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The Celtics come to the tip of their 4 sport street journey with a sport in opposition to their oldest and largest rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. This is likely one of the video games that each Celtics fan and certain each Celtics participant circles on their calendar when the schedule comes out. That is the primary of two conferences between these two groups. They may meet once more in Boston on February 1.
For the reason that Lakers moved to Los Angeles, earlier than the 1960-61 season, they’ve met 207 instances and the Celtics lead with 111 wins to 96 for the Lakers. The Celtics are 9-3 in opposition to the Lakers within the Finals. Boston received the primary 8 titles earlier than the Lakers received 3 of the final 4 conferences with the Celtics final title coming in opposition to the Lakers in 2008.
The Celtics lead the collection total all time 165-133, together with the video games the Lakers performed in Minneapolis earlier than shifting to LA. They path 55-77 in video games performed on the street. The Celtics received the collection final season 2-0, successful each video games by precisely 4 factors and with each video games going into additional time. Each of those groups have 17 Championships and are in a race to see who will get to Banner 18 first.
The Celtics are 1st within the East, with the Bucks closing in on them, simply half a sport behind them. They’re 2 video games forward of the third place Philadelphia 76ers and 4 video games forward of the 4th place Orlando Magic. The Celtics are 8-6 on the street. and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 3-2 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Lakers are ninth within the West. They’re 7 video games out of first place. They’re 1.5 video games behind sixth place Dallas for a assured playoff spot. They’re 1 sport forward of eleventh place Phoenix, and dropping out of play-in place. They’re 10-3 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 3-5 in opposition to Jap convention opponents. They’d misplaced 4 video games earlier than successful their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the ultimate sport of a 4 sport street journey. They misplaced their first sport to the Warriors earlier than coming again and blowing out the Kings and Clippers. They may return residence to play Toronto and Detroit in again to again video games. The Lakers are taking part in within the first sport at residence after a 3 sport street journey. They may play Charlotte at residence on 12/28 earlier than going through Minnesota and New Orleans on the street.
Kristaps Porzingis missed Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Clippers with a sprained ankle. He’s listed as questionable for this sport. Luke Kornet has missed the final 6 video games with an adductor damage. He’s listed as possible for this sport. Svi Mykhailiuk is questionable with a heel contusion. Lamar Stevens is questionable with an sickness. All are anticipated to be a sport time determination.
For the Lakers, Gabe Vincent is out with a knee damage however they’ve a number of gamers listed as questionable. LeBron is questionable with a left ankle damage. Cam Reddish is questionable with a groin damage. Jarred Vanderbilt is possible with a heel damage. Rui Hachimura is possible with a wrist damage. Anthony Davis is questionable with an ankle damage. I anticipate all of them to play right this moment, particularly LeBron and Davis.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Delano Banton
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Lamar Stevens
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
Luke Kornet (adductor) possible
Lamar Stevens (sickness) questionable
Svi Mykhailiuk (heel) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Lakers Starters
Lakers Reserves
Max Christie
Rui Hachimura
Jaxson Hayes
Jalen Hood-Schifino
Maxwell Lewis
Austin Reaves
Jarred Vanderbilt
Christian Wooden
Two Means Gamers
Colin Castleton
Alex Fudge
Jalen Hood
Accidents/Out
Gabe Vincent (knee) out
LeBron James (ankle) questionable
Anthony Davis (ankle) questionable
Cam Reddish (groin) questionable
Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) possible
Rui Hachimura (wrist) possible
Head Coach
Darvin Ham
Key Matchups
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Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photographs
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Anthony Davis
Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Anthony Davis
Davis has been taking part in nicely and is averaging 24.4 factors, 12.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and a couple of.5 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 54.5% from the sector and 39.1% from past the arc. I’m hoping to have Kristaps Porzingis again for this sport but when not, Al Horford will doubtless begin. Both method, the Celtics may have their arms full making an attempt to decelerate Anthony Davis.
