's created. The referees referee an illusion." Lakers coach Phil Jackson after Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Paul Flannery
11/04/2008 - 10:18am
KG: The Revolutionary
In the November issue of Boston magazine, I wrote about Kevin Garnett and how his career fits within the burgeoning basketball sabermetric community. The central premise of the piece is that Garnett’s career has been unfairly judged by a jury not of his peers who take the central accomplishment of winning a championship as the end-all and be-all of determining the worth of star players.
Paul Flannery
10/29/2008 - 2:11am
Pierce's Tears Told the Tale
We ask a lot of the athletes in this town. We want them to perform, of course, but even more than that, we want them to care as much as we do.  Last night as the Celtics raised their 17th championship banner, Paul Pierce showed how much he cared. As John Havlicek presented him with the Lawrence O’Brien Trophy, tears were clearly visible in the Pierce’s eyes, and when he took the microphone to address the crowd, there was no doubt. The man was more than choked up.  He was having his, “We love ya Cooz” moment.
Paul Flannery
10/28/2008 - 3:11am
What It All Means
Mike Gorman loves to tell the story from the summer of 2007, a few days after the Celtics had acquired Kevin Garnett. The longtime broadcaster was en route to the State House for the team’s Heroes Among Us banquet. It was raining and Gorman was running late, so he did what any of us would have done—he busted out and made an illegal turn. Out of the darkness a state trooper emerged.
Paul Flannery
10/27/2008 - 3:11am
Champs Still Class of the East
If the West was a mind-blowing trip through the pastiche of day-glo psychedelia, the East is a can of Pabst and a shot of Wild Turkey. The mantra here is de-fense, de-fense and is personified by the collection of journeymen players turned coaches such as Scott Skiles, Sam Mitchell and new Pistons head man, Michael Curry. 
Paul Flannery
10/24/2008 - 10:18am
The West Will Be No Easy Ride in 2008-09
The West is the best. That’s what drunken pseudo-poet Jim Morrison once told us, and while it’s advisable not to take his advice too often (dropping psychedelics in the desert is really only useful for producing a half-decent episode of Entourage) the Lizard King was right about this one. The Western Conference race is going to be crazier than Ron Artest.
Paul Flannery
10/21/2008 - 10:18am
Getting the Point
It’s early in the first quarter, but the Nets have already tipped their hand. They’re going to be playing off the point guard and looking to help on the Celtics stars. Gabe Pruitt, in his second year out of USC and getting his first extended run with the top unit, recognizes the defense and knocks down a 3-pointer. Over on the Celtics bench, Doc Rivers allows himself a little smile.
Paul Flannery
10/06/2008 - 10:18am
Reconsider Me: The Legacy of Paul Pierce
Winning a world championship gets you a lot of things-a big shiny trophy, a Duck Boat parade, face time with Stuart Scott. It also gets you validation. It is a strange world we live in when Charles Barkley and Karl Malone have the lack of a title engraved on their hoops tombstone, but Pat Cummings gets off scot-free. Which brings us to Paul Pierce. Before last season, the Captain was never placed in the celestial orbit with Sir Charles and The Mailman. Good player? Yup. Very good player? No question. Star? Sure. Superstar? Eh.
Paul Flannery
09/30/2008 - 10:18am
Rondo is Ready to Step Up
Rajon Rondo does not lack for confidence. When the basketball world wondered how an untested second-year player would handle running an offense with three future Hall of Famers, Rondo shrugged and wondered, "Why all the fuss?" When the playoffs began and everyone wondered how Rondo would handle the increased attention Rondo shrugged and said, “Just watch.”


Audio On Demand

It Is What It Is Cast: Ex…

It Is What It Is Cast: Examining the New England Patriots offseason

In the latest edition of the "It Is What It Is" podcast, Chris Price and CSNNE's Mike Giardi take a look at the Patriots offseason on both sides of the ball, try and get a handle on which new guys will make an impact first, and whether or not the Patriots have altered their style when it comes to drafting and developing wide receivers.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on Tebow's release

Mike Florio joined the program to discuss the Jets decision to release Tim Tebow, he said the situation is as disaster all around for the Jets and that the problems begins with owner Woody Johnson. Mike also said that he was disappointed with the Pats moving back in the first round.

Mike Petraglia, WEEI.com, Sits Down with Butch Stearns to Help Break Down the Pats Draft

One of the hardest working men in the biz, Mike Petraglia aka "Trags", sits down with Butch Stearns live in Foxborough to help break down all the latest Pats moves. He discusses his reaction to the trade in Round 1 and the guys those picks produced. Also, the boys talk about the decent trade the Pats made in acquiring LeGarrette Blount from Tampa Bay for Jeff Demps and a 7th rounder.

Celtics President Danny A…

Celtics President Danny Ainge with Salk and Holley

We check in with Danny Ainge for our first talk to him since the Celtics season ended last weekend. We talk about the future of the team, KG, Pierce, Doc Rivers and more, as Danny directly answers the rumors being floated by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

Jackie MacMullan, ESPNBoston.com: "Gut" tells me Doc will stay

Jackie Mac joins the show to discuss the trade rumors swirling around Paul Pierce, KG, Doc Rivers and the Celtics. She also discusses the future of the Celtics head coach.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on his rumored Celtics Clippers trade

Stephen A. joined the program to discuss the trade rumors he has reported regarding a possible trade including Doc Rivers and the Clippers. Stephen A. also told the guys that he has heard that Danny and Doc may be tiring of working together.

John Lackey postgame gues…

John Lackey postgame guest after the last game of the Minnesota series

Joe Castiglione talked with John Lackey after he picked up the W against the Twins. Lackey threw seven innings, and retired the 1st twelve batters of the game.

