The Celtics face their sixth Western Convention group in a row as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. That is the primary of two conferences between these two groups this season. They may meet as soon as once more in Boston on January 31. The Celtics have received their final 6 video games towards the Pelicans. The Celtics are 26-21 total all time towards the Pelicans and they’re 15-8 in video games performed in Boston.
The Pelicans have been energetic within the offseason. Their greatest transfer was to commerce Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, EJ Liddell and Larry Nance, Jr to Atlanta for Dejounte Murray. They signed former Celtic Daniel Theis and Antonio Reeves as free brokers. They claimed Brandon Boston off waivers and signed him to a 2 manner contract. They drafted Yves Missi with the twenty first choose.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, however have slipped to six.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve received 12 straight video games. They’re 2.5 video games forward of third place New York and 6 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee, who’ve received their final 3 video games. They’re 13-7 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-4 vs Western Convention opponents and are coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Pelicans are fifteenth within the West. They’re 24 video games behind the primary place Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. They’re 11.5 video games behind tenth place Golden State and the final play in spot. they’re 2.5 video games behind 14th place Utah. They’re 3-15 on the street and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-12 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
After a 3-1 Western street journey, the Celtics misplaced to the Sacramento Kings of their first recreation at residence after the journey. That is the second of two residence video games towards Western Convention groups. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors for the third time this season. They may then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western street journey of the month via Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
The Pelicans are enjoying within the second recreation of a 3 recreation street journey. They began the journey with a win in Philadelphia on Friday. They may play at Chicago after this recreation. They then head residence for a 4 recreation residence stand the place they may host Dallas, Utah for two video games, and Milwaukee. They then head out on the street for video games in Memphis, Charlotte and Toronto. After a recreation at residence towards Dallas, they may play at Boston to complete out the month.
The Celtics have solely Drew Peterson on the harm checklist as a consequence of concussion protocols. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram will miss his sixteenth recreation as a consequence of a left ankle sprain. Herb Jones has been identified with a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder and can also be out. Dejounte Murray is questionable with proper elbow tendonitis and a proper shin contusion. Jose Alvaredo will probably begin in his place if he can’t play.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan WalshAl Horford
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDrew Peterson (concussion) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Grid View
Pelicans Reserves Jose AlvaradoJavonte GreenKarlo MatkovicTrey Murphy IIIAntonio ReevesJeremiah Robinson-EarlDaniel Theis
2 Manner Gamers Brandon BostonKeion Brooks, JrJamal Cain
Accidents/Out Brandon Ingram (ankle) out Herb Jones (shoulder) outDejounte Murray (elbow/shin) questionable
Head Coach Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Zion Williamson
Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Zion WilliamsonWilliamson is averaging 22.6 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 47.1% from the sector and 25% from past the arc. Williamson has performed in simply 7 video games this season as a consequence of quite a lot of accidents. He was suspended for his or her final recreation in Philadelphia as a consequence of being late for a group flight. He must be wholesome and rested for this recreation.
Grid View
Derrick White
Photograph by Logan Riely/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
CJ McCollum
Photograph by Ned Dishman/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs CJ McCollum McCollum is averaging 22.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and three.8 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.8% from the sector and 38% from past the arc. The Celtics must cowl McCollum on the perimeter as a result of he’s very able to hitting threes.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Dejounte Murray Murray is averaging 16.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a couple of.4 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 38.9% from the sector and 26.1% from past the arc. He’s listed as questionable for this recreation with elbow and shin accidents. If he can’t play, Jose Alvarez will probably begin in his place.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to successful. The Pelicans common 107.4 factors per recreation (twenty seventh) whereas the Celtics common 117.9 factors per recreation (fifth). The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive score of 109.5. The Pelicans are twenty eighth with a defensive score of 117.7. The Celtics let up on protection towards the Kings and it value them the sport. They need to play powerful lock down protection for all 48 minutes in the event that they wish to win this, or another, recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics need to crash the boards as a group. Rebounding takes effort and after they put that further effort out to dominate the boards, it typically interprets to all different areas of the sport as nicely. The Pelicans are averaging 42.7 rebounds (twenty fourth) and the Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per recreation (eleventh). The Pelicans are seventh within the league with 15.1 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to need to work laborious to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second probability baskets.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain centered on enjoying the precise manner. They need to deal with their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give the Pelicans free possessions by turning the ball over because the Pelicans common 18 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’ve to remain centered on taking good photographs and on making them. If the skin photographs cease falling, they should get to the basket. They need to deal with enjoying group ball and on enjoying protection.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, enjoying protection, diving for unfastened balls and simply play more durable. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very powerful to beat and their lack of it may make them weak as we noticed towards the Kings. They’re as soon as once more going through a group that performs laborious and are aggressive they usually can’t afford to return out with lower than 100% effort or to let up earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
X-Elements House Recreation – The Celtics are at residence for the second straight recreation. The Pelicans are enjoying of their second straight street recreation. The Pelicans have struggled on the street this season with an 3-15 report away from residence. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. They have been embarrassed at residence of their final recreation and wish to show that round and get a win on this recreation. Shield residence court docket.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some are tyrants with the whistle and a few let the groups play. Some refs are very sensitive and name fast fouls and techs. The Celtics have to regulate their recreation to nevertheless the refs are calling it. They’ll’t let missed calls and no calls get to them and make them lose their focus.
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