In what very properly could also be a preview of this 12 months’s NBA Finals, the Celtics tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the third recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey. The Celtics opened the journey with wins over the Timberwolves and the Rockets. that is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They are going to meet for the 2nd and last time in Boston on March 12. They break up the sequence 1-1 the final two seasons with every group successful on their residence court docket. The Celtics are 79-66 total all time towards the Thunder and they’re 39-38 in video games performed in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, 4.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve win their final 8 video games. The Celtics at the moment are 2 forward of the third place Knicks, who gained 9 straight earlier than shedding their final recreation to the Thunder. The Celtics are 12-3 on the highway and they’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 4-2 towards Western Convention opponents and have gained their final 3 video games.
The Thunder are in first place within the West. They’re 6.5 video games forward of 2nd place Memphis and seven forward of third place Houston. They’re 9 video games forward of the 4th place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 15-2 at residence and they’re 10-0 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-0 towards Jap Convention opponents and so they presently have a 14 recreation win streak.
The Thunder made a number of key strikes within the off season. The largest transfer might have been signing Isaiah Hartenstein away from the NY Knicks. He has particularly been vital as a result of absence of Chet Holmgren. In addition they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They drafted Nikola Subject, who will miss all the season with a torn ACL. In addition they drafted Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell, with an eye fixed to the longer term. Lastly, they signed undrafted Alex Ducas to a 2 manner contract.
That is the third recreation of a 4 recreation Western highway journey that began with again to again wins in Minnesota on Thursday and in Houston on Friday. After this recreation, they may end the highway journey in Denver on Tuesday. They are going to return residence to face 2 extra Western Convention groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors once more for the third time. They are going to then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by way of Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the beginning lineup within the Celtics’ final recreation towards the Rockets after lacking 4 straight video games with a sprained ankle. He ought to be able to play on this recreation as properly. Al Horford sat out Friday’s recreation for relaxation however is anticipated to return for this recreation. Jalen Brown has missed the Celtics’ final two video games with a shoulder pressure and is questionable for this recreation. I’m utilizing wishful considering and together with him within the beginning lineup. If he can’t play as soon as once more, Sam Hauser ought to as soon as once more get the beginning in his place.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso will miss his seventh recreation with a hip pressure. Cason Wallace will possible proceed to begin in his place. Chet Holmgren is out with a proper iliac hip fracture. I anticipate Isaiah Hartenstein will proceed to begin in his place. The Thunder’s 3 two manner gamers are all additionally out with accidents. Alex Ducas (again), Adam Flagler (finger), and Ajay Mitchell (toe) are all out for this recreation. Rookie Nikola Subject is out for the season with an ACL tear.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jaylen Brown (shoulder) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Thunder Starters
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Cason Wallace
SF: Lugentz Dort
PF: Jalen Williams
C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Thunder Reserves
Branden Carlson
Ousmane Dieng
Isaiah Joe
Dillon Jones
Aaron Wiggins
Jaylin Williams
Kenrich Williams
2 Means Gamers
Alex Ducas
Adam Flagler
Ajay Mitchell
Accidents/Out
Alex Caruso (hip) out
Alex Ducas (again) out
Ajay Mitchell (toe) out
Chet Holmgren (hip) out
Adam Flagler (finger) out
Nikola Subject (ACL) out
Head Coach
Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 52.5% from the sector and 35.6% from past the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for the lead within the MVP race and is the important thing to the Thunder’s successful methods. So as to gradual the Thunder, the Celtics should decelerate SGA.
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Picture by David Berding/Getty Photographs
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Jalen Williams
Picture by Joshua Gateley/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Jalen Williams
Williams is averaging 20.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.1% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc. Williams can rating each inside and outside and so the Celtics should stick with him on protection whether or not he’s within the paint or on the perimeter. Jayson Tatum has been taking part in very properly on this highway journey and the Celtics want him to proceed that pattern on each ends of the court docket on this recreation.
Honorable Point out
Kristaps Porzingis vs Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein is averaging 12.2 factors, 12.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 57.3% from the sector and 0% from past the arc. He’s a risk to attain inside and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics must preserve him out of the paint and away from the rim.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Thunder common 115.4 factors per recreation (tenth) The Celtics common 119.4 factors per recreation (4th). That is going to be a troublesome matchup for the Celtics because the Thunder are first within the league with a defensive score of 102.9 whereas the Celtics are sixth with a defensive score of 109.4. The Celtics must tighten up their protection and make taking part in protection a precedence particularly towards this Thunder group that performs lock down protection. The Celtics must particularly defend the paint because the Thunder are tenth within the league with 49.9 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be a key to successful. The Celtics must rebound on the defensive finish to maintain the Thunder from getting second likelihood factors and they should rebound on the offensive finish to provide themselves additional possessions. The Thunder are 18th with 43.6 rebounds per recreation whereas the Celtics are eighth with 45.0 rebounds per recreation. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics as a group must put within the additional effort to seize rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics must preserve their focus and never flip the ball over. The Thunder are 1st within the league with 23.4 factors off turnovers per recreation. They’re additionally 1st with 11.8 steals per recreation. The Celtics have to maneuver the ball as a result of they’re a a lot better group once they transfer the ball and don’t over dribble. However they need to focus and make cautious passes and never get sloppy. In addition they must bear in mind when dribbling the ball in order to not permit the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay in the event that they get sloppy and switch the ball over.
Be Centered and Prepared for a Powerful Sport – The Thunder haven’t misplaced to an Jap Convention group this season. They’ve additionally solely misplaced 5 video games. The Celtics must be able to go to the basket in the event that they wrestle from three. In addition they must be able to shoot from midrange if each the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in onerous for 48 minutes and on taking part in powerful protection and on taking part in the appropriate manner.
X-Elements
On the Highway – The Celtics are taking part in of their third straight highway recreation. The Celtics have the benefit of getting a largely wholesome roster however then, the Thunder have gained 14 straight video games despite lacking some gamers. The Thunder have the benefit of being at residence in entrance of their followers and so they have nice followers. The Celtics want to beat the distractions of journey and taking part in on the highway in entrance of hostile followers.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla led the Celtics to a championship in simply his second season however Mazzulla didn’t win the Coach of the 12 months final season. It was Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault that gained the Coach of the 12 months honor. He’s additionally the Coach of the Month for December this season. Each rosters are deep and gifted and so teaching could also be an element on this recreation.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. How the refs name the sport has an enormous affect on how the groups play. Will they allow them to play or name each little little bit of contact? Will they name it evenly or will they favor one group or the opposite. All of it results the result of the sport and the Celtics must play the appropriate manner and never permit the officiating to take them out of their recreation. The Celtics ought to by no means be caught complaining to the refs whereas the opposite group goes in for a rating.
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