Green With Envy: "The Celtics Bench Comes Up Big + Mediocre Life Updates"

Date: November 10, 2025
Host(s): Will & Greg (Blue Wire)
Main Theme:
A breakdown of the Boston Celtics’ hard-fought split weekend against the Orlando Magic, with special focus on the bench unit’s impact and the growing pains and bright spots for developing players. Plus, a typically offbeat “Mediocre Life Updates” segment closes the show out in classic Green with Envy style.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Celtics-Orlando Magic Weekend Recap

[00:46] – [03:18]

• The Celtics earned a 111-107 win over the Magic in Orlando after dropping the opening matchup.
• Will and Greg reflect on both games, emphasizing the importance of bench contributions in Sunday’s victory.

2. Jordan Walsh: Breakout Defensive Play and Crunch Time Hero

[03:18] – [07:33]

• Crucial Clutch Moment: Jordan Walsh hit the corner three that essentially sealed the win.
  • “I would assume it’s the first time he’s been in a clutch situation in a real game for the Celtics.” — Will [03:23]
• Walsh displayed poise, making a critical swing pass to Derrick White for another key three in the closing sequences.
  • “Jordan Walsh makes the right read, passes to Derrick White for the three. So Jordan Walsh makes two huge plays down the stretch there.” — Greg [04:26]
• Stat line: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, several deflections.
• Both hosts note that Walsh is starting to show more than “just not making mistakes”—now he’s making impact plays.
  • “He’s making the right reads…he drove to the basket at the right time, made a super athletic move and just missed the layup. I love the fact that he attempted it.” — Will [05:06]

3. Earning Missoula’s Trust: Young Bench Unit Minutes

[07:33] – [09:16]

• Joe Mazzulla is keeping his lineups flexible, giving minutes to young guns like Walsh, Ugo Gonzalez, and Josh Minet.
  • “Other than that, it’s kind of, let’s just see who has it going…It was the lineup that’s working and those were guys that earned the minutes to be out there tonight and to see Jordan Walsh as a part of that, that's exciting.” — Will [08:05]
• Ugo Gonzalez: Hit a clutch three, was a +19 in 13 minutes, and hustled on defense.

4. Luca Garza: An Unexpected Offensive Force

[09:19] – [12:53]

• Garza: 7-of-8 shooting, 16 points, 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 3 assists, 1 steal in relief of Neemi (who fouled out).
• Greg’s initial skepticism candidly melts away:
  • “God damn it, I hate Luka Garza. And then he has this second [half]…he was the most impactful big man out of those three [Garza, Neemi, Wendell Carter Jr.].” — Greg [10:09]
  • “I think a lot of why I don’t like him is because of his face. Like, I hate his eyebrows. I hate his chin.” — Greg [11:35]
• Both agree Garza’s defense is the main concern, but his offensive output makes him valuable right now.
• Notable moment: Garza closes the game after Neemi fouls out—Celtics don’t win without him.

5. Anthony Simons: Scorching First Half, Defensive Adjustment Quandary

[12:53] – [19:17]

• Simons scores all 25 points in the first half, including a second-quarter burst ([13:13]).
  • “There’s honestly…like 70, 75% of it I just don’t enjoy. Right? Like, I understand he’s a tough shot maker and when he gets going, he heats up quickly…But this is where you then get the rest of the game where once they put Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs on him…I was pretty convinced he was going to end up having three different backcourt violations.” — Will [13:56]
• Defensive adjustments: Jalen Suggs locks him down in the second half; Simons struggles to generate offense as the primary ballhandler.
  • “Jalen Suggs is a top five on-ball defender in the league. So I don’t want anybody dribbling at half court against Jalen Suggs. It’s just not smart basketball.” — Greg [15:13]
• Critique of Joe Missoula:
  • Both hosts urge that Simons should be used as an off-ball scorer and must get more than 2 minutes in these spots, even when targeted defensively.
    • “You need Anthony Simons’s burst, you need him as an offensive threat.” — Will [16:36]
    • “I think Joe’s got to be a little bit better about that going forward.” — Will [17:02]
• Simons is great as a “featured scorer,” not as a floor general.

