The Celtics head to Toronto to play the Raptors for his or her closing preseason sport. These two groups confronted off on Sunday with the Celtics coming away with a 115-111 win. The Celtics have been taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games and so held out their high 6 gamers, permitting the reserves to play all the sport. They raced off to a 34 level lead earlier than the tip of the bench gamers let most of that slip however they held on for a 4 level lead ultimately.
That is the ultimate preseason sport for the Celtics and so I anticipate to see the starters play at the least within the first half. Al Horford has but to play within the preseason however in keeping with Joe Mazzulla, he’s anticipated to play on this sport. I’m going to guess that Luke Kornet will proceed to start out on this sport and that Horford will come off the bench. However, that’s simply my guess.
As with each preseason sport, it’s laborious to inform which gamers will begin since coaches prefer to relaxation vets and common rotation gamers to present rookies, finish of bench gamers and camp contract gamers an opportunity to indicate what they will do. I’m itemizing the identical starters as final sport for the Raptors and the Celtics common starters with Luke Kornet at heart. However, once more, that’s only a guess.
Kristaps Porzingis is stays out for the Celtics as he rehabs from off season ankle surgical procedure. For the Raptors, 6 gamers are on the harm listing. Immanuel Quickley is questionable with a sprained thumb. RJ Barrett is out with a shoulder sprain. Ja’Kobe Walter can also be out with a shoulder sprain. Bruce Brown is out after present process arthroscopic surgical procedure on his proper knee. Garrett Temple is questionable with tightness in his hamstring. Kelly Olynyk is questionable with decrease again stiffness.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Coaching Camp Contracts
Ron Harper, Jr
Jay Scrubb
Dmytro Skapintsev
Lonnie Walker IV
Accidents/Out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Raptors Starters
Raptors Reserves
Jonathan Mogbo
Jared Rhoden
Jamal Shead
Bruno Fernando
Chris Boucher
Jahmi’us Ramsey
Jamison Battle
2 Means Gamers
DJ Carton
Ulrich Chomche
Branden Carlson
Accidents/Out
Immanuel Quickley (thumb) questionable
RJ Barrett (shoulder) out
Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) questionable
Bruce Brown (knee) out
Garrett Temple (hamstring) questionable
Kelly Olynyk (again) questionable
Head Coach
Darko Rajakovic
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photographs
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Scottie Barmes
Photograph by Jordan Jones/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Scottie Barnes
Barnes is the participant that the Raptors plan to construct round. He had 16 factors, 8 rebounds, 1 help and a couple of steals on Friday vs the Wizards. He shot 46.7% from the sphere however went 0-5 from three. In opposition to the Celtics on Sunday, he completed with 10 factors 1 rebound, and a couple of assists whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and lacking his solely 3 pointer.
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Luke Kornet
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photographs
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Jakob Poeltl
Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Luke Kornet vs Jakob Poeltl
Kornet might begin right here, or it’s potential that Al Horford begins within the closing preseason sport. Poeltl has began all 3 of the video games for the Raptors thus far and is more likely to begin this sport as properly. Poeltl completed Friday’s sport with 10 factors, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 33% from the sphere and 40% from past the arc. He completed Sunday’s sport towards the Celtics with 14 factors, 13 rebounds, and a couple of assists whereas taking pictures 60% from the sphere with no 3’s. Poeltl is a crucial participant for the Raptors. By way of the primary 3 quarters on Sunday, the Raptors have been +2 with Poeltl on the courtroom however -24 with out him.
Honorable Point out
Derrick White vs Gradey Dick
Dick was drafted to be a sharpshooter for the Raptors. On Sunday, he completed with 18 factors, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 33% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He struggled at first however got here on sturdy as the sport went on.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – There’ll by no means be a sport the place protection is just not the important thing to profitable. If the Celtics hope to win the championship once more this season, it should be with protection first. Within the preseason, the Raptors are twentieth with a defensive score of 108.3 whereas the Celtics are ninth with a defensive score of 102.3. The Raptors are 4th with 55.3 factors within the paint and thirtieth with 31.7 three pointers tried per sport. However, the Celtics are 1st with 52 three pointers tried per sport. The Celtics should attempt to hold the Raptors out of the paint and drive them to play out of their consolation zone.
Rebound – The Raptors are ninth with 47 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are fifth with 48 rebounds per sport. Rebounding is essential to restrict second probability baskets and quick breaks. The Raptors are 1st within the preseason with 21.7 2nd probability factors per sport. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle. The Celtics should put out extra effort to beat the Raptors to rebounds.
3 Level Taking pictures – The Celtics relied on taking pictures threes final season. They have been first within the league, taking 43.5 three pointers per sport. They have been additionally 1st within the league, making 16.5 threes a sport. To date within the preseason, the Celtics are trying 52 threes per sport. When the Celtics are making their 3’s they’re laborious to beat, however once they battle to make 3’s, the sport will get actually ugly. On Sunday, they outscored the Raptors by 24 factors on the perimeter.
X-Components
On the Highway – After 2 video games at residence, the Celtics are on the highway for his or her closing preseason sport. Journey, staying in accommodations, taking part in on an unfamiliar courtroom and in entrance of hostile followers all are distractions that may take away from gamers’ focus. The Celtics have to put all that behind them and give attention to taking part in their sport.
It’s the Preseason – Participant improvement, constructing chemistry, and participant analysis are an important factor for coaches within the preseason. We’ll most likely see extra of the rookies on this sport in addition to the gamers on camp contracts as coaches consider the gamers on the bubble for taking part in time and attempt to protect their starters for the common season. Though, for the reason that Celtics can be off for per week earlier than the season begins, we may even see fairly a little bit of the starters.
Officiating – Whereas hardly ever is officiating a purpose for a win or a loss, it may well all the time be an x-factor. Each sport known as in another way. Some video games are referred to as tightly and a few video games are allowed to be extra bodily. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the sport is being referred to as and give attention to taking part in and never on the officiating.
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