Green With Envy: Drew Carter Joins the Show

Episode Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Will & Greg Manakis
Guest: Drew Carter (“Voice of the Boston Celtics”)
Main Topics: Celtics vs. Pistons recap, Joe Mazzulla's adjustments, Jaylen Brown’s leap, Jordan Walsh’s development (& nicknames), NBA Cup scheduling, Celtics player development

Episode Overview

This lively postgame edition of Green With Envy features Celtics play-by-play man Drew Carter, who joins Will and Greg for a spirited deep-dive into the Celtics’ recent loss to the first-place Pistons, evolving strategies under Joe Mazzulla, the impressive growth of Jaylen Brown as a team leader, and the breakout of Jordan Walsh—with some quality tangents on NBA “tough guys,” the NBA Cup's impact on rhythm, plus some nickname brainstorming for Boston’s emerging rookie. The conversation is rich with on-the-ground insights, humor, and the genuine camaraderie the show is known for.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celtics-Pistons Recap: Competing with the Best (07:20)

• Drew’s Take: The Celtics are proving they belong in the top Eastern Conference tier despite setbacks.
  • “Each of those games was kind of a toss up down the stretch. And the Pistons are one of the best clutch teams in the NBA... The bottom line is [the Celtics] have been in the mix and could have won all three of these games against the Pistons.” (07:20)
  • Carter emphasized there’s no “moral victory” since the Celtics legitimately could’ve won any of the slugfests versus Detroit.
• Physicality & Adjustments: Celtics’ use of a small ball lineup and extended 2-1-2 zone came under the microscope.
  • “It’s a little bit counterintuitive... Joe Missoula to a T is being the contrarian. So, hey, the Pistons are huge... we go small, and it worked really well.” (09:47)
  • The zone sparked debate, especially as it’s rare for Boston: “Notoriously, the Celtics do not play zone...” (12:12)
• Team Resilience: Despite missing Jayson Tatum, Boston continues to punch above weight, with Drew citing the team’s “winning DNA” and ability to adjust on the fly.
  • “They just don't have as much talent... so when you shrink the number of possessions, you shrink the opportunities for the more talented team to build up a gap.” (14:34)

2. Joe Mazzulla’s Mad-Scientist Approach (14:34)

• Joe Missoula’s willingness to experiment: slow pace, smallest lineups in recent Celtics memory, contrarian tactics.
• He's “fully formed” as a head coach, with his identity now “the team’s identity.”
  • “I feel like Joe in year four now has fully formed and has come out of his shell... and is just showing you exactly who he is.” (14:34)
• Praise for supporting player development and adjusting offensive structure to maximize Jaylen Brown.

3. Jaylen Brown: Clutch Play, Growth, & Toughness (17:35, 32:02)

• On-Court Improvements:
  • “This is his best playmaking season, without a doubt, in addition to his best scoring season.” (14:34)
  • Eight 30+ point games in last nine, including a triple double at Cleveland.
• Leadership and Accountability:
  • “He always plays... takes accountability. Last night he said, ‘this one's on me,’ ... I'm looking at the box score like, yo, bro, you had 34, 8 and 7.” (33:05)
  • Carter and hosts discussed how Brown’s evolving game and presence are galvanizing the Celtics.
• JB vs. Beef Stew – NBA’s Final Four Fighters?
  • Hilarious tangent listing Jaylen as a real NBA tough guy (boxing/Muay Thai), ranking him in a hypothetical “battle royale” with Isaiah Stewart, Steven Adams, Nikola Jokic, and others.
  • “If they were doing, like, a battle royale with all the players in the NBA... I got Jaylen Brown, at least in the Final Four.” (18:56)
• MVP Chants & Recognition:
  • Notably, there haven’t been MVP chants for Jaylen in Boston, despite his elite-level play.
  • “He does, he really deserves that support. That's what it's about... shower, show him some love, man.” (39:56)

4. NBA Cup: Scheduling Headaches & League Rhythm (25:01)

• Drew appreciates the idea but criticizes execution—long preseason, compressed regular-season schedule, inconsistent rest, and lack of logic to the calendar’s structure interrupting player rhythm.
  • “Nobody cares about the preseason at all... I haven't really heard a great argument as to why the season doesn't start at the beginning of October as opposed to the end.” (25:57)
  • “It does feel like it takes the NBA a long time to kind of click into gear in terms of public interest... I like the NBA Cup. I think it’s a good idea. With that being said, I feel like it’s really like an unforced error how they've done the schedule.” (25:57)
• Potential Fixes:
  • Start season earlier, condense knockout rounds, better group-play structure.
  • “A couple simple fixes that the league could make... common sense solution, and let’s fix this bad boy.” (30:49)

