Washington Wizards (1-6) at Boston Celtics (3-5)Wednesday, November 5, 20257:30 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #9 Residence Recreation #5TV: NBCSB, MNMT2, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 106.7 The Fan, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics host the Washington Wizards for the primary of three conferences between these two groups this season. They may meet once more in Washington on December 4 and they’re going to play the third and closing sport in Boston on March 14. The Celtics received the sequence 4-0 final season successful at residence and on the street. The Celtics are 206-120 general towards the Wizards all time. They’re 108-44 all time in video games performed in Boston. The Celtics have received the final 8 video games towards the Wizards.
The Wizards made just a few important modifications within the off season. They traded Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and Micah Peavy for CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and Cam Whitmore. They then traded Kelly Olynyk to San Antonio for Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, who they waived. Additionally they waived Malcolm Brogdon, Richaun Holmes and Marcus Sensible.
After this sport at residence towards the Wizards, the Celtics will then go on a 3 sport street journey together with 2 video games at Orlando and one at Philadelphia. A type of video games in Orlando would be the second NBA Cup sport. Then they’ve 2 video games at residence towards Memphis and the LA Clippers. Then it’s one sport on the street at Brooklyn earlier than taking part in Brooklyn, Orlando, and Detroit at residence. The house sport towards Brooklyn will even be a Cup sport.
After this sport in Boston, the Wizards will return residence to play Cleveland and Dallas. Then it’s on the street for video games at Detroit and at Houston earlier than one sport at residence towards Brooklyn. Then, it’s a 3 sport street journey by way of Minnesota, Toronto and Chicago earlier than one sport at residence towards Atlanta, and one sport on the street at Indiana. Then, it’s one sport at residence towards Milwaukee then at Philadelphia and again residence towards Boston and Atlanta.
As of proper now, Jayson Tatum is the one participant on the Celtics damage checklist as he rehabs from the Achilles tear he suffered within the playoffs. That doesn’t imply that different gamers received’t be added earlier than sport time. For Washington, the one participant on the damage checklist is Khris Middleton who’s out with an elbow contusion and knee soreness.
I’m guessing that the Celtics will go together with the identical beginning lineup that they’ve used within the final 5 video games that features Josh Minott. They received 3 of these 5 video games, dropping the final two video games to Houston and Utah. It’s additionally potential that Joe will experiment and begin a special lineup. I’ve listed the starters from the Wizards’ sport notes, which can even be topic to alter.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs CJ McCollum
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Bilal Coulibaly
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Justin Champagnie
PF: Josh Minott vs Kyshawn George
C: Neemias Queta vs Alex Sarr
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJordan WalshSam HauserLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanChris Boucher
2-Method PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Wizards ReservesMarvin Bagley IIIMalaki BranhamBub CarringtonAnthony GillAJ JohnsonTre JohnsonCorey KispertWill RileyCam WhitmoreTwo Method PlayersSharife CooperTristan VukcevicJamir Watkins
Accidents/OutKhris Middleton (elbow) Day to Day
Key Matchups Josh Minott vs Kyshawn GeorgeGeorge is averaging 17.9 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steal and 1.3 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 55.3% from the sphere and 53.8% from past the arc. The Celtics have to stick with him on protection and hold him from capturing over 50% on this sport. Additionally they should field him out on the boards since he is an effective rebounder.
Neemias Queta vs Alex SarrSarr was the 2nd general choose in final yr’s draft and is taking part in effectively for the Wizards. He’s averaging 17.3 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a couple of.1 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 52.7% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on protection and in addition hold hm off the boards.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Bilal CoulibalyCoulibaly is averaging 13.7 factors 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. He’s capturing 42.4% from the sphere and 35.7% from past the arc. Coulibaly was the seventh choose within the 2023 draft and is taking part in very effectively for the Wizards. He has a peak benefit over Pritchard and so we are going to seemingly see others overlaying him on protection if he will get scorching.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times the important thing to successful video games. The Celtics had been second within the preseason with a defensive score of 100.2. The Celtics have now fallen to 14th with a defensive score of 113.5. The Wizards are twenty eighth with a defensive score of 119.2. The Celtics allowed the Jazz to attain 69 factors within the second half. They might want to play more durable protection on this sport to restrict the Wizards scoring.
Rebound – Rebounding could be the largest key to successful proper now because the Celtics’ 5 losses are largely on account of not having the ability to rebound. The Wizards are eighth with 47.2 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are 14th with 43.6 rebounds per sport. They merely should combat more durable to seize rebounds than the Wizards. A lot of rebounding is effort as evidenced by Payton Pritchard being the shortest man on the court docket most nights and averaging over 4 rebounds per sport. Each Celtic has obtained to crash the boards and combat for each rebound. Till they clear up their rebounding woes, they may battle to get wins.To three or To not 3 – The Celtics shot simply 21.6% from 3 towards the Jazz. They’re twenty seventh within the league, averaging simply 32.6% from past the arc. It’s not only one Celtic who’s struggling to hit their 3’s, it’s nearly everybody on the group. They should work on their spacing and concentrate on their capturing. In the event that they battle early within the sport, they should rating within the midrange or within the paint and never proceed to brick 3’s your complete sport.Effort and Vitality – Of their 3 wins, the Celtics performed more durable and with extra vitality than their opponents. That needs to be their identification this season. They should play more durable on protection. They should rebound more durable. They should play with vitality and additional effort for each possession. Of their 5 losses, they allowed their opponents to be the group that performed more durable. The Celtics additionally have to play quicker. They’re final within the league with a tempo of 96.69. The Wizards are 2nd with a tempo of 105.08. The Celtics want to choose up the tempo and play with extra vitality and play more durable than the Wizards.
X-FactorsHome Recreation – The Celtics are as soon as once more at residence. They need to get a lift from the house crowd and from being in acquainted environment. The Celtics have to have a way of urgency at residence to guard residence court docket and never anticipate to win as a result of the Wizards have been tanking. The Wizards should cope with journey, staying in a lodge, and a hostile crowd and hopefully that can give the Celtics the benefit.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each sport. Each crew officiates in a different way. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house group. Some favor the street group. Some simply make unhealthy, head scratching calls as we’ve got seen many instances. The no name towards Jaylen Brown of their final sport is an instance of how officiating may be an x-factor. The Celtics want to regulate to the way in which the refs name the sport and never let unhealthy calls and no calls take them out of the sport or have an effect on their focus.
