The Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers for a Christmas Day matchup. That is the primary of 4 video games between these two groups this season. They’ll meet twice in Philadelphia on February 2 and February 20 and they’ll face off for a second time in Boston on March 6. The Celtics received the sequence 3-1 final season with the 76ers profitable the primary assembly in Philadelphia and the Celtics profitable the ultimate 3 video games of the season.
The 76ers had a slightly massive turnover in gamers this season and that could be one purpose for his or her struggles this season up to now. They added Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Guerschon Yabusele. Additionally they drafted Jared McCain and Adem Bona. They misplaced Mo Bamba, Robert Covington, Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Cameron Payne, Paul Reed, Nicolas Batum, Darius Bazley and DeAnthony Melton.
Though Joel Embiid says that this isn’t a rivalry as a result of the Celtics at all times win, it undoubtedly has the makings of being a divisional rivalry. The Celtics are 270-197 general all time towards the 76ers and they’re 157-56 all time in video games performed in Boston. The Celtics and 76ers have met 22 occasions in NBA playoff historical past. Of these 22 playoff sequence, the Celtics have received 15 of them.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, and have dropped to three.5 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers who’ve received their final 5 video games. They’re 3 video games forward of third place New York, who received 4 straight video games and 4 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, who simply beat the Celtics on Monday. The Celtics are 11-4 at residence and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-5 towards Jap Convention opponents. They want to get again on monitor after shedding to the Magic on Monday.
The 76ers are twelfth within the East. They have been anticipated to problem the Celtics on the prime of the East, however not a lot has gone proper for them up to now and so they sit 14.5 video games out of first place. They’re 4 video games behind sixth place Miami and 1.5 video games behind tenth place Detroit. They’re 4 video games forward of thirteenth place Charlotte. They’re 5-8 on the highway and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 9-10 towards Jap Convention groups and are in search of their 2nd straight win.
After this Christmas Day sport towards the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics will full a 4 sport residence stand. After Philly, they may face Indiana twice after which Toronto. They’ll then head out on a 4 sport Western highway journey via Minnesota, Ime Udoka’s Houston Rockets, Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They’ll return residence to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto earlier than dealing with Orlando and Atlanta at residence.
This Christmas Day sport towards the Celtics is the primary sport of a 6 sport highway journey for the 76ers. After this sport, they may journey to Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Golden State and Brooklyn. After the highway journey, they return residence for 3 video games the place they may host Phoenix, Washington, and New Orleans. They then return on the highway for one sport in Orlando and return residence for video games towards Oklahoma Metropolis and New York.
The Celtics received Sam Hauser again on Monday after he sat out 3 video games with again spasms. It appeared just like the Celtics would lastly have a full roster however on the final minute, Jayson Tatum was dominated out on account of an sickness. He’s questionable for this sport Derrick White has been added to the harm checklist with proper hamstring tightness and can also be questionable. Jrue Vacation is questonable with a proper shoulder impingement. All 3 are listed as a sport time determination. I’ve listed the common starters hoping they can go. I’m unsure who would begin if all or any are out.
The 76ers more healthy than they’ve been for a lot of the season. Paul George has performed simply 17 of the 76ers 27 video games and Joel Embiid has performed simply 8 of their 27 video games. Maxey has performed 21 of the 27 video games. All 3 are anticipated to play on this sport. Andre Drummond is questionable with a toe harm. Jarerd McCain is out with a knee harm and KJ Martin is out with a foot harm. Eric Gordon is possible with an harm to his mouth.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam Hauser
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutDerrick White (hamstring) questionable Jrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable Jayson Tatum (sickness) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible 76ers Starters
Grid View
76ers Reserves Adem BonaRicky Council IVReggie Jackson Kyle LowryCaleb Martin
2-Means PlayersJeff Dowtin, JrJustin EdwardsPete Nance
Accidents/Out Andre Drummond (toe) questionable Eric Gordon (mouth) possible Jared McCain (knee) out KJ Martin (foot) out
Head CoachNick Nurse
Key Matchups
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by G Fiume/Getty Photographs
Joel Embiid
Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Joel EmbiidEmbiid has performed simply 8 video games up to now however is anticipated to be wholesome for this sport. He’s averaging 20.6 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1 block per sport. He’s capturing 41.7% from the sector and simply 21.2% from past the arc. I anticipate to see Al Horford defending him for no less than a part of the time as a result of previously, he has been efficient towards him.
Grid View
Jaylen Brown
Picture by Tim Heitman/Getty Photographs
Paul George
Picture by Katharine Lotze/Getty Photographs
Jaylen Brown vs Paul GeorgeThis ought to be a great matchup between two of the higher small forwards within the league. George is averaging 16.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per sport. He’s capturing 41.4% from the sector and 33% from past the arc. Each of those gamers are good defenders and so that may make it tougher for both one to attain. Brown is coming off a giant sport on Monday and hopefully he’ll nonetheless be sizzling for this one.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Tyrese MaxeyMaxey has blossomed now that he has the keys to the workforce. Maxey is averaging 24.5 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per sport. He’s capturing 41.6% from the sector and 33.7% from past the arc. He’s very fast and troublesome to stick with within the open courtroom. I’m hoping that Vacation and White can each play. If not, we might even see Payton Pritchard get the beginning.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection will at all times be key to profitable each sport. The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive ranking of 109.3. The 76ers are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 112.2. The 76ers are twenty ninth within the league, averaging 105.9 factors per sport. The Celtics are 4th, averaging 119.1 factors per sport. The Celtics want to extend their efforts on the defensive finish much more. They need to make protection their precedence for each possession of the sport as a result of that’s how they will win.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as a key to profitable. The Celtics are eighth within the league, knocking down 45.1 rebounds per sport whereas the 76ers are twenty eighth with 40.6 rebounds per sport. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics additionally want to present themselves further possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish and maintain the 76ers from getting 2nd likelihood factors on the defensive finish. If the Celtics need to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards.
Play Exhausting 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to start out out robust and play arduous for 48 minutes, proper up till the ultimate buzzer. The Celtics additionally should play arduous all through the sport and never get complacent if they’re up. The Celtics can’t let the 76ers construct a lead and so they can’t let up if they will construct a lead themselves. The Celtics at occasions are inclined to play down to groups with dangerous data or who’re lacking gamers, however they will’t do this with these 76ers as a result of they’ve sufficient expertise to beat them if they offer lower than 100% effort. They need to play arduous from the opening tip till the ultimate buzzer with no let up. Additionally the workforce that’s extra aggressive and performs tougher normally will get the higher whistle from the refs.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics lead the league in 3 pointers tried per sport with 50.4 per sport. Additionally they lead the league in 3 pointers made at 18.3 per sport. When the three’s are falling the Celtics are powerful to beat, however when the three’s aren’t falling, they give the impression of being horrible. In opposition to the Magic, the Celtics took simply 33 three pointers and made simply 8 of them. They received’t beat many groups capturing lower than 25% from past the arc. The Celtics need to concentrate on taking good photographs and making them and if the three’s aren’t falling as soon as once more, go to the basket.
X-Components House Sport – The Celtics have been a great residence workforce with simply 4 losses at residence up to now this season. The 76ers are 5-8 on the highway up to now. Groups try to get residence courtroom benefit for a purpose and the Celtics have to benefit from having the gang behind them and being on their residence courtroom. Hopefully the 76ers are distracted by journey, a lodge keep, and a hostile crowd.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different 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. Some hand out technicals like Christmas sweet. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never enable the no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their concentrate on enjoying the sport.
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