Boston Celtics (42-21) at Cleveland Cavaliers (39-24)Sunday, March 8, 20261:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #64 Street Recreation #33TV: ABCRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, WFAM/WMMSRocket Enviornment
The Celtics go to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third, and ultimate, assembly between these two groups. The Celtics gained the primary recreation 125-105 at Boston on October 29. The Celtics additionally gained the second assembly 117-115 in Cleveland on November 30. These 2 groups cut up the sequence 2-2 final season with every group profitable one at house and one on the highway. The Celtics are 143-89 total, all time towards the Cavaliers and they’re 56-61 in video games performed in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are fairly totally different from the group the Celtics confronted in November. On the commerce deadline, they traded De’Andre Hunter to the Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder. Additionally they despatched Lonzo Ball to to the Utah Jazz, together with 2 second spherical picks for them to tackle his contract. Their large commerce, although, was to commerce Darius Garland to the Clippers for James Harden.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 3.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1.5 video games forward of third place New York , 3 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 7.5 video games forward of sixth place Orlando and seventh place Miami and eight video games forward of eighth place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 27-14 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 21-11 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Cavaliers are 4th within the East, 6.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit, 3 video games behind 2nd place Boston, 1.5 video games behind third place New York. They’re 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, and 4.5 video games forward of sixth place Orlando and seventh place Miami and 5 video games forward of eighth place Philadelphia. They’re 25-15 towards Jap Convention groups and 21-11 at house. They’re 7-3 of their final 10 video games and have gained their final 2 video games.
After this recreation at Cleveland, the Celtics proceed on a tricky 3 recreation highway journey by way of San Antonio, and Oklahoma Metropolis. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Subsequent, it’s one recreation at Memphis earlier than a 3 recreation house stand towards Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta. Then it’s again on the highway for a 4 recreation journey by way of Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee.
The Cavaliers are enjoying within the 2nd recreation of a 3 recreation house stand. They beat the first place Pistons within the first recreation on Tuesday. They’ll host Philadelphia within the third recreation of the house stand. They’ll then play Orlando and Dallas on the highway earlier than returning house to play Dallas as soon as once more. Then they are going to play Milwaukee, Chicago and New Orleans on the highway.
For the Celtics, after 298 days, Jayson Tatum was accessible to play towards Dallas on Friday. He’s anticipated to play on this recreation additionally. Jordan Walsh missed Friday’s recreation because of an sickness however shouldn’t be on the harm record presently. Nikola Vucevic fractured his finger in Friday’s recreation and had profitable surgical procedure to restore it. He’s anticipated to overlook roughly a month.
For the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen injured his proper knee in the course of the Cavaliers’ win over the Pistons on Tuesday and has been dominated out for this recreation. Tyrese Proctor is out because of a proper quadriceps pressure.Max Strus has been cleared for on-court exercises after off season foot surgical procedure however has been dominated out for this recreation. Jaylon Tyson is questionable because of a neck pressure. After lacking the previous 4 video games with a groin harm, Donovan Mitchell is possible for this recreation. Dean Wade can also be possible with an ankle harm.
Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Derrick White vs James Harden
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Donovan Mitchell
SF: Sam Hauser vs Jaylon Tyson
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Evan Mobley
C: Neemias Queta vs Thomas Bryant
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsJordan Walsh
2-Method PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaJohn TonjeInjuries/OutNikola Vucevic (finger) out
Cavaliers ReservesKeon EllisLarry Nance, JrCraig Porter JrDennis SchroderNae’Qwan TomlinDean WadeSam Merrill
2-Method PlayersTristan EnarunaRiley MinixOlivier Sarr
Accidents/OutDonovan Mitchell (groin) probableDean Wade (ankle) probableJaylon Tyson (neck) questionableMax Strus (foot) outTyrese Poctor (quad) outJarrett Allen (knee) outHead CoachKenny Atkinson
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Donovan MitchellMitchell is averaging 28.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.3% from the sphere and 36.9% from past the arc. Within the first two video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 16.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 42.9% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him each within the paint and on the perimeter as a result of he’s a risk to attain from in all places.
Derrick White vs James HardenThis is the primary time the Celtics are going through the Cavs since they acquired Harden. He’s averaging 24.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 42.5% from the sphere and 36.1% from past the arc. In 2 video games with the Clippers towards the Celtics, Harden averaged 27.5 factors, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal per recreation whereas taking pictures 43.2% from the sphere and 35.3% from past the arc.Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs Evan MobleyMobley is averaging 17.6 factors, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 51.7% from the sphere and 31.5% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games towards the Celtics this season, he averaged 23 factors, 12.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block per recreation whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 35.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to preserve him out of the paint as he’s an excellent rebounder and likewise a rim protector.
Keys to the GameDefense – As all the time, protection is a key to profitable this, and each, recreation. The Celtics are sixth with a defensive ranking of 111.7. The Cavaliers are thirteenth with a defensive ranking of 113.1. The Celtics should make protection a precedence and play powerful lock down group protection for all 48 minutes. They’ll’t play powerful protection for simply 2 or 3 quarters and count on the opposite group to surrender. The Celtics have to particularly defend the perimeter because the Cavs shoot 40.3 threes per recreation and make 14.5 of them. Additionally they common 51.0 factors within the paint per recreation so the Celtics additionally should defend the paint.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per recreation (4th) to 44.4 rebounds per recreation for the Cavaliers (twelfth). The Celtics might want to crash the boards to maintain the Cavs from getting further possessions and second likelihood factors. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have started working more durable on the boards than the Cavs. However additionally they have to present a constant effort on the boards for the entire recreation.
3 Level Photographs – When the Celtics make their 3’s they’re powerful to beat however when the three’s aren’t falling, the sport will get actually ugly. The Celtics are 2nd within the league, taking 42.5 threes per recreation. The Cavs are sixth with 40.3 threes a recreation. Though the Celtics are third in 3 pointers tried, they’re ninth, taking pictures 36.3% from past the arc. The Cavs are 14th, taking pictures 36.0% from past the arc. The bottom line is easy. The Celtics should make their threes they usually need to defend the perimeter nicely to maintain the Cavs from making theirs.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball and discover the open man. They play their finest after they share the ball. They’re 27-2 after they have greater than 25 assists in a recreation and they’re 14-0 after they have 29 or extra assists. Nonetheless, the Celtics have to handle the basketball and restrict turnovers. They need to make cautious passes and likewise remember whereas dribbling and never drive right into a crowd or permit a defender to steal the ball because the Cavs common 19.6 factors off turnovers per recreation.
X-FactorsMatinee Recreation On the Street – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway and might want to keep targeted regardless of the distractions of journey and enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd. Cavs followers actually don’t just like the Celtics and can possible be loud and antagonistic. They should come into this recreation targeted and able to play more durable than the Cavs. They’re additionally enjoying in an early afternoon recreation and generally gamers wrestle within the early video games, particularly after journey.
Officiating – The officiating is all the time an x-factor. Typically a crew will name the sport tight and blow a whistle on each play. Different occasions they are going to allow them to play and let the sport get bodily. The Celtics want to regulate to the best way the sport known as and never let missed calls or unhealthy calls have an effect on their focus. If the calls are unhealthy, they simply have to play more durable to make up for them and never lose give attention to enjoying the sport.
