The Celtics head to Toronto to play the Raptors for his or her remaining preseason recreation. These two groups confronted off on Sunday with the Celtics coming away with a 115-111 win. The Celtics have been enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games and so held out their high 6 gamers, permitting the reserves to play all the recreation. They raced off to a 34 level lead earlier than the tip of the bench gamers let most of that slip however they held on for a 4 level lead in the long run.
That is the ultimate preseason recreation for the Celtics and so I anticipate to see the starters play not less than within the first half. Al Horford has but to play within the preseason however in accordance with Joe Mazzulla, he’s anticipated to play on this recreation. I’m going to guess that Luke Kornet will proceed to begin on this recreation and that Horford will come off the bench. However, that’s simply my guess.
As with each preseason recreation, it’s exhausting to inform which gamers will begin since coaches prefer to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to present rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to indicate what they will do. I’m itemizing the identical starters as final recreation for the Raptors and the Celtics common starters with Luke Kornet at heart. However, once more, that’s only a guess.
Kristaps Porzingis is stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure. For the Raptors, 6 gamers are on the damage record. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee. Garrett Temple is questionable with tightness in his hamstring. Kelly Olynyk is questionable with decrease again stiffness.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesSam HauserAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Coaching Camp ContractsRon Harper, JrJay ScrubbDmytro SkapintsevLonnie Walker IV
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
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Raptors Reserves Jonathan MogboJared RhodenJamal SheadBruno FernandoChris BoucherJahmi’us RamseyJamison Battle
2 Manner Gamers DJ CartonUlrich ChomcheBranden Carlson
Accidents/OutImmanuel Quickley (thumb) questionable RJ Barrett (shoulder) outJa’Kobe Walter (shoulder) questionableBruce Brown (knee) out Garrett Temple (hamstring) questionable Kelly Olynyk (again) questionable
Head CoachDarko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Scottie Barmes
Picture by Jordan Jones/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie BarnesBarnes is the participant that the Raptors plan to construct round. He had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a pair of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sphere however went 0-5 from three. In opposition to the Celtics on Sunday, he completed with 10 factors 1 rebound, and a pair of assists whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and lacking his solely 3 pointer.
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Luke Kornet
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Jakob Poeltl
Picture by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Luke Kornet vs Jakob PoeltlKornet might begin right here, or it’s doable that Al Horford begins within the remaining preseason recreation. Poeltl has began all 3 of the video games for the Raptors to this point and is more likely to begin this recreation as nicely. Poeltl completed Friday’s recreation with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 33% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. He completed Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Celtics with 14 factors, 13 rebounds, and a pair of assists whereas taking pictures 60% from the sphere with no 3’s. Poeltl is a vital participant for the Raptors. By way of the primary 3 quarters on Sunday, the Raptors have been +2 with Poeltl on the court docket however -24 with out him.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Gradey DickDick was drafted to be a sharpshooter for the Raptors. On Sunday, he completed with 18 factors, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 33% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He struggled at first however got here on robust as the sport went on.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – There’ll by no means be a recreation the place protection just isn’t the important thing to profitable. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it must be with protection first. Within the preseason, the Raptors are twentieth with a defensive score of 108.3 whereas the Celtics are ninth with a defensive score of 102.3. The Raptors are 4th with 55.3 factors within the paint and thirtieth with 31.7 three pointers tried per recreation. Then again, the Celtics are 1st with 52 three pointers tried per recreation. The Celtics should attempt to preserve the Raptors out of the paint and drive them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are ninth with 47 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are fifth with 48 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second likelihood baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 21.7 2nd likelihood factors per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics relied on taking pictures threes final season. They have been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per recreation. They have been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a recreation. To date within the preseason, the Celtics are trying 52 threes per recreation. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re exhausting to beat, however after they battle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly. On Sunday, they outscored the Raptors by 24 factors on the perimeter.
X-Elements On the Highway – After 2 video games at house, the Celtics are on the street for his or her remaining preseason recreation. Journey, staying in accommodations, enjoying on an unfamiliar court docket and in entrance of hostile followers all are distractions that may take away from gamers’ focus. The Celtics have to put all that behind them and concentrate on enjoying their recreation.
It’s the Preseason – Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are an important factor for coaches within the preseason. We’ll in all probability see extra of the rookies on this recreation in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for taking part in time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season. Though, for the reason that Celtics will probably be off for every week earlier than the season begins, we might even see fairly a little bit of the starters.
Officiating – Whereas hardly ever is officiating a motive for a win or a loss, it could possibly all the time be an x-factor. Each recreation known as in another way. Some video games are known as tightly and a few video games are allowed to be extra bodily. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as and concentrate on enjoying and never on the officiating.
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