The Celtics host the Orlando Magic for Sport 2 of the primary spherical of the playoffs. The Celtics received 103-86 on Sunday and is up 1 recreation to none in the most effective of seven collection. The Celtics have been sluggish within the first half, particularly on protection, and allowed the Magic to enter the half main 49-48. They turned it round within the second half to win by 17.
The Magic received the primary collection between these two groups 3 video games to 1 within the first spherical of the 1995 playoffs. Sport 4 of that collection was the ultimate recreation the Celtics performed within the previous Boston Backyard. Magic received that recreation 95-92 they usually received the collection. Their 2nd assembly within the playoffs was in 2009 the place the Magic received the collection 4-3, this time within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
That is the fourth time these two groups have met within the playoffs and the primary time since 2010, when the Celtics received the Japanese Convention Finals 4-2. The Magic have been 9-8 within the playoffs in opposition to the Celtics and are one among 3 groups to have a profitable file in opposition to the Celtics within the playoffs. Charlotte and Brooklyn are the opposite two groups. With the win on Sunday, the Celtics and Magic at the moment are tied at 9-9 all time within the playoffs.
This might be an attention-grabbing matchup as illustrated by a number of statistics. The Celtics common the 2nd fewest turnovers (11.9) whereas the Magic are 2nd with 16.2 pressured turnovers per recreation. The primary recreation went the Celtics means on this class. The Celtics had simply 9 turnovers within the recreation whereas the Magic had 15.
The Celtics are first in fewest taking pictures fouls dedicated whereas the Magic draw the 2nd most taking pictures fouls per 100 possessions. The Celtics have been known as for 13 private fouls for the sport whereas the Magic have been known as for 17 private fouls. Nonetheless, the Magic performed very bodily and had a number of very reckless performs, particularly the one the place Kentavious Caldwell-Pope took out Jayson Tatum, who injured his wrist on the play.
A very powerful statistic is 3 level taking pictures. The Celtics common 48.2 threes per recreation whereas the Magic restrict groups to 31.4 tried 3’s per recreation, fewest within the league. In Sport 1, the Celtics tried 37 threes, which is 11 underneath their season common. They made 18 of these. The Magic took simply 27 threes and made simply 10.
A lot has been manufactured from the Celtics well being over the previous week as we waited for the playoffs to begin. Jaylen Brown missed the ultimate 3 video games of the season attributable to a bone bruise on his knee. He appeared good in Sport 1 and didn’t seem like restricted. Jrue Vacation has been taking part in with a black solid on his pinky finger attributable to mallet finger. He additionally appeared actually good in Sport 1.
Jayson Tatum went into Sport 1 wholesome however because of a reckless play by the Magic as he went up for a dunk, he’s listed as uncertain for this recreation and his ultimate standing might be a recreation time choice. He had an xray instantly after the sport that was clear however an MRI later confirmed that he had a proper distal radius bone bruise. The Celtics will miss his rebounding greater than his scoring on this recreation. Hopefully the group will step up and crash the boards if Tatum misses the sport. I’m guessing that Al Horford will get the beginning in his place.
The Magic have 2 gamers on the harm record however they’ve been out long run for them and each will miss the playoffs. Jalen Suggs has been out since March 4 after present process profitable arthroscopic surgical procedure to take away a cartilage fragment in his left knee. Moritz Wagner has been out since January 9 when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Aside from these two, the Magic have a transparent harm report.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Al Horford C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshLuke KornetTorrey CraigSam HauserXavier Tillman, SrJD Davison
2 Manner PlayersDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (wrist) uncertain
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Magic Starters
Grid View
PG: Cory JosephSG: Kentavious Caldwell-PopeSF: Franz WagnerPF: Paolo Banchero C: Wendell Carter, Jr
Magic ReservesCole AnthonyGoga BitadzeAnthony BlackTristan DaSilvaGary HarrisCaleb HoustanJett HowardJonathan Isaac
2-Manner Gamers Mac McClungTrevelin Queen Ethan Thompson
Accidents/OutMoritz Wagner (knee) out Jalen Suggs (knee) out
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley
Key Matchups
Grid View
Al Horford
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos
Paolo Banchero
Picture by Cole Burston/Getty Photos
Al Horford vs Paolo Banchero Banchero is averaged 25.9 factors, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per recreation within the common season. He shot 45.2% from the sector and 32.0% from past the arc. In Sport 1, he completed with 36 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He shot 51.9% from the sector and 57.1% from past the arc. With Tatum uncertain for the sport, I’m guessing that Horford will get the beginning. The Celtics must attempt to defend him higher on this one.
Grid View
Jaylen Brown
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Franz Wagner
Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Photos
Jaylen Brown vs Franz WagnerWagner averaged 24.2 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation within the common season. He shot 46.3% from the sector and 29.5% from past the arc. In Sport 1, he completed with 23 factors, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and a couple of blocks. He shot 41.7% from the sector and 16.7% from past the arc. He’s very able to having a giant recreation and the Celtics must defend him nicely.
Honorable MentionKristaps Porzingis vs Wendell Carter, JrCarter averaged 9.1 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and a couple of.0 assists per recreation within the common season. He shot 46% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc. In Sport 1, he completed with 4 factors and 13 rebounds whereas taking pictures 33.3% from the sector and went 1-1 from past the arc. Porzingis struggled on offense in Sport 1, scoring simply 5 factors on 12.5% taking pictures. He did seize 6 rebounds and grabbed 4 steals. He’s due for a greater recreation on this one.
