[ad_1]
For the second straight recreation and the second time in 3 days, the Celtics face the Pacers in Indiana. That is the 4th of 5 video games between these two groups this season. They’ll play for the fifth and last time in Boston on January 30. The Celtics lead the collection 2-1 with a win in Boston and one in Indiana and the loss coming in Indiana within the knock out spherical of the In Season Match.
The Celtics stay first within the East. With a win on Saturday and a loss by each Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Celtics are 3.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 5 video games forward of third place Philadelphia, 7.5 forward of 4th place New York and eight forward of fifth place Miami. They’re 11-7 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 22-4 towards different Japanese Convention groups and so they have gained their final 2 video games.
The Pacers are seventh within the East after their loss to the Celtics on Saturday. They’re tied with fifth place Miami, sixth place Orlando, and eighth place Cleveland. They’re half a recreation behind 4th place New York and eight behind first place Boston. They’re 5.5 video games forward of eleventh place Atlanta. They’re 10-8 at house and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 17-11 towards Japanese Convention opponents and so they misplaced their final recreation after successful their earlier 6 video games. .
The Celtics got here house from a 2 recreation highway journey to play one recreation at house towards the Jazz and at the moment are on the highway for his or her second straight recreation towards the Pacers in Indiana. They’ve Minnesota at house subsequent after which Milwaukee on the highway then Houston at house and Toronto on the highway. They’re taking part in of their third recreation in 4 days and likewise within the midst of a 5 video games in 7 days stretch. The Pacers are additionally taking part in of their third recreation in 4 nights.
Each groups have a trio of gamers who’re questionable or out for this recreation. Kristaps Porzingis was upgraded from questionable to out there after getting poked within the eye in Saturday’s recreation. That’s the excellent news. The dangerous information is that Jayson Tatum has been downgraded to out for ankle damage administration. Sam Hauser can be out on account of a shoulder impingement. I’m going to guess that Al Horford begins rather than Tatum however I could possibly be unsuitable.
For the Pacers, Bruce Brown is questionable with a bone bruise on his knee. He has missed the previous 5 video games however is on monitor to probably return for this recreation. Andrew Nembhard has missed the final 3 video games on account of again tightness. He’s additionally listed as questionable for this recreation. Isaiah Jackson missed Saturday’s recreation with a finger laceration. He’s questionable for this recreation. All 3 are thought-about a recreation time resolution.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Delano Banton
Oshae Brissett
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Lamar Stevens
Jordan Walsh
2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Nathan Knight
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Jayson Tatum (ankle) out
Sam Hauser (shoulder) out
Kristaps Porzingis (eye) out there
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Pacers Reserves
Benedict Matherin
Isaiah Jackson
James Johnson
TJ McConnell
Buddy Hield
Jordan Nwora
Ben Sheppard
Obi Toppin
Jarace Walker
Two Method Gamers
Kendall Brown
Oscar Tshiebwe
Isaiah Wong
Accidents/Out
Bruce Brown (knee) questionable
Andrew Nembhard (again) questionable
Isaiah Jackson (finger) questionable
Head Coach
Rick Carlisle
Key Matchups
-
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photographs
-
Tyrese Haliburton
Photograph by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is averaging 24.2 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 49.6% from the sphere and 40.4% from past the arc. In 2 video games towards Boston this season, he averaged 21.5 factors, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation. On Saturday, he was held to 17 factors, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.2 steals. He shot 29.4% from the sphere and 22.2% from past the arc. The Celtics must play powerful protection on him on this recreation to restrict him as soon as once more.
-
Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photographs
-
Myles Turner
Photograph by Andy Lyons/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Myles Turner
Turner is averaging 17.6 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a pair of.1 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 53.3% from the sphere and 35% from past the arc. In opposition to Boston this season, Turner is averaging 12.3 factors, 7.3 rebounds and a pair of assists. On Saturday, he completed with 12 factors, 7 rebounds, and a pair of assists. He shot 41% from the sphere and 14.3% from three. Turner is an efficient rim protector and so the Celtics have to concentrate on his presence within the paint. If Porzingis is out for this recreation, then Al Horford might get the beginning right here.
Honorable Point out
Oshae Brissett vs Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin is averaging 14.3 factors, 3.8 rebounds and a pair of assists per recreation. He shoots 46.8% from the sphere and 37.4% from past the arc. In opposition to Boston this season, he averaged 14.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. On Saturday, he completed with a group excessive 20 factors, 4 rebounds, and a pair of assists. He shot 50% from the sphere however didn’t make a 3 pointer.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each single recreation and particularly towards the Pacers as they lead the league with 126.8 factors per recreation. The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a defensive ranking of 109.9. The Pacers are twenty sixth with a defensive ranking of 119.8. The Celtics must proceed to make protection their id and their precedence. The Celtics need to play powerful protection to stop the Pacers from getting out on the break as they’re 1st in quick break factors (17.9). The Celtics should defend them properly to stop a scoring explosion from the Pacers.
Rebound – The Celtics are 1st within the league, knocking down 47.8 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are twenty ninth with 40.4 rebounds per recreation. It is vital for the Celtics to rebound the ball to present themselves further possessions and to stop the Pacers from getting the identical together with 2nd likelihood factors. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort on the boards than the Pacers in the event that they need to get a win on this recreation. They out rebounded the Pacers 56-38 on Saturday and so they need to dominate the boards as soon as once more to win this recreation.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics turned the ball over 18 occasions on Saturday, which led to 24 factors for the Pacers. The Celtics need to take higher care of the ball on this recreation. They’ve to maneuver the ball and keep away from an excessive amount of iso ball however they need to make cautious passes to keep away from turnovers. In addition they must take extra care once they dribble and transfer with the ball.
Play Onerous 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to begin out robust and hold taking part in exhausting via the second and third quarters after which end robust. They’ll’t afford a gradual begin and so they can also’t let up as they undergo the second and third quarters. In addition they can’t let the Pacers out-play them on the finish of the sport. They need to decide to being aggressive and taking part in exhausting and taking part in group ball for all 4 quarters.
X-Components
On The Highway – The Celtics are taking part in of their third recreation on the highway towards the Pacers this season. They misplaced the In Season Match knock out spherical recreation in Indiana and so they gained the sport on Saturday. The Pacers have a 10-8 document at house whereas the Celtics are 11-7 on the highway. The Celtics can’t permit the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd to remove from their concentrate on the sport.
3 Video games in 4 Nights – After each groups taking part in in again to again video games on Friday and Saturday, each groups at the moment are taking part in of their third recreation in 4 nights. Fatigue might are available in to minimize the stretch for each groups. With Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser each out, it might add to the fatigue of getting simply in the future off in 4 nights. Hopefully the Celtics depth can come via for them.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the sport otherwise. Will the refs name it tight? Will they allow them to play? On Saturday, the Celtics didn’t take a single free throw within the first half whereas the Pacers took 13. The free throws evened out within the second half, however the officiating positively favored the house group in that recreation. As soon as once more, the Celtics should modify to the way in which the crew is looking the sport and never permit it to change into a distraction for them.
[ad_2]
Source link
