The green is different here. If you’ve ever walked down Causeway Street three hours before tip-off, you know that specific hum in the air—it’s a mix of history, anxiety, and a weirdly intense demand for excellence. For decades, if you wanted to know what was actually happening inside the locker room or the front office, you opened the sports pages. Specifically, you looked for the Boston Celtics in the Boston Globe. It wasn’t just about the box scores. It was about the narrative that shaped how the city felt about the team.
Honestly, the relationship between this franchise and the city's paper of record is basically a long-running marriage. Sometimes it's harmonious. Often, it’s prickly. But it’s always essential.
The Standard Set by the Legends
You can't talk about the Globe's coverage without mentioning the giants. Bob Ryan didn't just write about basketball; he explained the soul of the game to a generation of New Englanders. He was the "Commissioner of Basketball" for a reason. When Larry Bird was diving for loose balls in the 80s, Ryan was the one contextualizing why that mattered more than a 30-point night. He set a standard of institutional knowledge that most modern blogs just can't touch.
Then you have the modern era. Think about names like Dan Shaughnessy—who can be "The Curly-Haired Boyfriend" to some or a persistent thorn in the side to others—and Gary Washburn, or Adam Himmelsbach. These aren't just guys with press passes. They are the people who catch the eye rolls from Jaylen Brown or the quiet sighs from Joe Mazzulla after a tough loss. That level of access is what separates the Boston Celtics Boston Globe coverage from the noise you find on social media.
It’s about the "notebook." Those Sunday notes columns are a New England tradition. They’ve survived the death of print, the rise of the iPhone, and the shift to TikTok. Why? Because people still want the inside track on trade rumors that actually have legs, not just trade machine fantasies.
📖 Related: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
Why Digital Subscriptions Didn't Kill the Vibe
A lot of people complained when the paywall went up. I get it. Nobody likes paying for what used to be a 50-cent paper thrown on the driveway. But in 2026, the depth of the Boston Celtics Boston Globe digital experience is actually where the value sits. We’re talking about real-time analysis that doesn't feel rushed.
- Detailed breakdowns of Joe Mazzulla’s "intentional" late-game spacing.
- Deep dives into Jayson Tatum’s shooting mechanics during a slump.
- Financial analysis of the luxury tax implications that would make an accountant sweat.
The Globe doesn't just tell you the score was 112-105. They tell you why the third-quarter rotation failed because of a specific defensive switch. It’s nerdy. It’s dense. And for a Celtics fan, it’s basically oxygen.
Navigating the Hype and the Heartbreak
Being a Celtics fan is exhausting. One week you’re planning a parade through the Common, and the next you’re convinced the core needs to be blown up. The Boston Celtics Boston Globe writers often act as the city’s collective therapist. When the team collapsed in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals before roaring back to force a Game 7, the Globe's columnists were the ones asking the hard questions about leadership.
They don't sugarcoat things. They’re famously tough.
👉 See also: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Look at the coverage of the Ime Udoka situation. That was a messy, complicated, and sensitive story that required actual journalism, not just Twitter rumors. The Globe’s reporting during that period showed the difference between being a "fan site" and being a news organization. They had to balance the shock of the locker room with the gravity of the organizational violations. It was tense. It was necessary.
The Mazzulla Era and the New Media Dynamic
Joe Mazzulla is a weird guy. We know this. He watches The Town four times a week and talks about "the beauty of the struggle." Covering him requires a different toolkit than covering Doc Rivers or Brad Stevens. The Globe writers have had to adapt to a coach who is often more interested in discussing tactical philosophy or animal kingdom metaphors than giving a straight answer about a timeout.
- Direct Accountability: Washburn and Himmelsbach aren't afraid to ask why a player sat for ten minutes.
- Long-form Features: The paper still invests in 2,000-word profiles on bench players like Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard.
- Visual Storytelling: The photography in the Globe remains elite—catching the sweat, the tension, and the Banner 18 pursuit in high definition.
Breaking Down the "Globe Factor" in Trade Rumors
Let's be real: Boston is a rumor mill. Every time a superstar becomes disgruntled, the Celtics are linked. But there’s a "Globe filter" fans use. If a random account on X says Kevin Durant is coming to Boston, people shrug. If the Boston Celtics Boston Globe beat writers start hinting at internal discussions, the city stops moving.
They have the cell phone numbers of the people in the front office. When Brad Stevens makes a move—like the Porzingis or Holiday trades—the Globe's "Instant Analysis" is usually the most grounded take you’ll find. They understand the CBA. They understand the chemistry.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
How to Get the Most Out of Your Celtics Reading
If you're just skimming headlines, you're doing it wrong. To actually stay informed, you need to look for the "Point of View" columns. These aren't meant to be objective news reports; they are arguments. Agree with them or hate-read them, they drive the conversation at every sports bar from Southie to Somerville.
- Follow the Beat: If Himmelsbach is traveling with the team, his "Dispatch" pieces usually have the best flavor of the road trip.
- The Sunday Notes: Still the gold standard for league-wide gossip with a Boston slant.
- The Comments Section: If you want a laugh (or a headache), the Globe's comment section is a time capsule of old-school Boston sports angst.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Coverage
People think the Globe is "out to get" the players. They call it the "negative media." Honestly? That’s a bit of a reach. The reality is that Boston is a "show me" town. The Globe reflects that. If the team is playing lazy defense, the writers are going to call it out because that’s what the fans are seeing. It’s not about being mean; it’s about the high price of the ticket and the weight of the banners in the rafters.
When you read about the Boston Celtics in the Boston Globe, you're reading a document of record. It’s the story of a city that identifies itself through its sports teams. It’s messy, it’s passionate, and it’s deeply researched.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Fan
To stay ahead of the curve on the C’s, stop relying on aggregate sites that just rewrite other people's news. Instead:
- Set alerts for specific beat writers: Don't just follow the paper; follow the individuals like Gary Washburn or Adam Himmelsbach on social platforms to get their immediate "vibe check" after games.
- Read the transcripts: The Globe often publishes the full context of quotes that get chopped up into "clickbait" elsewhere.
- Check the injury reports: The Globe’s medical deep dives—explaining the specific mechanics of a meniscus tear or a "turf toe"—are usually verified by actual specialists, not just guesses.
- Compare the columns: Read Shaughnessy for the "skeptic’s view" and then read a younger staffer for a more "analytical/modern view." The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
Staying informed in the modern NBA isn't about knowing the score; it's about understanding the "why" behind the "what." In Boston, the "why" is almost always found in the Globe.