The Celtics start a 6 sport Western street journey with a cease in Utah to tackle the Jazz. That is the second of two video games between them this season. The Celtics received the primary sport 114-108 in Boston on March 10. The Celtics received the sequence 2-0 final season. They’re 63-46 total all time and they’re 23-31 in video games performed in Utah.
The Jazz had a busy off season with out doing lots. They traded Kris Dunn to the Clippers for Russell Westbrook, who was then waived. They signed Drew Eubanks, Svi Mykhailiuk and Patty Mills after which traded Mills and Eubanks for Mo Bamba and PJ Tucker, each of whom have been waived. Additionally they waived Darius Bazley and Omer Yurtseven. After all Danny Ainge bought draft issues in every of these offers. They signed draft choose Kyle Filipowski. They just lately signed former Celtic Jaden Springer to a multiyear contract they usually signed Anton Watson to a ten day contract after which waived him. Additionally they acquired draft picks for facilitating the Luka/AD commerce.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 6 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who misplaced their final 3 video games after having received the earlier 16 video games. They’re 6.5 video games forward of third place New York and 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Indiana. They’re 26-7 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-8 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’ve received their final 3 video games.
The Utah Jazz are fifteenth within the West, 41.5 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re 3 video games behind 14th place New Orleans. They haven’t any hope of creating the play-in as they’re 17 video games behind tenth place Phoenix. The Jazz are 9-26 at house and 1-9 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-16 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They received their final sport in opposition to the Wizards after dropping the earlier 10 video games.
The Celtics are enjoying within the first sport of a 6 sport Western street journey. The journey will proceed by way of Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. After this journey, the Celtics will play 2 at house in opposition to Miami and Phoenix. Then it’s again on the street for video games in opposition to New York and Orlando. They may end the season with 2 video games in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets at house.
The Jazz are enjoying within the third sport of a 6 sport house stand. They misplaced the primary sport in opposition to Chicago after which beat the Wizards on Wednesday earlier than this sport. They may shut out the house stand in opposition to Cleveland, Memphis and Houston. They may then head out on the street to playDenver, Charlotte, Houston, Indiana and Atlanta. They may shut out the 12 months with video games at house in opposition to Portland and Oklahoma Metropolis and at last, a sport at Minnesota.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown has missed 2 of the final 3 video games and is listed as out on account of proper knee posterior impingement. Xavier Tillman can be listed as out on account of a knee damage. The Jazz have been just lately fined $100,000 for sitting Lauri Markkanen for 10 video games. He was listed as out with a again damage however the NBA didn’t purchase that excuse. He performed in a number of video games after that however is out for the second straight sport on account of private causes.
John Collins (ankle), Taylor Hendricks (leg), and KJ Martin (elbow), Elijah Harkless (groin), Jaden Springer (again) are all listed as out for this sport. Svi Mykhailiuk was questionable with a foot damage however has now been listed as accessible. I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will begin for Jaylen Brown and that the Jazz will begin the identical 5 as they did within the earlier sport. I’m hoping that Jordan Clarkson will play as Clarkson vs Pritchard shall be a enjoyable match as much as watch.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Sam HauserPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshAl HorfordLuke KornetTorrey Craig
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJaylen Brown (knee) out Xavier Tillman (knee) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Jazz Starters
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PG: Isaiah CollierSG: Collin SextonSF: Cody WilliamsPF: Kyle Filipowski C: Walker Kessler
Jazz ReservesJordan ClarksonKeyonte GeorgeJohnny JuzangBrice Sensabaugh
Two-Approach PlayersElijah HarklessMicah PotterOscar Tshiebwe
Accidents/OutTaylor Hendricks (leg) outJohn Collins (ankle) outLauri Markkanen (private) outJaden Springer (again) outElijah Harkless (groin) outKJ Martin (elbow) outJordan Clarkson (foot) questionable Svi Mykhailiuk (foot) accessible
Head CoachWill Hardy
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Chris Coduto/Getty Photos
Collin Sexton
Picture by Alex Goodlett/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Collin SextonSexton is averaging 18.1 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 47.4% from the sphere and 40.3% from past the arc. This needs to be a great matchup. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Sexton completed with 16 factors, 3 rebounds and 13 assists whereas taking pictures 37.5% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photos
Walker Kessler
Picture by Alex Goodlett/Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Walker KesslerKessler has been one of many brilliant spots for the Jazz in an in any other case powerful season. Kessler is averaging 11.4 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a couple of.4 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 69.1% from the sphere and 17.4% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics Kessler completed with 11 factors, 10 rebounds, 1 help and a couple of blocks whereas taking pictures 57.1% from the sphere and no threes. The Celtics must maintain Kessler off the boards and away from the paint.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Jordan Clarkson Clarkson is averaging 16.4 factors, 3.2 rebounds, and three.8 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 41.1% from the sphere and 36.4% from past the arc. He missed the primary sport between these two groups. It is a matchup between the present favourite for sixth Man of the Yr and a former sixth Man of the Yr winner.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful every sport. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.3 whereas the Jazz are twenty ninth with a defensive ranking of 118.0. The Celtics are tenth in factors per sport with 116.4 whereas the Jazz are twentieth with 112.5 factors per sport. The Jazz are eighth with 39.2 three pointers tried per sport so the Celtics must play good perimeter protection. Protection turns into much more necessary within the playoffs and so the Celtics want to make use of these ultimate video games down the stretch to make protection a precedence and to play their finest group protection.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out that effort on the boards, we see it within the different areas of their sport. The Celtics are averaging 44.8 rebounds per sport (eleventh) whereas the Jazz are averaging 45.9 rebounds per sport, which is third within the league. The Jazz are eighth with 15.0 second likelihood factors per sport and the Celtics should have each participant struggle for rebounds to restrict these 2nd likelihood factors. If the Celtics wish to win this sport they should crash the boards and out-rebound the Jazz.
Don’t Underestimate – The Jazz have been fairly unhealthy this season and shall be sitting key gamers as soon as once more. They’ve a variety of motivation to lose since they will’t make the play in and dropping can enhance their draft choose. Nevertheless, by no means underestimate a group’s hatred of the Celtics. It appears that evidently each group, even the tanking groups rise up to play the Celtics and provides it their finest effort, particularly younger groups. I count on the Jazz to play laborious and provides it their finest to attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics can’t take them as a right and wish to come back in with most effort for 48 minutes.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to be the extra aggressive group. They need to be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for unfastened balls, and on protection. They need to aggressively crash the boards. They need to be the group that desires it extra. In most of their losses, they’ve allowed their opponents to play tougher and be extra aggressive. They completely can’t let the Jazz play tougher than them in the event that they wish to win this sport.
X-FactorsOn the Street – The Celtics are enjoying within the first sport of a 6 sport street journey. They’ve to remain targeted on enjoying Celtics basketball and block out all of the distractions that come from enjoying on the street like journey, enjoying in a distinct time zone, staying in inns and a hostile crowd.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy are each former Celtics assistant coaches and each are 2nd 12 months head coaches who’ve completed effectively of their first season. Joe Mazzulla received each video games final season and he received the primary spherical in Boston this season. Which former assistant will lead their group to the win on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Will they allow them to play or will they name each ticky tack foul? Will they favor the house group? We by no means know what any given crew will do. The Celtics want to remain targeted and never permit unhealthy calls or lack of calls take away their composure and take them out of their sport.
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