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The Celtics start the ultimate stretch run of the season on the street to tackle the Indiana Pacers. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Pacers received their first assembly 117-112 in Boston on December 22. They’ll meet for a 3rd and last time in Boston on March 24. The Celtics received the collection 3-1 final season with their lone loss coming in Indiana. A win on this recreation would give the Pacers their first collection win over the Celtics for the reason that 2015-16 season.
That is the primary recreation for each groups after the All Star break. After this residence recreation for the Pacers, they’ll start a 4 recreation street journey on Saturday. After this recreation for the Celtics, they’ll play on the street for two extra straight video games. They’ll play the 76ers in Philadelphia on Saturday after which they’ll play the Knicks in New York earlier than heading residence to play a 3 recreation residence stand.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East though their lead over 2nd place Milwaukee has shrunk to simply half a recreation. The Bucks have received 12 straight video games, together with one over a really shorthanded Celtics. The Celtics lead the third place 76ers by 3 video games and the 4th place Cavaliers by 5. They’re 18-10 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. The Celtics are 25-12 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re searching for their 2nd straight win.
The Pacers are twelfth within the East. They’re 2.5 video games behind tenth place Toronto and the ultimate spot within the play-in event. They’re 7 video games behind sixth place New York and the ultimate play off spot earlier than the play-in. They’re 11 forward of Detroit and the final place within the East. The Pacers are 18-14 at residence and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 18-17 towards Jap Convention opponents and are searching for their second straight win.
This would be the first recreation again in Indiana for Malcolm Brogdon since he was traded to the Celtics within the off season. They need to have a tribute video for him and he ought to get a heat welcome from the followers however you by no means know, they could boo him as a substitute. Aaron Nesmith might be enjoying towards his former crew for the primary time at residence and can probably need to placed on a very good present. Brogdon is a Sixth Man candidate however so is Indiana rookie Benedict Matherin, who’s averaging 17.3 factors per recreation.
After the week lengthy break, each groups seem like largely wholesome. Many of the gamers had the week off aside from Tyrese Haliburton, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum who performed within the All Star Sport and Buddy Hield who competed within the 3 level contest. Danilo Gallinari is the lone title on the Celtics harm listing presently barring any final minute additions on recreation day. I’m assuming that the Celtics will return to the common lineup with everybody wholesome. The Pacers have solely Kendall Brown, their two approach participant, on their harm listing with a decrease leg harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Derrick White
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Grant Williams
Mike Muscala
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Pacers Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Chris Duarte
George Hill
Isaiah Jackson
Bennedict Mathurin
TJ McConnell
Jordan Nwora
Jalen Smith
Daniel Theis
2 Approach Gamers
Kendall Brown
Trevelin Queen
Out/Accidents
None
Head Coach
Rick Carlisle
Key Matchups
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Marcus Good
Picture by Omar Rawlings/Getty Photos
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Tyrese Haliburton
Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos
Marcus Good vs Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is averaging 19.9 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.0% from the sphere and 39.9% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he completed with 33 factors, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. Haliburton has given the Celtics issues previously and the Celtics have to do a greater job of slowing him down on this one.
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos
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Buddy Hield
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Jayson Tatum vs Buddy Hield
Hield is averaging 17.4 factors, 4.9 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.3% from the sphere and 42.6% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, he completed with 8 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. The Celtics want Jayson Tatum to choose up the place he left off within the All Star Sport and play effectively on each ends of the courtroom.
Honorable Point out
Robert Williams III vs Myles Turner
Despite being in commerce rumors each off season, Turner remains to be with the Pacers and is enjoying very effectively. He his averaging 17.6 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a pair of.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 53.5% from the sphere and 38.0% from past the arc. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, he completed with 10 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the sphere and 50% from three. The Celtics want to stick with him each on the perimeter and within the paint as he can rating from each. He’s additionally a rim protector and so the Celtics ought to attempt to attract him away from the basket.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to profitable each single recreation. The Celtics are 4th within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.6. The Pacers are twenty third with a defensive ranking of 115.2. The Celtics lastly have their protection again within the high 5 and have been profitable video games with their protection. They should proceed to make protection their id and their precedence. The Celtics have to particularly defend the paint because the Pacers common 48 factors within the paint per recreation. The Pacers are additionally 1st within the league with 18.8 quick break factors per recreation. The Celtics need to play robust protection to forestall them from getting out on the break.
Rebound – The Celtics are sixth within the league, knocking down 45.1 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are twenty fourth with 41.6 rebounds per recreation. It is very important rebound the ball to present themselves additional possessions and to forestall the Pacers from getting the identical together with 2nd likelihood factors. The Pacers get 13.7 second likelihood factors per recreation. 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.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics need to be the extra aggressive crew they usually need to work tougher and play tougher than the Pacers. They need to be extra aggressive on protection, on the boards, in going after free balls and on the 50-50 balls. They need to be the crew that desires it extra and play prefer it. The Celtics need to beat groups by enjoying with extra effort each single recreation. They need to play laborious for 48 minutes and never construct a lead after which let up or begin sluggish after which need to play catch up. They have to be extra aggressive from begin to end.
Focus and Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics want to remain centered and take good photographs and never rush the offense or play an excessive amount of iso ball. They should keep centered on enjoying the fitting approach and on taking good care of the ball. The Celtics can’t rely on iso ball and as a substitute, they should preserve the ball transferring and search for the perfect photographs. In addition they have to concentrate on dealing with the ball and making crisp passes and never turning the ball over.
X-Components
On The Highway – The Celtics begin out their publish All Star break slate on the street. The Pacers are enjoying effectively at residence with an 18-14 report. The Celtics can’t permit the distractions of journey and a hostile crowd to remove from their concentrate on the sport. The Pacers beat the Celtics in Boston, it’s time for the Celtics to return the favor and get a win on the Pacers residence courtroom.
Teaching – First yr head coach, Joe Mazzulla is teaching his first recreation as the pinnacle coach of the Celtics after having the interim tag eliminated. He’s dealing with a very long time coach and former Celtic Rick Carlisle. Carlisle was an assistant for 11 years after which head coach for 20 years. He has been a Coach of the Yr and likewise received a championship as a head coach with the Mavs.
Officiating – Officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the sport otherwise. Will the refs name it tight? Will they allow them to play? Will they favor the house crew or name it pretty? Will the Celtics spend extra time complaining about fouls than really taking pictures the ball? As soon as once more, the Celtics should regulate to the best way the crew is asking the sport and never permit it to grow to be a distraction for them.
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