6. Starting Lineup: Jalen Brown & Derrick White’s Roles

[20:07] – [24:54]

• Jalen Brown: 27 points, 5 rebounds, strong two-way performance.
  • “He’s just been continuing to be rock solid all season.” — Will [20:07]
• Derrick White: Shows signs of regaining form; makes crucial fourth-quarter plays.
  • “He looks like he’s turning a corner, which is great. The numbers weren’t awesome tonight… but he was doing all the little Derrick White things that you want to see.” — Greg [23:56]

7. Macro Celtics/Magic Takeaways

[25:06] – [30:36]

• Friday’s loss attributed to rare, hot Magic shooting and a handful of key turnovers—otherwise a pair of even matchups.
• Magic Outlook:
  • Greg thinks Orlando is a top-5 seed in the East but a year away from true contention. Praises Jalen Suggs as his “ideal player to coach,” notes Paolo Banchero’s superstar potential, and sees Franz Wagner as the X-factor.
    • “Suggs can do everything…Paolo kind of has to maneuver with more bodies in his way…Franz does all the intangible things…I just think they’re still a year or two away.” — Greg [26:22–27:32]
  • Will finds Paolo a little underwhelming until late in Game 2, feels Orlando’s starting five is good but not ready to break through.
• Both complain about the NBA Cup scheduling quirks and find it odd to play Philly three times so early.

8. Looking Ahead: Celtics’ Upcoming Week

[31:02] – [32:41]

• Celtics face Philly (Tuesday), Memphis (Wednesday), then get three days off before a home tilt with the Clippers.
• Hosts gripe about the scheduling of marquee matchups so early in the season.

9. Mediocre Life Updates

[33:28] – [45:39]

Greg’s Sunday Sauce Adventure

• Detailed, joyful rundown of making his signature Sunday sauce—with a tangent about family, pork chop tips, freezing, and pasta debates.
  • “My parents are visiting this weekend, so I’m gonna unfreeze it for them…If I’m ever going to open up bread and sauce, like, the main sauce that goes along with the dipping bread, it’s got to be this one.” — Greg [35:58]
• Sparked a nostalgic and comedic debate about the best noodle for sauce (penne > spaghetti for home cooks).
• Funny history about freezing food—should you use bags or Tupperware?—with an extended callback to their old roommate Ted’s questionable fridge hacks.
  • “But a freezer bag that is actually designed to hold things in the freezer, that’s what I now store my sauce in. So shout out to Teddy.” — Greg [39:49]

Will’s Kiwi Experiment

• Will’s wife Lorena attempts to expand his fruit horizons with Costco kiwis.
  • “She acts as if she always gets kiwi—she’s never once had a kiwi in this house in seven years…To be honest with you, you may have to eat that whole thing of kiwis. Like, I don’t think I like kiwis, but also I’m not sure I’ve ever had a kiwi.” — Will [41:32]
• Rating: “It’s a six out of ten. It was better than I expected, but I’m probably not going back.”

Greg’s Yardwork Epiphany

• Discovers a much larger, more effective rake in the garage, thanks to his wife Danielle.
  • “I realized that there’s just like a bunch of leaves everywhere…I haven’t seen this other rake. Like, show me this other rake…I would be raking a lot more if I had just known we had it!” — Greg [44:39]
• Heartwarming detail: Young son James copies Dad with his own “pooper scooper.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jordan Walsh’s defense:
  “He’s just got those long arms, man, that’s why I always compare him to Iggy.” — Greg [06:11]
• On Simons’ volatility:
  “There’s honestly…like 70, 75% of it I just don’t enjoy, right?” — Will [13:56]
• Greg on Luca Garza’s appearance:
  “I think a lot of why I don’t like him is because of his face. Like, I hate his eyebrows. I hate his chin.” — Greg [11:35]
• On life’s (and podcast’s) true spirit:
  “That’s probably more in the spirit of what a true mediocre life update is: found out that I have a real rake for raking leaves, and it made my leaf raking ten times more efficient.” — Greg [45:20]

Top Timestamps

• [03:23–04:26]: Jordan Walsh’s back-to-back clutch plays
• [11:35]: Greg’s eyebrow vendetta against Garza
• [13:56]: Will’s conflicted feelings about Simons
• [23:56]: Derrick White “turning a corner”
• [26:22–27:32]: Greg’s Magic analysis
• [35:58]: Greg’s sauce pride/family anecdote
• [41:32]: Will’s kiwi rating
• [44:39]: Greg discovers the big rake

Tone & Flow

The episode maintains Green With Envy’s classic balance: impassioned but self-deprecating Celtics analysis, fast-moving conversation laced with in-jokes and “best friend” energy, capped with a rambling but relatable slice-of-life segment. The chemistry between Will and Greg keeps things loose but insightful, as they weave serious basketball talk with food takes and dad stories.

For Celtics fans, this episode is a great snapshot of a team finding answers on the bench, with some hard coaching questions looming, and just enough “regular guy” banter to remind you why you tune in even (especially) when the conversation veers off-court.