The Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks for the second of a 3 recreation house stand. That is the second, and last, recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics received the primary recreation 119-110 in Dallas on January 22. The Celtics had been 2-0 in opposition to the Mavsss final season. They’re 46-39 general all time and 26-16 in video games performed in Boston.
The Mavericks are a greater group than when the Celtics performed them in Dallas. They traded away former Celtic Grant Williams, who wasn’t slot in Dallas and was not taking part in effectively. They introduced in PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, each of whom are good matches for the group and are taking part in effectively for his or her new group. Washington has moved into the beginning lineup for them and can attempt to make issues harder for the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum.
There are a few story traces to regulate. First is the return to the Backyard of Kyrie Irving. I’m positive he’ll get his share of boos from the Backyard trustworthy. He famously went out of his method to stomp on the Celtics’ brand as he exited the ground after a Nets win there. For sure he has change into a participant Celtics followers like to hate. One other factor to look at is the conflict between two MVP candidates in Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, assuming that Doncic performs. It’s uncertain that both will win the award, however there are nonetheless bragging rights available between them.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 8 video games forward of 2nd place Cleveland and third place Milwaukee, 12 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13 video games forward of fifth place Philadelphia and sixth place Orlando. The Celtics are 27-3 at house and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’re 13-6 in opposition to the Western Convention and have received their final 9 video games.
The Mavericks are seventh within the West, half a recreation behind fifth place New Orleans, 1 recreation behind fifth place Phoenix, and 4 video games behind the 4th place Clippers. They’re half a recreation forward of eighth place Sacramento, 2 video games forward of the ninth place Lakers, and seven.5 video games forward of eleventh place Utah. They’re 16-12 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 13-7 in opposition to the East and are coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Celtics are taking part in within the second of a 3 recreation house stand. They received the primary recreation in opposition to Philadelphia and can shut out the house stand in opposition to Golden State. They’ll then head out on a 5 recreation highway journey via Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix, Portland and Utah. They then have one recreation at house in opposition to Phoenix earlier than taking part in Washington on the highway.
The Mavericks are taking part in within the 4th and last recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey. They’re 1-2 to this point on the highway journey, beating Toronto and shedding to Indiana and Cleveland. They’ll then have a 3 recreation house stand, internet hosting Philadelphia, Indiana and Miami earlier than heading again out on the highway to go to Detroit and Chicago.
The Celtics as soon as once more don’t have any gamers on the damage listing. Maxi Kleber was questionable with a toe damage earlier within the day however is now not on the damage listing so is anticipated to play. Luka Doncic was added to the damage report with an ankle sprain that he doubtless tweaked throughout Wednesday’s recreation. He participated in shoot round right now so that could be a signal that he’ll doubtless play however his last standing can be a recreation time resolution.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Al Horford
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Jaden Springer
2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
None listed
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Mavericks Starters
Mavericks Reserves
Dante Exum
Daniel Gafford
Tim Hardaway, Jr
Jaden Hardy
Derrick Jones, Jr
Maxi Kleber
Markieff Morris
Dwight Powell
Oliver-Maxence Prosper
Two-Manner Gamers
Greg Brown III
AJ Lawson
Brandon Williams
Accidents/Out
Luka Doncic (ankle) questionable
Head Coach
Jason Kidd
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
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Luka Doncic
Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Luka Doncic
Doncic is averaging 34.5 factors, 8.8 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 49.4% from the sphere and 38% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 33 factors, 18 rebounds, 13 assists, and a pair of steals. He’s very powerful to defend as he can shoot from just about wherever on the court docket. If the Celtics can gradual him down, it might go a good distance towards getting a win. If Doncic can’t play, Tim Hardaway, Jr will doubtless get the beginning in his place.
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Derrick White
Pictures by Michael Gonzales/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
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Kyrie Irving
Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Kyrie Irving
Irving is averaging 25.8 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 49.5% from the sphere and 42.5% from past the arc. Within the first recreation in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 23 factors, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a pair of steals. He shot 45% from the sphere and 42.9 from past the arc. Irving has a grudge in opposition to the Celtics for some purpose as was very evident after he stomped on Fortunate after a recreation in Boston. He’ll do his greatest to beat his former group and the Celtics have to do their greatest to maintain him from doing so.
Honorable Point out
Jayson Tatum vs PJ Washington
Washington was an enormous addition to the Mavs on the commerce deadline.. He’s averaging 13.2 factors, 5.2 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 44.6% from the sphere and 32% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he put up 15 factors, 1 rebound, 1 help, 1 block and a pair of steals. The Celtics have to hold him out of the paint and off of the boards.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is at all times the primary key to successful video games. The Mavs are averaging 118.9 factors per recreation (seventh) whereas the Celtics common 120.7 factors per recreation (fifth). The Mavs are twenty first with a defensive ranking of 116.6 whereas the Celtics are 2nd with a defensive ranking of 110.6. When the Celtics battle on offense, they’ve to have the ability to cease the opposite group from scoring. The Celtics have to play powerful, lock down protection for your entire recreation. The Mavericks have gamers who can put up a number of factors in a rush if the Celtics don’t play powerful group protection.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics must put out further effort to win the battle of the boards. Once they work onerous on the boards, it normally follows via to the remainder of the sport as effectively. The Celtics are averaging 47.1 rebounds per recreation (1st) whereas the Mavs are averaging 42.1 rebounds per recreation (twenty third). The Celtics have to put out further effort on the boards to maintain the Mavs from getting further possessions and second probability factors and to present the identical to themselves.
Don’t Get Complacent – The Celtics have been cruising alongside recently, successful 9 straight video games. In addition they beat the Mavericks in Dallas and so it may be simple for them to change into complacent and anticipate to win with out having to play their hardest. However, they’ll’t calm down as a result of each group is able to beating them in the event that they calm down and permit the opposite group to play more durable. That is very true if Doncic is out for this recreation as a result of the Celtics have performed all the way down to opponents lacking key gamers up to now.
Be Aggressive and Play Laborious – The Mavericks win a number of video games by taking part in more durable then their opponents. The Celtics have to be aggressive on protection, in going for rebounds, in driving to the basket, in diving for unfastened balls, and in each side of the sport. They must play onerous from the opening tip till the ultimate buzzer with no let up. They must be the group that performs more durable as a result of in the event that they let up, the Mavericks may have the benefit. They particularly have to play more durable within the third quarter as in some video games, they have an inclination to let up in that quarter.
X-Elements
Residence Recreation vs Highway Fatigue – The Celtics are at house and they need to get motivation from taking part in in entrance of their followers. The Celtics have had 2 days off whereas the Mavericks have had simply 1 time without work since their final recreation. The Mavs are taking part in within the last recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey and that’s usually a really powerful recreation for groups as they’re highway weary and searching ahead to getting house once more.
Officiating – The officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport slightly in another way and groups want to regulate to how the sport is being known as. Will they name the sport tight or will they allow them to play? The Celtics can’t let the officiating take away their focus and so they have to regulate to the best way the sport is being known as. They must deal with the sport and never on the referees and the calls. Just lately now we have seen a number of video games misplaced on unhealthy calls on the finish of video games. The Celtics have to play onerous and construct a lead and never permit the refs to take the sport away on a foul name on the finish.
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