The Celtics return from their 4 sport Western street journey to tackle the Houston Rockets. That is the second and closing sport between these two groups this season. The Celtics received the primary sport 109-86 in Houston on January 3. The Celtics received the collection 2-0 final season. They’re 98-56 total all time in opposition to the Rockets and they’re 52-20 all time at residence.
After a giant off season final 12 months the place the Rockets signed Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and a number of other different veterans, that they had a comparatively quiet off season this 12 months. They signed Aaron Vacation as a free agent. They exercised the workforce choice on Jeff Inexperienced and Jae’Sean Tate. They signed Reed Sheppard, who was the #3 choose within the 2024 draft. They misplaced Reggie Bullock and Boban Marjanovic. Their beginning lineup has been the identical for the second 12 months in a row.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, regardless of their current struggles. They’ve moved to 4.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve misplaced their final 3 video games. They’re 2 video games forward of third place New York and 5.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 15-8 at residence and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-5 in opposition to Western Convention groups. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.
The Rockets are 2nd within the West, 6 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re tied with third place Memphis and a couple of.5 video games forward of 4th place Denver. They’re 15-6 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 11-5 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’ve received their final 2 video games, each of which have been in opposition to the Cavaliers.
The Celtics are taking part in within the first sport again at residence after a 4 sport street journey that began with a 40 level win over the Warriors and a 4 level win over the brief handed LA Clippers together with a 21 level loss to the Lakers. They closed the street journey with a win over the Mavericks. Subsequent, they’ll face Chicago at residence earlier than 3 extra on the street by way of New Orleans, Philadelphia and Cleveland. Then one sport at residence in opposition to Dallas earlier than taking part in at New York and Miami and residential in opposition to San Antonio earlier than the All Star Break.
The Rockets are coming off a house and residential collection in opposition to the Cavaliers the place they received each video games. That is the 2nd of a 4 sport street journey for the Rockets that can proceed by way of Atlanta and Memphis. They’ll face Brooklyn at residence earlier than one other 4 sport street journey by way of New York, Brooklyn, Minnesota, and Dallas. They’ll then host Toronto, Phoenix, and Golden State earlier than the All Star Break.
The Celtics have 3 gamers on the damage listing at the moment. Derrick White is questionable with a shin damage that will need to have occurred within the Dallas sport. Sam Hauser is questionable with a hip impingement. Additionally, Al Horford is questionable with a toe sprain. Each are a sport time resolution. For the Rockets, Jabari Smith, Jr is out with a hand damage and Cam Whitmore is questionable with an sickness.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDerrick White (shin) questionable Al Horford (toe) questionableSam Hauser (hip) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Rockets Starters
Grid View
Rockets Reserves Steven AdamsJeff GreenAaron HolidayJock LandaleReed SheppardJae’Sean TateTari EasonJock Landale
2-Approach Gamers N’Faly DanteJack McVeighNate Williams
Accidents/Out Cam Whitmore (sickness) questionableJabari Smith, Jr (hand) out
Head CoachIme Udoka
Key Matchups
Grid View
Derrick White
Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photos
Jalen Inexperienced
Photograph by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jalen GreenGreen is averaging 21.4 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and a couple of.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 43.2% from the sector and 36.3% from past the arc. Inexperienced is the Rockets’ main scorer and the Celtics must be conscious that he can put up a number of factors if not defended properly. If White is out I count on Jaylen Brown to maneuver to capturing guard.
Grid View
Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Andy Lyons/Getty Photos
Alperen Sengun
Photograph by Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Alperen SengunSengun is averaging 19.3 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s capturing 49.1% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. Sengun is just not a giant risk from the perimeter, however he can hit 3’s if left open. The Celtics must field out as he is an effective rebounder. He’s additionally a really bodily participant in order that they must be prepared for that.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Amen Thompson Thompson is averaging 13.2 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 55.6% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 23 level, 14 rebound, 10 help triple double in opposition to the Cavaliers and is averaging 17.7 factors in his final 10 video games. He didn’t play within the first sport between these two groups and the Celtics must be able to play good protection on him on this sport.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable. Gamers battle on offense in some video games, however they’ll all the time play protection. The Rockets are averaging 114.2 factors per sport (thirteenth). The Celtics are averaging 117.3 factors per sport (4th). The Rockets are 4th with a defensive score of 108.4 whereas the Celtics are fifth with a defensive score of 109.6. The Celtics have to stay to their defensive id on this one as a result of the Rockets play robust protection and the Celtics can’t depend upon a shoot out to win. Protection will seemingly decide the winner of this sport.
Rebound – As a way to rating, the Celtics want the ball and to get the ball, they might want to crash the boards as a workforce. The Celtics common 45.1 rebounds per sport (tenth) whereas the Rockets common 48.4 rebounds per sport (1st). A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out additional effort on the boards, it often carries over into the remainder of their sport. The Rockets are 1st within the league with 17.6 second likelihood factors per sport. The Rockets are an excellent rebounding workforce and so the Celtics should come into the sport decided to place out additional effort and to hustle for each rebound to restrict 2nd likelihood factors for the Rockets.
Be Aggressive and Keep Targeted – The Celtics must be aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and never settling for 3 tips about each possession, particularly if the 3s aren’t falling. Additionally they must be aggressive in hustling for rebounds and for free balls. They usually must be aggressive on protection. The Rockets win by taking part in laborious and the Celtics must play more durable than the Rockets in the event that they need to win this sport. Additionally they want to hold that aggressiveness by way of all 4 quarters with no let up. Additionally they want to remain centered on taking good photographs and making them. They must hold their deal with taking part in workforce ball.
Be Constant – The Celtics have been up and down now for a lot of the months of December and January. One sport they lose to a workforce that they clearly ought to have beat. The subsequent sport they win in a blowout over a contender. One sport they offer up a giant lead and lose down the stretch. The subsequent sport they arrive from behind to get a win. The Celtics must get again to giving constant effort each sport and each quarter. No let up and no simple simple photographs for his or her opponent.
X-Elements At House After a Highway Journey – The Celtics are at residence the place they haven’t been their finest this season. already shedding twice as many video games at residence than they did all final season. The Celtics have the group behind them and if they offer a superb effort, win or lose, the followers will cheer them on and assist to inspire them. The primary sport at residence after a street journey is all the time a tricky sport. The Celtics will want additional focus and energy to get a win on this one.
Teaching – The Rockets are led by former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who left Boston underneath lower than fascinating circumstances. He was suspended for violating workforce guidelines and assistant coach Joe Mazzulla was made interim coach. Finally, Udoka was formally launched and Mazzulla was made head coach. I’m positive that Udoka would love nothing greater than to beat the workforce that permit him go after he led that workforce to the Finals. He may also have his workforce motivated to avenge 2 losses to the Celtics final season and yet one more in Houston this season
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce and others name it evenly. The Celtics must play by way of no matter calls go in opposition to them and never permit unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog in regards to the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub if in case you have it, and be part of our neighborhood.
