The Celtics head from Miami to Brooklyn as they search for again to again wins. The Celtics play the Nets for the third of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics received 108-104 in time beyond regulation in Boston on November8. Additionally they received the second recreation 139-114 in Brooklyn on November 13. They’ll play for the 4th, and remaining, time in Boston on March 18.
The Celtics received the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 143-74 total all time in opposition to the Nets and they’re 67-40 all time in video games on the highway. The Celtics have received their final 7 video games on the highway in opposition to Brooklyn. The Celtics are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games. They’re 6-4 within the second of again to again video games and 2-2 when each video games are on the highway.
The Nets went into rebuild mode this off season after they traded their Most worthy participant, Mikal Bridges, to the Knicks. They acquired Shake Milton in an indication and commerce from the Knicks. They bought Bojan Bogdanovic and Ziaire Williams from Memphis. They acquired their very own ‘25 and ‘26 draft picks again from Houston and 5 first spherical picks within the Bridges commerce.
The Nets misplaced Keita Bates-Diop, Jacob Gilyard, Dennis Smith, Jr, and Lonnie Walker IV from final 12 months’s workforce. The Nets had been additionally lively on the commerce deadline, sending Dennis Schroder to Golden State for De’Anthony Melton and Reece Beekman. Additionally they purchased out Ben Simmons contract, who then signed with the Clippers.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 8.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve received their final 16 video games. They’re 5 video games forward of third place New York and 10.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 25-7 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 32-11 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. They’re coming off a win over the Warmth of their final recreation.
The Nets are thirteenth within the East. They’re 34 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 6 video games behind tenth place Chicago, who’re within the remaining play in spot. They’re 7.5 video games forward of final place Washington and half a recreation behind twelfth place Philadelphia. They’re 19-21 at house and 1-9 of their final video games. They’re 12-29 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics simply completed a 5-2 house stand and are enjoying within the second straight highway recreation, coming off a win in Miami on Friday night time. After this recreation at Brooklyn they’ll return house to play Brooklyn for the ultimate time this season. They then head out on a 6 recreation Western highway journey by way of Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio and Memphis. They play 5 of their final 7 video games at house.
The mid-day damage report is out for the Celtics with a number of anticipated names and a few surprises. The largest shock for me was that Kristaps Porzingis has been upgraded to possible. Derrick White is listed as uncertain after a giant recreation on Friday. As anticipated, Al Horford can be listed as uncertain. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are questionable. My guess is that one in every of them will play (in all probability Brown since he was out Friday) and Tatum will probably get an evening off to relaxation his balky knee. With this in thoughts, I’ve included Sam Hauser to switch the uncertain White and included in all probability KP and each of the questionable Jays within the starters.
The Nets have 5 gamers on their damage record as of now, with 2 starters out. Nicolas Claxton will sit out this recreation for relaxation as it’s the first of again to again video games. Nets main scorer Cam Thomas is out because of hamstring damage administration. Noah Clowney is out because of an ankle damage. De’Anthony Melton is out with a knee damage. Trendon Watford is out with a hamstring damage. I’m taking a guess that Sharpe will begin for Claxton and Tyrese Martin will begin in Thomas’ spot.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshBaylor Scheierman
Torrey Craig
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (knee) questionableJaylen Brown (knee) questionableDerrick White (knee) doubtfulKristaps Porzingis (sickness) probableAl Horford (toe) uncertain
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Nets Starters
Grid View
Nets ReservesKeon JohnsonMaxwell LewisJalen Wilson
Two Means PlayersReece BeekmanTosan EvbuomwanTyson Etienne
Accidents/Out Noah Clowney (ankle) out De’Anthony Melton (knee) out Nicolas Claxton (relaxation) out Trendon Watford (hamstring) out Cam Thomas (hamstring) out Dariq Whitehead (G-League) out
Head CoachJordi Fernandez
Key Matchups
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Sam Hauser
Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
Cameron Johnson
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Sam Hauser vs Cameron JohnsonJohnson is averaging 18.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 47.8% from the sphere and 40.2% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics in 2 video games to date, he averaged 13.5 factors, 6 rebounds and three.5 assists whereas capturing 45.5% from the sphere and 30.8% from past the arc. He is an efficient 3 level shooter and the Celtics must defend him effectively on the perimeter.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Issac Baldizon/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
D’Angelo Russell
Photograph by Patrick McDermott/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs D’Angelo RussellRussell is averaging 12.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 40.1% from the sphere and 30.1% from past the arc. That is his first recreation in opposition to the Celtics this season.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.3. The Nets are twenty third within the league with a defensive ranking of 115.3. The Nets are averaging 105.3 factors per recreation (twenty ninth). The Celtics are seventh within the league averaging 116.8 factors per recreation. The Celtics should particularly guard the perimeter because the Nets are eleventh with 38.7 three pointers tried per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They’ll’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take further effort on their half beat the Nets on the boards. The Nets are twenty eighth with 41.1 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics are tenth with 44.9 rebounds per recreation. . The Celtics should put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Nets and forestall second and third probability photographs.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics want to remain targeted and be aggressive from begin to end. The Nets haven’t been enjoying effectively, however they’re nonetheless enjoying arduous and can all the time attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics can’t underestimate them as a result of they’re sitting 5 gamers, together with 2 of their finest starters or as a result of they’re beneath .500 or as a result of they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games. Irrespective of who sits for the Celtics, they need to nonetheless have sufficient expertise to beat the Nets so long as they put within the effort.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to come back out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They should be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for free balls and simply enjoying more durable usually. What the Nets lack in star energy, they make up for with effort. The Celtics must match their effort and aggressiveness. Additionally they should play arduous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. This Nets workforce with out stars play arduous and win by giving extra effort than their opponents.
X-Elements Highway Sport and Fatigue – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway on the second night time of again to again video games, and needed to journey for the sport. They are going to be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go along with enjoying on the highway. The Celtics must concentrate on the sport and never on the distractions of journey and enjoying in an unfamiliar area. Hopefully they get manufacturing from their reserves to keep away from fatigue down the stretch.
Who’s Enjoying and Who’s Not – Each groups have lengthy damage lists for this recreation. The Nets are resting 2 of their starters together with having 4 others for numerous causes. The Celtics have White and Horford uncertain whereas Tatum and Brown are questionable. Surprisingly Porzingis is possible. If he performs, I think about there might be a minutes restrict and that he might be a bit rusty. I’m going to take a wild guess that Tatum will probably get the night time off and Brown will play. With each groups enjoying brief handed, play of the reserves might be an x-factor.
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 occasions 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 must play more durable to make up for them and never waste time arguing with the officers.
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