Will the Celtics end 2024 on a positive note?

The Celtics are going by possibly their roughest patch up to now two seasons, though that isn’t essentially saying a lot given their success all through the years. In December, the group went 7-6, and has misplaced 4 of their final 6 video games. At this time, they face off towards the Toronto Raptors for the second time this season. Within the final matchup, the Raptors took the Celtics to extra time off of profession nights from RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, however Boston finally pulled off a 3-point victory. If Toronto can pull off an upset at the moment, they’d ship the Celtics into the New 12 months with a 2-game dropping streak, and a .500 December.

What do the Celtics do to guard the paint and decelerate Jakob Poeltl?

In Boston’s earlier matchup with Toronto, Jakob Poeltl scored his career-high of 35 factors. 32 of these factors got here within the paint, with the remaining 3 coming off of free throws. He did that on a near-perfect 16-19 capturing, a ridiculous 84.2%. He additionally had 12 rebounds to associate with that, 6 of them being offensive, and the opposite 6 defensive. Outdoors of possibly solely RJ Barrett, he was simply the Raptors’ greatest participant. He was nearly unstoppable that night time, and it must be totally different at the moment. The query is how?

Boston has been missing defensively currently, particularly within the paint. That turns into much more true when Kristaps Porzingis is absent, which would be the case for the third recreation in a row at the moment as he nurses an ankle sprain. Kristaps was additionally lacking from the earlier matchup with Toronto whereas he was rehabbing from his low season surgical procedure. Of the common rotation guys, Boston lets up their highest points-in-the-paint per recreation complete when Kristaps is off the courtroom at 41.6.

What can Jrue Vacation present in his return to the lineup?

Jrue has missed Boston’s final three video games with a shoulder ailment, however at the moment, he lastly makes his return. In these video games the Celtics went 1-2, with losses coming towards Philly and Indiana. Boston additionally gave up 115.3 factors per recreation in that stretch, up from their season common of 110.1. Jrue is all the time seen as one of many high defensive gamers within the league, however getting back from damage, he could also be barely out of recreation form. It’s to be seen whether or not his time without work was a matter of rust or relaxation.

That stays true for his 3-point capturing numbers as properly. Jrue has been having a down yr from behind the arc, capturing a close to profession low 32.6% from three. For reference, final yr he completed with a profession greatest at 42.9%. As talked about earlier than, in his latest time without work, Jrue was nursing a shoulder damage. Will his quick break assist him get again to type, or might his shoulder probably be the perpetrator for his poor-shooting?

How does Scottie Barnes change the sport plan?

Within the earlier matchup between these two groups, RJ Barrett put up a tremendous 25 factors, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, nonetheless, Scottie Barnes missed that recreation. At this time, the roles are flipped, with Barnes being lively and Barrett being listed as out with an sickness. They’ve very related stats on the season, with RJ being a greater scorer, and Scottie being a barely higher rebounder, passer, and defender. At this time we might see Barnes taking on the position which RJ performed within the final recreation, however their video games are barely totally different. We might see the Celtics push him to be extra of a shooter, as his 3-point share is considerably decrease than RJ’s on the season, although he’s larger and higher at attacking the paint. He might additionally make searching matchups tougher on the opposite finish of the courtroom.