The Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in as many days. The Celtics got here out on high on Friday, beating the Hornets 124-109. That win provides the Celtics a 5-1 file, with their solely loss to the Indiana Pacers in Time beyond regulation. Charlotte is 2-3 on the season, beating Houston and Toronto and shedding to Atlanta, Miami and Boston.
That is the second assembly between these two groups this season, having crushed the Hornets on Friday. They’ll shut out the sequence in Boston on April 11 and 13. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season, Successful their solely recreation in Boston and profitable one and shedding one in Charlotte. The Celtics are 78-46 general all time towards the Hornets and 37-26 in video games performed in Charlotte.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their complete core of gamers and shedding simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth choose within the draft and signed 2nd spherical choose, Anton Watson to a 2 method contract. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after a few Olympic snubs.
The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, normal supervisor and workforce president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The workforce drafted French ahead Tidjane Salaun sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. In addition they signed middle Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.
Al Horford missed Friday’s recreation for relaxation, however I’m guessing he will likely be again for this one. They’ll as soon as once more be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who remains to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. Jaylen Brown injured his hip within the third quarter of Friday’s recreation and will likely be out for this recreation. I’m taking a wild guess that Jordan Walsh will begin, however it’s attainable that Sam Hauser may get the beginning right here as nicely.
The Hornets will likely be with out DaQuan Jeffries who’s recovering from a hand harm. Mark Williams can also be out as he recovers from a tendon pressure in his foot. Neither has performed but this season. Brandon Miller is questionable with a glute harm. Nick Richards injured his shoulder in Friday’s recreation and is out for this recreation. I’m undecided who they’ll begin however I’m going to guess Grant Williams.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jordan WalshPF: Jayson Tatum C: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrLuke Kornet
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) outJaylen Brown (hip) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Hornets Starters
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PG: LaMelo BallSG: Seth CurrySF: Josh GreenPF: Miles Bridges C: Grant Williams
Hornets Reserves Nick Smith, JrCody Martin Vasa MicicTre MannTidjane SalaunTaj Gibson
2 Means PlayersMoussa Diabate KJ Simpson Jared Rhoden
Accidents/Out DaQuan Jeffries (hand) outMark Williams (foot) outBrandon Miller (glute) questionable Nick Richards (shoulder) out
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
LaMelo Ball
Photograph by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs LaMelo Ball Ball has been taking part in very nicely this season, averaging 28.5 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 42.7% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 31 factors, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 48% from the sphere and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to attempt to gradual him down a bit extra on this recreation.
Grid View
Payton Pritchard
Photograph by Justin Casterline/Getty Photographs
Tre Mann
Photograph by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Photographs
Payton Pritchard vs Tre Mann This can be a matchup of key subs off the bench who each shoot the three very nicely. Mann is averaging 20.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 44.6% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. Pritchard is averaging 16.2 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 45.6% from the sphere and 46.9% from past the arc. On Friday, Mann completed with 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block whereas taking pictures 55.6% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. Pritchard had a uncommon off taking pictures night time however was energetic on protection. He completed with 7 factors on 16.7% taking pictures from the sphere and was 0-5 on threes. He additionally had 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Miles Bridges Bridges is averaging 15 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block per recreation. He’s taking pictures 39.6% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 31.3% from the sphere and simply 20% on threes. He additionally obtained annoyed on the finish of the sport and was ejected.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. It was an absence of protection that dug a 23 level gap towards the Pacers and it was good protection that obtained them again into the sport and compelled extra time. The Celtics are twelfth with a defensive ranking of 111.5. The Hornets are thirtieth with a defensive ranking of 120.0. The Celtics are 1st in 3 level makes an attempt with 50 whereas the Hornets are third with 44.8 three level makes an attempt per recreation. They’re tied for fifth in 3 level share at 39.3%. The Celtics have to particularly guard the Hornets on the perimeter.
Rebound – Rebounding is necessary to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 1st with 21 second likelihood factors per recreation and the Celtics have to restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds. On Friday, the Hornets had 1 extra rebound and 1 extra offensive rebound than the Celtics. The Celtics should work tougher on the boards on this one.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort for the primary 3 quarters towards the Pacers left a lot to be desired, touchdown them in a 23 level gap. They lastly discovered some power and energy within the 4th quarter and battled again to power extra time. The Celtics effort of their earlier 2 video games was good at occasions and never so good at different occasions. On Friday, the Celtics upped their effort within the 4th quarter to drag away from the Hornets. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for your complete recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
Bench Play – The Hornets have 3 gamers off the bench who’re taking pictures over 40% from the perimeter. Tre Mann (20.5 factors, 42.9% from three), Cody Martin (11.5 factors, 42.1% from three) and Grant Williams (10.3 factors, 47.4% from three) The Celtics reserves want to return into the sport and play onerous on the defensive finish to restrict their 3 level taking pictures. In addition they want to provide on the offensive finish.
X-Components On The Street and Feelings – The Celtics are taking part in of their fifth recreation on the highway this season. The Celtics are dealing with the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd and so they can’t enable these distractions to remove from their give attention to the sport. The tip of Friday’s recreation was emotional with Grant Williams ejected for a flagrant 2, Miles Bridges ejected for two technicals and LaMelo Ball assessed a technical. Each coaches additionally obtained technicals. The Celtics want to remain calm and never let feelings get in the best way of taking part in the correct method.
Teaching – Charles Lee helped to guide the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m certain these two coaches share some teaching philosophies, together with the technique of taking pictures numerous 3’s. Joe Mazzulla win their first assembly. Which coach will come out on high on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house workforce whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never enable no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their give attention to taking part in the sport.
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