The Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in as many days. The Celtics got here out on high on Friday, beating the Hornets 124-109. That win provides the Celtics a 5-1 file, with their solely loss to the Indiana Pacers in Extra time. Charlotte is 2-3 on the season, beating Houston and Toronto and dropping to Atlanta, Miami and Boston.
That is the second assembly between these two groups this season, having crushed the Hornets on Friday. They may shut out the sequence in Boston on April 11 and 13. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season, Profitable their solely sport in Boston and successful one and dropping one in Charlotte. The Celtics are 78-46 general all time in opposition to the Hornets and 37-26 in video games performed in Charlotte.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their whole core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth decide within the draft and signed 2nd spherical decide, Anton Watson to a 2 means contract. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after a few Olympic snubs.
The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, basic supervisor and workforce president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The workforce drafted French ahead Tidjane Salaun sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. In addition they signed middle Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.
Al Horford missed Friday’s sport for relaxation, however I’m guessing he can be again for this one. They may as soon as once more be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure. Jaylen Brown injured his hip within the third quarter of Friday’s sport and can be out for this sport. I’m taking a wild guess that Jordan Walsh will begin, nevertheless it’s attainable that Sam Hauser might get the beginning right here as nicely.
The Hornets can be with out DaQuan Jeffries who’s recovering from a hand harm. Mark Williams can be out as he recovers from a tendon pressure in his foot. Neither has performed but this season. Brandon Miller is questionable with a glute harm. Nick Richards injured his shoulder in Friday’s sport and is out for this sport. I’m undecided who they may begin however I’m going to guess Grant Williams.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jordan WalshPF: Jayson Tatum C: Al Horford
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrLuke Kornet
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (ankle) outJaylen Brown (hip) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Hornets Starters
Grid View
PG: LaMelo BallSG: Seth CurrySF: Josh GreenPF: Miles Bridges C: Grant Williams
Hornets Reserves Nick Smith, JrCody Martin Vasa MicicTre MannTidjane SalaunTaj Gibson
2 Means PlayersMoussa Diabate KJ Simpson Jared Rhoden
Accidents/Out DaQuan Jeffries (hand) outMark Williams (foot) outBrandon Miller (glute) questionable Nick Richards (shoulder) out
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Pictures
LaMelo Ball
Picture by Wealthy Schultz/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs LaMelo Ball Ball has been taking part in very nicely this season, averaging 28.5 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.7% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 31 factors, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 48% from the sphere and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must attempt to sluggish him down a bit extra on this sport.
Grid View
Payton Pritchard
Picture by Justin Casterline/Getty Pictures
Tre Mann
Picture by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Pictures
Payton Pritchard vs Tre Mann This can be a matchup of key subs off the bench who each shoot the three very nicely. Mann is averaging 20.5 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 44.6% from the sphere and 42.9% from past the arc. Pritchard is averaging 16.2 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 45.6% from the sphere and 46.9% from past the arc. On Friday, Mann completed with 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block whereas taking pictures 55.6% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. Pritchard had a uncommon off taking pictures night time however was lively on protection. He completed with 7 factors on 16.7% taking pictures from the sphere and was 0-5 on threes. He additionally had 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.
Honorable Point out Jayson Tatum vs Miles Bridges Bridges is averaging 15 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block per sport. He’s taking pictures 39.6% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. On Friday, he completed with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 31.3% from the sphere and simply 20% on threes. He additionally bought pissed off on the finish of the sport and was ejected.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. It was an absence of protection that dug a 23 level gap in opposition to the Pacers and it was good protection that bought them again into the sport and compelled additional time. The Celtics are twelfth with a defensive ranking of 111.5. The Hornets are thirtieth with a defensive ranking of 120.0. The Celtics are 1st in 3 level makes an attempt with 50 whereas the Hornets are third with 44.8 three level makes an attempt per sport. They’re tied for fifth in 3 level proportion at 39.3%. The Celtics must particularly guard the Hornets on the perimeter.
Rebound – Rebounding is necessary to offer the Celtics further possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer further effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 1st with 21 second likelihood factors per sport and the Celtics must restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds. On Friday, the Hornets had 1 extra rebound and 1 extra offensive rebound than the Celtics. The Celtics should work tougher on the boards on this one.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics effort for the primary 3 quarters in opposition to the Pacers left a lot to be desired, touchdown them in a 23 level gap. They lastly discovered some vitality and energy within the 4th quarter and battled again to power additional time. The Celtics effort of their earlier 2 video games was good at occasions and never so good at different occasions. On Friday, the Celtics upped their effort within the 4th quarter to drag away from the Hornets. The Celtics have to offer max effort on the boards and on protection and so they have to offer that effort for the whole sport and never simply 1 or 2 quarters.
Bench Play – The Hornets have 3 gamers off the bench who’re taking pictures over 40% from the perimeter. Tre Mann (20.5 factors, 42.9% from three), Cody Martin (11.5 factors, 42.1% from three) and Grant Williams (10.3 factors, 47.4% from three) The Celtics reserves want to return into the sport and play exhausting on the defensive finish to restrict their 3 level taking pictures. In addition they want to supply on the offensive finish.
X-Components On The Street and Feelings – The Celtics are taking part in of their fifth sport on the street this season. The Celtics are going through the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd and so they can’t enable these distractions to remove from their concentrate on the sport. The tip of Friday’s sport was emotional with Grant Williams ejected for a flagrant 2, Miles Bridges ejected for two technicals and LaMelo Ball assessed a technical. Each coaches additionally bought technicals. The Celtics want to remain calm and never let feelings get in the best way of taking part in the precise means.
Teaching – Charles Lee helped to steer the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m certain these two coaches share some teaching philosophies, together with the technique of taking pictures loads of 3’s. Joe Mazzulla win their first assembly. Which coach will come out on high on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house workforce whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never enable no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their concentrate on taking part in the sport.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a reside dialog concerning the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you’ve got it, and be a part of our group.