Key Matchup off the BenchPayton Pritchard vs Cole AnthonyAnthony appears to discover a strategy to have huge video games in opposition to the Celtics. He averaged 9.4 factors, 3 rebounds, and a couple of.9 assists per recreation within the common season. He shot 42.4% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc. He performed simply 10 minutes in Sport 1, ending with 4 factors and three assists. He scored 26 factors within the play-in recreation in opposition to Atlanta and had 18 factors with 5 threes within the Magic’s ultimate common season recreation in opposition to the Celtics. Hopefully sixth Man of the 12 months, Payton Pritchard, can have one other huge recreation on this one.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times the important thing to profitable and much more so within the Playoffs. The Celtics are third the playoffs with a defensive ranking of 98.9. The Magic are twelfth within the playoffs with a defensive ranking of 118.4. The Celtics scored simply 103 factors in Sport 1 however they held the Magic to simply 86 factors. The Magic have good defenders and so if the Celtics hope to beat them, they want match Orlando’s defensive depth and to play robust lock down protection themselves.
Rebound – As Pat Riley as soon as mentioned, “No rebounds, no rings.” A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the additional effort into grabbing rebounds, it often interprets to the remainder of their recreation. The Celtics out-rebounded the Magic 42-41 in Sport 1. They should work even tougher on the boards on this one. The Celtics are 41-7 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics must out-work the Magic on the boards in the event that they need to win this recreation.
3 Level Taking pictures – Within the common season, the Celtics took essentially the most 3’s per recreation whereas the Magic allowed the fewest 3’s per recreation. Within the 3 video games this season, the Magic held the Celtics to 11.3 fewer 3 level makes an attempt than their common. In Sport 1, the Celtics took 37 threes (43.2%) whereas the Magic took 27 threes (37%) The Celtics are robust to beat once they make their 3’s they usually battle when the three’s aren’t falling. They should discover a strategy to neutralize the Magic’s robust 3 level protection and on the identical time play robust protection in opposition to the Magic.
Don’t Be Overconfident – The Celtics received Sport 1 handily, by 17 factors. Final season, the Celtics received the primary recreation in opposition to the Warmth by 20 factors after which dropped recreation 2 at residence. The Celtics can’t afford to get overconfident and permit the Magic to realize confidence with a win in Sport 2. Already, the Lakers, Knicks, Nuggets, and Rockets have dropped a recreation at residence. The Celtics want to provide 100% effort on this recreation and never relaxation on their laurels.
X-Elements Dwelling Sport and Effort – The Celtics might be at residence and can have the Backyard crowd and that ought to give them a lift. The Magic can have all of the distractions of taking part in on the highway, a hostile crowd, and staying in a lodge away from household. The Celtics must be prepared for a group that performs very arduous for 48 minutes and that defends very nicely. The Celtics must match the Magic’s effort particularly on the defensive finish. Their effort was missing within the first half of Sport 1 however they made up for it the second half for the win. The Celtics should play tougher than the Magic for all 48 minutes to guard their residence courtroom and get a win in opposition to this motivated Magic group.
Accidents – Aside from Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics have been principally wholesome throughout final yr’s playoffs. They got here into Sport 1 wholesome with simply minor questions on Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation. Each appeared wholesome in Sport 1, which helped a few of the nervousness concerning the group’s well being. Then, within the 4th quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dedicated a reckless flagrant foul on Jayson Tatum as he went up for a dunk. An MRI confirmed a bone bruise on his wrist and so he’s uncertain for this recreation. The Celtics will miss his playmaking and rebounding essentially the most if he can’t play. The group wants to choose up the slack in these areas and work tougher to make up for Tatum’s absence. The Celtics are 8-2 this season with out Tatum, however the 2 losses have been in opposition to Orlando.
Officiating – Officiating can at all times be an X-Issue. In some video games, you don’t even discover the referees and in different video games, they appear to make the sport all about them. Some crews name the sport tight and others let the groups play. Some crews favor one of many groups whereas others name it pretty. Regardless of how the sport is named, the Celtics should regulate and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.
Official Report Crew Chief – James Williams Williams known as 4 video games for the Celtics this season they usually have been 4-1 with him as a referee. He calls 50.8% of fouls in opposition to the house group. Dwelling groups are 35-29 with him as an official. Final season, he known as a recreation in opposition to Indiana the place the Pacers have been known as for a foul when Jaylen Brown was hit on the pinnacle. Williams, as crew chief, overruled the decision and the Pacers received 133-131. The final 2 second report confirmed that Williams was unsuitable to overturn the decision. In an nameless participant survey final season, 3% named Williams as probably the greatest officers.
Referee – Ed Malloy Malloy known as 5 video games for the Celtics this season, going 2-3. He calls 49.2% of fouls on the house group. His residence win/loss file this season is 39-23. In that nameless participant survey, 3.4% of gamers named Malloy as one of many worst refs.
Umpire – Brent Barnaky Barnaky known as 7 video games for the Celtics this season they usually have been 5-2 with him calling the sport. He calls 50.6% of fouls on the house group. He isn’t a house pleasant ref with a house win/loss file of 30-34. In final yr’s participant survey, Barnaky 3% of the gamers named Barnaky as probably the greatest refs.
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