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The Celtics start a 3 recreation dwelling stand by internet hosting the Atlanta Hawks. That is the 4th and remaining assembly between these two groups this season. The Hawks are 2-1 within the collection thus far with every crew successful at dwelling. The Hawks gained 110-99 on November 17 in Atlanta they usually additionally gained 108-92 on January 28, additionally in Atlanta. The Celtics gained 105-95 on February 13 in Boston. The Celtics are 242-147 general within the collection all time and they’re 130-40 all time in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are nonetheless sixth within the East. They misplaced their final recreation however have gained 11 of their final 13 video games. They’re 8-2 of their final 10 video games and they’re 20-11 at dwelling. They’re 26-16 in video games performed in opposition to different Japanese Convention groups. The Celtics are actually 5.5 video games out of first and 1.5 video games behind 4th place Milwaukee. They’re 1 recreation behind fifth place Cleveland and a couple of.5 video games behind third place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 1.5 video games forward of seventh place Toronto and three.5 video games forward of eighth place Brooklyn. The Celtics can’t depend upon these different groups dropping. They must hold successful to make certain that they keep out of the play-in spots.
The Hawks are tenth within the East and are coming off a giant 127-100 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games and 11-18 on the highway. They’re 18-19 in opposition to different Japanese Convention groups. the Hawks are half a recreation forward of ninth place Charlotte and they’re 2 video games behind eighth place Brooklyn. They’re 5 video games out of sixth place and a playoff spot. They’re 2 video games forward of eleventh place Washington and into the lottery. They’re motivated to maintain successful to allow them to keep in play-in vary.
The Celtics are coming off a 3 recreation highway journey. They went 2-1 on the journey, beating the Pistons and Nets and dropping to the Pacers. This recreation begins a 3 recreation dwelling stand the place they’ll host Memphis on Thursday and Brooklyn on Sunday. Atlanta was at dwelling on Saturday and is enjoying the Celtics on the highway on this one. They are going to play at dwelling once more on Thursday earlier than heading out on a 3 recreation highway journey via Washington, Detroit, and Milwaukee.
The Celtics as soon as once more have nobody listed on the harm checklist. Al Horford missed Saturday’s recreation for relaxation however must be able to go for this one. The Hawks have two gamers on the harm checklist. John Collins, who missed the final Hawks recreation in Boston, is uncertain for this recreation with a strained proper foot. He has missed the final 5 video games and has not been capable of apply with any depth as but. Lou Williams has been dominated out for this recreation with hip discomfort. This might be his second straight recreation missed.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Aaron Nesmith
Grant Williams
Derrick White
Daniel Theis
Luke Kornet
Sam Hauser
Malik Fitts
Kelan Martin
Accidents
None
Two-Means Gamers
Brodric Thomas
Matt Ryan
Head Coach
Ime Udoka
Possible Hawks Starters
Hawks Reserves
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Gorgui Dieng
Jalen Johnson
Kevin Knox II
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
Onyeka Okongwu
Delon Wright
Accidents
John Collins (foot) uncertain
Lou Williams (hip) out
Two Means Gamers
Sharife Cooper
Skylar Mays
Head Coach
Nate McMillan
Key Matchups
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Marcus Sensible
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
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Trae Younger
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports activities
Marcus Sensible vs Trae Younger
Younger is averaging 27.8 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 45.7% from the sector and 37.8% from past the arc. He’s coming off a 41 level recreation in opposition to the Raptors the place he shot 70% from the sector. He’s by far the Hawks finest participant and slowing him down will go a good distance towards getting a win on this recreation.
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Steven Ryan/Getty Photos
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De’Andre Hunter
Picture by Scott Cunningham/NBAE through Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs De’Andre Hunter
Hunter is averaging 12.7 factors, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 44.0% from the sector and 37.9% from past the arc. He is an effective defender and can make it tough for Jayson to get good photographs. Jayson is coming off a recreation the place he was 7-22 from the sector and 2-12 from past the arc. If he struggles to attain, hopefully he’ll look to go to open teammates quite than drive up powerful photographs. Jayson must play effectively on each ends of the court docket to win this matchup.
Honorable Point out
Robert Williams III vs Clint Capela
Capela is averaging 10.7 factors, 12.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 59.0% from the sector and isn’t a menace to shoot threes. The Celtics must hold him off the boards they usually want to pay attention to his presence within the paint as he’s a menace to alter and to dam photographs.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful video games. Protection is very vital for the Celtics on this recreation as a result of the Hawks are a very good scoring crew, averaging 112.4 factors per recreation, which is ninth within the league. The Celtics are seventeenth, averaging 109.2 factors per recreation. The Celtics must play powerful crew protection in the event that they wish to win. The Celtics have a defensive score of 105.3 which is 2nd whereas the Hawks have a defensive score of 113.1, which is twenty sixth. Towards the Pacers, the Celtics allowed a crew that usually shoots 33.5% on 3’s to shoot 51.5% on 3’s. The Celtics can’t take video games off on protection. Protection should be their id and their precedence if the hope to win this recreation.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is a key to successful. A lot of rebounding is effort and need and when the Celtics put out the additional effort on the boards, it normally carries via to the remainder of their recreation. The Hawks are averaging 44.4 rebounds per recreation (nineteenth) whereas the Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per recreation (third). The Celtics must aggressively go after each rebound. The Celtics have been out-rebounded 49-40 by the Pacers and that ought to not occur. They will’t afford to present the Hawks additional possessions by permitting them to beat them to rebounds.
Bench Play – The Hawks have gamers coming off the bench that may be very harmful if not defended effectively. In a January win over the Kings, the Hawks bench had 70 factors. They’ve gamers like Bogdanovic, Okongwu, and Delon Wright who’re all able to placing up massive numbers if they’re left open. The Celtics gamers coming off the bench must up their recreation on each ends of the court docket. the Celtics want to make use of their bench extra to maintain the starters from burning out earlier than the playoffs.
Effort and Focus – The Celtics lacked each on Sunday vs the Pacers. They lacked defensive effort, which confirmed within the Pacers 52.2% area purpose share and their 51.5% 3 level share. Additionally they lacked effort on the boards which confirmed within the 49-40 rebound benefit for the Pacers. The Celtics lacked focus in that they shot simply 27.9% from past the arc they usually missed fairly a number of broad open photographs. They should come into this recreation targeted on enjoying the precise method and on hitting their photographs and on enjoying powerful lock down protection.
Be Aggressive – On Sunday, the Celtics allowed the very bodily Pacers to push them round and to be the extra aggressive crew. The Celtics ended up retaliating on lots of performs quite than being the crew that was extra aggressive. The Celtics should be extra aggressive on protection, in going for unfastened balls and 50-50 performs. They should be extra aggressive in going to the basket and never accept exterior photographs, particularly in the event that they aren’t falling. They must be the crew that performs tougher and that wishes the win extra.
X-Elements
House Recreation and Celtics Satisfaction – The Celtics are at dwelling for this recreation. That is the Celtics first dwelling recreation because the All Star break and the Celtics want to come back out with the mindset that they must deal with dwelling. The Hawks are simply 11-18 on the highway and must battle via the distractions of journey and a hopefully hostile enviornment. The Celtics additionally must keep in mind that the Hawks beat them twice already this season and they should avenge these two losses and play for satisfaction and never permit a sub .500 crew win the season collection.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a bit of in another way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. Some refs simply make head scratching calls whereas others strive very onerous to get them proper. The Celtics allowed the officiating to mess up their focus in opposition to the Pacers. They spent method an excessive amount of time complaining about calls. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and deal with enjoying the sport and never on the unhealthy calls or no calls.
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