John Farrell pregame before the last game of the Minnesota series

Dave O'Brien talked to John Farrell before the end of the Twins series. The Sox skipper said that Big Papi's success is no surprise given his work ethic.

John Farrell postgame press conference

John Farrell postgame press conference

Ed Olczyk, NBC Sports: "S…

Ed Olczyk, NBC Sports: "Surprised" by amount of goals in series so far

Eddie Olczyk joins the show to discuss the Bruins Rangers series and what to expect with Game 3 back in NY. He also talks about Seguin's inconsistency and the role of Jaromir Jagr.

Kenny Albert, NY Rangers PBP: Previews Game 3

Kenny Albert joins Mut and Merloni to discuss the play of Henrik Lundqvist, changes John Torterella may make before tonight's game, and if home ice advantage will make a difference.

Elliotte Friedman of CBC on the Bruins dominance of the Rangers

Elliotte Friedman joined the show to discuss the Bruins domination of the series thus far. He said that while nothing is certain he cannot see a way in which the Rangers come back and win the series.

Elliotte Friedman of CBC …

Elliotte Friedman of CBC on the Bruins dominance of the Rangers

Elliotte Friedman joined the show to discuss the Bruins domination of the series thus far. He said that while nothing is certain he cannot see a way in which the Rangers come back and win the series.

Steve Zipay of Newsday on the Rangers

Steve joined the show to discuss the Rangers and their coach John Tortorella. Steve said that the Bruins have been the far better team thus far in the series.

Can the Rangers turn things around?

Kirk and Gerry talked about game three tonight at Madison Square Garden between the Bruins and Rangers. Gerry and Kirk are not very confident in the ability of the Rangers to make this a series.

Ed Olczyk, NBC Sports: "S…

Ed Olczyk, NBC Sports: "Surprised" by amount of goals in series so far

Eddie Olczyk joins the show to discuss the Bruins Rangers series and what to expect with Game 3 back in NY. He also talks about Seguin's inconsistency and the role of Jaromir Jagr.

Kenny Albert, NY Rangers PBP: Previews Game 3

Kenny Albert joins Mut and Merloni to discuss the play of Henrik Lundqvist, changes John Torterella may make before tonight's game, and if home ice advantage will make a difference.

Mut Vs. Salk on NESN Daily

Find out which WEEI host came out victorious in the latest Salk Vs. Mut battle.

An Hour with Jack: Jack E…

An Hour with Jack: Jack Edwards joins Salk and Holley to break down a game two win and preview game three

What's better than a whole hour with NESN's Jack Edwards? Not much. We talk all hockey, all the time with Jack live from his study, with a "Loving Cup", whatever that is.

Bruins in complete control of Rangers two games into series

We talk hockey as the Bruins have had little problem taking a 2-0 series lead against the much talk about NY Rangers. Will this continue in games 3 and 4 at MSG? We discuss.

Salk and Holley's Four at Four - 05/21/13

We tackle four topics we haven't yet touched upon today. Gronk!, Proms with celebs and athletes and much more.

Daily Planet Monday May 2…

Daily Planet Monday May 20th

Today on the Daily Planet the Bruins have a 2-0 lead over the New york Rangers, the Red Sox are back on the winning sde of things, and the noteable birthdays of the day.

Daily Planet Thursday May 9th

The Bruins have almost finished raking the Leafs, the Red Sox struggle from the mound, Miami Heat fans show their level of class.

Daily Planet Wednesday May 8th

Daily Planet Wednesday May 8th

Salk and Holley's Miked U…

Salk and Holley's Miked Up and Answer the Question 05/21/13

....uhhhh.....a bunch of bombs over there....

Salk and Holley's Miked Up and Answer the Question - 05/17/13

Sounds like a prostate exam to me!

Salk and Holley's Miked Up and Answer the Question - 05/16/13

Damn New Yorkers!

Linda calls in to describ…

Linda calls in to describe the scene on Dexter St in Watertown

Linda explains how the shootout transpired in Watertown during the early morning hours. She saw the first suspect mortally wounded and police beginning the manhunt for the second suspect.

More from this show

Boston bombing hero Jeff …

Boston bombing hero Jeff Bauman: "He's dead and I'm still here"

Jeff Bauman, a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing, joined the show to give the guys an update of his condition and a first-hand account of that terrible day. Jeff told the guys how he wrote the description of the bomber as soon as he could. Mr. Bauman added that he is aided every day with the knowledge that he is alive and the terrorist that detonated the bomb is dead.

More from this show

Danny Ainge dispels the r…

Danny Ainge dispels the rumors: "I have the best coach in the NBA"

We check in with Danny Ainge for our first talk to him since the Celtics season ended last weekend. We talk about the future of the team, KG, Pierce, Doc Rivers and more, as Danny directly answers the rumors being floated by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

More from this show

Shawn Thornton on the Bru…

Shawn Thornton on the Bruins game 2 win

Shawn joined the show to discuss the teams great performance in game two against the Rangers. Shawn said that he wouldn't mind playing for John Tortorella because he seems like a funny guy.

More from this show

Minor Details Ep. 49: Man…

Minor Details Ep. 49: Managerial development with Torey Lovullo and Arnie Beyeler

By and large, the focus of development in the minor leagues is on players. Still, there is a developmental path for coaches and managers in the farm system, as is evident from the fact that the previous two managers of the Red Sox' Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket -- Torey Lovullo (2010) and Arnie Beyeler (2011-12) are now both on the Red Sox' big league coaching staff. They share their insights about the differences between player and coaching expectations in Triple-A vs. the majors, while discussing professional development from the perspective of former minor league managers who aspire to similar positions in the big leagues.

More from this show

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