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The Celtics start their 4 sport Western a part of their 5 sport highway journey with a cease in Denver to tackle the Nuggets. Denver is a tricky place to play as a result of altitude. The Celtics received the collection 2-0 final season and have received the final 6 conferences between these two groups and seven of the final 10 video games between them. That is the 2nd and closing sport between them this season. The Nuggets received 102-100 on January 19 in Boston.
If any sport could be mentioned to be a giant sport, this one would qualify. The Celtics are coming off a sport during which they gave up a 22 level lead and fell asleep down the stretch and fully blew the ultimate play. They’re dealing with the defending champions, who by most stories are favorites to win the Western Convention and return to the Finals this yr. The Celtics misplaced to them by 2 factors in Boston and so it is a massive sport as a result of 1) The Celtics have to get the style of that Cavs loss out of their mouths, 2) They could face the Nuggets within the Finals and might want to win there then and they should show they’ll, and three) they should avenge that January loss to the Nuggets in Boston.
They have been 1-1 final season with every crew successful on their house courtroom. The Celtics are 60-39 general all time towards the Nuggets and they’re 20-29 in video games performed in Denver. Each groups had lengthy win streaks damaged by a loss of their final sport. The Nuggets 6 sport win streak was damaged by a loss at house to the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics 11 sport win streak was damaged by a loss on the highway to the Cavaliers.
The Celtics stay first within the East. They’re 8 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 8.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 12 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, 12.5 video games forward of fifth place New York, and 13 video games forward of sixth place Miami. They’re 19-10 on the highway and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-6 towards Western Convention opponents. They’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Nuggets are third within the West. They’re 1 sport behind first place Minnesota and 2nd place Oklahoma Metropolis. They’re 1.5 video games forward of the 4th place Clippers, 5 video games forward of fifth place New Orleans, and 6 video games forward of sixth place Phoenix. They’re 24-6 at house and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 18-6 towards Jap Convention groups. They’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd sport of a 5 sport highway journey. They misplaced the primary sport 104-105 in Cleveland on Tuesday. They may proceed their Western swing via Phoenix, Portland, and Utah. They may then head house to play Phoenix earlier than one sport at Washington after which house video games towards Detroit and Milwaukee. They then head out on a 6 sport highway journey.
Denver is taking part in within the 2nd sport of a 4 sport house stand. They misplaced the primary sport to Phoenix and can host Utah and Toronto earlier than a 4 sport highway journey via Miami, San Antonio, Dallas and Minnesota. They may play New York at house after which at Portland earlier than a 5 sport house stand towards Memphis, Phoenix, Minnesota, Cleveland and San Antonio.
Jaylen Brown was questionable with knee soreness earlier than the Cleveland sport however ended up taking part in. He’s now questionable for this sport with a sacroiliac pressure. His standing shall be a sport time determination. If he can’t play, I might count on Sam Hauser to get the beginning. Neemias Queta is out with a knee damage. For Denver, solely Vlatko Cancar is out with a knee damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Jaden Springer
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Neemias Queta (knee) out
Jaylen Brown (sacroiliac) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Nuggets Starters
Nuggets Reserves
Christian Braun
Justin Vacation
Reggie Jackson
DeAndre Jordan
Zeke Nnaji
Jalen Pickett
Julian Strawther
Hunter Tyson
Peyton Watson
2 Means Gamers
Collin Gillespie
Jay Huff
Braxton Key
Out/Accidents
Vlatko Cancar (knee) out
Head Coach
Michael Malone
Key Matchups
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures
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Nikola Jokic
Picture by Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures
Kristaps Porzingis vs Nikola Jokic
Jokic is has received again to again MVP’s and is within the dialog for MVP each season for a cause. He’s averaging 25.9 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s capturing 57.9% from the sector and 35% from past the arc. He’s a handful and the Celtics have to attempt to sluggish him down by any means mandatory.
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Jrue Vacation
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures
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Jamal Murray
Picture by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Jamal Murray
Murray is averaging 20.8 factors, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He’s capturing 47.9% from the sector and 41.7% from past the arc. The Celtics will want Jrue Vacation to proceed to play nicely on each ends of the courtroom and they should defend Murray very nicely as he can put up factors in a rush each on 3’s and within the paint.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr
Porter is averaging 16.6 factors, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He’s capturing 48% from the sector and 39.6% from past the arc. Porter is an excellent 3 level shooter and they also have to stick with him on the perimeter however he may also rating within the paint. Jaylen is questionable for this sport and if he can’t play Sam Hauser could begin or they might go together with double bigs by beginning Al Horford.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each sport. The Celtics are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 110.2 The Nuggets have a defensive ranking of 113.0, which is twentieth. The Celtics common 118.7 factors per sport (2nd), whereas the Nuggets common 113.0 factors per sport (ninth). The Nuggets are twenty eighth within the league in 3 level makes an attempt however sixth with 53.2 factors within the paint They do have some good 3 level shooters, however the Celtics have to significantly maintain them out of the paint.
Rebound – Rebounding is one other key to successful each sport. The Celtics are 1st within the league, averaging 47.2 rebounds per sport. The Nuggets are ninth within the league with 44.5 rebounds per sport. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics should work tougher to seize rebounds to restrict the Nuggets second likelihood factors and quick breaks. Of their loss in January, the Nuggets out-rebounded them 47-38. They’ll’t permit the Nuggets to outwork them on the boards once more.
Effort and Power for 48 Minutes – The Celtics should be the extra aggressive crew. They should battle for free balls, defend aggressively, be aggressive in driving to the basket, and simply play tougher than the Nuggets for your entire sport. They should be the crew that wishes it extra and play prefer it. They particularly have to start the sport with power and never permit the Nuggets to race out to a giant lead and so they can’t let up all through the sport. They particularly have to come back out robust within the third quarter and play arduous till the ultimate buzzer.
Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics have to maintain transferring the ball to seek out the open man and make it a lot tougher to protect them. Nonetheless, they should watch out with their passes and never flip the ball over because the Nuggets common 15.1 factors per sport off turnovers. The Celtics additionally should be cautious once they dribble the ball and never drive right into a crowd and switch the ball over. They should keep targeted on taking part in the precise manner.
X-Components
Mile Excessive on the Highway– It’s powerful to win in Denver due to the altitude that the groups are taking part in at. Denver is named the Mile Excessive Metropolis as a result of it’s 5,280 toes above sea stage. Nuggets gamers are used to the altitude however visiting groups usually wrestle with taking part in there and sometimes are fatigued earlier than the top of the sport. It’s a very distinctive house courtroom benefit. The Celtics additionally should shake off the distractions of journey and taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each sport, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a whole lot of contact go and let the groups play. Some crews favor the house crew and the Celtics should be prepared for that. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play. In addition they have to maintain their minds on the sport and never continually complain in regards to the calls as that does little to alter the calls and solely irritates the referees.
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