The Celtics are in search of their 2nd straight win as they tackle the Wizards in Washington. That is the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 122-102 in Washington of their 2nd sport of the season. Additionally they beat them 108-96 on November 22, additionally in Washington. They’ll play one another for the 4th and last time in Boston on April 6. The Celtics swept the collection 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 204-120 total all time and they’re 98-76 in Washington.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and 4 video games forward of the third place Orlando Magic. They’re 9-2 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 18-3 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and are in search of their 2nd straight win. The Wizards are fifteenth within the East, 17.5 video games behind Cleveland. They’re 2-9 at house and 1-9 of their final 10 video games. They’re 2-13 in opposition to Jap Convention groups.
Within the off season, the Wizards added 3 first spherical picks from this 12 months’s draft: 2nd choose Alex Sarr, 14th choose Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth choose Kyshawn George. Additionally they added Key veterans Jonas Valenciunas, former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Anthony Gill. Additionally they traded Deni Avdija and misplaced Tyus Jones to free company. The Celtics, as we all know, are principally the identical group as final 12 months’s championship group.
The Celtics simply completed a tricky stretch of 5 video games in 7 nights however performed only one sport since Saturday 12/7 once they completed a 5 sport house stand after video games in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Memphis as the primary 4 video games within the house stand. They’ll face Chicago at house on 12/19 and at Chicago in a house and residential set. They then journey to Orlando earlier than one other 4 sport house stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
The Wizards are taking part in within the 1st of two house video games and can face the Charlotte Hornets at house on December 19 as their subsequent sport. They’ll then play at Milwaukee and at Oklahoma Metropolis earlier than a 4 sport house stand the place they may host Charlotte, the New York Knicks twice, and Chicago on New Yr’s Day. This sport was added for each the Celtics and the Wizards after each groups didn’t advance within the Emirates NBA Cup Event.
After sitting out the Celtics final sport in opposition to the Pistons with knee soreness, Jayson Tatum is anticipated to return to motion on this sport. Sam Hauser, who sat out Tthursday’s win over the Pistons, can also be anticipated to be energetic for this sport. Jaden Springer, who missed the sport with an sickness, can also be off the damage report right now. The one participant listed on the damage report is Al Horford who shall be held out for relaxation on this sport despite taking part in only one sport within the 7 days earlier than this sport.
The Wizards have 6 gamers on their damage report. Kyle Kuzma is out with a rib damage. Malcolm Brogdon is o ut with a hamstring damage. Saddiq Bey is out with a knee damage. Corey Kispert is out with an ankle damage. and a couple of means participant, Tristan Vukcevic is out with a knee damage. One other two means participant and former Celtic, Justin Champagnie is beginning instead of the injured Kyle Kuzma.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Al Horford (relaxation) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
Wizards Reserves
Marvin Bagley III
Patrick Baldwin, Jr
Johnny Davis
Anthony Gill
Richaun Holmes
Jonas Valanciunas
2-Approach Gamers
Jared Butler
Justin Champagnie
Tristan Vukcevic
Accidents/Out
Saddiq Bey (knee) out
Tristan Vukcevic (knee) out
Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) out
Kyshawn George (ankle) out
Corey Kispert (ankle) out
Kyle Kuzma (ribs) out
Head Coach
Brian Keefe
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures
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Jordan Poole
Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Pictures
Derrick White vs Jordan Poole
Poole is averaging 20.2 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals per sport. He’s capturing 43.5% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. Within the first 2 gamea in opposition to the Celtics, Poole averaged 24.5 factors, 1.5 rebounds, 6 assists, and a couple of.5 steals whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as he’s a risk to hit his 3’s. He’s additionally a risk to steal the ball if the Celtics get sloppy.
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Jaylen Brown
Picture By Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures
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Bilal Coulibaly
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Jaylen Brown vs Bilal Coulibaly
Coulibaly is averaging 12.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per sport. He’s capturing 44.3% from the sector and 30.4% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics he averaged 7 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals whereas capturing 27.3% from the sector and 16.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must as soon as once more defend him properly on this one.
Honorable Point out
Kristaps Porzingis vs Alex Sarr
Sarr is averaging 10.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks. He’s capturing 39.3% from the sector and 26.1% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 4.0 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 help and 1.5 blocks whereas capturing 25% from the sector and no 3 pointers. Porzingis didn’t play in both of the primary 2 video games in opposition to his former group so will doubtless look to provide just a little additional on this one.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to successful. The Celtics received their championship final season with robust, bodily protection. To repeat, they might want to as soon as once more make protection a precedence. The Celtics are ninth with a defensive ranking of 110.3 whereas the Wizards are twenty ninth with a defensive ranking of 119.0. The Celtics have been first within the league on protection final season and they should get again to taking part in that robust lock down protection each sport this season. The Celtics particularly must defend the paint as a result of the Wizards aren’t particularly an enormous 3 level capturing group and the Celtics are twenty fifth, permitting 51.5 factors within the paint per sport.
Rebound – The Celtics are 14th with 44.0 rebounds per sport whereas the Wizards are twenty second with 42.9 rebounds per sport. Once more, the Celtics have been 2nd final season with 46.7 rebounds per sport with principally the identical roster. It’s essential for the Celtics to rebound to provide themselves additional possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give additional effort and hustle on the boards, it normally interprets into the remainder of their sport. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the courtroom.
Don’t Underestimate – That is in all probability the most important lure sport of the season for the Celtics. The Wizards are final within the league and lacking starters and rotation gamers. This has been a recipe for catastrophe previously for the Celtics. The Celtics can’t take the Wizards as a right, despite the fact that they’re clearly tanking and lacking gamers. Even tanking groups wish to beat the Celtics. The Wizards 3 wins got here in opposition to the Hawks twice and the Nuggets, each good groups. The Celtics must take the Wizards significantly and play them as in the event that they have been the highest group within the league.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season might be traced again to a scarcity of effort. Additionally, at occasions it appears that evidently they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they bounce out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics must get again to taking part in onerous on each ends of the courtroom for the complete 48 minutes with no let up.
X-Components
On the Highway and Focus – The Celtics are taking part in on the highway as soon as once more after a 5 sport house stand. They’ve to beat the distractions that include taking part in on the highway like journey, staying in lodges, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. They’ve to remain targeted on taking part in Celtics basketball the best means and never on the Pistons’ report or lacking gamers.
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