The Celtics face their sixth Western Convention staff in a row as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. That is the primary of two conferences between these two groups this season. They may meet as soon as once more in Boston on January 31. The Celtics have received their final 6 video games in opposition to the Pelicans. The Celtics are 26-21 general all time in opposition to the Pelicans and they’re 15-8 in video games performed in Boston.
The Pelicans have been energetic within the offseason. Their largest transfer was to commerce Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, EJ Liddell and Larry Nance, Jr to Atlanta for Dejounte Murray. They signed former Celtic Daniel Theis and Antonio Reeves as free brokers. They claimed Brandon Boston off waivers and signed him to a 2 method contract. They drafted Yves Missi with the twenty first choose.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, however have slipped to six.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve received 12 straight video games. They’re 2.5 video games forward of third place New York and 6 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee, who’ve received their final 3 video games. They’re 13-7 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-4 vs Western Convention opponents and are coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Pelicans are fifteenth within the West. They’re 24 video games behind the primary place Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. They’re 11.5 video games behind tenth place Golden State and the final play in spot. they’re 2.5 video games behind 14th place Utah. They’re 3-15 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-12 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
After a 3-1 Western highway journey, the Celtics misplaced to the Sacramento Kings of their first recreation at residence after the journey. That is the second of two residence video games in opposition to Western Convention groups. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors for the third time this season. They may then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
The Pelicans are taking part in within the second recreation of a 3 recreation highway journey. They began the journey with a win in Philadelphia on Friday. They may play at Chicago after this recreation. They then head residence for a 4 recreation residence stand the place they’ll host Dallas, Utah for two video games, and Milwaukee. They then head out on the highway for video games in Memphis, Charlotte and Toronto. After a recreation at residence in opposition to Dallas, they’ll play at Boston to complete out the month.
The Celtics have solely Drew Peterson on the damage listing attributable to concussion protocols. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram will miss his sixteenth recreation attributable to a left ankle sprain. Herb Jones has been recognized with a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder and can also be out. Dejounte Murray is questionable with proper elbow tendonitis and a proper shin contusion. Jose Alvaredo will probably begin in his place if he can’t play.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshAl Horford
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDrew Peterson (concussion) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Grid View
Pelicans Reserves Jose AlvaradoJavonte GreenKarlo MatkovicTrey Murphy IIIAntonio ReevesJeremiah Robinson-EarlDaniel Theis
2 Approach Gamers Brandon BostonKeion Brooks, JrJamal Cain
Accidents/Out Brandon Ingram (ankle) out Herb Jones (shoulder) outDejounte Murray (elbow/shin) questionable
Head Coach Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Zion Williamson
Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Zion WilliamsonWilliamson is averaging 22.6 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 47.1% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. Williamson has performed in simply 7 video games this season attributable to quite a lot of accidents. He was suspended for his or her final recreation in Philadelphia attributable to being late for a staff flight. He needs to be wholesome and rested for this recreation.
Grid View
Derrick White
Picture by Logan Riely/NBAE through Getty Photographs
CJ McCollum
Picture by Ned Dishman/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs CJ McCollum McCollum is averaging 22.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and three.8 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.8% from the sphere and 38% from past the arc. The Celtics must cowl McCollum on the perimeter as a result of he’s very able to hitting threes.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Dejounte Murray Murray is averaging 16.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a pair of.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 38.9% from the sphere and 26.1% from past the arc. He’s listed as questionable for this recreation with elbow and shin accidents. If he can’t play, Jose Alvarez will probably begin in his place.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection will all the time be the important thing to successful. The Pelicans common 107.4 factors per recreation (twenty seventh) whereas the Celtics common 117.9 factors per recreation (fifth). The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive ranking of 109.5. The Pelicans are twenty eighth with a defensive ranking of 117.7. The Celtics let up on protection in opposition to the Kings and it value them the sport. They need to play powerful lock down protection for all 48 minutes in the event that they need to win this, or every other, recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics need to crash the boards as a staff. Rebounding takes effort and once they put that further effort out to dominate the boards, it typically interprets to all different areas of the sport as properly. The Pelicans are averaging 42.7 rebounds (twenty fourth) and the Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per recreation (eleventh). The Pelicans are seventh within the league with 15.1 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to need to work exhausting to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second probability baskets.
Keep Centered – The Celtics have to remain targeted on taking part in the appropriate method. They need to deal with their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give the Pelicans free possessions by turning the ball over because the Pelicans common 18 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’ve to remain targeted on taking good photographs and on making them. If the skin photographs cease falling, they should get to the basket. They need to deal with taking part in staff ball and on taking part in protection.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, taking part in protection, diving for free balls and simply play tougher. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very powerful to beat and their lack of it may make them susceptible as we noticed in opposition to the Kings. They’re as soon as once more dealing with a staff that performs exhausting and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to return out with lower than 100% effort or to let up earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
X-Components Residence Sport – The Celtics are at residence for the second straight recreation. The Pelicans are taking part in of their second straight highway recreation. The Pelicans have struggled on the highway this season with an 3-15 document away from residence. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. They have been embarrassed at residence of their final recreation and wish to show that round and get a win on this recreation. Defend residence courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some are tyrants with the whistle and a few let the groups play. Some refs are very sensitive and name fast fouls and techs. The Celtics have to regulate their recreation to nevertheless the refs are calling it. They will’t let missed calls and no calls get to them and make them lose their focus.
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