Atlanta Hawks (41-32) at Boston Celtics (48-24)Friday, March 27, 20267:30 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #73, Residence Recreation #37TV: NBCSB, FDSNSE, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 92.9 The Recreation, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics proceed their dwelling stand after a win over the Thunder on Wednesday as they host the Atlanta Hawks. That is the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary recreation 132-106 in Atlanta on January 17. They misplaced the second recreation 117-106 in Boston on January 28. They’ll meet once more for the ultimate time in Atlanta on March 30. The Hawks gained the sequence 2-1 final season with the Celtics profitable one in Atlanta and the Hawks profitable twice in Boston. The Celtics are 246-152 total all time and they’re 132-57 in video games performed in Boston. The Hawks have gained the final 3 video games in Boston.
The Hawks have been among the many most energetic groups on the commerce deadline. They traded Trae Younger to Washington for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum earlier than the deadline. They traded Vit Krejci to Portland for two second spherical picks. They traded Luke Kennard for Gabe Vincent. They acquired Jock Landale for money concerns. And their largest transfer was buying and selling Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
Because the All Star break, the Hawks are 15-2, the perfect document amongst all Japanese Convention groups. Earlier than the break, Atlanta ranked twenty seventh within the NBA in offensive rebound %. Because the break, the Hawks rank fourth-best amongst all NBA groups over that point. In March, Atlanta is 11-1, tied with the Thunder for the perfect document within the league because the starting of March. They’re coming off a 130-129 time beyond regulation win in Detroit over the Pistons.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1 recreation forward of third place New York, 3.5 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 7.5 video games forward of fifth place Atlanta, 8 video games forward of sixth place Toronto, and eight.5 video games forward of seventh place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 29-14 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re 25-11 at dwelling and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Hawks are fifth within the East, 11.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit7 video games behind third place New York and 4 video games behind 4th place Cleveland. They’re half a recreation forward of sixth place Toronto, 1 recreation forward of seventh place Philadelphia, and a couple of video games forward of eighth place Miami. They’re 23-21 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. They’re 20-16 on the highway and 9-1 of their final 10 video games. They’ve gained their final 3 video games.
This recreation at dwelling in opposition to Atlanta completes a 3 recreation dwelling stand. Then it’s again on the highway for a 4 recreation journey via Charlotte, Atlanta as soon as once more, Miami and Milwaukee. They’ll then play two video games at dwelling in opposition to Toronto and Charlotte earlier than one recreation on the highway at New York. They’ll end the season with 2 video games at dwelling in opposition to New Orleans and Orlando.
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That is the 2nd recreation of a 2 recreation highway journey for Atlanta. They beat the Pistons in Detroit on Wednesday to start the journey. They’ll return dwelling to play Sacramento and full the sequence in opposition to Boston. Then they play at Orlando and at Brooklyn. They then have a recreation at dwelling in opposition to New York earlier than a house and residential sequence in opposition to Cleveland. They’ll end the season on the highway at Miami.
Nicola Vucevic stays out after surgical procedure to stabilize a fracture in his proper ring finger. Neemias Queta is obtainable after being questionable on account of a proper thumb sprain. Derrick White can be accessible after initially being questionable with a bruised proper knee. Jaylen Brown is out on account of left Achilles tendinitis. I’m simply guessing that Baylor Scheierman will get the beginning. The Hawks had a late addition to their damage report. Jock Landale is questionable on account of a shoulder damage.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs CJ McCollum
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF: Sam Hauser vs Dyson Daniels
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Jackson
C: Neemias Queta vs Onyeka Okongwu
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsJordan WalshMax ShulgaCharles Bassey (10-Day)2-Means PlayersRon Harper, Jr
Accidents/OutNikola Vucevic (finger) outNeemias Queta (thumb) availableDerrick White (knee) availableJaylen Brown (calf) outHead CoachJoe Mazzulla
Hawks ReservesMouhamed GueyeBuddy HieldCaleb HoustonCorey KispertJonathan KumingaAsa NewellZaccharie RisacherGabe VincentKeaton Wallace
2-Means PlayersRayj DennisKeshon GilbertChristian Koloko
Accidents/OutJock Landale (shoulder) questionableHead CoachQuin Snyder
Key MatchupsJayson Tatum vs Jalen JohnsonJohnson is averaging 22.8 factors, 10.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 49.3% from the sector and 34.9% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 15.5 factors, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists whereas taking pictures 33.3% from the sector and 45.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend him nicely and hold him off the boards.
