The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons for the third of 4 video games between them this season. The Celtics gained the primary sport 124-118 in Detroit on October 26. They gained the second sport 130-120 in Boston on December 4. This sport was added after each groups did not advance within the Emirates NBA Cup match. They may meet for a 4th and closing time in Detroit on February 26. The Celtics gained the sequence 3-0 final season. They’re 255-140 total all time in opposition to the Pistons and they’re 125-46 all time in video games performed in Boston. They’ve gained their final 11 video games in opposition to the Pistons.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind Cleveland after their latest loss to the Grizzlies. They’re 10-3 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-3 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents they usually misplaced their final sport. The Pistons are eleventh within the East after their loss on Tuesday to the Bucks. They’re 6-8 on the street and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-13 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. They’re coming off a win over the Knicks of their final sport.
The Pistons final performed on December 7 they usually gained’t play once more till December 16. They may play They may play at house in opposition to Miami and Utah earlier than occurring a 4 sport Western street journey that can take them by means of Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento and Denver. They may then return house for a 4 sport house stand, internet hosting Orlando, Charlotte, Minnesota and Portland.
The Celtics simply completed a troublesome stretch or 5 video games in 7 nights however haven’t performed since Saturday 12/7. That is the ultimate sport of a 5 sport house stand after video games in opposition to Miami, Pistons, Milwaukee, and Memphis as the primary 4 video games within the house stand. They may play at Washington earlier than dealing with Chicago at house and at Chicago in a house and residential set. They then journey to Orlando earlier than one other 4 sport house stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
Jayson Tatum was as soon as once more questionable on the harm report because of proper patella tendinopathy. He has repeatedly been on the report however has solely missed one sport to this point, the December 4 sport in opposition to the Pistons. He has been downgraded to out for this sport. I might guess that Queta, Kornet or Tillman would begin if he can’t. Jaden Springer is out because of an sickness.
Sam Hauser was initially questionable after injuring his adductor within the sport in opposition to Memphis. He left the sport and was unable to return. He has been downgraded to uncertain for this sport and his closing standing will likely be a sport time determination. For the Pistons, solely Bobi Klintman is on the harm listing with a calf harm. He has but to go well with up and play for them this season.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson Tatum C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJaden Springer (sickness) out Jayson Tatum (knee) outSam Hauser (adductor) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pistons Starters
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PG: Jaden IveySG: Cade CunninghamSF: Tim Hardaway, JrPF: Tobias HarrisC: Jalen Duren
Pistons Reserves Malik BeasleySimone Fontecchio Ron Holland IIWendell Moore, JrPaul Reed Marcus SasserIsaiah StewartAusar Thompson
2-Manner Gamers Daniss Jenkins Cole SwiderAlondes Williams
Accidents/OutBobi Klintman (calf) out
Head CoachJB Bickerstaff
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos
Cade Cunningham
Photograph by Stephen Gosling/NBAE through Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Cade Cunningham Cunningham is averaging 23.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 39.3% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 24 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 12 assists and a pair of.5 blocks. He shot 46.5% from the sector however simply 29.4% from past the arc. The Celtics particularly want to stick with him on protection and maintain him from taking pictures and from making a go to the open man.
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos
Jaden Ivey
Photograph by Dustin Satloff/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Jaden IveyIvey is one other of Detroit’s younger stars. He’s averaging 17.6 factors, 4.2 rebounds 4.3 assists and 1 steal per sport. He’s taking pictures 44.5% from the sector and 37.8% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 18.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, and 4 assists whereas taking pictures 54.2% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend him higher on this sport than they did within the final one.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Malik BeasleyBeasley is averaging 16 factors, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.7% from the sector and 41.3% from past the arc. He’s 4th within the league with 85 three pointers made. Within the final sport in opposition to the Celtics he went 2-4 and that moved him into a centesimal on the all time 3 factors made listing. Within the 2 sport in opposition to the Celtics he averaged 20 factors and three.5 rebounds whereas taking pictures 50% from the sector and 57.9% from past the arc. The Celtics want their very own sixth man sharpshooter to have sport on each ends of the court docket.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will all the time be key to successful each sport. The Celtics are tenth within the league with a 110.8 defensive ranking whereas the Pistons are fifteenth with a defensive ranking of 113.4. The Pistons are twenty first within the league, averaging 110.5 factors per sport. Within the final sport in opposition to the Pistons, the Celtics allowed them to shoot 51.2% from the sector and 51.3% from past the arc they usually allowed them to attain 120 factors. After watching the Thunder play, I spotted how far the Celtics have slipped from final season on the defensive finish. The Celtics have to come back into this sport with the mindset that they should play powerful protection and never underestimate the Pistons, who’ve loads of younger and hungry gamers.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to offer the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 44.0 rebounds per sport (14th) whereas the Pistons are averaging 45.4 rebounds (seventh). Of their first assembly, the Pistons out-rebounded the Celtics 44-37 and within the second sport the Celtics out rebounded the Pistons 43-34 and the Celtics should as soon as once more crash the boards and out-rebound the Pistons. The Celtics are 11-0 after they out-rebound or tie their opponents and are simply 8-4 when they’re out-rebounded. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to offer additional effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. Once they present additional effort on the boards, it usually exhibits up in different areas of the sport as effectively.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t come into the sport anticipating a straightforward sport and to have the ability to take it straightforward on each ends of the court docket as a result of they anticipate the Pistons to roll over and quit as a result of the younger Pistons play onerous. They’ve to come back in and be aggressive on protection, on taking the ball to the basket, on diving for unfastened balls, on rebounding and on enjoying as a group. If they permit the Pistons to play tougher than them they might simply be stunned with a loss.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics are first within the league with 51.4 threes tried per sport and first with 19 makes per sport. They’re thirteenth, taking pictures 37% from three whereas the Pistons are sixteenth taking pictures 36.3% on threes. When the Celtics shoot 3’s within the circulate of the sport they’re normally superb. However after they attempt to pressure it, they usually go chilly. They should not attempt to pressure 3’s and proceed to maneuver the ball and take the perfect shot. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this sport they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside. In addition they must defend the perimeter higher as they allowed the Pistons to shoot 52.3% from past the arc of their final sport.
X-Elements Residence Recreation – The Celtics are at house they usually want come out prepared to guard house court docket. Younger groups usually battle on the street and hopefully the Backyard will likely be loud and can have the ability to distract the younger Pistons group who additionally should face the distractions of journey. The Celtics will probably be quick handed and so each participant has to step up their sport. Too usually now we have seen the Celtics calm down and let up and lose to groups they need to completely beat. Each groups are effectively rested having final performed on December 7.
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 permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name either side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their deal with enjoying the sport.
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