The Celtics return residence for his or her remaining sport earlier than the All Star Break. They’re internet hosting the San Antonio Spurs for the primary of two video games between them this season. They may meet yet one more time in San Antonio on March 29. The Celtics received the sequence 2-0 final season. They’re 45-58 general towards the Spurs all time and 24-28 in video games performed in Boston.
The Spurs made a number of modifications within the off season. Their greatest transfer was to signal Chris Paul as a free agent. In addition they traded Devonte Graham and picks for Harrison Barnes and picks. In addition they drafted Stephon Citadel with the 4th choose and Harrison Ingram with the forty eighth choose. They saved their greatest transfer for the commerce deadline once they traded for De’Aaron Fox.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 5.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland. They’re 2.5 video games forward of third place New York and eight video games forward of 4th place Indiana. They’re 16-10 at residence and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-7 towards Western Convention groups. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Spurs are twelfth within the West, 19.5 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re 3 video games behind tenth place Golden State and a couple of.5 video games behind eleventh place Phoenix. They’re 1.5 video games forward of thirteenth place Portland. They’re 9-15 on the street and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re 7-10 towards Japanese Convention groups and are coming off a win of their final sport.
The Celtics are again at residence after a 2-0 street journey by means of New York and Miami. That is the final sport earlier than the a lot wanted All Star Break. They may play at Philadelphia and at residence towards the Knicks after the break then at Raptors and at Pistons earlier than a 7 sport residence stand towards Cleveland, Denver, Portland, Philadelphia, LA Lakers, Utah, and Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Spurs are additionally enjoying of their remaining sport earlier than the All Star Break. That is the ultimate sport of a 6 sport street journey for the Spurs the place they’d wins towards Atlanta and Washington and losses to Charlotte, Orlando, and Memphis. They may return residence for again to again video games towards Phoenix and Detroit after the break.
Torrey Craig is but to make his debut in Boston as he comes again from an ankle damage and is questionable for this sport. Jaylen Brown missed Monday’s sport with proper knee swelling and is questionable for this sport. If he can’t play, I might count on Sam Hauser to start out in his place.
Jrue Vacation has been dominated out for this sport and can miss his third straight sport with a nerve challenge in his proper shoulder. I might count on Al Horford to as soon as once more begin on this sport with Derrick White shifting to the purpose. For the Spurs, Charles Bassey is out with a knee damage and Riley Minix is out with a shoulder damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Derrick WhiteSG: Jaylen BrownSF: Jayson TatumPF: Al Horford C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshAl Horford
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJrue Vacation (shoulder) outTorrey Craig (ankle) questionable Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Spurs Starters
Grid View
PG: Chris PaulSG: De’Aaron FoxSF: Devin VassellPF: Harrison BarnesC: Victor Wembanyama
Spurs ReservesBismack BiyomboMalaki BranhamStephon CastleJulian ChampagnieKeldon Johnson Sandro MamukelashviliJordan McLaughlinJeremy SochanBlake Wesley
2-Manner Gamers David Duke, Jr Harrison IngramRiley Minix
Accidents/OutCharles Bassey (knee) out Riley Minix (shoulder) out
Head Coach Gregg Popovich
Key Matchups
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Jaylen Brown
Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photographs
De’Aaron Fox
Photograph by Kenny Giarla/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jaylen Brown (or Sam Hauser) vs De’Aaron Fox Fox is averaging 24.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per sport. He’s capturing 46.9% from the sphere and 31.9% from past the arc. In his video games with San Antonio, he’s averaging 20 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal per sport. He put up 30 factors in his final sport. It is going to be as much as Brown (or Hauser) to sluggish him down on this sport.
Grid View
Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
Victor Wembanyama
Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Victor Wembanyama This needs to be a enjoyable matchup. Wembanyama is 7’3” tall whereas Porzingis is 7’2”tall. Wembanyama is averaging 24.4 factors, 11 rebounds, 3.6 assists 1.2 steals and three.9 blocks. He’s capturing 47.7% from the sphere and 35.5% from past the arc. The Celtics should be particularly conscious of Wemby when they’ll the basket as he’s a menace to dam photographs each time. In addition they must hold him out of the paint and off the glass in addition to guarding him on the perimeter.
Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs Devin Vassell Vassell is averaging 16.1 factors, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per sport. He’s capturing 43.9% from the sphere and 36.1% from past the arc. Jayson Tatum is coming off 2 of his greatest video games of the season and hopefully will proceed that play on this sport.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will all the time be crucial key to profitable video games. The Celtics are fifth with a defensive ranking of 109.7 whereas the Spurs are twenty first with a defensive ranking of 114.1. The Celtics must defend the perimeter as a result of the Spurs shoot 39.5 threes per sport (sixth) and so they shoot 35.2% as a staff. The Celtics must make protection a precedence and play robust staff protection from begin to end and never let up.
Rebound – The Celtics can’t rating in the event that they don’t have the ball, and they’ll wrestle if they provide up second likelihood factors to the Spurs. The Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per sport (tenth) whereas the Spurs are averaging 45.1 rebounds per sport (eighth). A lot of rebounding is effort and should you doubt that, 6’1” Payton Pritchard had 10 rebounds in his final sport. When the Celtics put in further effort on the boards, that effort tends to unfold to different areas of the sport as properly.
Play the Proper Manner – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball to search out the very best shot. Once they play hero ball and don’t hold the ball shifting, the Celtics wrestle. However, once they hold the ball shifting and transfer with out the ball, they’re very robust to beat. They should concentrate on enjoying protection and having every others backs. They should crash the boards and field out. They should concentrate on taking and making good photographs. If the three’s aren’t falling, take the ball to the basket. Play with focus and with power.
Effort and Vitality – The Celtics are enjoying a nasty staff at residence. Up to now, both a kind of issues was purpose for concern. Hopefully they’ve turned a nook and can play with effort and with power on this one whatever the Spurs file. Additionally, they’ve misplaced 3 of their final 4 at residence. They should play with extra effort and power at residence.
X-Elements Dwelling Recreation and Don’t Underestimate – The Spurs are enjoying within the remaining sport of a 6 sport street journey. The Spurs will doubtless be feeling some fatigue from journey and being on the street and from staying in motels and enjoying in entrance of hostile crowds. The Celtics must benefit from having the gang behind them and from enjoying within the pleasant confines of the TD Backyard. The Celtics can’t underestimate the Spurs primarily based on their file. If a staff underestimates an opponent, even the worst staff within the league, there’s all the time an opportunity it might probably come again to chew them.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an X-Issue. Each crew officiates otherwise and groups want to regulate to the best way the sport known as. Will they name the sport evenly or favor the house staff? Will they name it tight or allow them to play? Hopefully we get honest officiating and so they allow them to play and the Celtics concentrate on enjoying and never on the officiating.
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