Boston Celtics (37-19) at Phoenix Suns (33-25)Tuesday, February 24, 20269:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #57, Street Recreation #30TV: ESPN, NBCSB, 3TVRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 98.7 AZ Sports activities Radio, Sirius XMMortgage Matchup Middle
The Celtics proceed their western street journey with a cease in Phoenix to tackle the Suns. They gained the primary 2 video games of the journey by beating the Warriors and the Lakers. They may face the Nuggets on Wednesday to shut out the journey. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They may meet for the 2nd, and last, time on March 16.
The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season and have gained 4 straight in opposition to the Suns. They’re 79-60 total all time in opposition to the Suns and they’re 33-36 in video games performed in Phoenix. The Celtics are enjoying within the first of again to again video games and can journey to Denver to finish the again to again set on Wednesday. The Celtics are 6-3 within the first of again to again video games this season.
Just like the Celtics, the Suns have modified fairly a bit since final season. Within the offseason, they traded Kevin Durant to Houston for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Inexperienced. They traded Vasilije Micic to Charlotte for Mark Williams. They claimed Jordan Goodwin off waivers from the Lakers. They purchased out Bradley Beal. they usually drafted Khaman Maluach (tenth), Rasheer Fleming (thirty first) and Koby Brea (forty first. Tyus Jones and Mason Plumlee each left in free company. On the commerce deadline, they traded Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1 recreation forward of third place New York, 2 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 6.5 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and seven video games forward of seventh place Orlando. The Celtics are 13-6 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re 19-10 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’ve gained their final 3 video games.
The Suns are seventh within the West, 11 video games behind 1st place OKC, 3 video games behind third place Denver, 2.5 video games behind 4th place Houston, and a pair of video games behind the fifth place Lakers and sixth place Minnesota. They’re 2.5 video games forward of eighth place Golden Stat and 5 video games forward of ninth place Portland. The Suns are 11-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents and 19-11 at dwelling. They’re 4-6 of their final 10 video games and are coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Celtics are enjoying within the third recreation of a 4 recreation Western street journey. They beat Golden State 121-110 on Thursday and beat the Lakers 111-89 on Sunday. They may play Denver on Wednesday to shut out the journey. They may then return dwelling for video games in opposition to Brooklyn and Philadelphia earlier than a recreation at Milwaukee. Then they’re again dwelling for video games in opposition to Charlotte and Dallas earlier than a tricky 3 recreation street journey by way of Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma Metropolis. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State.
The Suns are enjoying within the third recreation of a 4 recreation dwelling stand. They beat Orlando and misplaced to Portland within the first two video games and can face the Lakers to shut out the house stand. They may then play at Sacramento earlier than three extra video games at dwelling in opposition to Chicago, New Orleans and Charlotte. They may then head out on a 6 recreation street journey by way of Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Boston, Minnesota and San Antonio.
Jayson Tatum stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from the Achilles damage, though rumblings of his return appear to be getting louder. Jaylen Brown has been added to the damage report with a knee contusion. They might be cautious with him because of the again to again video games with Denver being the harder staff. He was initially questionable however has been downgraded to out. I’m going to take a wild guess that Hugo Gonzalez begins however I’m normally flawed.
The Suns have 5 gamers out and one participant questionable on their damage report. Grayson Allen is questionable on account of proper knee and ankle damage administration. He will probably be a recreation time choice. Cole Anthony has not reported to the staff as but after his commerce from Orlando. Devin Booker (hip), Dillon Brooks (hand), Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are all listed as out. I’ve listed their beginning lineup from their final recreation.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Collin Gillespie
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Jalen Inexperienced
SF: Hugo Gonzalez vs Ryan Dunn
Sam Hauser vs Royce O’Neale
C: Neemias Queta vs Mark Williams
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsNikola VucevicJordan WalshDelano Banton (10-day)John Tonje (10-day)2-Method PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (knee) out
Suns ReservesAmir CoffeyRasheer FlemingOso IghodaroKhaman Maluach2-Method PlayersJamaree BouyeaKoby BreaIsaiah Livers
Accidents/OutGrayson Allen (ankle) questionableCole Anthony (not with staff) outDevin Booker (hip) outDillon Brooks (hand) outJordan Goodwin (calf) outHaywood Highsmith (knee) out
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Collin GillespieGillespie is averaging 13.4 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists,and 1.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 42.9% from the sector and 42.8% from past the arc. He’s one among their greatest 3 level shooters and so the Celtics have to particularly defend him on the perimeter.
Baylor Scheierman vs Jalen GreenGreen is averaging 13.3 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 38.2% from the sector and 31.3% from past the arc. In his final recreation, he completed with 13 factors to go together with 3 rebounds and three steals. He hit a recreation successful 3 to beat the Magic on Saturday and so might be harmful if not defended nicely.
Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Mark WilliamsWilliams is averaging 11.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 64.2% from the sector however isn’t a menace from past the arc. Williams ranks 4th within the NBA in FG% (64.2%) and is 1-of-5 gamers within the NBA this season averaging 11+ factors on 67+ TS% and 11+ rebounds per recreation. The Celtics have to preserve him out of the paint and off the boards.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Celtics have a defensive score of 112.2 (seventh) and the Suns have a defensive score of 112.5 (eighth). The Suns take 40.4 threes per recreation (sixth) and make 14.5 threes per recreation (eighth). The Celtics take 42.3 threes per recreation and make 15.4 (third). The Suns are a great taking pictures staff and the Celtics might want to up their protection, particularly on the perimeter, in the event that they need to beat the Suns at dwelling.
Rebound – The Celtics have to rebound on the offensive finish to provide themselves further possessions and to forestall the Suns from racking up quick break factors. In addition they must crash the boards on the defensive finish to forestall the Suns from getting tip ins and second likelihood factors. The Celtics are eighth with 45.7 rebounds per recreation whereas the Suns are 18th with 43.4 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding is all about effort and the Celtics are going to must put out further effort to win the battle of the boards.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball as a way to discover the very best shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics battle. They’re at their greatest once they go the ball and preserve it transferring. ISO ball isn’t normally successful ball. The Celtics are 29-4 once they have at the least 25 assists. They should preserve the ball transferring and discover the open man. Nonetheless, they must be cautious with their passes and ball dealing with for the reason that Suns are third with 20.8 factors per recreation off turnovers.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to come back out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They must be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for unfastened balls and simply enjoying more durable basically. They should get off to a robust begin and play onerous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. They’ll’t let the Suns outwork them for any time period as a result of even the very best staff within the league can lose to the worst in the event that they don’t play with effort. The Celtics are likely to take it simple when a staff is unhealthy or lacking key gamers. The Suns are lacking a number of key gamers however are nonetheless able to beating the Celtics in the event that they don’t play aggressively all through the sport.
X-FactorsRoad Fatigue – The Celtics are enjoying within the third recreation of a 4 recreation street journey. They’ve had plenty of journey and needed to sleep in accommodations and play in hostile arenas. They might be gettng considerably street weary. They’ve additionally modified time zones and should have a little bit of jet lag. They might be quick handed if Jaylen Brown is out and they also all want to select up the slack and that would additionally add to fatigue within the recreation.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating at all times has the likelihood to be an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew calls the sport in another way, whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let plenty of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house staff and a few name for each groups evenly. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never permit the officiating to remove from their focus.
