Boston Celtics (42-21) at Cleveland Cavaliers (39-24)Sunday, March 8, 20261:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #64 Highway Recreation #33TV: ABCRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WFAM/WMMSRocket Enviornment
The Celtics go to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third, and last, assembly between these two groups. The Celtics gained the primary sport 125-105 at Boston on October 29. The Celtics additionally gained the second assembly 117-115 in Cleveland on November 30. These 2 groups break up the collection 2-2 final season with every group successful one at dwelling and one on the street. The Celtics are 143-89 general, all time towards the Cavaliers and they’re 56-61 in video games performed in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are fairly totally different from the group the Celtics confronted in November. On the commerce deadline, they traded De’Andre Hunter to the Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder. Additionally they despatched Lonzo Ball to to the Utah Jazz, together with 2 second spherical picks for them to tackle his contract. Their large commerce, although, was to commerce Darius Garland to the Clippers for James Harden.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 3.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1.5 video games forward of third place New York , 3 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 7.5 video games forward of sixth place Orlando and seventh place Miami and eight video games forward of eighth place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 27-14 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 21-11 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.
The Cavaliers are 4th within the East, 6.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit, 3 video games behind 2nd place Boston, 1.5 video games behind third place New York. They’re 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, and 4.5 video games forward of sixth place Orlando and seventh place Miami and 5 video games forward of eighth place Philadelphia. They’re 25-15 towards Jap Convention groups and 21-11 at dwelling. They’re 7-3 of their final 10 video games and have gained their final 2 video games.
After this sport at Cleveland, the Celtics proceed on a tricky 3 sport street journey by way of San Antonio, and Oklahoma Metropolis. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Subsequent, it’s one sport at Memphis earlier than a 3 sport dwelling stand towards Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta. Then it’s again on the street for a 4 sport journey by way of Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee.
The Cavaliers are enjoying within the 2nd sport of a 3 sport dwelling stand. They beat the first place Pistons within the first sport on Tuesday. They are going to host Philadelphia within the third sport of the house stand. They are going to then play Orlando and Dallas on the street earlier than returning dwelling to play Dallas as soon as once more. Then they’ll play Milwaukee, Chicago and New Orleans on the street.
For the Celtics, after 298 days, Jayson Tatum was obtainable to play towards Dallas on Friday. He’s anticipated to play on this sport additionally. Jordan Walsh missed Friday’s sport attributable to an sickness however will not be on the damage checklist right now. Nikola Vucevic fractured his finger in Friday’s sport and had profitable surgical procedure to restore it. He’s anticipated to overlook roughly a month.
For the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen injured his proper knee throughout the Cavaliers’ win over the Pistons on Tuesday and has been dominated out for this sport. Tyrese Proctor is out attributable to a proper quadriceps pressure.Max Strus has been cleared for on-court exercises after off season foot surgical procedure however has been dominated out for this sport. Jaylon Tyson is questionable attributable to a neck pressure. After lacking the previous 4 video games with a groin damage, Donovan Mitchell is possible for this sport. Dean Wade can also be possible with an ankle damage.
Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Derrick White vs James Harden
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Donovan Mitchell
SF: Sam Hauser vs Jaylon Tyson
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Evan Mobley
C: Neemias Queta vs Thomas Bryant
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsJordan Walsh
2-Method PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaJohn TonjeInjuries/OutNikola Vucevic (finger) out
Cavaliers ReservesKeon EllisLarry Nance, JrCraig Porter JrDennis SchroderNae’Qwan TomlinDean WadeSam Merrill
2-Method PlayersTristan EnarunaRiley MinixOlivier Sarr
Accidents/OutDonovan Mitchell (groin) probableDean Wade (ankle) probableJaylon Tyson (neck) questionableMax Strus (foot) outTyrese Poctor (quad) outJarrett Allen (knee) outHead CoachKenny Atkinson
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Donovan MitchellMitchell is averaging 28.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 assists per sport. He’s capturing 48.3% from the sector and 36.9% from past the arc. Within the first two video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 16.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.5 steals per sport whereas capturing 42.9% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him each within the paint and on the perimeter as a result of he’s a risk to attain from in every single place.
Derrick White vs James HardenThis is the primary time the Celtics are going through the Cavs since they acquired Harden. He’s averaging 24.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s capturing 42.5% from the sector and 36.1% from past the arc. In 2 video games with the Clippers towards the Celtics, Harden averaged 27.5 factors, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal per sport whereas capturing 43.2% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc.Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs Evan MobleyMobley is averaging 17.6 factors, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 51.7% from the sector and 31.5% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games towards the Celtics this season, he averaged 23 factors, 12.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block per sport whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to maintain him out of the paint as he’s an excellent rebounder and in addition a rim protector.
Keys to the GameDefense – As all the time, protection is a key to successful this, and each, sport. The Celtics are sixth with a defensive ranking of 111.7. The Cavaliers are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 113.1. The Celtics should make protection a precedence and play robust lock down group protection for all 48 minutes. They’ll’t play robust protection for simply 2 or 3 quarters and anticipate the opposite group to surrender. The Celtics have to particularly defend the perimeter because the Cavs shoot 40.3 threes per sport and make 14.5 of them. Additionally they common 51.0 factors within the paint per sport so the Celtics additionally should defend the paint.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per sport (4th) to 44.4 rebounds per sport for the Cavaliers (twelfth). The Celtics might want to crash the boards to maintain the Cavs from getting additional possessions and second probability factors. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have started working tougher on the boards than the Cavs. However in addition they have to provide a constant effort on the boards for the entire sport.
3 Level Photographs – When the Celtics make their 3’s they’re robust to beat however when the three’s aren’t falling, the sport will get actually ugly. The Celtics are 2nd within the league, taking 42.5 threes per sport. The Cavs are sixth with 40.3 threes a sport. Though the Celtics are third in 3 pointers tried, they’re ninth, capturing 36.3% from past the arc. The Cavs are 14th, capturing 36.0% from past the arc. The secret is easy. The Celtics should make their threes they usually must defend the perimeter properly to maintain the Cavs from making theirs.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball and discover the open man. They play their finest once they share the ball. They’re 27-2 once they have greater than 25 assists in a sport and they’re 14-0 once they have 29 or extra assists. Nevertheless, the Celtics have to handle the basketball and restrict turnovers. They must make cautious passes and in addition remember whereas dribbling and never drive right into a crowd or permit a defender to steal the ball because the Cavs common 19.6 factors off turnovers per sport.
X-FactorsMatinee Recreation On the Highway – The Celtics are enjoying on the street and might want to keep centered despite the distractions of journey and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. Cavs followers actually don’t just like the Celtics and can probably be loud and antagonistic. They should come into this sport centered and able to play tougher than the Cavs. They’re additionally enjoying in an early afternoon sport and typically gamers battle within the early video games, particularly after journey.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different instances they’ll allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. The Celtics want to regulate to the way in which the sport is named and never let missed calls or dangerous calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are dangerous, they only have to play tougher to make up for them and never lose deal with enjoying the sport.
