The Celtics go to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 4th and closing conferences between the 2 groups this season. They met in Boston on the primary evening of the season, October 18, when the Celtics received 126-117. They met a second time in Boston on February 8 and the Celtics received 106-99. They met in Philadelphia on February 25 when the Celtics received 110-107. The Celtics are 267-195 all time total and they’re 90-127 all time in Philly. They tied the collection 2-2 final season with every workforce profitable 1 at house and 1 on the street.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, 2 video games behind first place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 3 video games forward of third place Philadelphia and may lock within the 2nd seed with a win on this sport. The Celtics are 25-15 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 31-17 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and 9-4 in opposition to Atlantic Division groups. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The 76ers are third within the East, 3 video games behind 2nd place Boston. They’re 5 video games behind first place Milwaukee. They’re 2.5 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. The 76ers are 28-11 at house and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 31-17 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and they’re 8-6 in opposition to Atlantic Division groups. They’re coming off a loss to the Bucks.
That is the ultimate street sport for the Celtics within the common season. They are going to play the ultimate 3 video games at house with 2 in opposition to Toronto and the ultimate sport in opposition to Atlanta. That is the primary of again to again video games and they’ll return house to face Toronto on Wednesday. The 76ers performed at Milwaukee on Sunday and that is the primary of two house video games with Miami coming to Philly on Thursday. They are going to end the season with two video games on the street at Atlanta and at Brooklyn.
Robert Williams III is listed as out for this sport for relaxation because the Celtics have been cautious to maintain him out of both the primary or the second of again to again video games. Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable for this sport with again tightness. His standing will likely be a sport time resolution. Danilo Gallinari stays out as he rehabs his torn ACL. The 76ers have nobody on the damage record right now.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Grant Williams
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Mike Muscala
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Robert Williams III (relaxation) out
Jaylen Brown (again) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible 76ers Starters
Sixers Reserves
Dewayne Dedmon
Montrezl Harrell
Danuel Home, Jr
Furkan Korkmaz
Jalen McDaniels
De’Anthony Melton
Shake Milton
Georges Niang
Paul Reed
Jaden Springer
2 Manner Gamers
Mac McClung
Louis King
Out/Accidents
None
Head Coach
Doc Rivers
Key Matchups
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Al Horford
Picture by Patrick McDermott/Getty Photographs
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Joel Embiid
Picture by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs
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Al Horford
Picture by Patrick McDermott/Getty Photographs
Al Horford vs Joel Embiid
That is the important thing matchup for this sport. Embiid is averaging 33.0 factors, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 54.4% from the sector and 33.7% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 31.7 factors, 11.3 rebounds, and three.7 assists. The Celtics have to comprise Embiid as a lot as potential. He scores each inside and on the perimeter and so the Celtics want to stick with him always.
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Marcus Good
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
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James Harden
Picture by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs
Marcus Good vs James Harden
Harden is averaging 21.3 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 10.9 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s capturing 44.2% from the sector and 38.5% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 27.3 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.3 steals per sport. He shot 50% from the sector and 41.7% from past the arc within the 3 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season. It goes with out saying that the Celtics want to stick with him on this sport.
Honorable Point out
Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Maxey got here off the bench within the final two video games in opposition to the Celtics however he’s again within the beginning lineup and taking part in very nicely. He’s averaging 20.4 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and three.6 assists per sport. He’s capturing 48.1% from the sector and 42.7% from past the arc. Within the first 3 video games in opposition to Boston this season, he averaged 11.7 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He shot 37.5% from the sector and 20% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will all the time be key to profitable each sport. The Celtics are 4th within the league with a 110.7 defensive ranking whereas the Sixers are eighth with a defensive ranking of 112.6. The Sixers are 14th within the league with 115.1 factors per sport. The Celtics have to return into this sport with the mindset that they should play powerful protection. The Celtics have proven indicators of taking part in lock down protection in some video games, however they haven’t been constant and in opposition to the Wizards, they appeared to overlook the best way to play protection all collectively. They need to get again to creating protection their precedence for each possession of each sport as a result of protection turns into much more necessary within the playoffs.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as a key to profitable. The Celtics are seventh with 45.2 rebounds per sport whereas the Sixers are twenty sixth with 40.8 rebounds per sport. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics have to hold the Sixers from getting second likelihood factors across the basket and they should give themselves further possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish. If the Celtics wish to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards.
Take Care of the Ball – The 76ers are ninth within the league with 17.7 factors off turnovers per sport. The Celtics are sixth within the league, committing solely 13.3 turnovers per sport however at instances they’ve intervals once they commit turnover after turnover. They should concentrate on making good passes and on not dribbling right into a crowd. It’s exhausting to win a sport while you give the opponent 20+ further possessions by turning the ball over. In the event that they get sloppy, the 76ers will definitely make them pay.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics should be the workforce that performs more durable and that wishes this win extra. They need to be aggressive in diving for free balls, in going to the basket, in getting stops on the defensive finish, in closing out the passing lanes, and in going after rebounds. The Celtics should be the extra aggressive workforce from begin to end. If they begin out slowly, they could not be capable to catch up on this one. Additionally they can’t permit the Sixers to return again in the event that they get out to a lead as a result of the Sixers are good at ending video games. The Celtics have to play with the power and aggressiveness from the opening tip to the ultimate buzzer.
Keep Centered – The Celtics want to remain targeted on taking part in the sport the precise approach and never on complaining concerning the refs’ calls that they disagree with. The Celtics have to remain targeted on taking and making good photographs. They need to be targeted on making crisp passes and never get sloppy. They need to They need to hold their concentrate on taking part in exhausting and on taking part in the precise approach.
X-Elements
Teaching – Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who’s in his third yr because the Sixers coach, is without doubt one of the prime 15 coaches in NBA historical past. Joe Mazzulla is in his first season as a head coach, having been given the job only a couple weeks earlier than the season. The Celtics got here out on prime within the first 3 video games however Doc goes to wish to beat them on this sport actually badly to keep away from a sweep. He’s going to throw every part he has on the Celtics and will probably be as much as Mazzulla to counter him.
Rivalry – The Celtics and 76ers are undoubtedly a rivalry, despite what Embiid says. The Sixers, having misplaced the final 3 video games between them will need play further exhausting on this sport to attempt to win this sport going into the playoffs. I’m certain they bear in mind the confetti sport and the truth that the Celtics have eradicated them the final 5 instances they’ve met within the playoffs. I’ve little question that the 76ers will play their hardest in opposition to the Celtics and the Celtics need to match that effort and play even more durable themselves.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house workforce whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their concentrate on taking part in the sport. They particularly have to hold their poise and never complain to the refs on each name.