5. Jordan Walsh’s Emergence — and Nicknames! (41:10, 43:54)

• Defensive Impact: Now being tasked with guarding elite opposing scorers, drawing praise as an “on-ball menace.”
  • “He just made it once Joe gave him a chance; Jordan gave him no choice but to keep playing him consistently.” (49:26)
  • Was “written off” by some, but has “come out of his shell” on the court—energy, confidence, and disruptive defense.
• Nickname Brainstorming:
  • Carter polled teammates, fans, and Walsh himself before the game; front-runners include “Warden Walsh” (prison motif, locks up opponents) and “Wall Street” (his apparent favorite).
    • “Warden Walsh makes a lot of sense. It rhymes with his name... Wall Street—Wolf of Wall Street. Jordan’s kind of a vault; you can’t get through him.” (43:54)
  • Greg’s pitch: “Junkyard Dog” (for ferocious, versatile defense).
• Player Development:
  • The show lauds not just Walsh but the Celtics’ entire developmental program, including fellow wings Ugo Gonzalez and Josh Minott.
  • Internal competition among young wings is seen as a source of Boston’s edge: “There are going to be no handouts... If you’re not busting your ass, you’re not going to play.” (52:49)

6. Nemias Queta—Defensive Revelation (56:44)

• Queta’s Growth:
  • Now a legitimate rotational big, Queta has improved stamina and impact, anchoring small-ball lineups with elite rim protection.
    • “He is, he’s been elite defensively... just seeing him blossom has been one of my favorite parts of the season.” (57:55)
  • Compared to Luke Kornet as another Celtics development success story.
  • “It’s amazing to think his career trajectory... He just deserves so much credit.” (57:55)

7. Drew Carter: Life as a Bostonian (61:37)

• Drew reflects on feeling at home in Boston and being recognized by local fans:
  • “Everywhere I go... people come up and talk about the team, and I just think that's really fun.” (62:28)
• Fun anecdote about being called out as “new announcer!” in the Garden concourse during his first season. (63:54)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Celtics Competing at the Top:
  • “I think the Celtics have proven they're swimming in this top tier in the Eastern Conference... they’re not going to be a big underdog against any team.” (07:20, Drew Carter)
• On Joe Mazzulla:
  • “He is contradictory to his core... This is Joe Mazzulla to a T is being the contrarian.” (09:47, Drew Carter)
• On Jaylen Brown’s Toughness:
  • “He crossed half court and he was talking to Isaiah Stewart in the Pistons huddle—he’s about it.” (20:19, Drew Carter)
• On Jordan Walsh’s Breakout:
  • “Jordan Walsh didn’t write back, baby. He doesn’t care that people wrote him off... What a year for him.” (48:17, Drew Carter)
• On Celtics Culture:
  • “If you're not busting your ass... you're not gonna play. Even without Tatum, even without the guys we lost in the off season, you must play incredibly hard or else you’re not gonna play.” (52:49, Drew Carter)

Notable Timestamps

• [07:20] — Drew Carter’s breakdown of Celtics-Pistons and what it means for Boston’s standing
• [09:47] — Joe Missoula’s lineup tactics and philosophy
• [14:34] — Celtics pace, offensive restructuring, and identity under Joe
• [17:35 / 32:02] — Jaylen Brown’s elevated play and leadership, fighting Isaiah Stewart
• [25:57] — In-depth NBA Cup schedule discussion
• [41:10 / 43:54] — Jordan Walsh’s leap, defensive assignments, and the ongoing nickname search
• [52:49] — Young wings’ internal competition and team culture
• [56:44] — Nemias Queta’s transformation, defensive value
• [61:37] — Drew Carter on settling into Boston, local recognition

Tone and Final Impressions

The discussion is playful, insightful, and authentic—with lots of inside jokes, Boston sports culture, and banter about “NBA tough guys,” but grounded in real basketball analysis. Drew Carter offers firsthand color from inside the Garden and the Celtics’ orbit, while Will and Greg balance informed fan perspective with deep knowledge. The rapid back-and-forth on strategy, player development, and NBA scheduling is energetic and engaging—even venturing into the Celtics’ locker room dynamics and frontline coaching philosophy. Throughout, the camaraderie and love for Celtics basketball shine.

For Celtics fans or NBA strategists alike, this episode digs beneath the box score—forging connections between the team’s identity, coaching wrinkles, player development pipeline, and the paradoxes of “momentum” in a convoluted NBA schedule.