The Boston Celtics (50-19) are again on the highway for a six-game journey out west beginning in Salt Lake Metropolis to tackle the Utah Jazz (16-54). The 2 groups met simply a few weeks in the past in Boston the place the Celtics obtained the higher of the Jazz 114-108.
Again in Boston, the Celtics had a 21-point lead going into the fourth quarter because of a 37-22 third quarter. Sadly, the Jazz stormed again to make it a detailed sport which meant extra minutes for the legs of a number of the key gamers. Nonetheless, Boston did have success in a single specific matchup by the evening which leads me to the primary level.
1. Will the Celtics goal Walker Kessler?
The Celtics had loads of success “looking the seal” in Kessler making him defend all three ranges. Most notably, it was Jaylen Brown who had a ton of success when Kessler switched on him.
Solely up three late within the sport, Brown had Kessler guarding him. As an alternative of settling for a leap shot, Brown took Kessler off the dribble and put him on a poster.
After lacking Tuesday’s sport towards the Nets with a again harm, if Brown is sweet to go, that could be a matchup I’d look out for. Brown is at present averaging 22.8 factors per sport to associate with 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Nonetheless, over the past 4 video games he appeared in, he’s solely averaged 18.7 factors per sport. If Brown’s wholesome sufficient to play, I count on a giant efficiency from him. And if it’s a detailed sport, I wouldn’t thoughts seeing one other game-winner like he had a number of years in the past.
2. Can Porzingis preserve it rolling?
Since getting back from his sickness, Porzingis has stated it’s taken a while to get his conditioning again to the place it must be. With that stated, because the primary possibility towards the Nets with Brown and Tatum out, Porzingis had one other good sport. The large man put up 25 factors, 13 rebounds, and three blocks on Tuesday.
“However I haven’t been this sick for in all probability ever in my life. So, I used to be actually, for every week, actually simply laying at dwelling attempting to recuperate. And after that, I had lingering fatigue — and I nonetheless have it just a little bit — however a minimum of I’m not moving into form to have the ability to play,” Porzingis stated in his return towards the Nets final week.
“However after every exercise I used to be, increase, massive crash. I used to be actually, actually fatigued. Like, not regular. So, yeah, it’s taking just a little bit longer, however I’m doing every thing, all my bio-hacking stuff that I do know, and simply attempting to get again in the perfect form attainable.”
He’s solely been again for 2 video games, each towards the Nets, however he’s put up 24 and 25 respectively. Now going out west, the massive problem for Porzingis and the Celtics is to see the place his conditioning is when he performs at excessive altitude. Because the Celtics have a day between the Jazz sport and the Blazers sport I don’t count on Porzingis to take a seat one sport; nevertheless, if he’s not feeling nice after the Jazz sport it’s greatest for him to take a seat one out and let his physique recuperate.
3. How will Boston comprise the Jazz massive males?
The Celtics could have a transparent offensive sport plan to counter the Jazz bigs, however how will they defend them? The Jazz have a number of high quality of their massive males which incorporates Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, and John Collins.
Markkanen missed the sport towards the Wizards on Wednesday night on account of private causes. The Jazz had been additionally with out Collins (left ankle sprain) on the evening. Markkanen did play the sport earlier than towards the Chicago Bulls, however Collins didn’t.
If Collins is sweet to go, the C’s might want to do a greater job on him than the final time they confronted. Of their earlier assembly, Collins went off for 28 factors and 10 rebounds. Collins is at all times energetic on either side of the glass that means it’s vital for everybody on the Celtics to go for the rebound and never simply go away it for the massive males.
Excellent news for Celtics followers, Tatum this season has improved as a rebounder averaging 8.7 rebounds per sport which leads the crew.
The final massive man Boston might want to comprise is their rookie Kyle Filipowski. Granted he solely scored six factors again in Boston, however the different evening, he led the crew with 21 factors within the Jazz’s win over the Wizards.
If the Celtics can preserve the massive males quiet, then Boston’s depth and superiority within the backcourt ought to be sufficient to defeat Utah.
