In what very effectively could also be a preview of this 12 months’s NBA Finals, the Celtics tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the third sport of a 4 sport highway journey. The Celtics opened the journey with wins over the Timberwolves and the Rockets. that is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They are going to meet for the 2nd and closing time in Boston on March 12. They cut up the sequence 1-1 the final two seasons with every workforce successful on their dwelling court docket. The Celtics are 79-66 total all time in opposition to the Thunder and they’re 39-38 in video games performed on the highway.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve win their final 8 video games. The Celtics are actually 2 forward of the third place Knicks, who received 9 straight earlier than dropping their final sport to the Thunder. The Celtics are 12-3 on the highway and they’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-2 in opposition to Western Convention opponents and have received their final 3 video games.
The Thunder are in first place within the West. They’re 6.5 video games forward of 2nd place Memphis and seven forward of third place Houston. They’re 9 video games forward of the 4th place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 15-2 at dwelling and they’re 10-0 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-0 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and so they at the moment have a 14 sport win streak.
The Thunder made a number of key strikes within the off season. The largest transfer could have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been necessary because of the absence of Chet Holmgren. In addition they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They drafted Nikola Subject, who will miss the complete season with a torn ACL. In addition they drafted Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell, with an eye fixed to the long run. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 approach contract.
That is the third sport of a 4 sport Western highway journey that began with again to again wins in Minnesota on Thursday and in Houston on Friday. After this sport, they’ll end the highway journey in Denver on Tuesday. They are going to return dwelling to face 2 extra Western Convention groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors once more for the third time. They are going to then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by way of Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the beginning lineup within the Celtics’ final sport in opposition to the Rockets after lacking 4 straight video games with a sprained ankle. He must be able to play on this sport as effectively. Al Horford sat out Friday’s sport for relaxation however is predicted to return for this sport. Jalen Brown has missed the Celtics’ final two video games with a shoulder pressure and is questionable for this sport. I’m utilizing wishful considering and together with him within the beginning lineup. If he can’t play as soon as once more, Sam Hauser ought to as soon as once more get the beginning in his place.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso will miss his seventh sport with a hip pressure. Cason Wallace will possible proceed to start out in his place. Chet Holmgren is out with a proper iliac hip fracture. I anticipate Isaiah Hartenstein will proceed to start out in his place. The Thunder’s 3 two approach gamers are all additionally out with accidents. Alex Ducas (again), Adam Flagler (finger), and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are all out for this sport. Rookie Nikola Subject is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJaylen Brown (shoulder) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
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PG: Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderSG: Cason WallaceSF: Lugentz DortPF: Jalen WilliamsC: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder ReservesBranden CarlsonOusmane DiengIsaiah JoeDillon JonesAaron WigginsJaylin WilliamsKenrich Williams
2 Method PlayersAlex Ducas Adam FlaglerAjay Mitchell
Accidents/OutAlex Caruso (hip) out Alex Ducas (again) outAjay Mitchell (toe) outChet Holmgren (hip) out Adam Flagler (finger) out Nikola Subject (ACL) out
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 52.5% from the sphere and 35.6% from past the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for the lead within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s successful methods. To be able to gradual the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
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Photograph by David Berding/Getty Photos
Jalen Williams
Photograph by Joshua Gateley/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Williams Williams is averaging 20.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.1% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. Williams can rating each in and out and so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter. Jayson Tatum has been taking part in very effectively on this highway journey and the Celtics want him to proceed that development on each ends of the court docket on this sport.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Isaiah HartensteinHartenstein is averaging 12.2 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 57.3% from the sphere and 0% from past the arc. He’s a risk to attain inside and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics have to preserve him out of the paint and away from the rim.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Thunder common 115.4 factors per sport (tenth) The Celtics common 119.4 factors per sport (4th). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive ranking of 102.9 whereas the Celtics are sixth with a defensive ranking of 109.4. The Celtics have to tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence particularly in opposition to this Thunder workforce that performs lock down protection. The Celtics have to particularly defend the paint for the reason that Thunder are tenth within the league with 49.9 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – Rebounding can be a key to successful. The Celtics have to rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second likelihood factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to present themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are 18th with 43.6 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per sport. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics as a workforce should put within the additional effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics have to preserve their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 23.4 factors off turnovers per sport. They’re additionally 1st with 11.8 steals per sport. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better workforce once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they need to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. In addition they should bear in mind when dribbling the ball in order to not enable the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Centered and Prepared for a Robust Recreation – The Thunder haven’t misplaced to an Jap Convention workforce this season. They’ve additionally solely misplaced 5 video games. The Celtics should be able to go to the basket in the event that they wrestle from three. In addition they should be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in laborious for 48 minutes and on taking part in powerful protection and on taking part in the correct approach.
X-Components On the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in of their third straight highway sport. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a principally wholesome roster however then, the Thunder have received 14 straight video games regardless of lacking some gamers. The Thunder have the benefit of being at dwelling in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. The Celtics want to beat the distractions of journey and taking part in on the highway in entrance of hostile followers.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to a championship in simply his second season however Mazzulla didn’t win the Coach of the 12 months final season. It was Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault that received the Coach of the 12 months honor. He’s additionally the Coach of the Month for December this season. Each rosters are deep and proficient and so teaching could also be an element on this sport.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has an enormous affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly or will they favor one workforce or the opposite. All of it results the end result of the sport and the Celtics have to play the correct approach and never enable the officiating to take them out of their sport. The Celtics ought to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite workforce goes in for a rating.
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