[ad_1]
The Celtics lastly return dwelling from their West coast journey to host the Indiana Pacers. That is the third and closing sport between these two groups this season. The Pacers gained the primary sport 117-112 in Boston on 12/21. The Celtics gained the second sport 142-138 in time beyond regulation in Indiana on 2/23. The Celtics gained the sequence 3-1 final season with their loss approaching the street.
The Celtics are 105-83 general all time towards the Pacers. They’re 59-27 all time in Boston. Indiana is enjoying within the third sport of a 4 sport street journey. They’re 1-1 to this point on the journey, profitable in Toronto and shedding in Charlotte. The Celtics are enjoying within the first sport at dwelling after a 4-2 Western street journey. They may play the Spurs at dwelling on Sunday earlier than 2 extra on the street, together with a giant sport in Milwaukee.
The Celtics are again in 2nd place within the East, after a quick time at third. They’re 2.5 video games behind first place Milwaukee. They’re half a sport forward of third place Philadelphia and 4.5 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. They’re 26-9 at dwelling and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 29-16 towards different Jap Convention groups. They gained their final sport.
The Pacers are in eleventh place within the East. They’re 1.5 video games behind tenth place Chicago for the ultimate play-in spot. They’re 6.5 video games behind sixth place Brooklyn for the ultimate assured playoff spot. They’re 1 sport forward of !2th place Washington. They’re 14-23 on the street however have gained 6 of their final 9 street video games. They’re 5-5 of their final 10 video games and are 23-22 towards different Jap Convention groups. They gained their final sport.
The Celtics lastly acquired Robert Williams III again for the final sport of their street journey after he had been out with a hamstring damage. He got here off the bench in that sport and I’m guessing that he might come off the bench as soon as once more on this sport because the workforce performed very effectively in that sport. Though, Timelord would match up with Turner higher, so he might return to the beginning lineup. Payton Pritchard (heel) is uncertain and Danilo Gallinari (ACL) is out. For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton (knee) and Chris Duarte (ankle) are each questionable and can be a sport time resolution.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Robert Williams III
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Mike Muscala
Grant Williams
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Payton Pritchard (heel) uncertain
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Pacers Reserves
Oshae Brissett
James Johnson
TJ McConnell
Jordan Nwora
Jalen Smith
Daniel Theis
2 Means Gamers
Kendall Brown
Trevelin Queen
Out/Accidents
Chris Duarte (ankle) questionable
Tyrese Haliburton (knee) questionable
Head Coach
Rick Carlisle
Key Matchups
-
Derrick White
Photograph by Carmen Mandato/Getty Photos
-
Buddy Hield
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Derrick White vs Buddy Hield
Hield is averaging 17.1 factors, 5.0 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 45.9% from the sphere and 43.4% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 13 factors, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1 steal per sport. He shot 47.6% from the sphere and 46.2 Hield is an efficient shooter and might rating in bunches if left open. The Celtics want to stay with him on protection to attempt to restrict his scoring on this one.
-
Al Horford
Photograph by Alika Jenner/Getty Photos
-
Myles Turner
Photograph by Andy Lyons/Getty Photos
Al Horford vs Myles Turner
Regardless of being in commerce rumors each off season and commerce deadline, Turner remains to be with the Pacers and is enjoying very effectively. He his averaging 17.9 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and a pair of.3 blocks per sport. He’s taking pictures 54.6% from the sphere and 37.6% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 25 factors, 8 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists. He shot 73.9% from the sphere and 75% from past the arc. 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 strive to attract him away from the basket.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Benedict Mathurin
Mathurin is averaging 16.6 factors, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.2% from the sphere and 32.5% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he averaged 13 factors, .5. rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals per sport. He shot 43.5% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc.
[If Haliburton can play, the point guard matchup will be key with Haliburton averaging 20.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.6 steals. He shoots 48.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. ]
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to profitable each single sport and in the event that they hope to get to the Finals once more, will probably be with robust protection. The Celtics are 4th within the league with a defensive score of 111.3. The Pacers are twenty fifth with a defensive score of 116.2. The Celtics protection seemed good towards the Kings on Tuesday and they should proceed to make protection their identification and their precedence. The Celtics have to particularly defend the paint because the Pacers common 49.4 factors within the paint per sport. The Pacers are additionally 1st within the league with 18.6 quick break factors per sport. The Celtics must play robust protection to forestall them from getting out on the break and getting open pictures.
Rebound – The Celtics are seventh within the league, flattening 45.1 rebounds per sport. The Pacers are twenty third with 41.6 rebounds per sport. It is very important rebound the ball to present themselves further possessions and to forestall the Pacers from getting the identical together with 2nd likelihood factors. The Pacers get 13.6 second likelihood factors per sport. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort on the boards than the Pacers in the event that they wish to get a win on this sport.
Keep Targeted – A scarcity of focus can clarify lots of the Celtics issues after they wrestle. They lose focus and switch the ball over time after time throughout stretches within the sport. Additionally they lose focus and wrestle to hit pictures that they might normally make. At occasions additionally they lose deal with protection and miss assignments and permit opponents open pictures on the perimeter and simple pictures inside. The Celtics should keep centered and handle the ball, deal with taking and making good pictures, and deal with enjoying robust workforce protection.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the extra aggressive workforce they usually must work tougher and play tougher than the Pacers. They must be extra aggressive on protection, on the boards, in going after free balls and on the 50-50 balls. They must be the workforce that desires it extra and play prefer it. The Celtics must beat groups by enjoying with extra effort each single sport. They must play laborious for 48 minutes and never construct a lead after which let up or begin gradual after which must play catch up. They must be extra aggressive from begin to end.
Worth Each Sport – The Celtics are within the closing stretch of video games and each sport is vital as a result of dwelling courtroom is vital within the playoffs and the Celtics can’t afford to lose video games on this stretch, particularly towards lottery or play-in groups. They must play laborious and keep centered and play their hardest on each possession. They will’t take any video games off.
X-Components
House Sport – The Celtics are dwelling for the primary time since March eighth after they left for his or her 6 sport street journey. They’ve the house crowd behind them to present them further motivation. The Pacers are on the street, the place they haven’t performed all that effectively this season, going simply 14-23 away from dwelling, and the place they’re confronted with the distractions of journey, lodge stays and a hostile crowd. The Celtics have to make the most of enjoying at dwelling and defend their dwelling courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the sport in a different way. Will the refs name it tight? Will they allow them to play? 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 way in which the crew is looking the sport and never enable it to change into a distraction for them. Most of all, they will’t let the officiating make them lose their composure.
[ad_2]
Source link
