The Celtics host the Raptors for the second of 4 common season video games. The Celtics received the primary recreation 126-123 in extra time on November 16 in Boston. They are going to meet once more in Toronto on January 15 and February 25. They performed twice in Boston within the preseason with the Celtics profitable the primary recreation 115-111 and The Raptors profitable the second recreation 119-118. The Celtics are 71-42 total all time towards the Raptors and they’re 43-14 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics received the collection 4-0 final season. Toronto hasn’t received in Boston since October 22, 2021. The Raptors modified their roster this off season with free agent signings, trades and the draft. They signed Immanuel Quickley, Garrett Temple, Bruno Fernando, and Jamison Battle as free brokers. They traded Jalen McDaniels for Davion Mitchell. They drafted Ulrich Chomche (57), Jamal Sheed (45), Jonathan Mogbo (31) and Ja’Kobe Walter (19). They misplaced Jordan Nwora, Gary Trent, Jr, and Malik Williams to free company.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve received their final 7 video games. They’re simply half a recreation forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve received 8 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-6 at dwelling, already shedding 2 extra video games at dwelling than they did all final season. They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-7 towards Japanese Convention groups and are coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Raptors are 14th within the East, 20.5 video games behind first place Cleveland. They’re 10 video games behind sixth place Milwaukee, 7 video games behind tenth place Detroit and half a recreation forward of fifteenth place Washington. They’re 1-14 on the street and 0-10 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-14 towards Japanese Convention opponents they usually have misplaced their final 10 video games.
The Christmas Day loss to the 76ers was the primary recreation of a 4 recreation dwelling stand. They received 1 recreation towards the Pacers and misplaced a second recreation towards the Pacers as the house stand continued. That is the 4th and closing recreation of the house stand. They are going to then head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver that may begin on January 2. They are going to return dwelling to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face these identical Raptors for the third time..
That is the primary of again to again video games for the Raptors as they are going to play at dwelling towards the Brooklyn Nets on New 12 months’s Day. They are going to then face Orlando and Milwaukee at dwelling earlier than heading out on the street to play at New York, Cleveland, and Detroit. Then it’s again dwelling to face Golden State after which Boston for his or her third assembly on January 15. Then it’s at Milwaukee and residential towards Orlando and a pair of video games in a row at Atlanta.
Jrue Vacation Vacation has missed the final three video games for the Celtics with a proper shoulder impingement and is questionable for this recreation. There have been studies that he was going to attempt to give it a go on Sunday however he didn’t play. As soon as once more, I’m guessing that Vacation will likely be again for this recreation but when he isn’t in a position to play, Sam Hauser could as soon as once more begin and Derrick White will transfer to the purpose. Kristaps Porzingis additionally missed his second straight contest Sunday on account of a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this recreation. I’m guessing they maintain him out one other recreation. If he’s unable to play, Al Horford will doubtless begin in his place.
For the Raptors, RJ Barrett is out with an sickness. Bruce Brown will doubtless get the beginning in his place. Immanuel Quickley suffered a partial UCL tear in his left elbow in mid-November and also will be out on this recreation. Fernando hasn’t suited up since Dec. 12 on account of a toe damage and is questionable for this recreation. Davion Mitchell is questionable on account of an sickness. Gradey Dick is questionable on account of hamstring tightness. If he’s out, Ja’Kobe Walker could get the beginning.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam Hauser
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJrue Vacation (shoulder) questionableKristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
Grid View
Raptors Reserves Chris BoucherAJ LawsonJonathan MogboKelly OlynykJamal SheadGarrett TempleJa’Kobe Walker
2 Manner Gamers Ulrich ChomcheJamison Battle
Accidents/Out Immanuel Quickley (elbow) outRJ Barrett (sickness) outBruno Fernando (toe) questionableImmanuel Quickley (elbow) questionableGradey Dick (hamstring) questionable
Head CoachDarko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos
Scottie Barmes
Photograph by Jordan Jones/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Scottie BarnesBarnes is averaging 19.9 factors, 7.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sphere and 28% from past the arc. He missed the primary recreation towards the Celtics in November and so that is the primary time the Celtics will face him this season. Jrue is questionable at the moment and if he can’t go, will probably be Derrick White matched up towards Barnes on the level.
Grid View
Al Horford
Photograph by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
Jakob Poeltl
Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Al Horford vs Jakob PoeltlPoeltl is averaging 15.4 factors, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 59% from the sphere however 0% on threes. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, Poeltl completed with 35 factors, 12 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 84.2% from the sphere with no threes. The Celtics must defend Poeltl a lot better on this recreation and they should maintain him out of the paint.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Gradey Dick Dick is averaging 17.6 factors, 3.5 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 41.6% from the sphere and 34.8% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, he completed with 9 factors, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists. He shot simply 25% from the sphere and 20% from past the arc. Relying on accidents, this can be Jaylen Brown vs Ja’Kobe Walker.
Keys to the Recreation 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. The Celtics are able to locking down groups with suffocating protection, however they need to put the trouble into it. To date this season, they’ve put that sort of effort out at instances and at different instances have slacked off. They had been 1st within the common season and 1st within the playoffs on protection final season. The Celtics are eighth at present with a defensive score of 110.1. The Raptors are twenty sixth with a defensive score of 116.5. The Celtics must put out most effort on protection whether or not they’re going through the highest workforce or the underside workforce. The Celtics allowed the Pacers to shoot 52.9% from the sphere and 39.1% from past the arc. They need to tighten up their protection in the event that they need to win.
Rebound – Rebounding is second solely to protection as a key to profitable. The Raptors are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are sixth with 45.4 rebounds per recreation. Final season, the Celtics had been 2nd flattening 46.3 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is essential to restrict second likelihood baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 4th with 16.1 second likelihood factors per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
Don’t Underestimate – A number of of the Celtics losses this season have come by the hands of groups they need to have beat however didn’t as a result of they failed to provide the trouble wanted to get the win. The primary recreation towards the Raptors this season went to extra time when it ought to have been a blow out. The Celtics have to return into this recreation prepared to provide most effort and to play the Raptors like they’re the highest workforce within the league. They’ll’t underestimate them due to their report or their accidents. In the event that they do, they might find yourself with one other misplaced recreation that they need to have received.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort of their 3 current losses was good at instances and never so good at different instances. The Celtics must play more durable and provides extra effort than the Raptors. The Celtics have to provide most effort on the boards and on protection and in diving for unfastened balls and forcing turnovers, they usually have to provide that effort for all the recreation and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
X-FactorsHome Recreation – The Celtics are at dwelling and they need to get a lift from the followers whereas the Raptors are on the street and will likely be taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd. The Raptors can have the distractions of journey and staying in inns and taking part in in an unfamiliar enviornment. The Celtics misplaced 4 dwelling video games all final season they usually have already misplaced 6 dwelling video games this season. They should buckle down and defend their dwelling courtroom.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let loads of contact go and let the groups play. Typically they only make unhealthy, head scratching calls. 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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