Baylor Scheierman vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 45% from the sector and 39% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 19.5 factors, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals whereas taking pictures 41.9% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc. He is an effective 3 level shooter and the Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter.Honorable MentionDerrick White vs CJ McCollumMcCollum is averaging 18.8 factors, 3.4 rebounds, and three.8 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 37.2% from past the arc. In 4 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he’s averaging 12.3 factors, 3.3 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 34% from the sector and 18.2% from past the arc.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times a key to profitable video games. The Celtics have an offensive ranking of 119.3 (2nd) whereas the Hawks have an offensive ranking of 114.7, which is 14th. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 111.5 which is 4th whereas the Hawks have a defensive ranking of 113.0, which is tenth. The Celtics have been cold and warm on protection this season. Typically they’ll shut down the opposite group (See OKC) and generally they permit them to attain at will (see Minnesota). The Celtics have to defend the perimeter as a result of the Hawks are sixth, taking pictures 36.9% on threes. In addition they must defend the paint because the Hawks are sixth with 52.3 factors within the paint per recreation. The Celtics should make protection a precedence on this recreation they usually must play that powerful protection for 48 minutes and never let up.
Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is the important thing to profitable. When the Celtics put out the additional effort on the boards, it often carries via to the remainder of their recreation. The Hawks are averaging 43.4 rebounds per recreation (seventeenth) whereas the Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per recreation (4th). The Celtics have to aggressively go after each rebound. They’ll’t afford to offer the Hawks additional possessions and 2nd likelihood factors by permitting them to beat them to rebounds.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – When the Celtics transfer the ball and discover the open man, they’re powerful to beat. After they maintain the ball and attempt to play iso ball, they turn out to be predictable and wrestle. When the Celtics have extra assists than their opponents they’re 29-0 and when their opponents have extra assists than the Celtics, they’re simply 17-22. The Hawks common 30.4 assists per recreation so getting extra assists won’t be simple. The Celtics want to maneuver the ball, however they must make cautious passes as a result of the Hawks are third within the league with 20.3 factors off turnovers per recreation.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes- The Celtics must play with additional effort total for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in a few of their wins, they’ve allowed their opponents to play with extra power than them for durations of time throughout the recreation. They play nicely for stretches however let up and permit their opponents to surge forward, particularly down the stretch as they did in opposition to Minnesota. They’ve to remain centered for all 48 minutes and be prepared for his or her opponents to play tougher within the second half and they should match that effort. In addition they have to come back out with extra effort and power to start out the sport and never dig themselves right into a gap. The Hawks have been taking part in the perfect of any group within the league and simply beat the primary place Pistons. The Celtics will want most effort for all 48 minutes to beat them. With Jaylen Brown out, each participant might want to step up their recreation.
X-FactorsHome Recreation and Revenge- They name it dwelling courtroom benefit for a motive and the Celtics have to make the most of taking part in on their dwelling courtroom. The Celtics have to get motivation from the house crowd, which must be loud and doing all the pieces of their energy to help the Celtics and rattle the Hawks. The Hawks have the distractions of journey, an unfamiliar enviornment and a hostile crowd and hopefully that can give the Celtics a bonus. The Hawks have been additionally embarrassed by the Celtics on their dwelling courtroom in January and will likely be on the lookout for some revenge on them. The Celtics have to be prepared for the Hawks to offer it their greatest effort on this one.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates in another way. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never permit unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their focus from taking part in the sport the appropriate method. We now have seen how a lot of an x-factor officiating could be in a couple of video games this season. The Celtics must play so nicely all recreation that the officiating, regardless of how unhealthy, can’t affect the end result.