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
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LeBron James
Photograph by Bob Levey/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs LeBron James
LeBron is averaging 25.7 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 help and 1.5 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 54.4% from the sector and 41.2% from past the arc. He has been out and in of the lineup with accidents or for relaxation however when he performs, he makes a distinction for them. He at all times appears to place out further effort when he performs in opposition to the Celtics additionally. The Celtics have to attempt to forestall him from getting inside and from getting open photographs since he has been taking pictures very nicely from the perimeter.
Honorable Point out
Jrue Vacation vs D’Angelo Russell
Russell is averaging 15.3 factors, 3.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 46.4% from the sector and 38.5% from past the arc. The Celtics want a superb sport from Jrue on each ends of the court docket.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – I can’t say it sufficient that protection is a very powerful key to successful. The Celtics are 4th within the league with a defensive score of 110.3. The Lakers eighth with a defensive score of 112.5. The Celtics have performed good protection in latest video games however they nonetheless should not constant on that finish. They have to keep dedicated to taking part in powerful, lock down protection, particularly in opposition to a Lakers workforce with some excellent offensive weapons. The Celtics should particularly defend within the paint because the Lakers are fifth within the league with 54.4 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – Rebounding takes effort and power and the Celtics will want each to out-rebound the Lakers. The Celtics have to crash the boards and preserve the Lakers from getting second probability factors and quick breaks as they’re fifth within the league with 16.3 quick break factors per sport. The Celtics are averaging 47.2 rebounds per sport (2nd) whereas the Lakers are averaging 44.1 rebounds per sport (fifteenth). The Celtics should put out further power and energy to beat the Lakers to rebounds.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to be the extra aggressive workforce. They should be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for unfastened balls, and on protection. They should aggressively crash the boards. They should be the workforce that desires it extra. In most of their losses, they’ve allowed their opponents to play tougher and be extra aggressive. They completely can’t let the Lakers play tougher than them in the event that they wish to have an opportunity to win.
Play Staff Ball – The Celtics are at their greatest once they preserve the ball shifting and discover the open man and the very best shot. After they play iso ball and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of individually, they falter. They should transfer the ball fastidiously to keep away from turnovers and they should play workforce ball with none participant making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
X-Components
Final Sport of Journey – That is the ultimate sport of a 4 sport street journey. The final sport is at all times the hardest sport to win as gamers are anxious to get residence and infrequently aren’t fairly as centered on the sport. The Celtics want to return into the sport centered, particularly the younger guys who typically battle on the street. They should block out the distractions of taking part in in a unique area and time zone. The gang will certainly be hostile and the Celtics can’t enable them to rattle them. They’ve to remain centered and play their sport whatever the distractions.
Satisfaction – “Beat LA” is likely one of the most iconic chants in sports activities. It is a storied rivalry and irrespective of the circumstances, the Celtics at all times wish to beat the Lakers and vice versa. The Celtics should deal with the sport and on taking part in the suitable method. It’s a matter of satisfaction and the Celtics have to get the job completed and “Beat LA”. Then again, LeBron at all times has a chip on his shoulder in opposition to the Celtics and LeBron and his teammates are going to present further effort to beat one in every of their largest rivals.
Officiating – The officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise and the Celtics should adapt to how the sport is being referred to as and never enable unhealthy calls and no calls to remove their focus. When you doubt that officiating is an x-factor, simply assume again to the final Finals between these two groups. In sport 7, the Celtics have been up 6 going into the 4th quarter. The refs had referred to as the sport evenly up till then. However within the 4th quarter, the referees took over and it price the Celtics that sport. The Lakers took 21 free throws within the 4th quarter alone whereas the Celtics took 6. The Lakers took extra free throws within the 4th quarter than they did within the first 3 quarters mixed. (Sure, I’m nonetheless bitter about this.) Hopefully they name it honest on this sport and let each groups play.
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