The Celtics proceed their dwelling stand as they host the Portland Path Blazers. The Celtics are 1-1 thus far on the homestand, dropping to the Cavaliers after which beating the Nuggets. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They’ll face off yet another time on March 23 in Portland. The Celtics gained the collection 2-0 final season.
The Celtics are 75-49 total all time in opposition to the Path Blazers. They’re 40-22 in video games performed in Boston in opposition to the Path Blazers. The Blazers have misplaced 2 straight in Boston. The Celtics are taking part in within the first of again to again video games and can host Philadelphia on Thursday. The Celtics are 7-2 within the first of again to again video games and they’re 3-1 when the primary sport is at dwelling.
The Path Blazers signed Sidy Cissoko and Bryce McGowens to 2 approach contracts within the off season. They traded Malcolm Brogdon for Deni Avdija. They drafted Donovan Clingan with the seventh choose within the draft. They misplaced Ibou Badji, Moses Brown and Ashton Hagans to free company. They had been considered one of 5 groups that stood pat on the commerce deadline.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, and are 7.5 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers who’ve gained their final 10 video games, together with a win over Boston. They’re 3 video games forward of third place New York and seven.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 19-11 at dwelling and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 12-7 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. After they misplaced 2 straight, the Celtics are coming off a win of their final sport.
The Path Blazers are twelfth within the West, 4.5 video games behind tenth place Dallas, and a spot within the play-in event. They’re half a sport behind eleventh place Phoenix. They’re 1.5 video games forward of thirteenth place San Antonio and 12 video games forward of fifteenth place Utah. They’re 12-20 on the highway and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 13-6 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and are coming off a win of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd sport of a 7 sport dwelling stand. They misplaced the primary sport to the Cleveland Cavaliers after which beat the Denver Nuggets on Monday. After this sport in opposition to Portland, the Celtics will host Philadelphia, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, and Oklahoma Metropolis. After the 7 dwelling video games they may play 8 of the following 9 video games on the highway, together with one other journey out West and a rematch with these Path Blazers in Portland.
The Celtics have 6 gamers on the harm report at the moment. Even by means of Jrue Vacation (finger) and Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) participated in follow on Tuesday, they’re listed as uncertain for this sport. Jayson Tatum is questionable with a shoulder impingement. Jaylen Brown is questionable with a non-covid sickness. Derrick White (again) and Payton Pritchard (hip) are each listed as possible. I don’t know which gamers shall be out and which can play. I’m guessing that the questionable and uncertain gamers shall be out and the possible ones will play. I simply took a wild guess as to who will begin.
The Path Blazers have 5 gamers on the harm record at the moment. DeAndre Ayton is out with a left calf pressure. Two Method participant Justin Minaya is out with an ankle harm. Matisse Thybulle has but to play this season and is out with an ankle harm. Former Celtic Robert Williams III has missed the final 6 video games with a knee harm and stays out for this sport. Jerami Grant missed the final 3 video games and is questionable for this sport.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutKristaps Porzingis (sickness) doubtfulJrue Vacation (finger) doubtfulJaylen Brown (sickness) questionableJayson Tatum (shoulder) questionableDerrick White (again) probablePayton Pritchard (hip) possible
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Path Blazers Starters
Grid View
Path Blazers ReservesDelano BantonKris MurrayDuop ReathRyan RupertJabari Walker
Two-Method PlayersSidy CissokoBryce McGowensJustin Minaya
Accidents/OutDeAndre Ayton (calf) outJustin Minaya (ankle) outMatisse Thybulle (ankle) out Robert Williams III (knee) out Jerami Grant (knee) questionable
Head Coach Chauncey Billups
Key Matchups
Grid View
Derrick White
Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Photos
Anfernee Simons
Picture by David Dow/NBAE through Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Anfernee SimonsSimons is averaging 19.0 factors, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 42.5% from the sector and 37.2% from past the arc. He’s considered one of their higher 3 level shooters and so the Celtics must be sure you stick with him on the perimeter.
Grid View
Sam Hauser
Picture by Kevin Sousa/Getty Photos
Shaedon Sharpe
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photos
Sam Hauser vs Shaedon SharpeSharpe is averaging 17.5 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and a couple of.6 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 44.8% from the sector and 32.0% from past the arc. It’s only a guess that Hauser will begin right here. If Brown performs, he’ll seemingly begin on the two, or Mazzulla could go along with another person from the keep prepared crew.
Honorable MentionTorrey Craig vs Deni AvdijaAvdija is averaging 14.8 factors, 6.4 rebounds and three.6 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 46% from the sector and 33.2% from past the arc. As soon as once more, I’m simply making a wild guess that Craig will begin right here as a consequence of so many questions on who will and won’t play.
Keys to the GameDefense – I do know I say it each sport, however protection is the important thing to successful each sport and would be the key to successful one other championship. The Blazers common 110.7 factors and the Celtics common 116.8 factors per sport. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.0 whereas the Blazers are twenty first with a defensive ranking of 114.4. The Celtics must preserve making robust protection their precedence and identification. They need to make protection their identification persistently in each minute of each sport, particularly as they get nearer to the playoffs.
Rebound – As Pat Riley as soon as said, “No rebounds, no rings.” The Celtics are eleventh with 44.9 rebounds per sport whereas the Path Blazers are seventeenth with 44.0 rebounds per sport. The Celtics should make an additional effort to seize rebounds with a purpose to give themselves additional possessions in addition to to maintain the Blazers from scoring second likelihood factors, because the Path Blazers are 4th with 16.0 second likelihood factors per sport. The Celtics should be the workforce that works more durable on the boards in the event that they wish to win this one. A lot of rebounding is effort and want and the Celtics want each to out-rebound the Blazers.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the workforce that works more durable and needs the win extra. They must dive for unfastened balls, go for each rebound and simply hustle on each play on each ends of the court docket. They must be aggressive in attending to the basket as nicely and never accept outdoors photographs, particularly in the event that they aren’t falling. Whether or not it’s the starters or reserves, they should go all out with most effort.
Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics must preserve transferring the ball to search out the open man and make it a lot more durable to protect them. Nonetheless, they must watch out with their passes and never flip the ball over because the Path Blazers common 17.4 factors per sport off turnovers. The Celtics additionally should be cautious once they dribble the ball and never drive right into a crowd and switch the ball over. The Celtics are normally superb at taking good care of the ball however they turned the ball over 17 instances in opposition to the Pistons.
X-FactorsHome vs Finish of the Street – The Celtics are at dwelling for the third straight sport. They need to get a lift from taking part in at dwelling in entrance of their dwelling crowd. The Blazers are simply 12-20 on the highway and so the Celtics want to remain targeted and never give them any confidence or assist them by turning the ball over or taking pictures poorly. The Path Blazers are taking part in within the sixth sport of a 7 sport highway journey and the workforce is probably going drained and able to be dwelling already.
Accidents – With 6 gamers on the harm report at the moment, accidents might be an x-factor on this sport. With Vacation and Porzingis uncertain, it makes them quick handed. However with Tatum and Brown questionable, it makes them very quick handed and can make it obligatory for a number of of the reserves to play an amazing sport. Will they step up?
Officiating – I do know that I say this each sport, however the officiating actually is at all times an x-factor in each sport. Each crew calls the sport in another way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a variety of contact go and let the groups play. Some refs favor the house workforce and a few not a lot and generally they simply make a bunch of head scratching calls. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never let themselves get annoyed by the officiating.
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