Boston Celtics (27-16) at Brooklyn Nets (12-30)Friday, December 23, 20267:30 pm ETRegular Season Sport #44 Highway Sport #24TV: NBCSB, YES, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 The Sports activities Hub, 101.9 FM, Sirius XMBarclays Middle
The Celtics head to Brooklyn to tackle the Nets at Barclays Middle for the primary of two consecutive video games on the highway. That is the third of 4 conferences between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly 113-99 in Brooklyn on November 18. They misplaced the second assembly 113-105 in Boston on November 21. They may meet for the ultimate time on February 27 in Boston.
Brooklyn is the youngest group within the league this season, with a median age of 23.98. The Celtics gained the sequence 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 146-75 general all time in opposition to the Nets and they’re 69-40 when enjoying on the highway in opposition to Brooklyn. That is the primary of again to again video games for the Celtics. They may play at Chicago on Saturday. They’re 3-3 within the first of again to again video games this season.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 5.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1.5 video games forward of 2nd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 3 video games forward of fifth place Cleveland and three.5 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and seventh place Orlando. The Celtics are 20-10 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and 6-4 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’re 14-9 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Nets are thirteenth within the East, 7 video games behind tenth place Atlanta,5.5 video games behind eleventh place Milwaukee, and three video games behind twelfth place Charlotte. They’re 2 video games forward of 14th place Washington and three.5 video games forward of fifteenth place Indiana. They’re 9-18 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and 3-8 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’re 6-16 at house and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 3 video games.
The Celtics had one recreation at house after a 4 recreation highway journey. After this recreation at Brooklyn, they’ll head to Chicago for his or her second straight recreation on the highway. They may then have a 4 recreation house stand the place they’ll host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they’re on the highway at Dallas and Houston earlier than enjoying Miami, New York, and Chicago at house, taking them into the All Star Break.
After this recreation at house, the Nets will go on a 5 recreation highway journey by way of the LA Clippers, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, and Detroit. They may then play one recreation at house in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier than one recreation on the highway at Orlando. Then they’ll have a 3 recreation house stand the place they’ll host Washington, Chicago and Indiana earlier than the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum stays out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in final 12 months’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his ninth straight recreation with an ankle sprain. Derrick White has been added to the harm report and can miss this recreation for relaxation. I took a guess that Baylor Scheierman will as soon as once more get the beginning however with Joe, you by no means know. Neemias Queta was a late addition to the harm checklist on account of sickness. He shall be a recreation time determination. I’d guess that Luka Garza would get the beginning if he’s unable to play. For the Nets, solely Haywood Highsmith is out on account of a knee harm.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Payton Pritchard vs Egor Demin
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Drake Powell
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr
PF: Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney
C: Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJordan WalshLuka GarzaChris Boucher2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJosh Minott (ankle) outDerrick White (relaxation) outNeemias Queta (sickness) questionableHead CoachJoe Mazzulla
Nets ReservesTyrese MartinBen SerafDay’Ron SharpeCam ThomasNolan TraoreZiaire WilliamsJalen WilsonDanny Wolf
Two-Manner PlayersEJ LiddellTyson EtienneChaney Johnson
Accidents/OutHaywood Highsmith (knee) out
Head CoachJordi Fernandez
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, JrPorter is clearly the Nets greatest participant and is averaging 25.3 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1 steal per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.1% from the sector and 39.6% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games gainst Boston this season, he averaged 29 factors, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals whereas taking pictures 56.8% from the sector and 57.1% from past the arc. The Celtics should do a greater job of slowing him down on this recreation.
Neemias Queta vs Nic ClaxtonClaxton is averaging 12.6 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 58.3% from the sector and 16.7% from three. Within the 2 video games this season in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 12.5 factors, 11 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1 block whereas taking pictures 36.4% from the sector with no threes. Within the Nets’ win over the Celtics, he put up his first profession triple double. The Celtics have to hold him out of the paint and concentrate on him on protection as he is an efficient rim protector.
Honorable MentionSam Hauser vs Noah ClowneyClowney is averaging 13.1 factors, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 38.9% from the sector and 32.3% from past the arc. Within the 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 16 factors, 2 rebounds and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 47.8% from the sector and 40% from 3.
Keys to the GameDefense – As at all times, protection is a key to successful this, and each, recreation. The Nets are twenty sixth within the league with an offensive ranking of 111.4 whereas the Celtics have an offensive ranking of 121.3 (2nd). The Celtics are thirteenth within the league with a defensive ranking of 113.7. The Nets are twenty sixth with a defensive ranking of 117.7. Within the Nets win over the Celtics, they shot 52.4% from the sector and 39.4% from past the arc. The Nets shoot 40.8 three pointers per recreation (sixth) they usually make 14.2 per recreation (tenth) so the Celtics have to particularly defend them on the perimeter. The Celtics must play robust protection from the tip by way of the ultimate buzzer on this one and never enable the Nets to get any offensive rhythm.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be an vital key to successful each recreation. The Celtics are tenth within the league, flattening 45.1 rebounds per recreation. The Nets are thirtieth with 39.7 rebounds per recreation. It is necessary for the Celtics to rebound the ball to provide themselves additional possessions and to stop the Nets from getting the identical together with 2nd likelihood factors. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort than the Nets to seize rebounds for all 4 quarters.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics want to remain targeted and be aggressive from begin to end. The Nets haven’t been enjoying nicely, however they play arduous and can at all times attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics did underestimate them of their final assembly and ended up dropping. The Celtics can’t underestimate them as a result of they’ve misplaced 8 of their final 10 video games. The Celtics ought to have the expertise to win simply, but when they underestimate the Nets and are available out with lower than 100% effort, they be shocked with one other loss to them. Additionally they are coming off a 120-66 drubbing by the hands of the Knicks and they also could also be seeking to achieve again somewhat self respect with one other win over the Celtics.Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics are a a lot better group after they transfer the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. They’re 17-1 after they have 25 or extra assists and they’re 10-15 after they have fewer than 25 assists. Although the Celtics often take excellent care of the ball, they lose focus at occasions and switch the ball over an excessive amount of. They should make cautious passes and hold the ball transferring.
X-FactorsOn the Highway Once more – The Celtics are enjoying on the highway once more after one recreation at house. They are going to be enjoying in entrance of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go along with journey and enjoying on the highway. The Celtics have to concentrate on the sport and never on the distractions that include enjoying on the highway and in an unfamiliar enviornment. They should get some motivation from avenging their loss within the final recreation in opposition to the Nets.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating at all times may be an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew calls the sport in a different way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let quite a lot of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house group and a few not a lot. Now we have already seen a recreation the place one non name can change the end result. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and never let the officiating take away from their focus.
