The Celtics are on the lookout for their 4th straight win as they tackle the Wizards in Washington. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 122-102 in Washington of their 2nd recreation of the season. They may play one another for the third and remaining time in Boston on April 6. The Celtics swept the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 203-120 general all time and they’re 83-74 in Washington.
The Celtics final performed on Tuesday, whereas the Wizards final performed on Monday, so each groups ought to be effectively rested. Though, the Celtics spent Thursday on the White Home being honored because the 2024 NBA Champions so they might be a bit hung over from that ceremony. The Celtics have received their final 3 video games whereas the Wizards have misplaced their final 9 video games. The Wizards are 1-4 at residence whereas the Celtics are 7-1 on the street.
Within the off season, the Wizards added 3 first spherical picks from this 12 months’s draft: 2nd choose Alex Sarr, 14th choose Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth choose Kyshawn George. In addition they added Key veterans Jonas Valenciunas, former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Anthony Gill. In addition they traded Deni Avdija and misplaced Tyus Jones to free company. The Celtics, as we all know, are mainly the identical workforce as final 12 months’s championship workforce.
After this Emirates Cup recreation, the Celtics will host the Minnesota Timberwolves and and the LA Clippers earlier than taking part in at Chicago and at Cleveland. They then have a 5 recreation residence stand in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago. They then go to Chicago and Orlando earlier than one other 4 recreation residence stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
After taking part in at New York on Monday, the Wizards play this recreation at residence in opposition to the Celtics, the Wizards will journey to Indiana to tackle the Pacers after which return residence for video games in opposition to Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers. They then play at Milwaukee and Cleveland earlier than a 4 recreation residence stand in opposition to Dallas, Denver, Memphis and Charlotte.
For the Celtics, solely Kristaps Porzingis is out as he completes his rehab from off season ankle surgical procedure. He has practiced with the Maine Celtics and is nearing a return however will miss this recreation. For the Wizards, Saddiq Bey and Tristan Vukcevicis are each out with a knee harm. Bilal Coulibaly is possible after lacking Monday’s recreation with a head harm, however going by a full observe on Thursday. Marvin Bagley III is questionable with a groin harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
Wizards Reserves
Patrick Baldwin, Jr
Malcolm Brogdon
Johnny Davis
Kyshawn George
Anthony Gill
Richaun Holmes
Corey Kispert
Jonas Valanciunas
2-Means Gamers
Jared Butler
Justin Champagnie
Tristan Vukcevic
Accidents/Out
Saddiq Bey (knee) out
Tristan Vukcevic (knee) out
Marvin Bagley III (groin) questionable
Head Coach
Brian Keefe
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
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Jordan Poole
Photograph by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jordan Poole
Poole is averaging 21.1 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.8% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Poole completed with 26 factors, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 steals whereas taking pictures 44.3% from the sphere and 38.4% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as he’s a menace to hit his 3’s. He’s additionally a menace to steal the ball if the Celtics get sloppy.
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Winslow Townson/Getty Photos
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Kyle Kuzma
Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma is averaging 17.9 factors, 6.6 rebounds, and a couple of.1 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 40.9% from the sphere and 29.1% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Kuzma completed with 12 factors, 2 rebounds, 1 help, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 37.5% from the sphere however didn’t hit a 3.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Bilal Coulibaly
Coulibaly is averaging 14.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 57.1% from the sphere and 37.1% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, Coulibaly completed with 8 factors, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere however not hitting a 3.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Celtics received their championship final season with robust, bodily protection. To repeat, they might want to as soon as once more make protection a precedence. The Celtics are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 111.9 whereas the Wizards are thirtieth with a defensive ranking of 120.3. The Celtics have been first within the league on protection final season and they should get again to taking part in that robust lock down protection each recreation, all recreation once more this season. The Celtics particularly have to defend the paint as a result of they’re twenty seventh, permitting 53.6 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics are tenth with 42.7 rebounds per recreation whereas the Wizards are twenty fifth with 41.7 rebounds per recreation. Once more, the Celtics have been 2nd final season with 46.7 rebounds per recreation and mainly the identical roster. It’s essential for the Celtics to rebound to present themselves additional possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give additional effort and hustle on the boards, it often interprets into the remainder of their recreation. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the court docket.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season could be traced again to an absence of effort. Additionally, plainly they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they soar out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics need to get again to taking part in laborious on each ends of the court docket for the total 48 minutes with no let up.
3 Level Capturing – The Celtics lead the league in 3 pointers tried with 50.5 per recreation. They’re eighth within the league, taking pictures 37.9% on 3 pointers. The Celtics are robust to beat when they’re hitting their 3’s however battle to attain when the three’s aren’t falling. They’ve to maneuver the ball and discover the open man to get the very best pictures doable. Additionally, if the three’s aren’t falling on this recreation they should abandon that technique and take the ball inside.
X-Components
On the Street and Focus – The Celtics are taking part in on the street after celebrating their championship on the White Home on Thursday. They’ve to beat the distractions that include taking part in on the street like journey, staying in inns, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. In addition they need to shake off the thrill of the White Home go to they usually have to remain centered and never permit these distractions to remove from taking part in the sport the correct method.
Officiating -Officiating is all the time an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates otherwise. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house workforce. Some favor the street workforce. Some simply make dangerous, head scratching calls. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their focus from taking part in the sport.
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