The Celtics face the Hawks in Atlanta for the ultimate sport of a 4 sport street journey. They’re 2-1 up to now on the journey with their solely loss to the Pacers in additional time. The Hawks are taking part in on the second evening of again to again video games, having performed in New Orleans on Sunday evening. The Hawks received their first 2 video games after which misplaced 4 in a row earlier than beating the Pelicans on Sunday.
That is the primary of three conferences between these two groups this season. They’ll face off once more on November 12 and January 18, each video games in Boston. The Celtics and Hawks tied the collection at 2 video games every final season, with each groups profitable 2 at house. The Celtics are 244-149 general all time in opposition to the Hawks and they’re 112-95 in video games performed in Atlanta.
The Celtics stood pat for essentially the most half within the off season, bringing again their complete core of gamers and dropping simply Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett. They added Baylor Scheierman, who was the thirtieth decide within the draft and signed 2nd spherical decide, Anton Watson to a 2 manner contract. They’ve one open roster spot that they’re more likely to preserve open in case of harm in the course of the season. They’ve additionally added a few chips on their shoulder after Olympic snubs and different drama over the summer time.
The Hawks made a giant commerce to start the off season. They gave up on DeJounte Murray and traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans for Larry Nance, Jr and Dyson Daniels together with 2 first spherical picks. In addition they had the primary decide within the draft that they used to draft Zaccharie Risacher, a 6’9” ahead from France. In addition they misplaced Saddiq Bey to the Wizards in free company.
The Celtics shall be with out Kristaps Porzingis, who remains to be rehabbing from off season ankle surgical procedure and isn’t anticipated again till December. Sam Hauser missed 3 video games with soreness in his decrease again however has performed within the final 3 video games and is possible for this sport. Jaylen Brown will miss his second straight sport with a hip harm. I’m going to guess that Joe Mazzulla will as soon as once more begin the double huge of Al Horford and Luke Kornet in Brown’s absence.
The Hawks are having harm issues of their very own. Vit Krejci is out with a proper adductor harm. Bogdan Bogdanovic is out after a medical process to repair his proper hamstring tendinopathy. Kobe Bufkin is recovering from a shoulder subluxation and can be out. Seth Lundy (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (knee), and Cody Zeller (private) are all questionable for this sport.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Sam Hauser
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Jaylen Brown (hip) out
Sam Hauser (again) possible
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Hawks Starters
Hawks Reserves
Mouhamed Gueye
Garrison Mathews
Onyeka Okongwu
Larry Nance, Jr
David Roddy
2 Manner Gamers
Dominick Barlow
Seth Lundy
Keaton Wallace
Accidents/Out
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) out
Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) out
Vit Kretjci (thigh) out
Seth Lundy (ankle) questionable
De’Andre Hunter (knee) questionable
Cody Zeller (private) questionable
Head Coach
Quin Snyder
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Picture by Paul Rutherford/Getty Photographs
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Trae Younger
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Trae Younger
Younger is averaging 27.7 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 11.7 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He isn’t notably environment friendly and is capturing 39.8% from the sphere and 30.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to play him for the shot in addition to the move as he has been superb at discovering open teammates. He’s additionally very fast within the passing lanes and so the Celtics should be cautious with their passes.
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Derrick White
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
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Dyson Daniels
Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Dyson Daniels
Daniels is averaging 12.8 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.0 block per sport. He’s capturing 50% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. This can be a matchup between 2 defensive guards, who may block photographs. The Celtics will want White to step up his sport with Brown out for this one.
Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Johnson
Johnson is averaging 16.3 factors, 10.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals. He’s capturing 41.2% from the sphere however simply 25% from past the arc. Tatum shot simply 1-9 from 3 on Saturday in opposition to the Hornets and hopefully he can discover his vary once more on this sport as they are going to want him to attain with Brown injured.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to profitable video games. Protection is particularly vital for the Celtics on this sport as a result of the Hawks are a superb scoring staff, averaging 117.2 factors per sport, which is ninth within the league. The Celtics are 1st, averaging 123.7 factors per sport. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.7 which is twelfth whereas the Hawks have a defensive ranking of 118.6, which is twenty eighth. Of their solely loss, the Celtics perimeter protection was missing, permitting the Pacers to shoot 39.5% from three. The Celtics should make protection a precedence on this sport they usually must play that powerful protection for 48 minutes and never let up.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is a key to profitable. A lot of rebounding is effort and need. When the Celtics put out the additional effort on the boards, it often carries via to the remainder of their sport. The Hawks are averaging 42.2 rebounds per sport (twenty third) whereas the Celtics are averaging 42.9 rebounds per sport (twenty first). The Celtics haven’t been rebounding in addition to they did final season and they should aggressively go after each rebound. They’ll’t afford to present the Hawks additional possessions and 2nd probability factors by permitting them to beat them to rebounds.
Effort and Ball Motion – The Celtics misplaced to the Pacers as a result of they have been a step sluggish and didn’t transfer the ball very properly. Their effort within the first 3 quarters was very lackluster. They allowed the Pacers to out rebound them 57-51 they usually have been a step sluggish on nearly each play. They weren’t transferring the ball, with simply 23 assists to 33 assists for the Pacers. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball and never play hero ball. In addition they have to play with most effort for 48 minutes and never permit the Hawks to construct a lead or if the Celtics construct a lead, they should preserve it and never permit the Hawks to return again.
Bench Play – Of their November 1 sport in opposition to the Kings, the Hawks’ bench outscored the Kings’ bench 56-26. The Hawks’ reserves shot 51.3% from the sphere and 46.4% from past the arc. Even with harm woes, their reserves got here via for them. The Celtics want their reserves to return via with huge video games, particularly on protection.
X-Components
Highway Recreation and Fatigue – The Celtics are taking part in of their 4th straight sport on the street and could have the distractions of journey and a resort keep and taking part in in entrance of hostile followers in an unfamiliar area. Nonetheless, that they had a time without work since their final sport whereas the Hawks are taking part in within the second of again to again video games and needed to journey after Sunday’s sport. Fatigue for Atlanta might come into play down the stretch on this sport. Each groups are additionally taking part in quick handed. The final sport on a street journey is often the hardest and so the Celtics should keep centered.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport somewhat otherwise with some calling it tight and others letting them play. Some refs simply make head scratching calls whereas others attempt very laborious to get them proper. Typically they’re tech loopy for each little factor. In some video games they name the two halves fully otherwise. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and concentrate on taking part in the sport and never on the officiating.
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