[ad_1]
The Celtics proceed their 6 sport street journey with a cease in New Orleans to tackle the Pelicans. That is the second and ultimate assembly between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly 118-112 in Boston on January 29. The Celtics gained the sequence 2-0 final season. The Celtics are 25-21 general all time in opposition to the Pelicans. They’re 10-13 in video games performed in New Orleans. They’ve gained 5 in a row in opposition to the Pelicans.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 11 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 12.5 video games forward of third place New York, 13 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 14.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 16.5 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 25-13 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-7 in opposition to Western Convention groups and misplaced their final 2 video games after successful the earlier 9 video games.
The Pelicans are fifth within the West, 6 video games behind 1st place Denver, half a sport behind the 4th place Clippers, 1.5 video games forward of sixth place Dallas, and a pair of video games forward of seventh place Phoenix, and slipping into the play-in. They’re 21-14 at house and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 19-9 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and they’re coming off a win of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the fifth sport of a 6 sport street journey. They’re 2-2 to this point on the journey, successful the primary 2 and dropping the final 2 video games. After this sport in New Orleans, they are going to then shut out the street journey in Charlotte earlier than returning house for 3 video games in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one sport on the street in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at house in opposition to New York, Charlotte and Washington.
The Pelicans are taking part in within the third sport of a 6 sport house stand. They misplaced to Oklahoma Metropolis and beat Milwaukee within the first 2 video games of this house stand. They may host Phoenix, Orlando and San Antonio to shut out the house stand. They may then head out on a 4 sport street journey by means of Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento and Golden State earlier than ending the season at house in opposition to the Lakers.
Solely Jaden Springer (knee) and JD Davison (ankle) are listed as out for this sport on the damage report. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram has been out for the final week with a bone contusion in his left knee. He’s performing some on courtroom work and is predicted to return quickly, however he’ll miss this sport. Jose Alvarado is out with an indirect damage. Dyson Daniels is possible for this sport after lacking 21 video games after having meniscus surgical procedure on his left knee.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSam HauserAl HorfordLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier Tillman
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJaden Springer (knee) out JD Davison (ankle) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pelicans Starters
Grid View
Pelicans Reserves Dyson DanielsJordan HawkinsEJ LiddellNaji MarshallLarry Nance, JrJeremiah Robinson-EarlCody Zeller
2 Means Gamers Malcolm HillMatt RyanDereon Seabron
Accidents/Out Jose Alvarado (indirect) out Brandon Ingram (knee) out Dyson Daniels (knee) possible
Head Coach Willie Inexperienced
Key Matchups
Grid View
Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Zion Williamson
Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Zion Williamson Williamson is averaging 22.8 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 58.6% from the sphere and 35.7% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 26 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals whereas taking pictures 58.6% from the sphere with no 3 pointers. The Celtics might want to defend him very intently each inside and outside as he’s a risk within the paint and on the perimeter. He’s additionally very onerous to cease when he will get a head of steam heading to the ring.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Alex Goodlett/Getty Photographs
CJ McCollum
Photograph by Ned Dishman/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs CJ McCollum McCollum is averaging 18.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sphere and 41.5% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 16 factors, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the sphere however simply 20% from past the arc. As with Williamson, McCollum can rating each inside and outside and so the Celtics have to defend him the place ever he’s on the courtroom.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Trey Murphy IIIMurphy is averaging 14 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.5% from the sphere and 37% from past the arc. Within the first sport he completed with 15 factors and 4 rebounds off the bench whereas taking pictures 42.9% from the sphere and 30% from past the arc. Murphy has been beginning instead of the injured Brandon Ingram.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to successful. The Pelicans common 115.6 factors per sport (thirteenth) whereas the Celtics common 121.1 factors per sport (2nd). The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a defensive score of 110.8. The Pelicans are fifth with a defensive score of 111.4. The Celtics need to particularly defend within the paint because the Pelicans common 51.9 factors within the paint per sport. The Celtics allowed their offensive struggles in opposition to the Hawks have an effect on their protection and it price them the sport. They need to play powerful staff protection for 48 minute in the event that they need to win this sport.
Rebound – The Celtics need to crash the boards as a staff. Rebounding takes effort and after they put that additional effort out to dominate the boards, it usually interprets to all different areas of the sport as effectively. The Pelicans are averaging 44.5 rebounds (seventh) and the Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per sport (2nd). The Pelicans are eleventh within the league with 14.4 second probability factors and so the Celtics are going to need to work onerous to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second probability baskets. Rebounding was one of many largest causes for the Celtics 2 losses in opposition to the Hawks. They had been out rebounded 44-38 (18 2nd probability factors) within the first loss and 53-43 (28 2nd probability factors) within the second loss. They need to put out extra effort to beat the Pelicans to rebounds in the event that they need to win this sport.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, taking part in protection, diving for unfastened balls and simply play more durable. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very powerful to beat and their lack of it will possibly make them susceptible, as we noticed in opposition to the Hawks. They’re as soon as once more dealing with a staff that performs onerous and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to return out with lower than 100% effort. They particularly should be aggressive and play onerous within the third quarter as they’ve been outplayed in that quarter up to now 2 video games.
Push the Tempo and Transfer the Ball – Two issues which have helped the Celtics offense to be dominant this season are the truth that they’ve picked up the tempo and pushed the ball up the courtroom. In addition they moved the ball and together with hitting from exterior, in addition they get to the basket. The Celtics have to proceed to do each of these issues with a view to preserve successful. They’ll’t play hero ball and so they can’t simply stroll up the courtroom. They need to run and get into their offense earlier than the Pelicans protection will get set. They need to watch out with the ball, nevertheless, because the Pelicans are fifth with 17.5 factors off turnovers per sport.
X-FactorsOn the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in within the fifth sport of a 6 sport street journey.. Whether or not it’s the journey, resort residing, or an unfamiliar enviornment and hostile followers, there are many distractions to hinder a staff taking part in on the street. The Celtics want to return in targeted and never permit the distractions of taking part in away from house to maintain them from taking part in their finest.
Officiating – Officiating at all times has the likelihood to be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some name each little bit of contact whereas some allow them to play. Some favor the house staff and a few name it evenly and a few are simply unhealthy. Hopefully the Celtics get a crew that calls it even and lets each groups play. Nevertheless the sport is known as, they should give attention to the sport and never permit unhealthy or no calls to take that focus away. Refs have been very fast to name techs for complaining in current video games and the Celtics have to preserve their feelings underneath management to keep away from making a gift of factors on technical fouls.
And ensure to take a look at CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a dwell dialog in regards to the sport. To take part, simply create a free account, join your LP sub when you’ve got it, and be a part of our group!
[ad_2]
Source link
