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The Celtics are dwelling for the second straight sport as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. That is the second and closing sport between these two groups this season. The Celtics received the primary sport 117-109 in New Orleans on November 18. That is the third sport of a 5 sport street journey for the Pelicans. The 4th and fifth video games will take them by way of Detroit and Cleveland.
That is the primary of again to again video games for the Celtics. They may journey to Brooklyn for the second sport on Thursday. The Celtics are 5-1 to date on the primary evening of again to again video games. They’re 3-0 when the primary sport is in Boston. The Celtics are 22-21 total all time in opposition to the Pelicans and they’re 13-8 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are first within the East. They’re 1.5 video games forward of 2nd place Brooklyn, 2.5 video games forward of third place Milwaukee, and three video games forward of 4th place Cleveland. They’re 16-5 at dwelling and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 3 video games. They’re 13-4 in opposition to Western Convention opponents.
The Pelicans are in third place within the West. They’re 2.5 video games behind first place Denver and second place Memphis and they’re 2 video games forward of 4th place Dallas. They’re 8-11 on the street and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They received their final sport however have misplaced 4 of their final 6 video games. They’re 9-6 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents.
Robert Williams is listed as questionable on the damage checklist for the Celtics. For the reason that Celtics are taking part in in again to again video games, he’ll seemingly sit out one of many two. His standing for this sport is a sport time resolution. Marcus Sensible missed Monday’s sport with a knee contusion and is questionable for this sport. I’ve included Sensible in with the starters, once more as wishful pondering. If Timelord performs on this one, he may additionally get the beginning however I’m pondering he’ll sit this sport and play on Thursday. Danilo Gallinari stays out.
For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram is out with a toe damage. He has been out since November 25 and was anticipated to return at a while on this journey. He didn’t apply on Tuesday and can miss this sport. Herbert Jones left Monday’s sport with a again contusion and is listed as uncertain for this sport. Zion Williamson is out with a hamstring damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Derrick White
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Justin Jackson
Malcolm Brogdon
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Robert Williams III (knee) questionable
Marcus Sensible (ankle) questionable
Head Coach (Interim)
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Pelicans Reserves
Jose Alvarado
Devonte Graham
Jaxon Hayes
Willy Hernangomez
Kira Lewis, Jr
Larry Nance, Jr
Garrett Temple
2 Approach Gamers
EJ Liddell
Dereon Seabron
Out/Accidents
Brandon Ingram (toe) out
Zion Williamson (hamstring) out
Herbert Jones (again) uncertain
Head Coach
Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
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Marcus Sensible
Picture by Winslow Townson/Getty Photographs
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CJ McCollum
Picture by Ned Dishman/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Marcus Sensible vs CJ McCollum
McCollum is averaging 20.8 factors, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.8% from the sphere and 40.2% from past the arc. Sensible is questionable for this sport and if he can’t play, Derrick White will seemingly get the beginning on the level in his place.
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Al Horford
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
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Jonas Valanciunas
Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
Al Horford vs Jonas Valanciunas
Valanciunas is averaging 14.1 factors, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He’s taking pictures 52.4% from the sphere and 34.2% from past the arc. The Celtics must preserve him out of the paint and off the boards however additionally they want to stick with him on the perimeter since he is an efficient 3 level shooter. If Robert Williams performs he might begin as soon as at heart and transfer Horford to energy ahead.
Honorable Point out
Grant Williams vs Larry Nance, Jr.
Nance is averaging 8.2 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals. He’s taking pictures 62.1% from the sphere and 38.5% from past the arc. Within the first sport between these two groups, Nance completed with 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help, 3 steals and a couple of block. He at all times appears to have an enormous sport in opposition to the Celtics. The Celtics want an enormous sport from Grant off the bench additionally.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable. The Pelicans common 117.4 factors per sport (4th) whereas the Celtics common 118.5 factors per sport (2nd). The Celtics should play powerful protection to decelerate the Pelicans’ scoring in the event that they need to win this sport. The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.9. The Pelicans are fifth with a defensive ranking of 110.7. The Celtics must particularly defend within the paint because the Pelicans are third with 55.5 factors within the paint per sport. The Celtics should make protection a precedence to get a win.
Rebound – The Celtics must crash the boards as a group. Rebounding takes effort and once they put that further effort out to dominate the boards, it typically interprets to all different areas of the sport as nicely. The Pelicans are averaging 45.5 rebounds (sixth) and the Celtics are averaging 44.0 rebounds per sport (eleventh). The Pelicans are eighth within the league with 15.6 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to must work arduous to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second probability baskets.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain centered on taking part in the fitting approach. They must concentrate on their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give their opponents free possessions by turning the ball over. They’ve to remain centered on taking good photographs and on making them. If the surface photographs cease falling, they should get to the basket. They must concentrate on taking part in group ball and on taking part in protection. The Pelicans are an excellent group and the Celtics can’t lose focus for any time frame or the Pelicans will make them pay.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, taking part in protection, diving for unfastened balls and simply play tougher. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very powerful to beat and their lack of it may make them susceptible. They’re as soon as once more dealing with a group that performs arduous and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to come back out with lower than 100% effort. They’ll’t calm down as a result of Ingram and Williamson are out.
X-Components
Dwelling Sport – The Celtics are at dwelling for the second straight sport. The Pelicans are taking part in of their third straight street sport. The Pelicans have struggled on the street this season with an 8-11 document away from dwelling. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. Defend dwelling courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some are tyrants with the whistle and a few let the groups play. Some refs are very sensitive and name fast fouls and techs. The Celtics have to regulate their sport to nevertheless the refs are calling it. They’ll’t let missed calls and no calls get to them and make them lose their focus.
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