The Boston Celtics seem like they haven’t skipped a beat since profitable the NBA Championship. Profitable their opening two video games and having a median profitable margin of 21.5, it’s protected to say that Boston is rolling early.
On the opposite aspect, the Pistons have struggled shedding each video games to begin the yr falling to the Pacers on Wednesday (115-109) and shedding final night time to the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-101. That is the Pistons’ second recreation of a back-to-back.
Final season, the 2 groups squared off thrice with Boston sweeping Detroit 3-0.
Because the final time these two groups performed, Detroit made a number of offseason acquisitions to enhance its group. The Pistons held the No. 5 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft the place they chose Ron Holland II straight from the G-League Ignite.
Holland had season-ending surgical procedure final yr, however in his transient stint (14 video games) with the G League Ignite, Holland averaged 20.6 factors, 3.2 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and a couple of.5 steals with 44.3%/24.0%/75.7% capturing splits.
Then within the free agent market, Tobias Harris was signed to a two-year deal. Veteran guard Malik Beasley signed a one-year deal, whereas the Pistons additionally claimed Paul Reed off of waivers.
Usually, this recreation can be “simply one other recreation” nonetheless, the Pistons might have one thing to show in opposition to the defending Champions. Throughout Celtics Media Day, Brown acknowledged that after they play groups “just like the Pistons”, the Celtics will play by extra of the position gamers like Payton Pritchard.
Boston launched its damage report and it’s the identical because it was in opposition to the Washington Wizards with Sam Hauser (decrease again) and Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis tendon surgical procedure rehabilitation) sidelined in Detroit.
Damage Report for tomorrow at Detroit:
Sam Hauser (low again ache) – OUT
Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis tendon surgical procedure rehabilitation) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 25, 2024
Final night time in opposition to the Cavs, Detroit was lacking its second spherical decide, Bobi Klintman and Ausar Thompson. The Pistons have but to launch their damage report forward of the sport tonight.
The participant the Celtics have to concentrate on is former first general decide within the 2021 Draft, Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham is main the group in factors (30.5) and assists (7) by the opening two video games. He’s their dangerman and all the things begins with him on the offensive finish. Buying the likes of Beasley and Harris has helped area the ground for Cunningham to do what he does finest, get by his defender along with his velocity and ability and look to playmake.
Final yr, Cunningham performed in two video games in opposition to Boston. In a single recreation he put up 31 factors, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Within the different, he registered 15 factors, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
One other dangerman for Detroit is Jalen Duren. The Celtics bigs might want to maintain Duren off the glass as he’s averaging 10 rebounds a recreation. 3.5 of his 10 rebounds are offensive so it’s crucial that Boston retains him off the glass and restrict second probability alternatives.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been the main rebounders (7.5 rebounds per recreation every) on the early stage of the season. Having your star gamers rebound permits for a fast transition into offense and places much less strain on the likes of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta. Nonetheless, they might want to maintain Detroit’s bigs off the glass by boxing out. If Boston can win the rebounding battle, they need to deal with the Pistons with relative ease.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 31 factors, 8 assists, and seven.5 rebounds by six quarters as he hasn’t performed within the fourth quarter in any contest to date. Regardless of an unbelievable capturing night time past the arc in opposition to the Knicks the place he knocked down 8-of-11 threes, Tatum got here again to life a bit in opposition to the Wizards capturing 3-of-11 from deep.
If Boston comes out sizzling like they did in opposition to New York, they will put the sport to mattress early. Nonetheless, it’s essential for Boston to not lose video games like this as a result of they overlook an opponent. Because the defending champs, they may at all times get each group’s finest shot. Combine that in with Jaylen Brown’s preseason feedback, this recreation on paper shouldn’t be shut however that’s why you play the sport.
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