The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls for the second of 4 video games this season. They met in Chicago for the 4th and closing group play recreation for the Emirates NBA Cup on November 29. They may play one another as soon as once more in simply 2 days in Chicago on Saturday December 21 and their closing assembly shall be in Boston on January 29. The Celtics swept the sequence 3-0 final season, successful 2 in Chicago and one in Boston.
Each groups have had an extended relaxation because of the in season event. The Celtics final performed on Sunday after they beat the Washington Wizards and the Bulls final performed on Monday after they beat the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls are 2-8 of their final 10 video games in opposition to the Celtics. The Celtics are 134-109 total all time in opposition to the Bulls and they’re 77-38 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind first place Cleveland and they’re 5 video games forward of third place Orlando. They’re are 11-3 at residence and they’re 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-3 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and have gained their final 2 video games. The Bulls are ninth within the East, 11 video games out of first place and a pair of video games behind seventh place Atlanta. They’re 8-6 on the street (and 4-9 at residence). They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-8 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and have gained their final 2 video games.
The Celtics begin the put up event stretch with a house and residential sequence in opposition to the Bulls. They play this recreation in Boston after which once more on Saturday in Chicago. They then journey to Orlando for a recreation earlier than one other 4 recreation residence stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto. Then it’s a 4 recreation Western street journey via Minnesota, Houston, Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver earlier than dealing with Sacramento and New Orleans again at residence.
The Bulls additionally begin with the house and residential set in opposition to the Celtics enjoying this recreation in Boston and on Saturday in Chicago. They then face Milwaukee at residence adopted by Atlanta on the street. Then it’s again residence for an additional recreation in opposition to Milwaukee earlier than enjoying at Charlotte and at Washington. Then it’s again residence for video games in opposition to the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
After lacking Sunday’s recreation, Al Horford must be again for the Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis left Sunday’s recreation with a heel harm however practiced on Wednesday and is listed as questionable for this recreation but when there aren’t any setbacks on Thursday, he’ll doubtless play. If he’s unable to go, I count on Al Horford to get the beginning. Sam Hauser is questionable with decrease again spasms. Xavier Tillman is questionable with a non-covid sickness. All 3 are thought-about a recreation time resolution.
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine missed Monday’s recreation with again soreness and was initially questionable for this recreation however has been faraway from the record as of now. Josh Giddey left Monday’s recreation with an ankle harm. Though the harm isn’t thought-about to be severe, he’s listed as uncertain for this recreation. EJ Liddell is questionable as a consequence of a sore left knee. Dalen Terry was a restricted participant in Wednesday’s apply and is listed as questionable for this recreation with a bruised proper knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutSam Hauser (again) questionable Kristaps Porzingis (heel) questionable Xavier Tillman (sickness) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Possible Bulls Starters
Grid View
Chicago Bulls Reserves Ayo DosunmoLonzo BallMatas BuzelisJevon CarterTorrey CraigChris Duarte Talen Horton-TuckerJulian PhillipsJalen Smith
2-Manner PlayersEJ LiddellAdama SonogoDJ Steward
Accidents/Out EJ Liddell (knee) questionable Dalen Terry (knee) questionable Josh Giddey (ankle) uncertain
Head CoachBilly Donovan
Key Matchups
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Jaylen Brown
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
Zach LaVine
Photograph by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Photographs
Jaylen Brown vs Zach LaVine LaVine is averaging 21.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He’s capturing 50.1% from the sector and 42.8% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 29 factors, 1 rebound and 1 help whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 36.4% from past the arc. Slowing LaVine down will go a great distance in direction of slowing the Bulls down.
Grid View
Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
Nikola Vucevic
Photograph by Michael Reaves/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Nikola VucevicVucevic is averaging 21.1 factors, 9.6 rebounds, and three.2 assists. He’s capturing 58.7% from the sector and 47.5% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 32 factors, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block whereas capturing 68.8% from the sector and 66.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to preserve Vucevic off the boards and restrict his photographs each within the paint and on the perimeter, as he shoots the ball very properly.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Coby White Coby White is averaging 18.1 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 41.9% from the sector and 36.7% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 11 factors, 6 rebounds and 4 assists whereas capturing 27.3% from the sector and 14.3% from past the arc. I doubt he’ll play as poorly on this recreation and the Celtics have to defend him properly.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Celtics are eighth within the league with a defensive score of 109.7. The Bulls are twenty fifth with a defensive score of 116.2. The Bulls are sixth, scoring 118.9 factors per recreation whereas the Celtics are third, scoring 119.9 factors per recreation. The Celtics have to win this recreation with their protection and never attempt to win a shoot out. The Celtics have to get a robust defensive effort from each participant on the court docket and they should make protection a precedence for all 48 minutes with no slacking off. The Celtics have to particularly guard the three level line because the Bulls try the 2nd most threes per recreation (43.7) and make the second most threes per recreation (16.5).
Rebound – The Celtics should field out and crash the boards. They will’t rating with out the ball and it’ll take further effort on their half to beat the Bulls on the boards. The Celtics are averaging 44.8 rebounds per recreation, which is eleventh within the league. The Bulls are averaging 44.3 rebounds per recreation, which is twelfth. The Celtics should put out extra effort to get to the rebounds earlier than the Bulls and provides themselves further possessions and restrict these possessions for the Bulls.
Three Level Capturing – The Celtics typically shoot 3s at a historic charge however there are occasions when their photographs simply aren’t falling. The Celtics are first within the league, taking 51.1 threes per recreation. The Bulls are 2nd, taking 43.7 threes per recreation. The Bulls are extra environment friendly, capturing 37.8% from past the arc (ninth) whereas the Celtics shoot 37.2% from past the arc (thirteenth). The Celtics have to deal with taking good photographs and they should transfer the ball in order to get open photographs. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should get to the basket.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season could be traced again to a scarcity of effort. Additionally, at instances evidently they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they soar out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics should get again to enjoying arduous on each ends of the court docket for the total 48 minutes with no let up.
X-Elements Residence Sport and Rust – The Celtics are at residence and may have the group behind them to provide them further motivation. The Bulls have all of the distractions of enjoying on the street together with journey, staying in motels, enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar court docket. Each groups could also be a bit rusty at the beginning after enjoying simply 2 video games in 11 days. Hopefully the Celtics can shake off the rust first and play properly.
Officiating – The officiating is at all times an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different instances they are going to allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. Typically they are going to favor one group over the opposite and different instances they are going to name it even. Typically they’re simply dangerous. The Celtics want to regulate to the way in which the sport known as and never let missed calls or dangerous calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are dangerous, they only have to play more durable to make up for them and never waste time arguing with the officers.
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