The Celtics head from Miami to Brooklyn as they search for again to again wins. The Celtics play the Nets for the third of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics gained 108-104 in time beyond regulation in Boston on November8. Additionally they gained the second recreation 139-114 in Brooklyn on November 13. They’ll play for the 4th, and ultimate, time in Boston on March 18.
The Celtics gained the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 143-74 total all time towards the Nets and they’re 67-40 all time in video games on the highway. The Celtics have gained their final 7 video games on the highway towards Brooklyn. The Celtics are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games. They’re 6-4 within the second of again to again video games and 2-2 when each video games are on the highway.
The Nets went into rebuild mode this off season after they traded their Most worthy participant, Mikal Bridges, to the Knicks. They obtained Shake Milton in an indication and commerce from the Knicks. They bought Bojan Bogdanovic and Ziaire Williams from Memphis. They obtained their very own ‘25 and ‘26 draft picks again from Houston and 5 first spherical picks within the Bridges commerce.
The Nets misplaced Keita Bates-Diop, Jacob Gilyard, Dennis Smith, Jr, and Lonnie Walker IV from final 12 months’s group. The Nets had been additionally lively on the commerce deadline, sending Dennis Schroder to Golden State for De’Anthony Melton and Reece Beekman. Additionally they purchased out Ben Simmons contract, who then signed with the Clippers.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 8.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve gained their final 16 video games. They’re 5 video games forward of third place New York and 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 25-7 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 32-11 towards Jap Convention groups. They’re coming off a win over the Warmth of their final recreation.
The Nets are thirteenth within the East. They’re 34 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 6 video games behind tenth place Chicago, who’re within the ultimate play in spot. They’re 7.5 video games forward of final place Washington and half a recreation behind twelfth place Philadelphia. They’re 19-21 at house and 1-9 of their final video games. They’re 12-29 towards Jap Convention groups. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics simply completed a 5-2 house stand and are enjoying within the second straight highway recreation, coming off a win in Miami on Friday evening. After this recreation at Brooklyn they are going to return house to play Brooklyn for the ultimate time this season. They then head out on a 6 recreation Western highway journey by means of Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at house.
The mid-day damage report is out for the Celtics with a couple of anticipated names and a few surprises. The most important shock for me was that Kristaps Porzingis has been upgraded to possible. Derrick White is listed as uncertain after an enormous recreation on Friday. As anticipated, Al Horford can also be listed as uncertain. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are questionable. My guess is that considered one of them will play (in all probability Brown since he was out Friday) and Tatum will possible get an evening off to relaxation his balky knee. With this in thoughts, I’ve included Sam Hauser to interchange the uncertain White and included in all probability KP and each of the questionable Jays within the starters.
The Nets have 5 gamers on their damage listing as of now, with 2 starters out. Nicolas Claxton will sit out this recreation for relaxation as it’s the first of again to again video games. Nets main scorer Cam Thomas is out as a consequence of hamstring damage administration. Noah Clowney is out as a consequence of an ankle damage. De’Anthony Melton is out with a knee damage. Trendon Watford is out with a hamstring damage. I’m taking a guess that Sharpe will begin for Claxton and Tyrese Martin will begin in Thomas’ spot.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshBaylor Scheierman
Torrey Craig
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (knee) questionableDerrick White (knee) doubtfulKristaps Porzingis (sickness) probableAl Horford (toe) uncertain
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Nets Starters
Grid View
Nets ReservesKeon JohnsonMaxwell LewisJalen Wilson
Two Approach PlayersReece BeekmanTosan EvbuomwanTyson Etienne
Accidents/Out Noah Clowney (ankle) out De’Anthony Melton (knee) out Nicolas Claxton (relaxation) out Trendon Watford (hamstring) out Cam Thomas (hamstring) out Dariq Whitehead (G-League) out
Head CoachJordi Fernandez
Key Matchups
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Sam Hauser
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures
Cameron Johnson
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Sam Hauser vs Cameron JohnsonJohnson is averaging 18.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 47.8% from the sphere and 40.2% from past the arc. Towards the Celtics in 2 video games to this point, he averaged 13.5 factors, 6 rebounds and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 45.5% from the sphere and 30.8% from past the arc. He is an effective 3 level shooter and the Celtics have to defend him nicely on the perimeter.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Issac Baldizon/NBAE through Getty Pictures
D’Angelo Russell
Picture by Patrick McDermott/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs D’Angelo RussellRussell is averaging 12.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 40.1% from the sphere and 30.1% from past the arc. That is his first recreation towards the Celtics this season.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive score of 110.3. The Nets are twenty third within the league with a defensive score of 115.3. The Nets are averaging 105.3 factors per recreation (twenty ninth). The Celtics are seventh within the league averaging 116.8 factors per recreation. The Celtics need to particularly guard the perimeter because the Nets are eleventh with 38.7 three pointers tried per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They will’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take additional effort on their half beat the Nets on the boards. The Nets are twenty eighth with 41.1 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics are tenth with 44.9 rebounds per recreation. . The Celtics need to put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Nets and stop second and third probability photographs.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics want to remain targeted and be aggressive from begin to end. The Nets haven’t been enjoying nicely, however they’re nonetheless enjoying arduous and can all the time attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics can’t underestimate them as a result of they’re sitting 5 gamers, together with 2 of their finest starters or as a result of they’re below .500 or as a result of they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games. Irrespective of who sits for the Celtics, they need to nonetheless have sufficient expertise to beat the Nets so long as they put within the effort.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to return out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They need to be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for unfastened balls and simply enjoying more durable basically. What the Nets lack in star energy, they make up for with effort. The Celtics have to match their effort and aggressiveness. Additionally they need to play arduous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. This Nets group with out stars play arduous and win by giving extra effort than their opponents.
X-Components Highway Recreation and Fatigue – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway on the second evening of again to again video games, and needed to journey for the sport. They are going to be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go together with enjoying on the highway. The Celtics have to deal with the sport and never on the distractions of journey and enjoying in an unfamiliar enviornment. Hopefully they get manufacturing from their reserves to keep away from fatigue down the stretch.
Who’s Enjoying and Who’s Not – Each groups have lengthy damage lists for this recreation. The Nets are resting 2 of their starters together with having 4 others for varied causes. The Celtics have White and Horford uncertain whereas Tatum and Brown are questionable. Surprisingly Porzingis is possible. If he performs, I think about there can be a minutes restrict and that he can be a bit rusty. I’m going to take a wild guess that Tatum will possible get the evening off and Brown will play. With each groups enjoying quick handed, play of the reserves might be an x-factor.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different occasions they are going to allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. The Celtics want to regulate to the best way the sport is named and never let missed calls or unhealthy calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are unhealthy, they only have to play more durable to make up for them and never waste time arguing with the officers.
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