[ad_1]
The Celtics welcome the New Orleans Pelicans for the primary of two conferences this season. They’ll meet as soon as once more in New Orleans on March 30. The Celtics received the collection 2-0 final season. They’re 24-21 total all time towards the Pelicans and they’re 14-8 in video games performed in Boston. The Celtics are taking part in within the first of again to again video games. They’re 7-1 on the primary night time of again to again video games. They’re 3-0 when these video games are in Boston.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 3 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 5 video games forward of third place Philadelphia, 6 video games forward of 4th place New York, 6.5 video games forward of fifth place Cleveland and 9 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. The Celtics are 20-2 at house, after dropping their final 2 house video games. They’re 7-3 of their final 10 video games and 11-5 towards Western Convention groups. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Pelicans are seventh within the West, 6.5 video games behind first place Oklahoma Metropolis and half a recreation behind sixth place Phoenix and the ultimate assured spot within the playoffs. They’re 1 recreation forward of eighth place Dallas and 4.5 video games forward of eleventh place Houston, and dropping out of Play-In rivalry. The Pelicans are 12-10 on the highway and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-3 towards Jap Convention groups. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd recreation of a 7 recreation house stand. They started the house stand with a 115-96 loss to the Clippers. After this recreation, the Celtics play again to again towards the Pacers on Tuesday adopted by the Lakers, Grizzlies, Hawks, and Wizards. They’ll then head to Miami for the ultimate recreation in that collection adopted by a house and residential collection towards the Nets to complete up that collection.
The Pelicans are taking part in within the 2nd of a 4 recreation highway journey. They started the journey with a 141-117 loss to the Bucks. After this recreation, they are going to full the journey with stops in Houston and San Antonio. They’ll then return house for one recreation towards Toronto earlier than heading out on one other 4 recreation highway journey via the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers adopted by Portland and Memphis.
The Celtics could also be very quick handed of their entrance court docket on this recreation. Kristaps Porzingis is out with the ankle sprain that stored him out Saturday’s recreation towards the Clippers. Al Horford was initially questionable with a neck sprain however is now obtainable. Al will probably play on this one and sit out Tuesday’s recreation.
Luke Kornet can be out for this recreation with hamstring tightness after leaving Saturday’s recreation within the third quarter. All are a recreation time choice. I’m hoping that Kristaps Porzingis can return for this recreation after which possibly Al would play tomorrow. I must guess that Neemias Queta would begin at middle if they’re all out.
For the Pelicans they’ve simply Malcolm Hill listed on the harm report for undisclosed causes. He was with the Pelicans in coaching camp and waived earlier than the season. He has been taking part in with their G-League affiliate. He was simply signed to a ten day contract and shouldn’t make a lot of an affect if he performs or if he doesn’t.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Delano Banton
Oshae Brissett
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Luke Kornet
Svi Mykhailiuk
Payton Pritchard
Lamar Stevens
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Al Horford (neck sprain) obtainable
Luke Kornet ((hamstring) out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Pelicans Reserves
Jose Alvaredo
Dyson Daniels
Jordan Hawkins
EJ Liddell
Naji Marshall
Trey Murphy III
Larry Nance, Jr
Cody Zeller
2 Means Gamers
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Matt Ryan
Dereon Seabron
Accidents/Out
Malcolm Hill (undisclosed) questionable
Head Coach
Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
-
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Tim Heitman/Getty Photographs
-
Zion Williamson
Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Zion Williamson
Williamson is averaging 21.9 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 58.9% from the sphere and 40.3% from past the arc. The Celtics might want to defend him very carefully each in and out as he’s a risk within the paint and on the perimeter.
-
Jaylen Brown
Photograph by Issac Baldizon/NBAE through Getty Photographs
-
Brandon Ingram
Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
Jaylen Brown vs Brandon Ingram
Ingram is averaging 21.3 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.8% from the sphere and 36.1% from past the arc. As soon as once more, Ingram can rating each within the paint and on the perimeter and so the Celtics have to defend him nicely.
Honorable Point out
Jrue Vacation vs CJ McCollum
McCollum is averaging 19.2 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 46.4% from the sphere and 44.0% from past the arc. As with Ingram and Williamson, McCollum can rating each in and out and so the Celtics have to defend him the place ever he’s on the court docket.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to successful. The Pelicans common 116.7 factors per recreation (thirteenth) whereas the Celtics common 120.3 factors per recreation (4th). The Celtics should play robust protection to decelerate the Pelicans’ scoring in the event that they wish to win this recreation. The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.6. The Pelicans are ninth with a defensive ranking of 113.0. The Celtics must particularly defend within the paint because the Pelicans common 51.6 factors within the paint per recreation. 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 additional effort out to dominate the boards, it typically interprets to all different areas of the sport as nicely. The Pelicans are averaging 44.4 rebounds (tenth) and the Celtics are averaging 47.5 rebounds per recreation (1st). The Pelicans are twelfth within the league with 14.4 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to must work laborious 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 appropriate method. They must concentrate on their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give the Pelicans free possessions by turning the ball over because the Pelicans common 16.8 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’ve to remain centered on taking good pictures and on making them. If the skin pictures 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 group and the Celtics can’t lose focus for any time period 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 more durable. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very robust to beat and their lack of it might make them susceptible. They’re as soon as once more going through a group that performs laborious and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to come back out with lower than 100% effort. They particularly have to be aggressive and play laborious within the third quarter as they’ve been outplayed by loads in that quarter prior to now 2 video games.
X-Elements
Dwelling Sport – The Celtics are at house for the second straight recreation. The Pelicans are taking part in of their second straight highway recreation. The Pelicans have struggled at instances on the highway this season with an 12-10 report away from house. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. They had been embarrassed at house of their final recreation and want to show that round and get a win on this recreation. Shield house court docket.
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 recreation 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.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a stay dialog in regards to the recreation. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you have it, and join our community!
[ad_2]
Source link
