The Celtics host the Toronto Raptors for the second of again to again preseason residence video games. The Celtics beat the Raptors 4-0 final season. Toronto comes into the sport having gained their first recreation 125-98 over the Wizards in Montreal and so they misplaced their second recreation 113-95 in opposition to those self same Wizards in Washington.
The Celtics will full their preseason slate on Tuesday in opposition to these similar Raptors in Toronto. These two groups will play 4 instances this season on November 16, December 31, January 15, and February 25. The Celtics are 70-42 all time general in opposition to the Raptors and they’re 42-14 in video games performed in Boston.
As with each preseason recreation, it’s arduous to inform which gamers will begin since coaches prefer to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to present rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to indicate what they’ll do. That is very true of the Celtics, who’re taking part in on the second evening of again to again video games.
Kristaps Porzingis is stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure. For the Raptors, 4 gamers are on the damage record. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can also be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesSam HauserAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Coaching Camp ContractsRon Harper, JrJay ScrubbDmytro SkapintsevLonnie Walker IV
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
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Raptors Reserves Jonathan MogboJared RhodenGarrett TempleJamal SheadBruno FernandoChris BoucherJahmi’us RamseyKelly Olynyk Jamison Battle
2 Method Gamers DJ CartonUlrich ChomcheBranden Carlson
Accidents/Out Immanuel Quickley (thumb) questionable RJ Barrett (shoulder) outJa’Kobe Walter (shoulder) outBruce Brown (knee) out
Head CoachDarko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Scottie Barmes
Photograph by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie BarnesAssuming that Jayson Tatum performs in again to again video games, this must be a very good matchup. Barnes had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a pair of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sphere however went 0-5 from three.
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Luke Kornet
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Jakob Poeltl
Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Luke Kornet vs Jakob PoeltlKornet could begin right here, or it’s potential that one of many different facilities begin since they’re taking part in again to again. Poeltl has began each of the video games for the Raptors thus far, however it’s potential that they could select to start out one other heart on this recreation. Poeltl completed Friday’s recreation with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 33% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc.
Honorable Point out Sam Hauser vs Chris BoucherBoucher got here off the bench for the Raptors on Friday to attain 22 factors and seize 7 rebounds. He shot 70% from the sphere and 75% from past the arc in 18 minutes of play. Sam Hauser has performed nicely for the Celtics thus far within the preseason and this might be a matchup between sixth males.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it must be with protection first. Within the preseason, the Raptors are fifth with 55 factors within the paint and twenty fifth with 35 three pointers tried per recreation. The Celtics should attempt to preserve the Raptors out of the paint and drive them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are sixth with 48 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are twenty seventh with 41 rebounds per recreation. Final season, the Celtics have been 2nd knocking down 46.3 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second probability baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 22 2nd probability factors per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
Depth – With the Celtics taking part in in again to again video games and the Raptors taking part in with out 3 key gamers, and presumably additionally resting starters, depth will show to be key to the win. Coaches shall be taking part in their 2 manner gamers, camp gamers and function gamers to get an thought of what they’ve in them and the way they match into the offensive and defensive schemes.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics relied on taking pictures threes final season. They have been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per recreation. They have been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a recreation. Over their 2 video games in opposition to the Nuggets, the Celtics tried a whopping 54 threes per recreation and made 35% of them. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re arduous to beat, however after they wrestle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly.
X-Components Again to Again at Dwelling – The Celtics are taking part in of their 2nd recreation in as many nights and so fatigue could also be an element. Additionally I doubt the Celtics starters will play a lot, if in any respect on the second evening of again to again video games within the preseason. However the Celtics are at residence and whoever performs ought to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the highway for the second straight recreation and shall be taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd.
It’s the Preseason – Participant growth, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are a very powerful factor for coaches within the preseason. We are going to most likely see extra of the rookies on this recreation in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for taking part in time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor even within the preseason. Each crew calls the sport otherwise whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a number of contact go and let the groups play. The refs are of their preseason additionally, so it?s arduous to understand how they are going to name this one. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
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